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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!

#1

Bob Marley

Bob Marley

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

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#2

John Lennon

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.

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#3

Janis Joplin

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.

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#4

Elvis Presley

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.

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#5

Jimi Hendrix

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.

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#6

Bobby Darin

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.

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#7

Kurt Cobain

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.

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raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#8

Karen Carpenter

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.

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Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#9

Keith Moon

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.

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#10

Dennis Wilson

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.

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#11

Jim Morrison

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.

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Wanda Queen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

aka "the perpetually single uncle who pulls up on a motorcycle and tries to hook up with distant cousins at the family reunion"

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Bob Greenwald
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um..... Karen Carpenter looked like the age progression picture, just before she died!

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Chris Steele
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think Jim Morrison looks like he'd be in his "60's", instead of older.

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Michelle Line
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The lips and eyes are totally different. All the other ones are awesome but not this one.

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Elsie Collins
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holy s**t!! I forgot or didn't realize Morrison died on my birthday, and the year I got married!!! Not convinced this older version is anywhere near close!!! WHAT is it about the age and number 27? It seems like a strange one in numerology!! IF you survive past 27, chances are, you'll live to your designated expiration date. I nearly bit the dust at 27!!!

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Allison Woodfill
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way! Jim Morrison was gorgeous hi s older self looks nothing like him at all.

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Ruth Beaty
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is so not what he would have looked like, I imagine Mick Jagger on a really bad day with a migraine kind of look, maybe.

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Phillip Moderow
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wasn't it just recently when most of you hypocrites thought that colorizing anything black-and-white was good ? But now that someone has messed with YOUR icons, you don't like it ???

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Joe Gray
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He wasn't the singer and songwriter for "The passed away", it was The Doors.

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Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now you made me wanna look for whether there is a band called The Passed Away. ♥

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