And as many as you like about whom you agonised, and those whom you believe had no more to contribute.
Good call.
I genuinely believe Lennon would never have achieved anything more musically, I'm convinced he would have gone into ever more esoteric and avant-garde abstract art. Probably becoming even loopier than say Dalí or Picasso.
Although Harrison could probably have found new musical avenues to explore, I'm sure.
Pierre Boulez
Duncan Edwards.
Moving away from musical artistes, I would suggest a few from elsewhere:
Bruce Lee
Heath Ledger
River Phoenix
That film about Amy Wino is on C4 tonight
Yes. I am ashamed that while she was alive I thought she was just another attention-seeking diva, and I have no real defence of myself. Only recently have I come to recognise that there was something there that makes the world a little poorer for not having her in it.
Some good points on this one. Probably too many. Ok, no doubt too many. It's the Law.
Here's my list for various reasons:
Richie Valens, 17 when he lost it.
The Big Bopper, who was something of a jazz rapper way before it was cool.
Elvis the P, because it's his number 81 B-day.
Jimi Hendrix.
Sam Cooke(Conspiracy theories or no conspiracy theories, guys, gals, when you are on the way up, up, up, keep those luv interests cool, if you can).
Jesse Ed Davis, in his 40s when he kicked it. Plus, from where I grew up.
For grins, although his family and fans grieved heavily, number 7:
Sid Vicious, because he was a Pistol and My Way cannot be done badly unless it's a dog doing it.
All musicians so far, but I would like to have seen what poetry John Keats might have written had he lived longer.
Only recently have I come to recognise that there was something there that makes the world a little poorer for not having her in it.
Can't say I have.
Johnny Thunders. I was gutted when I read on a New Year Eve's list of the deceased. I hadn't realised he copped it.
Kirsty MacCall, not that I miss her music but for the situation of her death.
Sid Vicious perhaps for the same reason as Mestie.
Sidney James although he died as one could wish for an actor.
?
?
Charlie Parker
John Coltrane
Bob Marley
Peter Tosh
Jacqueline du Pre
Sandy Denny
some good suggestions upthread plus:
Kurt Cobain
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Sandy Denny
Bernie Edwards
Shannon Hoon
John Bonham
my two blanks:
Stuart Sutcliffe to see if the Beatles would have had a different career.
Brian Jones to see if the Rolling Stones would have had a different career.
Yes it has only been posthumously that I've become aware of what enormous potential Amy Winehouse had. Who knows what she might have gone on to achieve?
It's so tragically common that great artistic talent is so frequently accompanied by emotional frailty. You must have to have the skin and mentality of a rhinoceros to be really successful in show-business, I imagine.
It's probably naïve of me to say it I know but you have to wonder what on earth it is that makes them turn to drugs or alcohol. It's no secret how lethal either are particularly in the world od show business. Trite I know but I felt it needed saying.