The recent death of literary rebel John Updike is just another example of time prematurely snatching from us a genius…

Or rather it would have been had he died after his most successful and controversial book, ‘Couples’ but he didn’t, he carried on living... and as it was his life flickered out a few weeks ago, aged 76.

So, do the good die young? A lot of us certainly like to subscribe to this notion. Why does it seem fate conspires against creative young minds? The tragic losses of the 20th century are too numerous to mention but include; 2pac, Jimi Hendrix, James Dean, Sylvia Plath, Bob Dylan, well not the last one but you get my drift, in fact he rides on my drift.

They died in the prime of life and brought with them a great body of work yet also a promise that they could have brought so, so much more. Would we have it any other way? Would they still be the icons that they are today, the voices of their generation if they had grown up, if they had had to relinquish their youth passes to the tide of time?

Cruelly snatched away from life, and us mere mortals, these figures take on almost godlike qualities and in turn gain a cultish following, usually from the successive groups of young people who adopt them as one of their own.

A lot of the good die young, but what about the artists who were once pretty good and are now just ok? Would they have been great had they died young? Which artists have managed to duck death’s grasp but in turn have ducked the chance to enter the tragic yet celebrated wall of fame?

Now it is important to point out that this topic is not meant to offend anyone. On the contrary it is intended to offer consolation to the thousands of almost-greats. Solace to those who by escaping an early death have been robbed the honour of a global legendary status.

Take Madonna for example. Please, someone take Madonna. Great in the 80’s, breath of fresh air, producer of catchy pop hits and an activist for women’s rights. Wait… She stood for the right for a woman to be as sexually liberated as any man, sex was a gift and she used it. She symbolically bucked the restrictions imposed by the patriarchal system. And she loved it. Freedom. Choice. Papa don’t preach, because she’s just not listening, she’s a young girl who’s going to enjoy herself no matter what.

Now, that was in the 80’s. Fast-forward two decades, a few divorces, a couple of kids and she still seems to be imploring the men in her life to stop telling her what to do. However, now the request just seems a bit unnecessary. Society has changed considerably and arguably much more accepting of women enjoying recreational sex. Plus I’d pretty much wager that the majority of the men have now learned that she’s just not going to listen and why should she …?

I’m just saying, if she’d have died in the 80’s, maybe murdered from a jealous, un-accepting chauvinist husband, she’d have been immortalized. A martyr for women’s freedom. A true artist. A musical genius. A Postmodern feminist. Queen. I’m just saying.

Now times are definitely a-changing for Bob Dylan, and one would expect they would as he’s experienced more than six decades of them pesky times. When he originally lamented on the great political and societal change that was taking place, he was at the perfect age and point in time to do so.

Now when he philosophizes about modern times, he just sounds like the old fellah at the back of the pub harking on about the good old days. And he looks like he should be dead. All I’m saying is had he died in the 60’s, maybe shot dead in New York (R.I.P Emperor Lennon) he would have been forever remembered as a hippy idealist musical genius who broke with tradition and who was just too radical to exist in this cold uncaring capitalist world. I’m just saying.

What about today’s young stars? Has David Beckham missed the chance to be remembered as the legendary beautiful footballing extraordinaire? It won’t be long until his looks and skills will have diminished. All I’m saying is, if our footballing Prince had died being chased by the paparazzi in a glamorous European city he would have been forever remembered as a victim of the public’s adoration. We loved him too much. He was too good, too handsome and just too nice. He was a bloody legend and we miss him so. I’m just saying.

The good die young seems to be less of a saying and more of a piece of advice. Create a decent body of work before you hit 30 then die tragically. Or, now this is a tricky one, have the best of both worlds; fake your own death and die suspiciously, creating rumors and speculation as to if you are indeed alive. This is also a good way to keep interest fresh.

So what do you think, which older artists, singers, writers, politicians are still alive today who had they died at the height of their fame would now have been bestowed legendary status upon? Let me know …