You've probably heard of the 27 club, a tragic list of iconic people who passed away at that age, often due to the hedonistic and high-risk lifestyles they pursued.

Many of our most brilliant and talented people sadly follow a similar pattern, they shine incredibly bright before departing way too soon. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Janis Joplin are high-profile examples of this, and there are sadly many more. But what if they were still with us? How would these icons, eternally preserved in youth, look today?



Sachs Media Group partnered with photo restoration and manipulation company Phojoe to create a gallery of these fallen legends gracefully aged, in a tribute to what could have been.

#1 Bob Marley


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Reggae music’s most influential artist passed away on May 11, 1981, aged 36. He would be 73 years old today.

#2 John Lennon


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Founder of the Beatles, influential songwriter and pioneer for peace, John Lennon, was murdered on December 8, 1980, at the age of 40. He would be 77 years old today.



#3 Janis Joplin


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Janis Joplin was an extraordinary rock-blues singer, she passed away on October 4, 1970, aged 27. She’d be 75 years old today.

#4 Elvis Presley


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The King of Rock and Roll passed away on August 16, 1977, aged 42. If he was alive today, he’d be 83.



#5 Jimi Hendrix


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Widely hailed as rock’s greatest guitarist, Jimi Hendrix passed away on September 18, 1970, aged 27. He’d be 75 years old today.

#6 Kurt Cobain


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Considered by many to be the greatest rock artist of the 1990s, Kurt Cobain passed away on April 5, 1994, aged 27. If he was alive today, he’d be 51 years old.



#7 Bobby Darin


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Hit-making singer in the earliest days of rock ‘n’ roll, Bobby Darin, passed away on December 20, 1973, aged 37. If still alive, he'd be 82 years old.

#8 Karen Carpenter


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The drummer and singer of the duo The Carpenters passed away on February 4, 1983, aged 32. If she was still alive, she'd be 68 years old.



#9 Keith Moon


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Keith Moon was the drummer and member of The Who, he passed away on September 7, 1978, aged 32. If still alive, he would be 71 years old today.

#10 Dennis Wilson


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Dennis Wilson, the co-founder and member of the Beach Boys, passed away on December 28, 1983, aged 39. He would be 74 years old today.



#11 Jim Morrison


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Ethereal “Lizard King” singer and songwriter for The Doors passed away on July 3, 1971, aged 27. He’d be 75 years old today.

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