Mick JacobsList RulesVote up the artists you would love to see do one final song.
Many of the world's greatest musicians remain highly respected even in death. The world often mourns the loss of the artist and the songs that the artist never got to write. If you go looking through your iTunes or Spotify libraries, you will likely find dozens of those dead musicians. You'll probably want to bring back more than a few, even if it's just so that they can write one more song.
In the whirlwind world of music, numerous rock stars die before their prime. Their untimely demises pose a difficult question, one that needs an answer.
We asked you, our audience, "Which artist would you bring back from the dead to write one more song?" And your answers have been both surprising and satisfying. Artists who died before ever reaching thirty, from Kurt Cobain to Aaliyah, are among your choices but a few prolific artists who had time on their side, such as Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen, also showed up in your responses. Some people believed that these legends were still capable of genius even in their old age.
While no one determined for certain which dead artist needs to make one more song, each answer still reminds us of how much these musicians continue to impact the world.
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3,6921,546Freddie Mercury
The Solo Collection, BarcelonaGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Rockabilly, Heavy metal, Pop rock
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British... more2
3,2271,635John Lennon
Imagine, John Lennon/Plastic Ono BandGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Pop music, Rock music, Experimental rock, Pop rock
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an... more3
2,3081,422Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony Edition, Classical AnthologyGenres (Music): Opera, Classical music
Ludwig van Beethoven ( (listen); German: [ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːthoːfn̩] (listen); baptised 17... more4
2,4581,575Jimi Hendrix
First Rays of the New Rising Sun, Band of GypsysGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Experimental rock, Psychedelia, Heavy metal
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18,... more5
2,5681,747David Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Hunky DoryGenres (Music): Rock music, Psychedelic pop, Electronic music, Protopunk, Glam rock
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie (,... more6
2,4501,689Prince
Purple Rain, Sign 'O' the TimesGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Synthpop, New Wave, Rock music, Rhythm and blues
Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter,... more7
2,7181,988Michael Jackson
Thriller, BadGenres (Music): Motown Sound, Rock music, Electronic music, Dance-pop, New jack swing
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter,... more8
1,269973Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony Edition, Classical AnthologyGenres (Music): Opera, Ballet, Art song, Chamber music, Classical music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus... more9
1,004766Ella Fitzgerald
Côte d'Azur Concerts on Verve, Ella Wishes You a Swinging ChristmasGenres (Music): Ballad, Swing music, Traditional pop music, Vocal jazz, Jazz
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an African-American jazz singer... more10
2,3541,916Kurt Cobain
1993-09-08: Rock Against Rape Benefit, Club LingerieGenres (Music): Grunge, Alternative rock, Punk rock
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and... more11
1,9521,623Johnny Cash
American V: A Hundred Highways, American IV: The Man Comes AroundGenres (Music): Outlaw country, Christian music, Americana, Rock music, Rockabilly
John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American... more12
1,9211,601Bob Marley
Sun Is Shining, One LoveGenres (Music): Reggae
Robert Nesta Marley, (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer and songwriter.... more13
1,5801,370Tom Petty
Full Moon Fever, WildflowersGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Heartland rock, Rock music, Country rock, Rock and roll
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter,... more14
1,7781,660Elvis Presley
Jailhouse Rock, The Sun SessionsGenres (Music): Christian music, Pop music, Rock music, Rockabilly, Country rock
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known mononymously as Elvis, was... more15
1,064983Ricky Nelson
Rick Sings Nelson, Rudy the FifthGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Rockabilly, Folk music, Rock and roll
Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American pop star, musician, and... more16
1,5101,450Jim Morrison
Paris Jim, DionysusGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Acid rock, Rock and roll, Psychedelic rock
James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter... more17
1,3521,317George Harrison
All Things Must Pass, Cloud NineGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Experimental rock, World music, Experimental music
George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician,... more18
883860Stevie Ray Vaughan
Couldn't Stand the Weather, In StepGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Instrumental rock, Electric blues, Jazz fusion
Stephen Ray Vaughan (October 3, 1954 – August 27, 1990) was an American musician, singer,... more19
1,3091,349Marvin Gaye
What's Going On, HereGenres (Music): Doo-wop, Motown Sound, Rock music, Dance-pop, Rhythm and blues
Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer,... more20
751776Karen Carpenter
Karen CarpenterGenres (Music): Pop music, Soft rock
Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983) was an American singer and drummer who... more21
924962chris cornell
Carry On, You Know My NameGenres (Music): Rock music, Grunge, Psychedelic pop, Heavy metal, Rhythm and blues
Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American musician,... more22
1,4041,478Whitney Houston
The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album, Whitney HoustonGenres (Music): Pop music, Dance-pop, Contemporary R&B, Dance music, Rhythm and blues
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and... more23
432450Aretha Franklin
Lady Soul, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love YouGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Pop rock, Jazz
Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter,... more24
1,0221,098Buddy Holly
Buddy, 20 Golden GreatsGenres (Music): Lubbock sound, Rock music, Rockabilly, Pop rock, Rock and roll
Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known professionally as Buddy... more25
1,0871,180Janis Joplin
Pearl, Big Brother & The Holding CompanyGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk music, Acid rock, Soul music
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American rock, soul, and blues... more
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