What if they survived

[Bodeanly]

On the other hand, imagine how high we'd place certain artists if they had not lived to create their worst records. I don't wanna talk smack, but take Layne Staley and Scott Weiland. Similar lifestyles, but what if their fates had been switched? Would we still hold them each in the same regard, whatever that regard may be?

 

[Nev375]

Well, if Cobain had lived, we likely wouldn't have the Foo Fighters. They are every bit as influential to millennials as Nirvana was to Gen Xers .

 

[jasonrp]

Regarding Staley/ Weiland, I'm guessing so. Staley had good vocals but, imo, Cantrel was the major factor in AIC. As long as they stayed together I think they would age well. Weiland needs a good band around him. The revolver guys are good but they never seemed to be patient enough to get the music just right. You listen to Slash's old solos and riffs compared to the newer ones and they just seem alot more thoughtful. I always thought his newer stuff sounded like lucky jam riffs that fell together into a song

 

[29A]

I sometimes think the early deaths serve to extend the artist's influence. To take Cobain as an example, now he's forever that tortured 27 year old that will never age. We'll never see him grow old and lame and he'll always be great.

We could be wondering about all that EVH could have contributed if he were to have died at 30, but he didn't and now we know. Ditto for Macca, Rush, Page, Einstein, and all the other greats who had jumped the shark by their 30s.

 

[Marikk]

As someone who grew up listening to STP Weiland has been a heartbreaking thing to see. I still love to watch the MTV unplugged they did. Heroin is a costly drug in numerous ways

 

[TyBo]

Okay, I have donned my fireproof underwear for this one. So before you start screaming at me, I've heard it all, but it has had no effect.
Most of the posts here I agree with, except Hendrix. Yes, he was an innovator and a showman, but he was not the musician he gets credit for being. I'm not saying he was bad. I'm saying he was a one trick pony who did a new trick better than anyone else. In his time he was hailed as the world's greatest guitarist. I think that is an over statement and then some. I think he was very skilled at what he did, but not all that versatile.
I believe, had he survived, he would be next week's act at the Backwash County Casino.

One trick, eh? Which one would that be? The dive bombing and whammy bar? The innovative chordal playing? The bringing together of funk, R+B, and rock (with jazz overtones)? Or perhaps, uh, I don't know ... the songwriting? Wish I had a trick like that ...

 

[jnuts1]

some would fizzle some would just truck on and some would have made another awesome album or two. Paul simon made some great stuff later in life & Aerosmith put out some of their best stuff in the 90's.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

One trick, eh? Which one would that be? The dive bombing and whammy bar? The innovative chordal playing? The bringing together of funk, R+B, and rock (with jazz overtones)? Or perhaps, uh, I don't know ... the songwriting? Wish I had a trick like that ...

Or when he was fired by the Isley Brothers because he couldn't play the parts they wanted?

 

[Bodeanly]

Regarding Staley/ Weiland, I'm guessing so. Staley had good vocals but, imo, Cantrel was the major factor in AIC. As long as they stayed together I think they would age well. Weiland needs a good band around him. The revolver guys are good but they never seemed to be patient enough to get the music just right. You listen to Slash's old solos and riffs compared to the newer ones and they just seem alot more thoughtful. I always thought his newer stuff sounded like lucky jam riffs that fell together into a song

While STP (Robert DeLeo) is one of my biggest influences, I disagree that all Weiland needs is a good band behind him. His latest Wildabouts vids shows him barely karaoking through some of STP's greatest hits. No offense to karaoke singers!

Exhibit A:

 

[Roy Vogt]

If Jaco had survived and gotten a handle on his mental illness, I think he would have gone on to be a major Jazz Icon in the vein of Pat Metheny and Chick Corea. Film scoring would have not been out of the question as well.
There was a fascinating article in the UK magazine Guitarist which extrapolated on what Jimi's life might have been. He might have ended up living in Hawaii a la Todd Rundgren and doing remote Film Scores and Recording from his State of the Art Home Studio.
Here's another interesting Alternate History:
What If Jimi Hendrix Didn’t Die? | BUMS LOGIC

 

[tbz]

I agree with this, except for the 'casinos' part for Morrison.
The Doors' music was predominantly the brainchild of Manzarek and Krieger, and Morrison's passion was poetry. I think he would have pursued poetry/writing.
The Doors music was his vehicle to expose that, and I think a brilliant strategy at that. Remember, they pretty much laid it to rest before he passed.
Which has always made me wonder why Manzarek and Krieger hadn't continued to contribute further to music post-Doors. I think they were creative, if not underrated.

This is just an opinion, but Jim definitely had some major habits to kick before he would have been able to succeed as a marginally productive person in any profession where being productive is a concern. If he would have stayed alive, and overcome his general apathy, chemical habits, personal habits, and rock god ego, he definitely could have eventually turned into a productive/prolific writer.

 

[paparoof]

I was just pondering this same question about Zappa this morning. He sure as hell wouldn't be doing the Branson circuit, he'd still be offending and cynically poking fun at current events - and making some unbelievable music. I don't know what it would sound like, but I bet I would still love it. He was getting into some pretty cool "classical" music composition right before he died. I'm no classical music aficionado, but Yellow Shark is awesome.

 

[fishdreams]

Morrison: a poet who would have moved from Paris(70s) to Bangkok(80s) and then to Berlin(90s and 2000s), flying stateside every now and doing reunion tours, including a reconciliation with his parents in 2005. Duane Allman would have mourned the loss of Berry Oakley forever, but kept on truckin' with the Allmans to this day. Jimi Hendrix would have gone on to save jazz as a commercially and artistically viable, constantly rejuvenating art form where Wynton Marsalis would be happily playing cruise ships. Frank Zappa would run for president on an independent ticket every 4 years and smoke Sean Hannity every time on his own show.

 

[karl_em_all]

Cobain would've started doing solo stuff and been just as successful with it as he was with Nirvana.

 

[mwbassace]

While STP (Robert DeLeo) is one of my biggest influences, I disagree that all Weiland needs is a good band behind him. His latest Wildabouts vids shows him barely karaoking through some of STP's greatest hits. No offense to karaoke singers!

Exhibit A:

WOW! So what's the bassist supposed to do, sing his back-up vocals as off key also?

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I believe that if Jimi hendrix and Jaco both lived they would've ended up playing together. Probably with Miles Davis in the Jazz/Fusion realm.
Imagine that. Jimi and Jaco sharing a stage!!

 

[paparoof]

While STP (Robert DeLeo) is one of my biggest influences, I disagree that all Weiland needs is a good band behind him. His latest Wildabouts vids shows him barely karaoking through some of STP's greatest hits. No offense to karaoke singers!

Exhibit A:

Oh wow. I was never a fan but... wow. That's really the same guy that sang that song on the radio? Seriously?

 

[karl_em_all]

Weiland is a true shadow of his former self. Terrible.

 

[themarshall]

They would as a group be good, great, disappointing and irrelevant in the same ratio as their surviving peers.

 

[themarshall]

Weiland is a true shadow of his former self. Terrible.

Half the man he used to be......