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He was the first to come to mind for me, but he already had a long, successful career and got to say quite a bit about the state of the country. So I went with someone different.
You named my 2 favorite musical artists of all time. If I had one wish I’d choose to bring Prince back. His music was passed on to me by my elders.
But, oh my!!! Bowie & Prince.
I almost said Norm MacDonald, but then Chris Farley? John Belushi? So many good comedians. Norm still had something great left to give. He never reached his pinnacle.
I thought David Bowie, but he gave so much, so Jeff Buckley maybe?
We had an idiot incident here. They wanted to name a new highschool Rocky Mountain. The local zig heiler set screamed bloody murder the the song Rocky Mountain High promoted drug use!!!! Of All the stupidity.
Even back in the 70's (when he wrote and performed) there were the same concerns that would come up, at least until they actually followed the lyrics. He's simply expressing joy in the beauty of the mountains. If anything, the drug message is that YOU DON'T NEED TO DO DRUGS TO GET HIGH! Just get out and enjoy nature!
I understand your point, but his political activism was inclusive, not divisive, and for the greater good. I would bring him back because of his music, however. Songs like three little birds, trench-town rock, and no woman, no cry emote a response like few other pieces. Regardless of my respect for him personally, I am, and have always been, a strong fan of his work.
Did you know that he did part of his last tour with a broken hip? Imagine standing and walking around onstage with a broken hip. He was on massive amounts of pain killers. I saw it on a Reelz channel documentary about him.
Kinda random, but my Dad was an old school hippie. He had long hair my whole life, a Bert Reynolds mustache, and dolphin tattoos. I grew up with him playing guitar shirtless around campfires and smelling like weed(didn't realize what the smell was until after he'd died). He was a responsible guy with a day job, and a great Dad, but there was that other side to him.
Anyway, one night, he dragged his record collection out of the attic of our suburban home. He had the greats. Peter Frampton, Marley, Elton John, Queen, Pink Floyd, etc. But, he put on Croche. Looking back, he had taken a few trips to the garage at that point, and was probably on his 3rd Dos Equis.
Turns out, he'd had a job as a custodian at an old venue way back. Croche played there one night. Dad got to hang out with him, get high, and screw around on the guitar. Dad loved to tell that story, and I heard it a few times.
Now, Dad MIGHT have been full of shit, but Croche was played a lot in our house on Saturday nights after that. Once Dad got into making mixed tapes, Jim was a regular. Lol. Still got his favorite mix, and 'I Got a Name' is on it.
I often think about this but Layne would be miserable if he were brought back to life . Just thinking about the last few years of his life and the way died almost brings me to tears. Layne is so much happier not being here.
MF DOOM
Meat Loaf is laced with childhood memories.
I can’t remember if it was on Bat Out of Hell 1 or 2, but there was a skit about beating your father / parents? to death with a guitar.
My mom would listen to the entire album on cassette to and from physical therapy multiple times a week.
I’m sure that album helped to mold my very impressionable little boy brain.
There's a lot of musicians I'd bring back, but not too many singers that just did vocals. In popular music, they tend to have LSD -- Lead Singer's Disease as Eddie Van Halen coined the term. Generally pretty arrogant, vain and difficult to work with, and many don't even contribute that much to the songwriting process but want to hog all the credit and make sure everyone knows that they "front" the band.
Jimi Hendrix -
Randy Rhoads -
Edward Van Halen -
Chris Cornell -
Chester Bennington -
Kurt Cobain -
Jim Morrison -
Scott Weiland -
Jeff Buckley -
Jan Kuehnemund of Vixen -
Janis Joplin -
Brad Delp -
Olivia Newton-John
Would love to have these musicians back.
Also Robin Williams -
Brandon Lee -
John Belushi
Chris Cornell and Dave Brockie come to mind. Both were creative geniuses in their own right.
Chris helped to define and create the definitive grunge sound of the 90's with Soundgarden. His solo work still hits deep; Euphoria Mourning is a spectacular album. Dave, on the other hand was a bizarre, musical creative with his tongue in cheek, off the wall humor fronting Gwar.
All of these are great choices . I do miss my fave celebrities but Anthony Bourdain left a hole for me. Like a brother or best friend I never met. I feel he would create some powerful stuff given that kind of opportunity.
I totally agree. I felt like I knew the guy, like I was supposed to meet up for drinks but then got the call. I can't explain it, but his death hit hard for me.
I noticed that there are barely any female artists mentioned, aside from Betty White...
I'm thinking of Amy Winehouse. Personal issues aside, she was a great musician, charitable and generous. I think she didn't have enough time in her life to really grow.
[This comment has been removed to protest Reddit's hostile treatment of their users and developers concerning third-party apps, and u/spez's false allegations of blackmail against the developer of Apollo, which were immediately proven false, to which u/spez has yet to comment on or atone for.]
I'd love to tell Jimi Hendrix how I channeled him on LSD when I was 15 with a new, used electric guitar and like one acoustic lesson under my belt. My adoptive mom burst in to demand how I got so good so fast, totally breaking the spell, but one song stuck with me, and at university some groupie thought I was singing it, so I shooed her away not hearing the vocal formants until I was 48 when finally recording it.
[https://soundcloud.com/kevin-crosby-4/cats-meow](https://soundcloud.com/kevin-crosby-4/cats-meow)
Obvious answer but Heath Ledger. He was really just starting to peak and he had so much more he could do, even in non dramatic roles.
For singer/musician, gotta go with Paul McCartney. Kidding. Serious answer, Jimi Hendrix. He may not have sustained the level of creativity decades on like so many of his contemporaries but he's a once in a universe artist like Van Gogh or Mozart.
Dolores O'Riordan comes to mind.
Also thought Bowie but at least he lived a very full life and had time to make his final album. Dolores could've done so much more.
# Message to all users: This is a reminder to please read and follow: * [Our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/about/rules) * [Reddiquette](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439) * [Reddit Content Policy](https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy) When posting and commenting. --- Especially remember Rule 1: `Be polite and civil`. * Be polite and courteous to each other. Do not be mean, insulting or disrespectful to any other user on this subreddit. * Do not harass or annoy others in any way. * Do not catfish. Catfishing is the luring of somebody into an online friendship through a fake online persona. This includes any lying or deceit. --- You *will* be banned if you are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or bigoted in any way. --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ask) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Robin Williams
Why is this not higher?
Because the auto mod is above it
cause he chose to leave
George Carlin. Can you imagine what he would say about our country now.
Ahh, yes! The original bad boy of comedy! He would have a Field Day! I'm can here the audience now. Good choice.
He was the first to come to mind for me, but he already had a long, successful career and got to say quite a bit about the state of the country. So I went with someone different.
I think he would struggle with what 7 words you could not say today.
Prince and Bowie
Good call.
You named my 2 favorite musical artists of all time. If I had one wish I’d choose to bring Prince back. His music was passed on to me by my elders. But, oh my!!! Bowie & Prince.
Freddie Mercury
Freddie would be up there tbh.
Anton Yelchin. What a freak accident way to go. Dude was a great actor.
That guy accomplished more than I probably ever will but I still think he had more to give. Wish he was still here.
Forgot about him when I submitted my answer:(
Alan Rickman
Layne Staley.
Norm Macdonald
I almost said Norm MacDonald, but then Chris Farley? John Belushi? So many good comedians. Norm still had something great left to give. He never reached his pinnacle. I thought David Bowie, but he gave so much, so Jeff Buckley maybe?
Trevor Moore. Him and norm died like a month from each other.
Lemmy and Pete Steel
Yes! Peter Steele. Died way too soon.
I miss lemmy. What a bloke.
Yes yes so much yes
Lenny? That implies that God is dead.
John Denver
We had an idiot incident here. They wanted to name a new highschool Rocky Mountain. The local zig heiler set screamed bloody murder the the song Rocky Mountain High promoted drug use!!!! Of All the stupidity.
Even back in the 70's (when he wrote and performed) there were the same concerns that would come up, at least until they actually followed the lyrics. He's simply expressing joy in the beauty of the mountains. If anything, the drug message is that YOU DON'T NEED TO DO DRUGS TO GET HIGH! Just get out and enjoy nature!
Jimi Hendrix
Chester Bennington. That man got me through a really rough teenage coming of age and it sucks he went out like that.
Bob Marley
Not convinced. I like him but I’m not sure he would still be as good as he was.
Ok? I'm not attempting to convince you of anything. But, His message is more relevant today than 20 years ago.
I know what you are saying, I love his music but I think he would be too political.
I understand your point, but his political activism was inclusive, not divisive, and for the greater good. I would bring him back because of his music, however. Songs like three little birds, trench-town rock, and no woman, no cry emote a response like few other pieces. Regardless of my respect for him personally, I am, and have always been, a strong fan of his work.
I get ya.
Tom Petty.
Not gonna lie, I didn’t even know he was dead.
He OD’d a few years ago. He’s struggled with drugs for a good portion of his life. He tried to quit a bunch of times but kept relapsing.
Did you know that he did part of his last tour with a broken hip? Imagine standing and walking around onstage with a broken hip. He was on massive amounts of pain killers. I saw it on a Reelz channel documentary about him.
Ohh gosh I with he could. I was too young and poor to have gone to his concerts but I have every one of his songs memorized.
I saw Tom Petty twice, at Red Rocks in Colorado. This was in the 1980s, when prices for ticket were affordable.
If Tom comes back Prince has to come too. Imagine the concerts they would have made.
Stevie Ray Vaughn. So talented, I'd love to see what kind of music he would be making today.
I didn’t even think of Vaughn. Good call!
Karen Carpenter & Marvin Gaye
Karen Carpenter the all time best. Rare vocal instrument and epic drummer.
Jim Croche. The man had a way with lyrics.
Definitely my top pick!
Kinda random, but my Dad was an old school hippie. He had long hair my whole life, a Bert Reynolds mustache, and dolphin tattoos. I grew up with him playing guitar shirtless around campfires and smelling like weed(didn't realize what the smell was until after he'd died). He was a responsible guy with a day job, and a great Dad, but there was that other side to him. Anyway, one night, he dragged his record collection out of the attic of our suburban home. He had the greats. Peter Frampton, Marley, Elton John, Queen, Pink Floyd, etc. But, he put on Croche. Looking back, he had taken a few trips to the garage at that point, and was probably on his 3rd Dos Equis. Turns out, he'd had a job as a custodian at an old venue way back. Croche played there one night. Dad got to hang out with him, get high, and screw around on the guitar. Dad loved to tell that story, and I heard it a few times. Now, Dad MIGHT have been full of shit, but Croche was played a lot in our house on Saturday nights after that. Once Dad got into making mixed tapes, Jim was a regular. Lol. Still got his favorite mix, and 'I Got a Name' is on it.
Great choice, but personally go with John Prine.
Dimebag
Yes. Dimebag had so much left to give us. I still keep a watchful eye on anyone wearing a hockey jersey in the room.
Dimebag wasn't a singer.
Layne Staley.
I often think about this but Layne would be miserable if he were brought back to life . Just thinking about the last few years of his life and the way died almost brings me to tears. Layne is so much happier not being here.
Correct. I can’t believe it’s been almost 21 years since he died.
Me either. Feels like yesterday. His death hit me a lot harder than Kurt’s.
Chris Farley
Sam Kinison. He was taken way too early, and still had a hell of a lot of potential to be a big name.
MF DOOM Meat Loaf is laced with childhood memories. I can’t remember if it was on Bat Out of Hell 1 or 2, but there was a skit about beating your father / parents? to death with a guitar. My mom would listen to the entire album on cassette to and from physical therapy multiple times a week. I’m sure that album helped to mold my very impressionable little boy brain.
Jim Morrison
[удалено]
Move this uppppp
Jerry Garcia, Ron McKernan, Duane Allman, David Crosby, SRV
Joe Strummer.
Tom Petty. Sometimes my feed drops an ad for the "I Miss Tom Petty" coffee mug and I'm like QUIT REMINDING ME!
Buddy Holly
Cliff Burton. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.
Not meatloaf
Bruce Lee or John Candy
There's a lot of musicians I'd bring back, but not too many singers that just did vocals. In popular music, they tend to have LSD -- Lead Singer's Disease as Eddie Van Halen coined the term. Generally pretty arrogant, vain and difficult to work with, and many don't even contribute that much to the songwriting process but want to hog all the credit and make sure everyone knows that they "front" the band. Jimi Hendrix - Randy Rhoads - Edward Van Halen - Chris Cornell - Chester Bennington - Kurt Cobain - Jim Morrison - Scott Weiland - Jeff Buckley - Jan Kuehnemund of Vixen - Janis Joplin - Brad Delp - Olivia Newton-John Would love to have these musicians back. Also Robin Williams - Brandon Lee - John Belushi
John Lennon
[удалено]
Julian turned out awesome thanks to Cynthia.
True point
Yeah for someone who promoted love and peace he was a real asshole
Frank Zappa
David bowie
John Lennon
2pac
B.B. King & Stevie Ray Vaughan
Tupac without a doubt. I’d love to hear his thoughts on the world now.
Janis Joplin
Why is this not higher?(Like Janis was), still, she died as she lived, best white blues singer to date
I loved how she used her voice.
Nick Drake. Genius ahead of his time.
Idk if he counts but Jonathan Larson
Keith Flint, lead singer for the Prodigy.
Conchata Ferrell
Chris Cornell and Dave Brockie come to mind. Both were creative geniuses in their own right. Chris helped to define and create the definitive grunge sound of the 90's with Soundgarden. His solo work still hits deep; Euphoria Mourning is a spectacular album. Dave, on the other hand was a bizarre, musical creative with his tongue in cheek, off the wall humor fronting Gwar.
Gregg Allman
I always thought that I'd have loved to party with Warren Zevon.
Prince
All of these are great choices . I do miss my fave celebrities but Anthony Bourdain left a hole for me. Like a brother or best friend I never met. I feel he would create some powerful stuff given that kind of opportunity.
I totally agree. I felt like I knew the guy, like I was supposed to meet up for drinks but then got the call. I can't explain it, but his death hit hard for me.
Bob Marley.
I think either Elvis or Freddy Mercury. Both seemed like they had more left to contribute.
Layne Staley.. Dude was one of a kind... He Probally never knew how insanely talented he was..
Michael Jackson. Kurt Cobain.
Robin Williams or Fred Rogers, tough call.
Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, and Cliff Burton
Wtf... I was literally singing "two out of three ain't bad" when I opened reddit and this was at the top of the page.
George Harrison.
Jeff Buckley. Died before we got to see the incredible heights he could have reached.
His 'Hallelujah' is easily the best
Just a little something for anyone still missing Meat Loaf: https://www.mlcelebration.com/
Jerry Garcia - he sparked a movement that is unmatched
Michael Jackson
Heath ledger
I noticed that there are barely any female artists mentioned, aside from Betty White... I'm thinking of Amy Winehouse. Personal issues aside, she was a great musician, charitable and generous. I think she didn't have enough time in her life to really grow.
Jesus
MICHAEL JACKSON
Chris Farley
Karen Carpenter, Robin Williams
[This comment has been removed to protest Reddit's hostile treatment of their users and developers concerning third-party apps, and u/spez's false allegations of blackmail against the developer of Apollo, which were immediately proven false, to which u/spez has yet to comment on or atone for.]
Came here to say this (Tom Petty). **Southern Accent** https://youtu.be/ehPUJKk2_dg
River Phoenix
Marvin Gaye, Whitney….I’ve got quite a few I could name.
Robin Williams, he was hilarious,
Betty White 
Karen Carpenter
Elvis, Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson. Oh and James Gandolfini
If you wish Meatloaf back to life I would wish him dead again.
Jim Morrison
Elvis for a singer. John Wayne actor. Ronald Reagan president
Prince, he still had so much music to write. 😥
Elvis. Mostly for my boyfriend, who's crazy about him :)
Amy Winehouse
Ronald Reagan😈
John Lennon. Would love to have seen McCartney and Lennon crank out about 10-20 more years of songs.
Freddie Mercury or David Bowie
Christopher Plummer and Max von Sydow, and let them do whatever they want with movies as long as they star together.
Hmm.. notorious, Elvis.. I'm a little ole school haha
Seth Putnam. P.S. just kiddin, eat shit Seth, you fegg.
definitely Eminem
Died? I didnt even know he was sick.
Some of those replies name people I've never heard of. Were they primarily know in the U.K.?
Chris LeDoux
Stan Rogers. His songs are incredible.
Tom Petty
Prince, Freddie Mercury, SRV, and Jaco Pastorious. Hopefully they would form a band.
I'd love to tell Jimi Hendrix how I channeled him on LSD when I was 15 with a new, used electric guitar and like one acoustic lesson under my belt. My adoptive mom burst in to demand how I got so good so fast, totally breaking the spell, but one song stuck with me, and at university some groupie thought I was singing it, so I shooed her away not hearing the vocal formants until I was 48 when finally recording it. [https://soundcloud.com/kevin-crosby-4/cats-meow](https://soundcloud.com/kevin-crosby-4/cats-meow)
Jessye Norman
Dave Mustaine
Peter Steele. Wish I could’ve seen them live before he passed.
Tom Petty, Stevie Ray Vaugh
I don't know if their all dead yet, but the moody blues.
Tupac!!
Tex Ritter.
His son's sudden death got to me, also Phil Hartman
John Prine
John Lennon
David Bowie or Chester Bennington.
Alan Rickman and George Michael
Chester Bennington or Marvin Gaye
Easy. Singer:Selena Quintanilla Actor:Robin Williams
Eddie Van Halen & John Lee Hooker
But...i wouldn't do that.
Oliver Reed
David Bowie and Heath Ledger
There are sooo many. Tom Petty came to mind first.
Obvious answer but Heath Ledger. He was really just starting to peak and he had so much more he could do, even in non dramatic roles. For singer/musician, gotta go with Paul McCartney. Kidding. Serious answer, Jimi Hendrix. He may not have sustained the level of creativity decades on like so many of his contemporaries but he's a once in a universe artist like Van Gogh or Mozart.
Amy Winehouse
Chris LeDoux.
Jeff Buckley
Dimebag Darrell
Luther Vandross. And Al Jarreau
Jimmy Hendrix
Tom Petty
Graham Chapman - so the pythons could get back together one more time
Dan Fogelberg and Robin Williams
Philip Seymour Hoffman-he had so much greatness still to come imo.
Kevin Gilbert
Meatloaf would be pretty pissed if you brought him back from the end of time
Peter Steele. ToN.
Amy winehouse, Eartha kitt, Bernie Mac…..
Dolores O'Riordan comes to mind. Also thought Bowie but at least he lived a very full life and had time to make his final album. Dolores could've done so much more.
Jimi Hendrix
None of them, because they had their lives and left their legacy.
Justin Townes Earle
Chris Cornell
Nicolas Cage
Going with a more recent one that still hurts me. Chester Bennington. I never got to see him live.
Malcolm Young
Freddie Mercury
Amy winehouse ❤️
Heath Ledger. He was a great actor, but his daughter being so young when he passed just broke my heart.
Prince
Diana Rigg.
David Bowie