Just recovered from a bout of Covid (2025 Remix) and my thoughts turned to Adam Schlesinger who tragically succumbed to the bastard virus in 2020. A quick Wikipedia search took me beyond the fantastic Fountains of Wayne and I’ve been wallowing in his soundtrack work – everything’s just got a great tune.
I didn’t know that he was part of a “Power Pop” supergroup called Tinted Windows at the end of the 00’s. Other members were Taylor Hanson (of Hanson fame), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick aka the world’s greatest pop drummer..).
With that lineup, that’s an automatic listen. Their only, self titled album is exactly what you would expect and hope for – chock full of poptastic earworms that you can whistle to.
Any other contenders?
Kirsty MacColl. In about six weeks, it will be 25 years since she was killed.
She was only 41, and her records and gigs were getting better all the time.
Kirsty for me too … a real case of what might’ve been cos as you say the output was hitting heights and she was getting wider recognition than “that Elvis song” or “the lady who sang with The Pogues”
As always, the answer is Bowie. In January he will have been gone 10 years, and it’s still terribly sad to think that he’s not around and no longer making music.
What makes it worse is that The Next Day and Blackstar were so good and so interesting. He sounded full of ideas, and I would have loved to hear what he was going to do next. But of course it was not to be.
Others I miss a lot are Rick Wright (never the biggest contributor to the Floyd’s songwriting, but he had a lovely playing style and seemed like a decent sort) and Leonard Cohen. I only got into Len’s music just before he died, and wish I could have seen him in concert. If nothing else, I would have loved to hear him sing A Thousand Kisses Deep live.
You put it very well, re Bowie. Blackstar was the sound of an artist reaching a certain level of maturity without tipping into po-faced profundity (Lou Reed) or jukebox glory (Stones, Macca etc).
I wish he had lived many more years to enjoy his family, his life and of course, his renewed zeal for music making.
For me, the heaviest body blows in that heaviest of years were Bowie and Prince…only barely coming to terms with the loss of Bowie so soon after such an astonishing album, before the shock of the unconscionably awful, unexpected death of Prince. My two favourite artists.
Great losses, both of them.
But I’m especially annoyed that we’ll never hear how Prince would have commented on what’s going on in Trump’s America.
At least we have “Dear Mr. Man”!
Bowie of course. Prince for his legacy, but for his last few records he wasn’t the jaw-dropping force of earlier years.
One I really really miss is George Michael.
From the same bloody year that gave us Brexit and Trump.
I find there’s a lot to love in Prince’s last clutch of albums – Plectrumelectrum, Art Official Age and the Hit’n’ Run albums (especially 2) are all quality in very different ways.
Bowie is of course the first to come to mind. I was at V & A East yesterday to have a peruse at the Bowie room. I mentioned to my companion it might have been interesting had Bowie and Prince joined forces. It doesn’t seem like ten years.
Kirsty would most likely be making interesting music had she not have been taken so cruely.
Others that come to mind, Karl Wallinger,Mathew Selligman(covid too).
As we grow older there seem to be so many falling these days.
Tom Petty. Gone too soon with much left to do. 7 years now.
Agreed. After Mike Campbell’s book I’ve been listening to “Echo”, a late one and even Tom didn’t like it but it’s got real depth and a mood a long way from heartland rock. He could have done so much more. I think I like him less after the biography of him and Mike’s book though. Very tortured guy.
He’s not dead but Roddy Frame seems to have retired from recording and playing live. I miss having the hope of further new music or the chance to see him live. On a similar note I’d love to see Jonathan Richman live again but apparently he doesn’t travel to Europe any more. Recent footage of him live in America suggests he’s still well worth catching live.
In terms of people who have actually died I’d say that I miss Sean Hughes more than any musical act. He was still doing great long-form shows up until his untimely death.
John Lennon. Imagine!
Rory Gallagher. Such a talent who went way too soon. He would be 77 now and, I am certain, still be gigging, still be delivering incendiary performances, and would be universally viewed as a living blues and guitar legend.
Yes deffo. Up there with Lowell George and Ronnie Ven Zandt for me.
And Peter Green…
The thing with Peter Green is that we missed him long before he actually died.
Yes I was thinking that. Even though I saw him a few times he had gone before I actually heard the records. My cool hippie aunt saw the first Fleetwood Mac in a club in Stockport but I was too young.
Related candidate, I miss Gary Moore.
Gary Moore was in Skid Row , the first band I ever saw. The gig took place in the Walsgrave pub in Coventry in iirc – April 1971, and neither I i15) or GM (17) were old enough to drink
I must have seen Gary Moore with Skid Row, because I saw them at Watford Tech College about then too*.
Saw Peter Green with Fleetwood Mac at a Hyde Park free concert, in ’68 probably. Before Danny Kirwan joined.
*Memory is very hazy.
In those days if I was out, then I was invariably stoned on something or other.
IIRC Peter Green was so impressed when he saw Gary play (Early FM and SR were both managed by Clifford Davis) that he gave him one of his guitars.
I was a bit young fir drugs when I saw SR for the first time, a shortfall I more than made up for in the 55 years since
He gave him his beloved Gibson Les Paul.
First thought is The Band – all 5 of them. A bunch of great musicians who, together, created magic. Sadly, Richard Manuel and Rick Danko left us still young men. Garth Hudson was last to go earlier this year at 87. Their music still brightens my day.
Micky and Deke…
Nice
Micky never really got the recognition he deserved. Deke may well have had another good book or two in him.
No he didn’t. I’m quite picky about lead guitarists as there are so many bluffers and cliche merchants out there but Micky was one of those who could continuously surprise you. Endlessly inventive.
Micky was a huge influence on my own playing when I was young and stupid and getting it together (along with Cipollina), much more so than the other guitarists that I drone on about. And Deke was the ideal foil. I miss them both.
Deke says in his book that when they toured with Cipollina JC was way out of form and Micky could have done a much better version.
Indeed…
So many: Jackie Leven, Sinead O’Connor, Mark Lanegan, Neal Casal being 4 who had more to give.
And Davy Steele: what a voice.
An album of Neal Casal early rarities, No One Above You, was released last month. Very nice it is too.
I confess that was the prompt to his memory. The song Basement Dreams remains one of my favourite songs ever.
John Prince
Warren Zevon
Daniel johnston
Just imagine if Frank Zappa was still around, lampooning the current state of US politics and society.
Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter ..
Daevid Allen.
Walter Becker.
Cohen, Bowie and Prince, obviously.
Joe and Wayne – good call…
FZ’s illness mellowed him, and without that, he may have remained the stern commentator on modern life we know and love. I’m not sure who would have got it in the neck more; PC/ woke, Trump and the various shit-bags who preceded him (Tea Party, etc), LGBT+, Greta Thunberg, or whatever. Easy to imagine his satirical views on these topics. But maybe the cultural shifts would have led him to stop this sort of thing, and moved into more of his challenging instrumental music oeuvre. Particularly as I also suspect he might have been at prime risk of “cancellation” and it would be a major time waster. Now, Zappa is archaic, and barely registers outside of those persons who like what he did.
I expect the very notion of Cancellation would be high on his list of topics to comment on.
Having stated he would never tour again after the acrimonious end of the last ’88 tour, he was reportedly interested in going into politics until his illness derailed everything.
Trish Keenan of Broadcast; passed away with an illness in 2011.
And lest we forget, Mary Hansen, member of Stereolab, killed in a traffic accident 2002.
With little exception (Kirsty, David B) we seem to be mourning the passing of much- loved performers rather than listing those who might have released at least one record which equalled or bettered anything from their heyday.
For instance, I adored Tom Petty in his pomp but c’mon nothing in his last ten years or so came anywhere near his prime output.
Many years ago someone on here (me?) suggested no artist/band should be allowed to release more than 6 albums. Hope I die before I get old, eh?
Artists who defied the ‘six album rule’ are probably worth a thread on their own.
Johnny Cash is a classic example of an act who’d been effectively written off only to release a remarkable album (in his case a run of albums) at the fag end of his career.
There are, I am sure, loads of others
“Loads?” queries Lodes.
I can’t really comment on Johnny Cash because, my bad I know, I can never get on with his voice….
Grant Mclennan passed just after The Go-Betweens had released a very good album that seemed to be building some momentum. Their post-hiatus albums are all good in my opinion especially Bright Yellow Bright Orange.
Incidentally those 3 albums have just appeared on streaming so I’ve heard them again for the first time in years since my CD player and ipod died. So I can confirm they are indeed very good, and the now thankfully remastered Oceans Apart is possibly their best ever.
Stina Nordenstam
I didn’t know this 😞
Oh, Jeez, no! I hope you don’t think she’s dead!? I’m pretty sure she’s not dead – still alive certainly in 2013, but nothing heard from since, and no music since 2007.
I didn’t realize “dead” was a requirement. But perhaps her thorough anonymity places her in a Schrödinger’s category.
Early Marika Hackman (That Iron Taste, We Slept At Last) is quite a satisfying alternative.
Ah, soz. I mis-interpreted your answer and indeed the o.p.
At first I thought you meant that she had died, and got very confused. But no longer making albums is of course also a cause to miss an artist.
By the same token, Sam Brown – not yet dead but stopped touring/recording due to vocal problems (similar to Linda Thompson, I think).
She did make an album using what reminds of her voice plus auto tune but it’s sad to hear it.
See also: Kate Bush. Seemingly content to write missives in support of numerous good causes, and finding ways to endlessly re-sell old stuff to the rubes. I have to say I’m disappointed in this iteration of her career.
Her song about Mary Bell chilled me so much I couldn’t listen to her again. I was completely spooked by it.
Elliott Smith.
A really exceptional songwriter who had decades of greatness left in him.
Gone at 34.
A few more artists who definitely left when they were still in their prime…
The remarkable Lhasa de Sela who died of cancer on New Year’s Day 2010, only 37 years old
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasa_de_Sela
DuCool and I were lucky enough to see her perform a magnificent show here at KULTURHUSET.
Jazz pianist Esbjörn Svensson who died in a scuba diving accident in 2008 only 44 years old.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esbj%C3%B6rn_Svensson
And another great Swedish pianist , Jan Johansson, who died in a car crash in 1968 only 37 years old.
It may be a while back now but he is still very warmly remembered here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Johansson_(jazz_musician)
What did i say about Johansson still being remembered?
I was just listening to the radio and he popped up on this mash up wIth Nina Simone
http://www.fatberris.com/2009/09/27/bobi-brothers-a-night-with-nina-and-jan/
One of my favourite songwriters, Bill Caddick, much covered by others such as June Tabor, but a lovely humane, warm, self-deprecating performer in his own right.
Sad that David Longdon of Big Big Train no longer here to contribute, too, though the band is still a joy to see live.
There are three people I miss who I think would still be producing fine work. Jason Molina ( Songs: Ohia/ Magnolia Electric Co) and Paul Sartin ( Faustus/ Beĺlowhead and others) and Grant McLennan ( ( GoBetweens etc).The other long gone who might have matured into something genre defying is Kurt Cobain. I also miss Anmy Winehouse, although I am less confident she would be active if still alive)
Oh yes, Paul Sartin is much missed.
Yes, he was taken from us tragically too soon. I saw him in Faustus and Balshazzar’s Feast, and he was always a great performer with a lovely warm voice and terrific musicianship.
RIP.
And a wicked sense of humour.
Mark Linkous. Both the Sparklehorse music but also his collaborations with Dangermouse. He was always interesting and experimental which, I think is why he should be much missed.
Yep, completely agree…
Tigs has already mentioned John Lennon – just coming back to music and hinting about playing live again. That hit me hard.
A long time ago, but Buddy Holly’s tragic end was a terrible moment in music – just think about what he might have done in the 60s!
Not inconceivable that Jimi Hendrix could have still be with us all this time, and just imagine what he could have done since 1970.
Collaborating with Miles, Herbie Hancock as he moves more towards jazz rock in the early to mid 70s
An album produced by Prince in the mid 80s or how about playing with PIL on Album?
Brings his full soundscape capabilities to replicate the Bomb Squad production in a live guest appearance with Public Enemy
Imagine what he could have done with today’s technology.
I tend to think that he would have drifted towards the Parliament/Funkadelic Mothership. What a wonderful notion that would have been.
Absolutely, that would have been fantastic
Jóhann Jóhannsson. The performance below is from a year before he died. It is Flight From The City, a lovely, beautiful piece of music from his Orphee album released in 2018, the year he died.
Gavin Clark of Sunhouse, Clayhill and UNKLE. He also scored the early fillums of Shane Meadows.
Last month I picked up another copy of the final (2006) Clayhill album in a charity shop for 50p. I hadn’t played it for years, and it is still ace. They’ve recently released a compilation of b-sides and film tracks to streaming services.
If only Gav had lived to see the mainstream success of Shane Meadows, he might not have been so skint.
He was born a year before me, and died 10 years ago. I’d barely got started at 45…
Gene Clark
Kate Bush
Loads of the dead ones and Frank Ocean.
Ian Dury
Not long before he died he wrote these lyrics. The man was a genius and we possibly never saw the best of him.
I shuffled through the modes of bad behaviour
And hankered for the desolated dawn
I couldn’t cope with yet another saviour
To steer me from the way that I was born
Then like a ton of bricks the dawn descended
Recalcitrance was hurtled to the floor
The citadel lay breached and undefended
You brought a love I’d never known before
I’ll want you till the seasons lose their mystery
I’ll need you till the birds forget to fly
I’ll love you more than anyone in history
Wherever there’s a wherefore you’re the why
For me, it’s Miles Davis without question. His career was characterised by invention and reinvention and he bought numerous musicians to public attention from all his bands. I’m sure there are those that feel he had plateaued towards the end with his interest in hip hop etc but I have a feeling he would have continued to innovate had he survived.
As a sidenote I had my first visit to America in 1991 only to find that Miles had died on the day I arrived.
His playing had suffered a lot towards the end. It’s quite audible on the really late live recordings. His genius throughout his career was in picking the right musicians to work with and transmit his ideas. In that he was consistent right to the very end.
Sandy Denny and Martyn Bennett are two more who had so much left ahead of them.
And Nick Drake, too.
MCA. I think they would still be making records. They never made a bad one, really.
Agree about Sandy also Amy and George Michael they all could have matured into wonderfully inventive artists. Not so much Nick – I love the perfection of those 3 albums.
Yes. I think Nick Drake would have burned out/dried up before long. Although maybe he’d have had a “late resurgence” after some years out of circulation.
Many of us hope for a late resurgence.
I’d like to think that had Nick Drake survived the deep trough of depression and managed to get back to recording, he might have hooked up with Francoise Hardy for an album of Drake compositions/duets with her. And that would have led him maybe to LA, maybe working with Joni Mitchell, who knows!
I can’t visualise Joni working with anyone else on an equal basis. Even for a one-off.
Very much an individualist.
I think Adam Schlessinger would be my answer as well. Thanks for the pointer to Tinted Windows. I can’t believe I’ve never found them before. I’ve enjoyed listening to that today.
I seem to be quite lucky in that most of my ‘heroes’ are still alive.
The only other person I can think of would be Joey Ramone. When he died then that was definitely the end of the Ramones and that was hard to take for a while even though they had done a farewell tour.
Otis Redding – died at 26
Sam Cooke – died at 33
Marvin Gaye – died at 44
Just imagine a world in which all three had lived. So much great music still to be made.
Phil Lynott. Would have been really interesting to see what musical direction he would have taken.
As @retropath2 has already mentioned Jackie Leven and @leedsboy has mentioned Mark Linkous, I’ll add Chris Sievey, songwriter, aspiring pop-star, artist, media pioneer and being Frank.