Mozart. Dude would be social media famous in .2 seconds. He’d be annoying us all. He’d be covering all new songs same day after hearing it once. And I’m here for that chaos.
Jeff Buckley, no question. He released arguably the best album of the 90s (Grace) then went and fucking drowned. Only 30 years old. He coulda been one of the best to ever do it, but we're left wondering.
Here I am, upvoting comments of people who wrote answers first: Bach, Mozart and Buckley. I tend to believe second or third albums are the best ones from an artist, can you imagine if this was true for Buckley?
Love to basically every mentioned artists, but I think most of them did give the best they had while alive.
Imo, unfortunately, bringing back Legends will just harm their legacy (I'm thinking of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie...).
However Tupac may have had an enormous impact in the 90s and early 90s music, and so on.
And who knows how grunge could have gained other mainstream success with Cobain...
My vote goes for J.S. Bach. One of my shower thoughts is that he would make a great experimental IDM artist. He would give Authechre a run for their money.
Otis Redding. I didn't realize until recently that he died so young, I would've loved to see how the rest of his career turned out. His voice had such a special quality.
Peter Steele. Although he might disagree. Type O Negative's last album before his death was named "Dead again", and a lot of their music is about escaping yourself (aka suicide or extreme self harm)
Recently wanted to add "this land" to a Playlist, but wanted a more modern cover and it is damn hard to find a version that includes the original lyrics about private property and trespassing.
https://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm
Johann Pachelbel. So many modern songs reuse the melody from his Canon in D. I just think, it'd be fun to let him listen to them. Would probably blow his mind to listen to modern music, to begin with, and then to have it be his melody, too. 🙃
Bradley Nowell. Sublime was so good, and none of the bands that have followed in their style have had the same lyricism that Nowell had, or have been able to really blend genres like they did to make something completely unique.
Chuck Schuldiner, frontman of death metal pioneers Death, dude died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 34. I never had the chance to see them play live but their records are incredible.
Cliff Burton, Bass player of Metallica, died when the band's tour bus crashed and he was crushed underneath it. The band lost part of its soul and it took them a very long time to get over Cliffs death. Seeing videos of him playing live makes one understand what was lost, as he was an incredible musician.
On a more general note every artist that died very young, many made a big impact to their genre or even to a wider audience without it ever knowing.
Sure, there are plenty of musicians who had a bigger impact on music as a whole, but NOBODY I've ever seen was more in tune with the universe than Stevie when he was playing.
As far as I can tell, he didn't actually play the guitar. He just acted as a conduit to channel music directly from the universe through a guitar. I don't think he ever once had to pause and consider what to play next when he was improvising, it just flowed out of him non-stop.
He had already started getting even better, having finally gotten sober, and it kills my soul every time I think about what else he could've given us had he not gotten on that helicopter.
Way underrated here. SRV had a great deal of music left in him and few could match his talent. While a number of people suggested on here released great stuff, many did not have as much left in them.
Max Bennett. He's not famous famous but he's well known enough in the jazz scene. He played with Frank Sinatra, Dizzie Gillespie, and recorded on countless studio sessions. I knew him personally and I think was his last student before he passed. Some people closer to him than me told me one of the last things he said was "I need to give jcabral9 his lesson" and it makes me tear up whenever I think about it. I was too young to understand most of his concepts--I wish I could know him as an adult and professional musician myself.
Mozart. Dude would be social media famous in .2 seconds. He’d be annoying us all. He’d be covering all new songs same day after hearing it once. And I’m here for that chaos.
It would be a crime if he didn't do a remake of Amadeus, replicated to the letter but for the main actor.
Amadeus Amadeus,
A-madeus,
Amadeus, Amadeus
A-madeus,
Amadeus, Amadeus,
Oh, oh, oh Amadeus
(cue frenetic speech sequence)
Falco was amazing
Mozart is my spirit animal. I was clearly (if unconsciously) deeply influenced by his music and shenanigans and also his economic issues.
So basically Weird Al but faster?
Jacob Collier
Freddy Mercury.
Or David Bowie
Freddy's voice was fucking amazing
He was also just dahling, seriously
Freddy Mercury
The starlord provides the only correct answer
Fkn Jimmy Hendrix
Chris Cornell
It's a tie between Chris and Chester.. both too soon.
I'd say at least bring back someone who wants to be here
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Gotta go with chester, assuming you can bring them back with their health (mental and physical) "fixed" to a good massive balance.
Not because he's any better than any of the other greats that have died. Not even the ones that killed themselves.
Just because there's something about his death that makes his life feel more unfinished.
Out of any of the people listed here, I think he had the most undone. Not even in the musical sense alone, across the board.
Jeff Buckley, no question. He released arguably the best album of the 90s (Grace) then went and fucking drowned. Only 30 years old. He coulda been one of the best to ever do it, but we're left wondering.
Here I am, upvoting comments of people who wrote answers first: Bach, Mozart and Buckley. I tend to believe second or third albums are the best ones from an artist, can you imagine if this was true for Buckley?
Love to basically every mentioned artists, but I think most of them did give the best they had while alive.
Chester without a doubt.
Nirvana(Curt Cobain), Linkin Park(Chester Bennington)
I would suspect Kurt being back could have an impact on the history of Foo Fighters and its success, so I'm.. conflicted about that one.
After a few years, Nirvana split, Kurt goes solo, Foo Fighters are created
Karen Carpenter - mainly because she was such a talented musician and her death so tragic.
I wonder how much good music he had left in him. I suspect it would have been hard to exceed his current music but would have been nice to find out.
Imo, unfortunately, bringing back Legends will just harm their legacy (I'm thinking of John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie...).
However Tupac may have had an enormous impact in the 90s and early 90s music, and so on.
And who knows how grunge could have gained other mainstream success with Cobain...
Cobain is risky, odds are he just peaces out again 😞
Depends if Courtney loves aim is still good at this point.
My vote goes for J.S. Bach. One of my shower thoughts is that he would make a great experimental IDM artist. He would give Authechre a run for their money.
Hadn't heard of these guys. I like them - thanks!
Reminds me of Noisia and Aphex Twin.
Seconded here, many thanks.
Otis Redding. I didn't realize until recently that he died so young, I would've loved to see how the rest of his career turned out. His voice had such a special quality.
Peter Steele. Although he might disagree. Type O Negative's last album before his death was named "Dead again", and a lot of their music is about escaping yourself (aka suicide or extreme self harm)
Mine too!
The first ancient cavedweller to stretch skin over a frame and start hitting it to make noises. Give Grog a full drumset and see what he comes up with
Mark Sandman
Such a unique talent. Knowing he died of a heart attack on stage adds a whole other dimension to "Do not go quietly unto your grave"
Dimebag Darrell.
I came here to say this!
I tip my hat to you!
We could really use a Pete Seeger or a Woody Guthrie in times like these.
Recently wanted to add "this land" to a Playlist, but wanted a more modern cover and it is damn hard to find a version that includes the original lyrics about private property and trespassing. https://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm
Wayne Static.
+1
Doom.
I'd be hesitant to bring back anyone who's reason for death was suicide or substance abuse, it just seems cruel.
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson
Would have liked to see what would have happened if they had continued making music.
Hey guys, bad weather up their, I have some nice seats in my bus, I drive, you can rest, ok?
Harry Chapin
Or
Karen Carpenter
(I know, they're kinda sappy but they were on my Playlist when I was young and in love.)
Karen carpenter was going to be my answer for this too...
Ian Curtis (Joy Division), though that would probably screw up the timeline for New Order and all of 80's music (not a dealbreaker).
Prince (obvs)
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jim Croce. He died relatively early in his career and was already an amazing songwriter. What could he have written with more time?
He would have put it in a bottle
Randy Rhoads
Liszt.
Elliot Smith, no contest. Best singer songwriter ever.
Johann Pachelbel. So many modern songs reuse the melody from his Canon in D. I just think, it'd be fun to let him listen to them. Would probably blow his mind to listen to modern music, to begin with, and then to have it be his melody, too. 🙃
Bradley Nowell. Sublime was so good, and none of the bands that have followed in their style have had the same lyricism that Nowell had, or have been able to really blend genres like they did to make something completely unique.
Easy: Duke Ellington
Seriously, so many great suggestions from other people.
I'm going to throw out Neil Peart, although I'm not sure he'd appreciate it. Selfishly, I'd love to have him back.
Orpheus. I bet he’d do great fronting a metal band.
Hendrix, Rory Gallagher and SRV. Imagine what the blues and the world would be like with those 3 big hitters still around.
Chuck Schuldiner. Greatest death metal vocalist to ever live.
He died before the world learned what a cunt he was
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Biggie Smalls
Eyedea
SOPHIE. Hyperpop hasn’t been the same since her passing.
Peter Steele
Justin Townes Earle.
Chuck Schuldiner, frontman of death metal pioneers Death, dude died of cancer in 2001 at the age of 34. I never had the chance to see them play live but their records are incredible.
Cliff Burton, Bass player of Metallica, died when the band's tour bus crashed and he was crushed underneath it. The band lost part of its soul and it took them a very long time to get over Cliffs death. Seeing videos of him playing live makes one understand what was lost, as he was an incredible musician.
On a more general note every artist that died very young, many made a big impact to their genre or even to a wider audience without it ever knowing.
Colter Wall, not that he's dead yet but im gonna save it if he dies before me.
Stan Rogers. Would pretty much double the number of available sea shanties
Bob Marley.
Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Sure, there are plenty of musicians who had a bigger impact on music as a whole, but NOBODY I've ever seen was more in tune with the universe than Stevie when he was playing.
As far as I can tell, he didn't actually play the guitar. He just acted as a conduit to channel music directly from the universe through a guitar. I don't think he ever once had to pause and consider what to play next when he was improvising, it just flowed out of him non-stop.
He had already started getting even better, having finally gotten sober, and it kills my soul every time I think about what else he could've given us had he not gotten on that helicopter.
Way underrated here. SRV had a great deal of music left in him and few could match his talent. While a number of people suggested on here released great stuff, many did not have as much left in them.
Max Bennett. He's not famous famous but he's well known enough in the jazz scene. He played with Frank Sinatra, Dizzie Gillespie, and recorded on countless studio sessions. I knew him personally and I think was his last student before he passed. Some people closer to him than me told me one of the last things he said was "I need to give jcabral9 his lesson" and it makes me tear up whenever I think about it. I was too young to understand most of his concepts--I wish I could know him as an adult and professional musician myself.
Nightbirde
Bryn Jones aka Muslimgauze
Piotr Grudziński of Riverside. It's clear to me their discography went completely different way than it could have after he died being only 41.
JS Bach.
The only two I would consider otherwise are both alive (Lindsey Stirling and Amy Lee). They even have a collaborative piece 🎉
Ricardo Iorio
Hendrix
JW
Tim Maia.
I'd bring back Sonny. Cher needs her Sonny again.
Kirk Cubain.
I'd give him two bullet before introducing him to Justin Bieber.
The famous singer of the Band Virnana.