Age ain't nothin' but a number...unless it's 27

Mr. Lonesome:

The infamous 27 club. We all know about it. Take a look at the following names:

Robert Johnson

Brian Jones

Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson

Jimi Hendrix

Janis Joplin

Jim Morrison

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan

Pete Ham

Chris Bell

Kurt Cobain

Kristen Pfaff

Richey Edwards (presumed)

Amy Winehouse

The above scratches the surface of the phenomenon of those who died while at the age of 27. This topic isn’t necessarily to discuss the oddity of it; rather, play foreseer for a moment. Take a name or two. What do you think would have become of any of those above (or those not mentioned but still in the club). Where do you think Nirvana would have gone musically into the late 90s/2000s? How much of the legacy of Robert Johnson benefits from his mystique? Would he be revered similarly if he didn’t sell his soul at the crossroads, and lived to play into his 60s? Would the Stones have not sucked if Brian Jones remained?

Discuss.

Mr. Mean:

I’m starting this with a quick reply to your stupid Stones statement: Did the Stones suck on the albums Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, or Goats Head Soup? No. Guess what, moron? Brian Jones died before those records came out. You are just pushing my buttons, I know, but I want our faithful following to see how uneducated you are with respect to the Stones and that you basically said those aforementioned albums “sucked”.

Mr. Lonesome:

Sorry, fella. But as a whole, post-Jones Stones sucked. PushPushPush.

Mr. Mean:

Some of the best songs they ever recorded were post-Jones. The entire Exile On Main Street album is one of rock’s finest moments. While I agree they should have broken up after Undercover (only because I think the title song kills), not everything they have done post-Brian Jones has been crap. Stupid, stupid, stupid. You have made us derail off the original request with your stupid quip about the Stones.

Onward.

I think Nirvana would have broken up. Success would have made Cobain upset and I can almost guarantee that In Utero would have been the last album. I also think the same thing about The Doors. Morrison was becoming too large of an ego to front a band. I can see him branching off and doing solo work or finding new blood altogether. What’s tragic is people like Chris Bell and Amy Winehouse could have, I think, further pushed the limits of rock and pop music had they stayed alive. Pete Ham is so underrated it’s not even funny. They were the Raspberries before the Raspberries, The Cars before The Cars, etc. Power pop began with Pete Ham/Badfinger as far as I am concerned. Tragic loss.

Mr. Lonesome:

SO, you are the only one allowed to use hyperbole in this group? Talk about dumb, you dummy. Additionally – I never said “everything they have done post-Brian Jones has been crap.” But god is it fun to see you see red. I’ve missed these blogs!

About Nirvana: they did record “You Know You’re Right” and I could see them going in that direction. My wonder is how long would Grohl have kept a backseat. I wonder if he would have left at some point to do his own thing, or if his own thing was facilitated by Cobain’s murder (looking at you, Courtney).

I agree on Morrison. I personally think if they stayed together, they would have to wheel Big Jim around, that he’d have become a latter-day Marlon Brando. He was so going in that direction.

Bell, Ham – agreed, again. But Bell was so depressed! It’s hard listening to I Am The Cosmos, because his poppy gifts were smothered in sadness. Ham had a great gift for melody, and it’s a bummer that bands like Badfinger and Big Star didn’t go for longer.

Amy Winehouse is someone I’ve gotten more into after her death. Killer singer. She’s someone I could see as being influential for years should she have lived, recording into her later years.

Mr. On'ry:

I'd argue that Pigpen's death did more to hurt the Dead than Brian Jones' death did to the Stones.  But that just tells you how much more I like Pigpen era Dead than anything that came after. 

I agree that Nirvana wouldn't have lasted regardless if Cobain was alive or not.  But not because Kurt Cobain 'didn't like stardom' but because I think the other two would have tired of his crap and moved on.  Clearly Dave Grohl would have been fine with it. 

Robert Johnson recorded less than 30 songs in his brief lifetime yet he's one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century.  And no, it's not because of the Faustian legend surrounding his life (although I'm sure that adds to people nowadays discovering him).  He's so influential because his playing style, his lyrics, his voice, the whole package was unlike anything anyone had ever heard before.  I really would have liked to seen him grow within the genre and get to play on a regular basis with guys like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Lightenin' Hopkins, etc.

I'm pretty convinced that if Hendrix saw the 70's that he would have been doing some of the craziest experimental stuff we've ever heard.  Would have been deemed totally inaccessible by the masses too, lowering his popularity but adding to his legend. 

Morrison faked his death and moved to Africa.  Piss off.

 

Pigpen - The real heart of the Dead

Mr. Mean:

Agreed on Pigpen. Nothing The Dead did after he died is worthy of a listen.

My point in Cobain not liking stardom is that he would have done something insane to alienate listeners altogether. He kind of tried that with In Utero because they brought in Steve Albini to record it, which always means more abrasive sounds and a harsher mood. I never really thought about Dave Grohl though. That makes perfect sense.

I don’t know much about the blues, so I am definitely going with Chipple’s summation of RJ. That said, I love, LOVE Howlin’ Wolf and RL Burnside.

Hendrix did see the 70s – for about 8 ½ months. I, too, wonder what he would have done in a studio with modern recording techniques. Your last line about Hendrix sounds like Neil Young signing to Geffen. It must have made David Geffen crazy. Neil signs to the label, records new wave albums, synthpop albums, rockabilly albums, and the sales plummet. He signed the contract to get out of the contract, or so it seems.

Oh, and Lonesome, Big Star did go longer – they were called Teenage Fanclub. I love the Fanclub, but man, they were the Scottish second coming of Chilton/Bell.

Mr. Lonesome:

I was thinking on this: how was Morrison not forty when he died? I know I quipped about the Brando-transformation, but really. That dude seriously aged like nothing else. And regarding him going to Africa, you’re confused with the guy that played him, Val Kilmer, who was over there doing Ghost and the Darkness   ;o)

Ok – regarding Jones, I know he was barely even doing anything with the Stones near the end. However, he was still a talented dude who died way too early.

Here’s one that might surprise you all: I’m not a fan of the Dead. Never have been. I don’t own one record, don’t have one song on my iPod. They are just meh.

I think the Hendrix bit is intriguing. I can see him pushing toward more eccentric music. He’s actually another one I never got into. I don’t dismiss his talent or influence. I just never really liked his songs. I wonder what him and Zappa would have sounded like if they recorded some records together in the 70.

Teenage Fanclub: I dig them. Not as much as Big Star. But then again, I don’t really care for Chilton solo. I think Big Star hit some sort of perfection with #1 Record/Radio City. Some beautiful, brilliant supernova that keeps on shining.

Mr. On'ry:

Yeah I know what year Hendrix died dumbass.  But he didn't see "the 70's" now did he.  Eight frinkin' months doesn't count.  And the other one is a dumbass too for never sitting now with Axis:Bold As Love or Band of Gypsys (my two favorite Hendrix albums).  Pure genius.  Period. 

I'm serious when I tell you that I believe Morrison faked his own death...

'I'm gonna take a bath.  Not feeling so good.' <wink, wink>

Mr. Mean:

The Bearded One has become more snarky. It’s fun. And yes, the other one is a moron regarding his “I don’t understand Hendrix” bit, but he brings up a good point and one I want to hear in heaven someday: Hendrix and Zappa making music together.

No way Morrison faked his own death. He looked ragged and haggard dude. He was going to die PERIOD. That said, LA Woman remains my favorite LP by a band who had nothing but great LPs.

Mr.On'ry:

He gained a little weight and grew a beard.  If that's your idea "ragged and haggard" and if the other one thinks that is a "Brando transformation" then I should have been dead like five years ago. 

Mr. Lonesome:

You and me both.

Except the beard part.