# Who have you seen live that is no longer with us? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, music\ **Created:** [August 2, 2018, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968 "2018-08-02T10:28:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/201 "2021-08-24T20:15:27Z")
David Bowie, Leonard Cohen (4x), Prince, Lemmy, The Ramones, Joe Strummer (was so drunk I can’t remember, but it was great), Chuck Berry, Freddie Mercury, Lou Reed and many I can’t think of right now… but I came here to add Charlie Watts. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/202 "2021-08-24T20:34:26Z")
Just limited to performers: Leonard Bernstein Carol Channing Sydney Chaplin Cass Eliot Arthur Fiedler Ella Fitzgerald Margot Fonteyn Mirella Freni Nicolai Gedda Jimi Hendrix Dmitri Hvorostovsky Janis Joplin James Levine Jessye Norman Rudolf Nureyev Luciano Pavarotti Andre Previn Artur Rubinstein Beverly Sills Janos Starker Leopold Stokowski George Szell Mary Travers Frank Zappa Hard to believe, they’re all dead. ---
**Author:** ![LauderdaleFort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@LauderdaleFort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LauderdaleFort)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/203 "2021-08-24T20:40:27Z")
Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo) Dizzie Gillespie ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/204 "2021-08-24T21:15:14Z")
Charlie Watts. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/205 "2021-08-24T21:20:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Tommy Makem, multiple times (but most of you have probably never heard of him). I grew up on the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Never saw him/them live, though. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/206 "2021-08-25T00:28:45Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > Well, shit. Gotta add… > > Charlie Watts > Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) Same for me. Also David Bowie and Lou Reed. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/207 "2021-08-25T04:55:03Z")
Ray Charles Peter Steele from Type O Negative Robbin Crosby from Ratt Tim Kelly from Slaughter George Carlin ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/208 "2021-08-25T11:19:33Z")
Oh, yeah, also: Luciano Pavarotti ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/209 "2021-08-25T11:35:31Z")
Dr John Jimmy Smith Michael Brecker John Martyn Keith Emerson ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/210 "2021-08-25T11:54:41Z")
Long John Baldry Roy Buchanon Ronnie James Dio (his first time in Sabbath) Brad Delp (Boston) Andy Parker (UFO) Doug Bennett (Doug and the Slugs) Leonard Cohen Zal Yanovsky (as the owner of Chez Piggy in the early '80s) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/211 "2021-08-25T14:09:27Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > II had tix to see Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols but they cancelled. I think Johnny was too f’ed up Don’t know if anyone pointed this out yet, but Johnny Rotten is still with us. You might be thinking of Sid Vicious. Off the top of my head I saw: Jimi Jamison with Survivor just weeks before his death. Aretha Franklin Issac Hayes Lou Rawls Kinison Linda McCartney with Wings Scott Smith (Loverboy) Greg Allman Merle Haggard George Jones I’m sure I’ll come up with more if I think about it. I see at least 10-15 concerts a year. I’d have to count my stubs but I’m sure I am over 400 in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Moonshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Moonshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonshine)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/212 "2021-08-25T14:11:22Z")
The Rolling Stones ft Charlie Watts on drums. RIP. BB King, James Brown, Prince. All awesome performers. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/213 "2021-08-25T14:29:20Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > . . . Ricky Nelson (don’t judge me, the concert tickets were freebies). Anyone who would judge you is an idiot. Sure, his looks didn’t hurt, but Ricky Nelson was actually a pretty good singer, and on those original records he had a really solid band, including the great James Burton. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/214 "2021-08-25T14:32:40Z")
Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band Jerry Garcia BB King Junior Walker Chris Squire of Yes. Rick Wright of Pink Floyd Greg Lake & Keith Emerson of ELP. Tom Petty Jon Lord; Keyboardist of Deep Purple. Ginger Baker of Cream. John Entwistle of The Who. Pete Seeger Odetta Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary Rube Dee, she recited a poem at Pete’s 90th Birthday concert. Richie Havens I’m sure I’m missing more. * * * Some I missed: Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) Dr John; Billy Preston, Levon Helm & Rick Danko who along with Clemens were all part of the First All-Starr Band Charlie Daniels Pete Fountain Neil Peart (of Rush) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/215 "2021-08-25T14:42:25Z")
I’d posted that I’d seen the Ramones earlier. That’s a very incomplete list. For some reason I got stuck on bands none of whose members are with us. Reading through this thread, here’s a longer list (and I’m sure there’s someone I’ve forgotten, so it’s not complete): Link Wray BB King Keith Emerson Greg Lake Chuck Berry John Lee Hooker Jerry Garcia Brent Mydland Dave Brubeck Brad Delp Bobby “Blue” Bland Adam Yauch Jim Rodford Ian Gibbons Rick Nelson (at Madison Square Garden, but not at the infamous Garden Party) Lux Interior Merle Haggard James Levine Beverly Sills And last, but very much not least, Charlie Watts. Only once, at the Garden, late seventies sometime. The tour with the giant inflatable dick. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/216 "2021-08-25T14:42:59Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Rick Wright of Pink Floyd > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Ginger Baker of Cream. I forgot those two. Saw Rick Wright with Pink Floyd around 1988 and Ginger Baker with a Jazz trio in 1993. ETA: just thought of another one. Saw Soundgarden with Chris Cornell opening for Guns’n’Roses in 1992. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/217 "2021-08-25T14:47:22Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Tom Petty > Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead vocalist/bassist) > Brad Delp (Boston vocalist) > Chris Squire (Yes bassist) > Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary) > > And, probably a few other band members whom I’m not thinking of right now. Others whom I’ve now remembered, thanks to others’ posts here. - Johnny Cash - Waylon Jennings - Tommy Makem ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/218 "2021-08-25T15:03:11Z")
[E. Power Biggs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Power_Biggs), at several New Years Eves performances with the Rector (St Thomas Church?). Even got a handshake and an autograph. [Virgil Fox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil_Fox) and his traveling pipe organ (maybe mostly electronic?) on a park band stage. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/219 "2021-08-25T15:03:32Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > > > Well, shit. Gotta add… > > > > > Charlie Watts > > > Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) > > Same for me. Also David Bowie and Lou Reed. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I forgot those two. Saw Rick Wright with Pink Floyd around 1988 and Ginger Baker with a Jazz trio in 1993. > > ETA: just thought of another one. Saw Soundgarden with Chris Cornell opening for Guns’n’Roses in 1992. Forgot about another one: saw Townes Van Zandt around 1994, shortly before his death. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2021, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968/220 "2021-08-25T15:15:26Z")
Thought of another one I wish I’d forgotten: GG Allin. A profoundly mentally unhealthy person who never got the help he needed. He had something of a career as a “musician,” mostly because the people who went to see him perform treated him like an animal in a zoo, an old-fashioned horrible zoo with terrible conditions for the animals, and the people around him were making a few (not many) bucks off his performances. And I was one of those people, one night, for which I am sorry. I didn’t stay for the whole show. I didn’t know who he was then, and went to the club with a few friends who did know. I left after the first couple of songs, if you could call them “songs.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-have-you-seen-live-that-is-no-longer-with-us/818968.md?page=12)