If the greats who died had lived...

Bucket · August 2016

Inspired by @Gassage's thread. I find this an interesting question.

For example, I highly doubt Hendrix would have stayed doing heavy blues-rock. I think in the mid to late 70s he'd have experimented with jazz fusion and would have probably had some coke-fuelled processed 80s pop hits too.

If Cliff Burton had lived, Metallica wouldn't be anywhere near as big but they might still be good.

Gassage · August 2016

If Koss had have lived he'd have become the greatest of all time, bar none.

Fact.

Bucket · August 2016

Gassage said:

If Koss had have lived he'd have become the greatest of all time, bar none.

Fact.

If Jason Becker hadn't been crippled by motor neurone disease he could well have become the greatest of all time, shredders-wise. His playing is enormously impressive no matter what you hear, but it's easy to forget that whatever you're listening to, he was my age or younger when he recorded it. It would have been incredible to hear him grow and develop even more as a player, but no. Bastard ALS.

He might also have discovered better amps and not had a tone that sounded like a wasp in a tin can. That's the only gripe I have with any of his recorded output. Same goes for Randy Rhoads, in fact. Another one who would have gone onto truly amazing things, I have no doubt.

Stevepage · August 2016

If Randy Rhoads didn't die he would've gone on to further his classical guitar. I doubt he would of continued through the 80's with Ozzy.

Dimebag Darrell? I think he would've continued with Damageplan and there might have been a Pantera reunion by now. He might have slowed his drinking down too.

I'm sure Bon Scott would still be in AC/DC now. Would they have been as big as they are without Back In Black?

jellyroll · August 2016

SRV would have become the fourth BeeGee.

richardhomer · August 2016

Roy Buchanan would have got even better than he was....

Bucket · August 2016

Stevepage said:

If Randy Rhoads didn't die he would of gone on to further his classical guitar. I doubt he would of continued through the 80's with Ozzy.

Dimebag Darrell? I think he would of continued with Damageplan and there might have been a Pantera reunion by now. He might have slowed his drinking down too.

I'm sure Bon Scott would still be in AC/DC now. Would they have been as big as they are without Back In Black?

Randy wouldn't have stayed with Ozzy, I'm sure. I'd have been interested to see what his next move was to be though.

Agreed re. Dimebag, probably Bon Scott too.

I wondered about Danny Gatton and Shawn Lane, but I wonder if either of them would have done anything different or just continued down the paths they were on anyway. It's hard to imagine Shawn getting any better than he already was

mudslide73 · August 2016

Steve Marriott could have taken advantage of Weller's fawning and made some actual money.

Reverend · August 2016

Had Rhandy lived ge would have gone backnto college to study and improve his classical playing. That said, I'm not sure how lobg he would have lived. Someone recently claimed that he had just been diagnosed with emphysema.

CabbageCat · August 2016

Imagine if Paul MacCartney had lived until modern times. Or Keef. Or Clapton.

In reality, dead legends would probably have gone the way of living legends. Their new output would only be of interest to musos and fanboys while the greater populace still only thought of them for the stuff they did in their heyday.

Reverend · August 2016

CabbageCat said:

Imagine if Paul MacCartney had lived until modern times. Or Keef. Or Clapton.
In reality, dead legends would probably have gone the way of living legends. Their new output would only be of interest to musos and fanboys while the greater populace still only thought of them for the stuff they did in their heyday.

Hendrix's post-heroin comeback in 1983 would have been good in a shiny-suit-and-keetar sort of way.
On reflection, the late 90s album produced by Wyclef Jean was a mistake.

The less said about his recent collaboration with Pitbull, the better.

octatonic · August 2016

Imagine how huge Shawn Lane would be by now?

octatonic · August 2016

Jim Morrison would be trans.

octatonic · August 2016

Bucket said:

For example, I highly doubt Hendrix would have stayed doing heavy blues-rock. I think in the mid to late 70s he'd have experimented with jazz fusion and would have probably had some coke-fuelled processed 80s pop hits too.

There was actually a collaboration with Miles planned.
I do wonder if Hendrix could have stepped up to that challenge actually.

Flanging_Fred · August 2016

Rory Gallagher would have joined the Cheeky Girls.

ESBlonde · August 2016

I think @CabbageCat nailed it for most. The survivors have mostly not repeated the flambouance of thier youth, apart from Bowie/Madonna few reinvent themselves (although Nile Rogers has done enough to stay current and relevent). Most styles come and go even if we individually like that phose of modern musical development.

Teetonetal · August 2016

I reckon the majority would have followed the DG / Clapton career path of bright light slowly melting into a long decline. So few guitar players have been able to genuinely stay relevant for a long period. Music is too fickle for that. To be a true star, you gotta die young... that way the future catalog of crap gets avoided and all you output is from your heyday, mixed with what might have been, if only...

Exactly this:

CabbageCat said:

Imagine if Paul MacCartney had lived until modern times. Or Keef. Or Clapton.
In reality, dead legends would probably have gone the way of living legends. Their new output would only be of interest to musos and fanboys while the greater populace still only thought of them for the stuff they did in their heyday.

guitarfishbay · August 2016

He's not dead yet (DVD also worth a watch) but I like to think Jason Becker could've been an awesome lead guitarist in some big name metal bands. He'd have been awesome in Megadeth post Friedman for starters, could've been a choice for Ozzy etc...

Winny_Pooh · August 2016

octatonic said:

Imagine how huge Shawn Lane would be by now?

Beat me to it.

Winny_Pooh · August 2016

Santana would be playing killer Latin bebop, wait... oh shit!

crunchman · August 2016

Would Rock n'Roll have gone in a different direction if Buddy Holly had lived? Thinking about that crash, would Richie Valens have faded away like Chesney Hawkes or would he have gone on to be a megastar?

Don't think anyone has mentioned Duane Allman yet either, or Ronnie Van Zant. The history of Southern Rock may have been very different. Would they have done something spectacularly good, or become the Southern Rock equivalent of Clapton and McCartney?

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If the greats who died had lived...

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