[GivenToFly]

Counterfactual history. Historians love doing it. It's basically answering the question "What would have happened if this event would have had this different outcome?". I thought it would be a bit of fun to apply it to contemporary music history, particularly to rock star deaths. How would it have been if they hadn't died?

(I gotta say, I don't know much about some of these, so other more knowledgeable people should give their opinion)

• What if Freddie Mercury hadn't died?

It's pretty obvious that Queen were past their commercial success prime but they would have definitely been one of the touring circuit monsters. I'm thinking a Rolling Stones/Aerosmith/ACDC/etc scenario - legends, solid albums that cater to their fanbase, big tours. Maybe with a bit less inclination to the media side. However, could Queen have taken the U2 path, switching to a politically conscious voice? I kinda doubt it. While they - especially Mercury - have tackled socio-political issues in their lyrics, those were very general abstractions (e.g. The Miracle, Hammer To Fall etc). Plus, Freddie didn't take himself nearly as seriously as Bono does. I don't doubt though that they'd still be making and playing music. Good music at that.

• What if Kurt Cobain hadn't died?

I don't think it would have had much impact on the music scene. The grunge wave had already left its impact. All his death added to was his personal legacy. Cobain, probably even Nirvana, would have been less of a big deal, but the music, I think, would have taken the same path after them.

• What if John Lennon hadn't died?

I'm thinking more of a niche thing here. Kinda like Robert Plant did with his solo career. But in this case, probably more successful.


The following two are probably more interesting to think about.

• What if Jimi Hendrix hadn't died?

This is truly something to think about. The 70s with Jimi Hendrix. Basically all his work has been enormously influential. Who knows what he could have produced had he lived longer.

• What if Buddy Holly hadn't died?

The other 50s rock 'n' roll stars (except Elvis) didn't really matter that much after the decade was over. But Buddy Holly had a talent for innovation far above any of them. Could a true counterpart to the Beatles in America, who could actually hold his own to them have made a difference? Less Beatles-mania? Less of everything that lead to?

There's a whole bunch this could be applied to - Elvis (and by 'not died', I mean 'not died and kept making music'), Bob Marley etc.

I might add:

• What if Syd Barrett's brain hadn't died?

No 70s Pink Floyd. I seriously doubt they would have achieved fame with the kind of music they did in the 60s. And without them, would their kind of music been as prominent as it was? Specifically (and joking), I mean, how much would the average of all rock tracks lengths would have decreased. And seriously, how would the world of rock guitarists would look like today without the influence of Gilmour and what he did in Pink Floyd?




Please - thought-out replies, not drivel!

[Jackie Moon]

there is a website called what if sports.com i believe or something similear. i like the idea.

what if patrick roy had been pulled in detroit in 1995 (then would have never been traded)
what if wayne grezsky had never been traded from edmonton

ect.

what if hitler had won WWII?
what if slash got the poison gig?

[CryptElf]

IF SLIPKNOT HAD NEVER HAPPENED:

Wouldn't be a big deal because their are like 10 other bands who do the exact same shit.

[sr9409]

What if Slash hadn't died?

I've noticed that anything he put out after his death kinda sucked. Do you think this could have had an affect on his music? If so do you think Sankepit could have been better or he wouldn't have sold out?

This post has been edited by sr9409: 02 November 2009 - 08:10 PM

[sweetness]

CryptElf, on 02 November 2009 - 06:32 PM, said:

IF SLIPKNOT HAD NEVER HAPPENED:
Wouldn't be a big deal because their are like 10 other bands who do the exact same shit.

sr9409, on 02 November 2009 - 08:08 PM, said:

What if Slash hadn't died?

I've noticed that anything he put out after his death kinda sucked. Do you think this could have had an affect on his music? If so do you think Sankepit could have been better or he wouldn't have sold out?

ladies and gentlemen, this is how idiots think

[mr. orangestone]

I wonder what would've become of The Doors if Jim hadn't died. And also, what he would be like today. I couldn't see an old Jim Morrison on stage. I think he had to die.

What if John Bonham didn't die? Would Zeppelin have made more great records? Or would they have gone downhill (Presence & In Through The Out Door were already downhill, but still had solid tracks)? Would they have gotten eaten up by the 80s and released cheesy stuff like Paul McCartney and Queen did?

What if Michael Jackson didn't die? How would the 50 shows have gone? Would he have made it? Would he have died on stage?

Also what if Yoko Ono died. Would John's solo stuff have been better without the avant garde crap? Would the Beatles have released another record before they had to break up? I think they still would've broken up at the same time, but they would have gotten along better afterwards. John was really bitter towards George and Paul for how they treated Yoko. And I wouldn't mind John's avant garde stuff with yoko being erased from his discography.

[CryptElf]

sweetness, on 02 November 2009 - 10:35 PM, said:

CryptElf, on 02 November 2009 - 06:32 PM, said:

IF SLIPKNOT HAD NEVER HAPPENED:
Wouldn't be a big deal because their are like 10 other bands who do the exact same shit.

sr9409, on 02 November 2009 - 08:08 PM, said:

What if Slash hadn't died?

I've noticed that anything he put out after his death kinda sucked. Do you think this could have had an affect on his music? If so do you think Sankepit could have been better or he wouldn't have sold out?

ladies and gentlemen, this is how idiots think

Sorry you're right, there's probably like 15. I'll get my numbers straight next time bro.

[sweetness]

CryptElf, on 02 November 2009 - 11:42 PM, said:

Sorry you're right, there's probably like 15. I'll get my numbers straight next time bro.

actually there's way fucking more, its gotta be in the thousands i would think. Except the majority of them aren't complete rip-offs of Slipknot, they only follow in their footsteps, some actually aren't bad. I somewhat hate slipknot btw

I just hate the way you try to make points about supposed shitty music, they're so weak and annoying, even though i know you're trollin at least do it right.

the big goofy U2 sig really tops it off though

[CryptElf]

sweetness, on 03 November 2009 - 12:40 AM, said:

CryptElf, on 02 November 2009 - 11:42 PM, said:

Sorry you're right, there's probably like 15. I'll get my numbers straight next time bro.

actually there's way fucking more, its gotta be in the thousands i would think. Except the majority of them aren't complete rip-offs of Slipknot, they only follow in their footsteps, some actually aren't bad. I somewhat hate slipknot btw

I just hate the way you try to make points about supposed shitty music, they're so weak and annoying, even though i know you're trollin at least do it right.

the big goofy U2 sig really tops it off though

lol you said goofy

[Pico]

GivenToFly, on 02 November 2009 - 11:44 PM, said:

• What if Syd Barrett's brain hadn't died?

No 70s Pink Floyd. I seriously doubt they would have achieved fame with the kind of music they did in the 60s. And without them, would their kind of music been as prominent as it was? Specifically (and joking), I mean, how much would the average of all rock tracks lengths would have decreased. And seriously, how would the world of rock guitarists would look like today without the influence of Gilmour and what he did in Pink Floyd?

That would've been great.

2009 Cobain would probably have a couple of cool lo-fi records under his name and a mediocre Nirvana album that finished off the entire band.

I wonder what had happened if Dylan wasn't involved in that motorcycle accident.

[GivenToFly]

mr. orangestone, on 03 November 2009 - 04:31 AM, said:

What if John Bonham didn't die?

Right! How could I forget! I think the members of Led Zeppelin would have focused heavily on solo projects anyway, with the occasional band album and tour every 4 or 5 years. I think they would have departed a bit from classic rock and went toward that traditional eastern sound they were trying in the last stages of the band and afterwards in their subsequent albums. A more stripped down music, with traditional eastern or celtic influence. Basically, I think it would have sounded a lot like Plant's solo stuff. I mean, listen to what he and Page released together after Zeppelin, that should give you a good idea of what the band would have been. Although, I think it would have been more synth-heavy, especially in the 80s.





Crypt Elf, get the fuck out of my thread!!!!!!

[mr. orangestone]

GivenToFly, on 03 November 2009 - 03:59 AM, said:

mr. orangestone, on 03 November 2009 - 04:31 AM, said:

What if John Bonham didn't die?

Right! How could I forget! I think the members of Led Zeppelin would have focused heavily on solo projects anyway, with the occasional band album and tour every 4 or 5 years. I think they would have departed a bit from classic rock and went toward that traditional eastern sound they were trying in the last stages of the band and afterwards in their subsequent albums. A more stripped down music, with traditional eastern or celtic influence. Basically, I think it would have sounded a lot like Plant's solo stuff. I mean, listen to what he and Page released together after Zeppelin, that should give you a good idea of what the band would have been. Although, I think it would have been more synth-heavy, especially in the 80s.





Crypt Elf, get the fuck out of my thread!!!!!!

Yeah but Plant and Page did that stuff in the 90s. And Walking Into Clarksdale is pretty guitar-driven. Plant's solo stuff at first was extremely 80s.

[RickRoses]

a couple interesting ones.....

What if Guns never became the biggest band in the world? The power would never go to Slash's head or Axl's head, hell they might even still like each other... i think Chi Dem would have taken about 3 years to make and sounded a lot bluesier. I think they would have been still big, just not that big - and theyd still be puting out amazing albums...

what if Motley Crue had never gotten clean? Im positive Nikki would have died before Dr Feelgood came out (and stayed dead that time). Vince probably would have died an alchohal-related death before the mid 90s. Tommy and Mick would still be here, Mick probably wouldn't be doing anything though and Tommy would probably be DJing....

[KetchupNotMayo]

What if Jim Martin hadn't left Faith No More in 1993?

I think they'd have gotten even more experimental and out there, continuing along the path they were going down with Angel Dust, or at least that's what I'd like to hope as that album is pretty much kickass.

It's also possible that Martin would have been pretty bored and sick of the situation if he'd stayed in and the next album could have been pretty uninspired, so not sure how it would have played out to be honest, at least the albums we did get after Martin left were still of a high standard.

This post has been edited by KetchupNotMayo: 03 November 2009 - 06:24 PM

[Black Sabbath]

What if Randy Rhoads hadn't died?