# Does it help your impression of a musical artist if they die? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 25, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812 "2002-12-25T03:42:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812/21 "2002-12-26T23:42:44Z")
It didn’t seem to help **Badfinger** much when Pete Ham hung himself. Of course, I wasn’t around then, but they certainly aren’t regarded in the same league as say, Hendrix, Joplin, or The Doors, even though they had several very big hits that continue to get airplay on classic rock stations. What about **INXS** , or **Lynyrd Skynyrd**? Sure they have fans, but I don’t see them regarded, generally, on that esteemed a level. Jim Croce? Harry Chapin? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812/22 "2002-12-27T04:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dryga\_Yes \* > \*\*I mean, how much more rock cred wouldn’t Metallica have today if all remaining members of the band had died when their tour bus fell off a cliff or something, just after they’d made **…And Justice for All**? \*\* Actually, from what I hear, their tour bus fell **on** a Cliff. Yeah, I’m sorry, that was really lame. ---
**Author:** ![wikkidpis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f05b48/32.png) [@wikkidpis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wikkidpis)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812/23 "2002-12-27T14:32:54Z")
Good one, interface. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812/24 "2002-12-27T14:55:36Z")
I think I appreciate someone’s work more after they’ve passed, but I had to have a strong interest in them in the first place. Case in point would be Joe Strummer. I’m a huge Clash fan, and recently saw the Mescaleros, but his music was always just there. Now that I know I’ll never see him again, there will be no “new” material, and there can be no Clash reunion, I’m listening to all the Joe Strummer I can get, and doing it with emotion. It’s like losing a friend that was there for major parts of your life. It’s the same with Warren Zevon. > [@](#): > > I think it should be mentioned how badly most rock stars age. If you go to a concert with Paul McCartney or Rolling Stones or Iggy Pop or Brian Wilson or whatever today, you are going to be disappointed. Iggy still rocks! That guy has energy up the wazoo! ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812/25 "2002-12-27T16:08:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dryga\_Yes \* > \*\*I mean, how much more rock cred wouldn’t Metallica have today if all remaining members of the band had died when their tour bus fell off a cliff or something, just after they’d made **…And Justice for All**? \*\* What a beautiful dream…of course, for some of us, they DID die right after making ‘Justice’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-help-your-impression-of-a-musical-artist-if-they-die/144812.md?page=1)