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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.
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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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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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Bob Greenwald 5 years ago
Um..... Karen Carpenter looked like the age progression picture, just before she died!
Chris Steele 7 years ago
I think Jim Morrison looks like he'd be in his "60's", instead of older.
Michelle Line 7 years ago
The lips and eyes are totally different. All the other ones are awesome but not this one.
Elsie Collins 7 years ago
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!!!
Allison Woodfill 7 years ago
No way! Jim Morrison was gorgeous hi s older self looks nothing like him at all.
Ruth Beaty 7 years ago
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.
Omar Elmaghraby 7 years ago
Did anyone notice that janis Joplin, hendrix, cobain and Morrison all died aged 27.
Phillip Moderow 7 years ago
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 ???
Joe Gray 7 years ago
He wasn't the singer and songwriter for "The passed away", it was The Doors.
Daria B 7 years ago
Now you made me wanna look for whether there is a band called The Passed Away. ♥
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Kristy Puffer 7 years ago
The comments section shows they fixed it 10 minutes before you commented. Idiot.
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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....
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
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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".
Matthew Jones 7 years ago
This reminds me of my favorite joke from Seinfeld - Estelle Costanza: "Frank, if Aunt Baby were alive today, how old would she be?" Frank Costanza: "She'd never make it."
Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
I just turned 27 and will be a little apprehensive until I turn 28! (Several of these people are in the "27 Club")
Rob Chapman 7 years ago
So, Bored Panda, how could "some of them be spot on" if they all died young
Andrew Keane 7 years ago
This seems completely out of touch. For the most part the artists just made them old but to me these people had no idea what these people were like. I mean obviously they could not know them personally, but even their public persona would give some idea of how they'd be now.
diane a 7 years ago
does the author work as artist impression maker for the curts? ( no offence creatorr)
Load More Replies... diane a 7 years ago
Just leave them alone - we want to remember them as they were at their best
Phillip Moderow 7 years ago
AH HA ! Aren't you the same person who likes colorized icons ?
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JP 7 years ago
I thought he looked like Morgan Freeman with Jimmy's face stuck on...
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Miss Cris 7 years ago
For the "before" ones, I remembered them and had the idea of being so old, and now I see them so young! They all die too early! Ops, I'm old (and alife)
Rose the Cook 7 years ago
Whether the likeness of the older person is probably accurate doesn't seem to be the real issue. Isn't it just possible that those commenting can't cope with the idea of their idols as old and unattractive? Could the beautiful Jim Morrisson have turned into an ugly old man? A harsh reminder to the young and lovely that beauty is transient.
Jeannie Carle 7 years ago
The "artist" not only aged them, they changed their ENTIRE "personalities". Most of them don't even look RELATED, for Pete's sake!
Sharron Marie 7 years ago
Kurt Cobain's "older" version looks like Bill Engvall. (pic via Twitter) billengval...b3fb52.jpg 
Calypso poet 7 years ago
I found the comments people made on the photos more interesting than the actual content of the post. Some hilarious takes here!
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".
Matthew Jones 7 years ago
This reminds me of my favorite joke from Seinfeld - Estelle Costanza: "Frank, if Aunt Baby were alive today, how old would she be?" Frank Costanza: "She'd never make it."
Bored Office Girl 7 years ago
I just turned 27 and will be a little apprehensive until I turn 28! (Several of these people are in the "27 Club")
Rob Chapman 7 years ago
So, Bored Panda, how could "some of them be spot on" if they all died young
Andrew Keane 7 years ago
This seems completely out of touch. For the most part the artists just made them old but to me these people had no idea what these people were like. I mean obviously they could not know them personally, but even their public persona would give some idea of how they'd be now.
diane a 7 years ago
does the author work as artist impression maker for the curts? ( no offence creatorr)
Load More Replies... diane a 7 years ago
Just leave them alone - we want to remember them as they were at their best
Phillip Moderow 7 years ago
AH HA ! Aren't you the same person who likes colorized icons ?
Load More Replies... JP 7 years ago
I thought he looked like Morgan Freeman with Jimmy's face stuck on...
Load More Replies... Miss Cris 7 years ago
For the "before" ones, I remembered them and had the idea of being so old, and now I see them so young! They all die too early! Ops, I'm old (and alife)
Rose the Cook 7 years ago
Whether the likeness of the older person is probably accurate doesn't seem to be the real issue. Isn't it just possible that those commenting can't cope with the idea of their idols as old and unattractive? Could the beautiful Jim Morrisson have turned into an ugly old man? A harsh reminder to the young and lovely that beauty is transient.
Jeannie Carle 7 years ago
The "artist" not only aged them, they changed their ENTIRE "personalities". Most of them don't even look RELATED, for Pete's sake!
Sharron Marie 7 years ago
Kurt Cobain's "older" version looks like Bill Engvall. (pic via Twitter) billengval...b3fb52.jpg
Calypso poet 7 years ago
I found the comments people made on the photos more interesting than the actual content of the post. Some hilarious takes here!
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