Freddie Mercury brought us songs that defined anthems, and these are still used in movies today. Songs like "Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “We Will Rock You" lift our spirits. We wish he were still writing age-defining songs today!
Depending on your mood, you can chill out or rock out to Jimi Hendrix's riffs. The guitar god himself gave us songs that would be around for years. If he were alive today, our music would be ten times better!
Rushton Moreve played for the band Steppenwolf and is one of the best bass guitarists in the world! He even helped co-write the song “Magic Carpet Ride.” We’d love to have some more of his hit songs that make us dance no matter how bummed out we are.
No rock legend list can exist without John Bonham! Not only did he set the bar for being a drummer, but he also wrote several songs for the prodigy rock band Led Zeppelin. The music industry and society alike would be blessed to still have him around.
Steve Clark was a member of the band Def Leppard, but he was so much more. He also co-wrote or composed several of the band's hit songs. After his death, the band just didn’t sound the same; It’d be a gift to hear his riffs again.
The Who helped shape some of what we listen to today, even if some people only know their songs through the intro of CSI. Keith Moon rocked the drums until his untimely death at the age of 32. He could always hold the audience with his drum solos, something anyone would be lucky to witness today.
Jim Morrison left us at the young age of 27, but he left behind a plethora of classic rock songs to jam out to. We would like to see him back today, rocking out with The Doors and releasing more jaw-dropping tracks!
If you don't know his name, you're sure to recognize his voice as that of AC/DC. Brian Johnson replaced Bon Scott following his death, but Axl Rose has taken his place for current tours. While they do a good job, nothing will ever sound like Bon Scott. "Highway to Hell" just can't exist without his screaming vocals urging us on!
Randy Rhoads was one of the best guitarists of all time! He backed Ozzy with his riffing guitar in songs like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley.” Today, we could see him battle it out with stars like Slash.
Metallica hit hard times when its bass guitarist passed in 1986. It was more than just a loss for Metallica; It was a loss for music history. You know a bassist is good when he can carry a solo by himself, so we'd love to be still rocking out with Cliff Burton today!
Janis Joplin is a staple of rock, and she was gone far too soon. She’s one of the most widely-known female rock stars but famously left us as part of the 27 Club – stars that passed at 27. Despite living such a short time, she had an eventful life. Joplin played at Woodstock and already had recorded an album. Two of her biggest hits are "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Cry Baby."
We know we already put John Lennon on here, but The Beatles deserve a spot of their own. Could you imagine living in a world where The Beatles played live in front of a sea of fans? The closest we'll get is the new song they just released, "Now and Then," which uses AI and archival recordings to give us a brand new hit we can love today.
Sid was a little punk, but that was his image. He was the bassist for the band and had a very chaotic life. After a series of legal issues, he passed away in 1979. With all that being said, the band he was a part of was incredibly influential on what we know as “punk rock” today. It was a revolution that changed how people dressed, thought, and played music.
Kurt Cobain was a member of Nirvana who left us far too early. The band influenced several bands today and even encouraged some kids to get into music. We know we’re not the only ones that want Cobain back.
Ronnie Van Zant was one of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who the plane crash in 1977. After his passing, his brother Johnny took over as lead singer when the band reunited in 1987.
The Ramones had a rough few years. Joey passed away from lymphoma in 2001. Then, Dee Dee sadly followed in 2002. Finally, Johnny was the last one in 2004. After Joey’s death, the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where they belonged.
Brian Jones almost made it to the 27 Club, but it wasn’t hard for anyone to see his ending. He had a series of legal troubles, and his death was ultimately caused by the very thing he had issues with. It’s just a shame that we lost the leader of the Rolling Stones as early as we did.
Layne Staley had a unique style that permeated rock in a way few bands have in the past. When he passed away, it left a hole in Alice in Chains, and their contract was terminated. They reformed in 2005 and are still producing music but without Staley’s iconic voice.
Who else could be on this list other than Elvis? He and his gyrating hips helped create rock as we know it today. He died decades ago, but we’d love to see him in concert just once to see where it all happened.
Tom Petty passed away more recently than many others on this list, but it was a major hit to rock and roll. He wrote many songs that are now iconic, including “Free Fallin’,” “I Won’t Back Down,” and Runnin’ Down a Dream.” We wish he were still here with us.
Okay, so Buddy Holly wasn’t as hard rock as Def Leppard and Metallica, but he was one of the pioneering figures of rock and roll. He died in one of the saddest deaths in music history. Dubbed “The Day the Music Died,” it was when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson all passed away from a plane malfunction.
Chris Cornell’s death impacted rock fans all over the world. The following day, Soundgarden was supposed to play at Rock on the Range. Cornell was also a member of Temple of the Dog and Mad Season. There are countless people who wish he was still alive so they can still see him performing live today, and we're one of them.
Lou Reed's passing wasn’t surprising due to his age and illness. Reed had hepatitis and diabetes for years before he developed liver cancer. He is most known for being a part of The Velvet Underground, but he also had several hits on his own.
Jerry Garcia had been in several bands, but he’s most known for being the lead guitarist and vocalist of the Grateful Dead. Being able to see Jerry Garcia live must have been amazing, but it’s something kids nowadays will never know.
Rock wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for Pink Floyd. Syd Barrett was a huge part of that as one of the founding members of the band. He was the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter. He helped direct the band but only remained with them until 1968.
Carl and Dennis Wilson were members of The Beach Boys – one of the early rock bands. “Good Vibrations” is easily one of the best songs by the group, and it’s impossible to be bummed out listening to it.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been around forever. Hillel Slovak was one of the original band members, but he died in 1988. His guitar mastery brought a funky, hard rock sound that was a major influence on the band. The band was great without him, but the group was amazing with him.
The Steve Miller Band was a lot of things, but no matter what genre they played, they performed their hearts out. They were a joy to listen to, and Tim Davis was part of the original founding members. He was the drummer, singer, and songwriter until he left to start his own career.
Creedence Clearwater Revival made some of the best-known hits today. In fact, “Fortunate Son” is used in pretty much any movie that’s set in the ‘60s. Tom Fogerty was the rhythm guitarist for the band, but he left after he felt he didn’t have enough opportunities to write and sing. He then produced minor hits like “Goodbye Media Man.”
John Lennon was more than just a Beatles member but that was where he got his start. He was taken from us at a young age while promoting peace. We’d like to imagine him alive right now. Even after this incident, Lennon became one of the most prolific figures in history.
George Harrison was another member of the Beatles that we miss today. He was a guitarist, songwriter, and made the best music including “My Sweet Lord” and “Got My Mind Set On You.”
Chester Bennington wasn't a member of a classic rock group like many on this list, but we'd be remiss not to include him on this "legends" list. He inspired countless to get into music, and his death caused a wave of sadness across the world. This came soon after Chris Cornell, who he was very close friends with. It was almost unbelievable.
