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Someone Imagined How Pop Stars Would Look Today If They Were Still Alive, And Some Are Spot On
You've probably heard of the 27 club, a tragic list of famous 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 famous celebrities 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 as older people?
Sachs Media Group partnered with photo manipulation and restoration company Phojoe to create a gallery of these fallen legends aging gracefully, in a then and now tribute of what could have been. Scroll down below to check these cool photos out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Bob Marley
Reggae music’s most influential artist passed away on May 11, 1981, aged 36. He would be 73 years old today.
Ralph Spooner 7 years ago
Yes, his aged photo is entirely believable. I am a 64, almost 65, year old white guy and my wife turns 66 Aug. 9th. I have lost count of the folks we meet and their jaws hit the floor when they find out our ages. They then comment that they thought we were in our early to mid 50's. We have black friends in our hometown, who graduated with us, that look even younger because they have taken care of themselves and their skin over time.
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#2
John Lennon
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.
Molly Block 7 years ago
He didn't look better or worse in either photo. :-P As an older man, he looks like he should have had a part in the Harry Potter series....
Rich Auntie Skeleton 7 years ago
Oh the fun part is trying to figure out which part he'd play!
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Kate Edwards 7 years ago
I can’t imagine John Lennon EVER wearing a sport coat and turtleneck! Nope.
Velvet Goodwin 7 years ago
Paul McCartney doesn't look bad for his age. I doubt Lennon would look like this!
Joe Gray 7 years ago
"passed away"?! The guy was murdered in cold blood and it was pre meditated.
Joseph Capozza 4 years ago
He’d probably at least keep his glasses. Also, he’d be 81 today. Less likely to be alive even had he not been shot.
#3
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was an extraordinary rock-blues singer, she passed away on October 4, 1970, aged 27. She’d be 75 years old today.
Jayne Wilson 7 years ago
I don't think it's dyed blond. It looks like mine -- the brown has got lighter with age, and the grey streaks have crept in. I think this is pretty good.
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Elsie Collins 7 years ago
IF Janice were alive today, she'd have her hair in every color in the rainbow all at once!!!
Coco Joans 7 years ago
She’d Be skinnier cause of drug abuse. She looks to Healthy and unrealistic :-)
Jennifer Sacrison 7 years ago
I guess they don't take into consideration the damage all the hard core drugs woulda done.
Elsie Collins 7 years ago
NOPE!!! They got this one all wrong!! She would have looked much worse for the wear with the life she led!!!
#4
Elvis Presley
The King of Rock and Roll passed away on August 16, 1977, aged 42. If he was alive today, he’d be 83.
Rachelle 7 years ago
What kind of 60 year old are you seeing??? My mom is 68 years young and looks younger than this "aged" picture.
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Lizard Queen 7 years ago
Yes, just what I was thinking. He gained a lot of weight in his 40s.
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Chris Steele 7 years ago
If I met Elvis Presley id he was alive today, one thing I would say, is that he doesn't look the age he "is", ( of 83). I would tell him he looks a lot younger that that. That's if he said how old he was, (but he didnt have to though). He only looks like he's in his 60's.
#5
Jimi Hendrix
Widely hailed as rock’s greatest guitarist, Jimi Hendrix passed away on September 18, 1970, aged 27. He’d be 75 years old today.
Chris Steele 7 years ago
"I" think Jimi Hendrix would look healthy in his 70's, according to the photo of him.
Whatevers not taken 7 years ago
The funniest thing is WIDELY HAILED greatest guitar player. Not even close. I’m not saying he wasn’t great but there are quite a few people during and after his time that we’re just as great or better than Jimi. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy but don’t misuse titles.
#6
Bobby Darin
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.
Ruth Beaty 7 years ago
Actually, from the looks of his hairline he'd be wearing a hairpiece or have transplants by the time he got older.
#7
Kurt Cobain
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.
RaroaRaroa 7 years ago
I think there could be two "if they were alive today" pictures. One if they carried on with the drugs, etc and one if they got their lives sorted out. This one looks like he got it sorted.
Zanthe 7 years ago
He'd have aged the same way Dave Grohl, Nirvana's drummer did. Dave got his life sorted, so agreed. This is a "no drugs" version.
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Basil 7 years ago
Yes, Kurt Cobain would have never been caught dead in a, uh, plaid shirt . . . .
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#8
Karen Carpenter
The drummer and singer of the duo The Carpenters passed away on February 4, 1983, aged 32. If she was still alive, she'd 68 years old.
Grumble O'Pug 7 years ago
I think she’d be much thinner and knowing her background, lots mote work done. Now to go find Superstar and rewatxh it for the 5th time.
Vinniegret 6 years ago
Maybe she would have beat the anorexia. But I don't think she would have had any plastic surgery.
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Donald Holder 7 years ago
Only Karen passed, not The Carpenters. Richard and her parents are still alive.
Joseph Asner 3 years ago
Her Mother died in 1996 and her father died in 1988.
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April Simnel 7 years ago
Her neck would be more wattle-y, no? That part is missing on a lot of these projections. Unless you get plastic surgery (or an incredibly blessed outlier, and I know some people are), from the late 60's onward, there's at least *some* wattling to the neck, as age loosens that skin.
#9
Keith Moon
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.
Jennifer Sacrison 7 years ago
I guess every rocker turns into Alan Rickman!!!
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Vinniegret 6 years ago
I think he'd look more like Jeremy Clarkson with a much more ravaged face. He did a LOT of drugs.
Alexandra Davis 7 years ago
My dad is 72 and looks just like this man if not younger, not all 70 year olds are rocking out white hair and Zimmer frames! My dad still works full time and is renovating his house in his spare time- no pension, pipe and slippers for him yet!
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#10
Dennis Wilson
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.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 7 years ago
Like Huey Lewis and Scott Bakula had a baby.
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Chris Steele 7 years ago
This man doesnt look the age he would be, if alive today. According to the photo, he looks younger than 72. He appears to be in his upper 50's, I'd say.
Heather Vance 7 years ago
he looks like Scott Bakula.... so that's what quantum leap was all about.
Carol Dunagan 7 years ago
being super kind to all these people who I know and love but also know most abused their bodies so much they wouldn't look much like what you see here! :(
#11
Jim Morrison
Ethereal “Lizard King” singer and songwriter for The Doors passed away on July 3, 1971, aged 27. He’d be 75 years old today.
Pam Falcioni 7 years ago
He wasn't really very attractive in the years before he died.
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
Marko Čibej 7 years ago
Is there an artist in the house? We have an emergency! Seriously, did anyone even look at these "after" pics before posting them?
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
It's like someone handed a 13-year-old some crayons and told them to add some grey....
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Bear Trapp 7 years ago
If rock stars lived to become high school guidance counselors.... This was dumb.
diane a 7 years ago
Not one of these could be described as a "pop star" - it is demeanig to them - was Janis Joplin a pop star? - Kurt Cobain??
diane a 7 years ago
The only one that looks even possible is Keith Moon - and as for Mama Cass, I dont think anyone could look like that ever
Just a Purpler 7 years ago
Oh gosh hhahahhahaha, thanks for sharing XD That's tragically hilarious lol
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Krystine Patterson 7 years ago
This should've been called, "What celebs look like now who weren't addicts and alcoholics who lived a very healthy life in a Florida retirement home".
Marko Čibej 7 years ago
Is there an artist in the house? We have an emergency! Seriously, did anyone even look at these "after" pics before posting them?
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
It's like someone handed a 13-year-old some crayons and told them to add some grey....
Load More Replies... Bear Trapp 7 years ago
If rock stars lived to become high school guidance counselors.... This was dumb.
diane a 7 years ago
Not one of these could be described as a "pop star" - it is demeanig to them - was Janis Joplin a pop star? - Kurt Cobain??
diane a 7 years ago
The only one that looks even possible is Keith Moon - and as for Mama Cass, I dont think anyone could look like that ever
Just a Purpler 7 years ago
Oh gosh hhahahhahaha, thanks for sharing XD That's tragically hilarious lol
Load More Replies... Krystine Patterson 7 years ago
This should've been called, "What celebs look like now who weren't addicts and alcoholics who lived a very healthy life in a Florida retirement home".
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