If you could bring back one great artist that has

@ Mapman Pink Floyd isn't exactly uplifting but there's no denying their place in rock. I do believe, however that both Janis' and Cobain's music would have grown and somewhat matured as time went by. Especially Cobain's. I believe he had a way of writing music, songs and lyrics that showed honest raw emotion and wasn't nearly as contrived as some happy-go-lucky pop tune or the formulated teen angst tune so popular today. Just as Miles and Sachmo redefined the music of their time so did Kurt.

Janis is another one. I think she helped define women's ability to sing about topics that went beyond mindless bubble gum and was one of the pioneers of the bad-a$$ rocker chick with soulful music. Plus that voice. Who wouldn't have wanted to hear more of that?

No doubt the talent of both.

I am a Cobain fan despite all.

But if they were to live on, and be "the one" no less, my hope for both would have been to take a more constructive path for applying their talents then they were on at the time of their death.

@mapman. For bad or worse their pain helped their talent. Listen to Clapton, Dylan or Floyd. You can tell by their songs and the different times or stages in their lives. Even Miles Davis. Picaso. There are many artists that use their personal tragedies as a canvas for the art they make. That's the soul that speaks to the individual appreciating what they've crafted. It's why most of us devote our time and effort into this hobby. It's not all peaches and bubble gum out there. Thank goodness because the art they create is pretty special.

Baka,

I hear you.

In answering the OPs question, I would not want to bring someone back into the same painful situation that resulted in their demise originally, that's all.

I chose Lennon because he appeared to have conquered many of his demons prior around the time of this death and his artistic output appeared on the rise again as a result.

Not interested in hearing artists wallow in pain indefinitely though I certainly can empathize with their situations. I need to see more evolution from an artist over their lifetime than that in order for them to hold my interest over the long term. But that's just me.

Also, Johnny Cash is another who fought many demons that helped make him a more interesting artist, but his legacy was much greater than being just another tortured artist.

@mapman. I'd like to believe if Cobain had still been around his music would have evolved. I can't necessarily say the same about Janis but I just loved her voice. Speaking of the 27 Club members, I wonder how Morrison would have progressed? Did The Rolling Stones of the same era ever really grow up? lol