Rock and roll has its legends, and these four changed music in ways people still talk about decades later. This One Gotta Go card puts them on the same bill: Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain and Freddie Mercury.
Three stay in the rock hall of your heart, and one is removed from history. Think about the songs you blast in the car, the artist your parents introduced you to and the legend whose story you know better than their records. Then pick, and play a track to make your case.
Jimi Hendrix vs David Bowie vs Kurt Cobain vs Freddie Mercury
A. Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix redefined the electric guitar in just a few short years before his death at 27. Songs like Purple Haze and All Along the Watchtower still sound bold today. Some fans admit they know his legend more than his full albums, which makes him a possible cut.
Keep it if: You think Hendrix was a genius whose playing has never been matched, and his music still blows your mind.
B. David Bowie
David Bowie reinvented himself again and again, from Ziggy Stardust to his later work, always ahead of the trend. He made change part of his art. Some listeners find his many personas hard to follow, which makes him a candidate for the cut.
Keep it if: You love artists who take risks, and songs like Heroes and Space Oddity mean something special to you.
C. Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain led Nirvana, and the album Nevermind with Smells Like Teen Spirit brought grunge to the mainstream in 1991. He spoke for a generation. His career was short, though, and some people find his music too raw compared with the polish of the others.
Keep it if: Nevermind changed how you heard music and Nirvana's raw sound still feels honest to you.
D. Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury fronted Queen with one of the most powerful voices in rock, and their Live Aid set in 1985 is often called the best live performance ever. He is a showman like no other. If you are not a fan of big, theatrical rock, he could be your cut.
Keep it if: You sing every part of Bohemian Rhapsody and think Freddie is the greatest frontman of all time.
Our take
This one hurts, but we would cut Kurt Cobain. His impact was real, yet the other three built longer bodies of work that span many styles and decades. The most fun debate tends to be Bowie against Freddie Mercury, since both were bold, theatrical artists who loved to surprise people. Ask everyone to name the song they would play to introduce a friend to their pick, and turn it into a listening party.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which rock legend's legacy is more about the myth than the music?
- Who is the greatest frontman in rock history?
- Which legend would have made the best music today?
- Which rock legend would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Rock Legends: quick answers
Why is Queen's Live Aid performance so famous?
Queen performed a short set at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in July 1985, and many critics and fans consider it one of the greatest live performances in rock history. Freddie Mercury's control of the huge crowd was remarkable, and the set was later recreated in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
What is grunge music?
Grunge is a style of rock that came out of Seattle in the late 1980s and early 1990s, mixing punk energy with heavy guitar sounds and raw, emotional lyrics. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains are among its best known bands.
