Entertainers Taken Too Early

[Sister Grace]

ian curtis

[AndyC]

Not to downplay the tragedy in any of these examples, in these kinds of situations, I tend to ponder whether an untimely death will enhance the memory of a celebrity.

They basically get frozen at their peak, when they're young, fresh, innovative. They don't have a chance to wear out their welcome. Jimi Hendrix will always be that young guitar genius. James Dean will always be a young rebel and Marylin Monroe a blonde bombshell. John Belushi will always be Bluto or Jake Blues. John Candy never had a chance to make as many lacklustre movies as some of his SCTV co-stars.

It's kind of like the Denis Leary routine where he suggests that Elvis should have been assassinated in 1968 so we could all remember him as he was then.

The other side of the coin is that some stars are great their whole lives (Bob Hope, George Burns, etc.) And some are able to reinvent themselves enough that we would have been denied a great deal if they'd gone after their initial success. But you have to wonder how many performers would still enjoy their legendary status if they were still around today.

DISCLAIMER: This is in no way meant to suggest that an untimely death is a good thing for anyone. Please, do not get the wrong idea.

[RCMerchant]

AndyC- On a similar note...I can't really picture Sid Vicious going anywhere beyond the SEX PISTOLS. It was almost if he was born...and died...to br a punk rock martyr (?), if that is the correct term for his tragic and self -destructive life and death.

[Allhallowsday]

AndyC- On a similar note...I can't really picture Sid Vicious going anywhere beyond the SEX PISTOLS. It was almost if he was born...and died...to br a punk rock martyr (?), if that is the correct term for his tragic and self -destructive life and death.

Yeh, but was he any good?  Apparently not.  It was STEVE JONES playing bass on Never Mind The Bollocks. 

How about:
JOHN LENNON
OTIS REDDING
FRANKIE LYMON
JOHN BONHAM
KEITH MOON
JOHN DENVER
DINAH WASHINGTON
BIX BEIDERBECKE
ROBERT JOHNSON
NANCY LAMOTT

[Rev. Powell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFx9ZBlBUuc

Charlie Parker, August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955.  Could still be with us today.  I can't imagine what he might have done to music with an extra 30-40 years.

[RCMerchant]

AndyC- On a similar note...I can't really picture Sid Vicious going anywhere beyond the SEX PISTOLS. It was almost if he was born...and died...to br a punk rock martyr (?), if that is the correct term for his tragic and self -destructive life and death.

Yeh, but was he any good?  Apparently not.  It was STEVE JONES playing bass on Never Mind The Bollocks. 

[/b]

My point exactly. Beyond his image in the Pistols....he hadn't much to fall back on. It's sad. Heroin turned him into a ghost ...even while still alive.  Addiction and death turned him from a talentless flash in the pan into a punk  icon.

[Allhallowsday]

My point exactly. Beyond his image in the Pistols....he hadn't much to fall back on. It's sad. Heroin turned him into a ghost ...even while still alive.  Addiction and death turned him from a talentless flash in the pan into a punk  icon.

Yes, I saw your point, which I was fortifying with my comments.  It is sad.  He's an icon, but was a no-talent.  Kind of fortifies AndyC's point, too. 

[Patient7]

Not to downplay the tragedy in any of these examples, in these kinds of situations, I tend to ponder whether an untimely death will enhance the memory of a celebrity.

They basically get frozen at their peak, when they're young, fresh, innovative. They don't have a chance to wear out their welcome. Jimi Hendrix will always be that young guitar genius. James Dean will always be a young rebel and Marylin Monroe a blonde bombshell. John Belushi will always be Bluto or Jake Blues. John Candy never had a chance to make as many lacklustre movies as some of his SCTV co-stars.

It's kind of like the Denis Leary routine where he suggests that Elvis should have been assassinated in 1968 so we could all remember him as he was then.

The other side of the coin is that some stars are great their whole lives (Bob Hope, George Burns, etc.) And some are able to reinvent themselves enough that we would have been denied a great deal if they'd gone after their initial success. But you have to wonder how many performers would still enjoy their legendary status if they were still around today.

DISCLAIMER: This is in no way meant to suggest that an untimely death is a good thing for anyone. Please, do not get the wrong idea.

I agree, because of these untimeley deaths they will never have a major screw up ruining their name, however, I would rather they still be alive considering what else they might have been able to do with their lives.

[HappyGilmore]

Marvin Gaye- at age 44.  Could've done a few more good records.  Sad.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GVTN5o9Kgu8

AndyC- On a similar note...I can't really picture Sid Vicious going anywhere beyond the SEX PISTOLS. It was almost if he was born...and died...to br a punk rock martyr (?), if that is the correct term for his tragic and self -destructive life and death.

Yeh, but was he any good?  Apparently not.  It was STEVE JONES playing bass on Never Mind The Bollocks. 

How about:
JOHN LENNON
OTIS REDDING
FRANKIE LYMON
JOHN BONHAM
KEITH MOON
JOHN DENVER
DINAH WASHINGTON
BIX BEIDERBECKE
ROBERT JOHNSON
NANCY LAMOTT

Apparently, Sid even asked Lemmy of Motorhead to teach him to play bass.  Sid was so bad, that at certain points of a show, the band would unplug Sid.  Lemmy said Sid still couldn't play at the time he died.

[Zapranoth]

Have to second and third Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The thing is -- he was recovering from alcoholism, and was on his way back.  He was still capable of the most incredible balls-to-the-wall playing, and I would have to guess he would have gotten better still.   A sad loss indeed.   

I wish I had a chance to hear him in person.  I envy those of you who did.

[threnody]

James Dean
Humphrey Bogart
Clark Gable
Elvis Presley
Heath Ledger
John Lennon
Ian Curtis
Michael Hutchence

[Patient7]

Richard Pryor.  Too funny.

[Killer Bees]

Apparently, Sid even asked Lemmy of Motorhead to teach him to play bass.  Sid was so bad, that at certain points of a show, the band would unplug Sid.  Lemmy said Sid still couldn't play at the time he died.


[/quote]

Reminds me of this guy who busks in our city mall.  He's been playing sax since I was a teenager and after all these years (20 plus) he still sounds like crap.  I don't understand how you can do something so regularly and just.not.get.better     

Surely a few proper lessons wouldn't go astray.

Whilst I'm on this odd tangent, the same comment applies to Madonna's......ahem.....singing voice.  With all her cash, surely she could've hired a classical teacher to show her something?

[Allhallowsday]

Marvin Gaye- at age 44.  Could've done a few more good records.  Sad.

Great inclusion and such a ridiculous way to die, at the gunpoint of his own father.  A g*ddamned shame !!! 

Apparently, Sid even asked Lemmy of Motorhead to teach him to play bass.  Sid was so bad, that at certain points of a show, the band would unplug Sid.  Lemmy said Sid still couldn't play at the time he died.

Your Wikipedia is showing, dove... 

[HappyGilmore]

Marvin Gaye- at age 44.  Could've done a few more good records.  Sad.

Great inclusion and such a ridiculous way to die, at the gunpoint of his own father.  A g*ddamned shame !!! 

Apparently, Sid even asked Lemmy of Motorhead to teach him to play bass.  Sid was so bad, that at certain points of a show, the band would unplug Sid.  Lemmy said Sid still couldn't play at the time he died.

Your Wikipedia is showing, dove... 

The part about them unplugging him, I don't believe that.  I don't think they would.  I generally don't believe Wiki unless I've heard it stated somewhere else as well.

I should have prefaced it with the phrase "According to Wiki:"

He was only like, what, 21 when he died?

Like the Pistols, but they were kinda bad.