People that were taken before their time

Beasty · 31-12-2009 05:55PM #1

Rather than being intermingled with the "things that were taken before their time" I think this is worthy of a thread of its own.

I will kick off with three individuals whose performances I have witnessed personally:

Freddie Mercury - I saw Queen 3 or 4 times during the 1980's, and Freddie Mercury was the best "performer" I have ever seen. I witnessed him at Knebworth in 1986 when Mercury had the 100,000+ eating out of his hands. His greatest performance, in my view, was one of his shortest - 13 July 1985, Wembley Stadium when he quite literally stole the show at Live Aid

Michael Jackson - I was never a particular Jackson fan, but I did take my teenage cousin (who was a big fan) to see him at Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1992 - I was absolutely astounded at the all-round quality of his performance

Phil Lynott - I saw Thin Lizzy a couple of times in the early 1980's. One was at Manchester Apollo, the night of a United victory, and so he was on very good form. Thin Lizzy were always a band whose live performances far outweighed their albums (I am not putting their albums down at all - they were excellent also) - Lynott was the guy who brought it all to life. He was, however, guilty of always relaying his classic line - "is there anyone out there with any Irish in them? Are there any girls out there who would like some Irish in them?" - sheer class!

Red Hand · 31-12-2009 05:58PM

Marty McFly had his picture taken in 1885...way before his time in Back to the Future 3.

the_barfly1 · 31-12-2009 05:59PM

Hendrix, Morrison, Jones, Cobain, Joplin.
(the 27 club)

PCPhoto · 31-12-2009 05:59PM

not trying to be smart or anything but hasn't everyone who has died been taken before their time...I mean with the obvious exception of death by old age.

Agricola · 31-12-2009 06:00PM

PCPhoto wrote: »

not trying to be smart or anything but hasn't everyone who has died been taken before their time...I mean with the obvious exception of death by old age.

I think the op means famous / important people. Not common or garden plebs!

The Pontiac · 31-12-2009 06:04PM

James Dean was just so cool. JFK too. Syd Barrett, although he was technically alive up until recently.

phasers · 31-12-2009 06:04PM

Jesus

Beasty · 31-12-2009 06:05PM

<Ollie> wrote: »

James Dean was just so cool. JFK too. Syd Barrett, although he was technically alive up until recently.

You can't mention JKF without also including Marilyn Monroe

xw2lj9uspm1eyh · 31-12-2009 06:07PM

I agree with the OP's choices i would add to the list

Jeff Buckley
Kurt Cobain
Jim Morrison

My name is URL · 31-12-2009 06:09PM

Jade Goody

Rented Mule · 31-12-2009 06:10PM

<Ollie> wrote: »

James Dean was just so cool.

The most over-rated actor of all time.

Beasty · 31-12-2009 06:11PM

Agricola wrote: »

I think the op means famous / important people. Not common or garden plebs!

..and in particular people that you would argue still had so much more to offer, perhaps at or near their prime when taken (I appreciate that may be arguable in the case of Jacko)

Duncan Edwards would be a good sporting example

spurious · 31-12-2009 06:12PM

Kirsty McColl, Dermot Morgan, Tony Gregory.

Rented Mule · 31-12-2009 06:12PM

I was at Stevie Ray Vaughn's last show at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. He was really coming into his own after kicking drink/drugs when he was killed on that foggy night.

SRV taken well before his time,

Saibh · 31-12-2009 06:13PM

Stephen Gately

Brittany Murphy

MaybeLogic · 31-12-2009 06:13PM

Liam Neeson.

o1s1n · 31-12-2009 06:13PM

mendusa wrote: »

Jeff Buckley

Not taken soon enough! :mad:

GrizzlyMan · 31-12-2009 06:15PM

Numerous mates:(.....

and as for celebs : Randy Rhodes! and Cliff Burton!!

mikom · 31-12-2009 06:16PM

Beasty wrote: »

People that were taken before their time

Liam Neeson....

Pyr0 · 31-12-2009 06:19PM

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Dimebag Darrel
Layne Staley
Sinatra
Chuck Schuldiner
Randy Rhodes

mikemac · 31-12-2009 06:21PM

Heath Ledger

The Pontiac · 31-12-2009 06:22PM

Rented Mule wrote: »

The most over-rated actor of all time.

Some would say the same about Monroe. They're still cultural icons though. They easily beat the Paris Hiltons, Goody et al. of today's so called socialites/iconic figures or whatever they call themselves.

I wouldn't call Dean overrated as a actor anyway. The youth back then could identify with him and the roles he played.

Beasty · 31-12-2009 06:24PM

Some I never saw, but wish I had:

Keith Moon
John Lennon
George Harrison
Bon Scott
Marc Bolan

Rented Mule · 31-12-2009 06:29PM

<Ollie> wrote: »

I wouldn't call Dean overrated as a actor anyway. The youth back then could identify with him and the roles he played.

Go back and watvh those films. Rebel Without a Cause makes me cringe when watching it. I'm not even talking about the sexual tension between Dean and Sal Mineo. It has certainly not withstood the test of time.

He was young and good looking when he died. This is what he is remeberred for more than anything else.

The Pontiac · 31-12-2009 06:34PM

Rented Mule wrote: »

Go back and watvh those films. Rebel Without a Cause makes me cringe when watching it. I'm not even talking about the sexual tension between Dean and Sal Mineo. It has certainly not withstood the test of time.

He was young and good looking when he died. This is what he is remeberred for more than anything else.

I've watched all three already. I'm not saying he was the greatest actor of all time, like Brando or someone. But he's by no means a crap actor. I don't think Rebel Without a Cause is cringeworthy at all - one has to remember it was made in 1955, and it's probably a honest depiction of youth life back then.

The Pontiac · 31-12-2009 06:41PM

When someone like Bob Dylan modeled himself on James Dean, then that to me says it all really, even if someone thinks he was a crap actor (which I don't).