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 was still writing age-defining songs today!
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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 10 times better!
Ruston 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.
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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.
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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.
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The Who helped shaped some of what we listen to today, even if it’s just the intro to 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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Metallica hit hard times when its bass guitarist died in 1986 in a bus crash. 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 still be rocking out with Cliff Burton today!
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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 died 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."
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Sid was a little punk, but that was his image. He was the bassist for the Sex Pistols and had a very chaotic life, including being accused of murdering Nancy Spungen. After being thrown in and out of jail, he died of a heroin overdose in 1979. With all that being said, the Sex Pistols were incredibly influential on what we know as “punk rock” today. The band was a revolution and changed the way people dressed, thought, and played music.
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John Lennon was more than just a member of the Beatles, but that was where he got his start. He was gunned down at a young age while promoting peace. We’d like to imagine him alive right now. Even after his death, Lennon became one of the most prolific figures in history.
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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.”
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Kurt Cobain was a member of Nirvana that died 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.
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Ronnie Van Zant was one of the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd that died in a plane crash in 1977. After his death, his brother Johnny took over as lead singer when the band reunited in 1987.
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The Ramones had a rough few years. Joey went first, dying of lymphoma in 2001. Dee Dee followed with a drug overdose in 2002, and Johnny went in 2004 after prostate cancer. After Joey’s death, the Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where they belonged.
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Brian Jones almost made it to the 27 Club, but it wasn’t hard for anyone to see his death coming. He had been in and out of court and jail for drug charges, and his death was ultimately caused by drugs. It’s just a shame that we lost the leader of the Rolling Stones as early as we did.
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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.
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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.
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Tom Petty passed away recently, and 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.
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Okay, so Buddy Holly wasn’t as 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 died in a plane crash.
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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 Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, and Mad Season. There are countless people that wish he was still alive so they can still see him performing live today, and we're one of them.
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Lou Reed Reed’s death wasn’t surprising due to his age and illnesses. Reed had hepatitis and diabetes for years before he developed liver cancer. He is most known for his being a part of The Velvet Underground, but he also had several hits on his own.
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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 due to his death in 1995.
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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.
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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.
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The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been around forever. Hillel Slovak was one of the original members of the bands, but he died of a heroin overdose in 1988. His guitar mastery brought a funky, hard rock sound that was a major influence on the band. The band is great without him, but the group was amazing with him.
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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.
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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.”
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