My generation has seen its share of music icons die tragically. Kurt Cobain, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls -- they all died too soon. Or did they?

Biggie's last album, released after he died, was his highest-selling. Tupac had hit after hit post-mortem. Cobain is now revered as a rock god and an influence on musicians of all genres.

What would have happened if they had lived to be with us today? Are we to assume they would have kept producing at that stellar level year in, year out?

All three dabbled in drugs and lived the fast life of a young musician. Their candles burned bright, and they burned fast. Once they were snuffed out, we were left in the dark, with only nostalgic memories of that incredible light.

You forget about the drug abuse, the misogyny, the greed and the bad tracks. What you do remember is Come as You Are, California Love and I Love it when You Call Me Big Poppa.

In Michael Jackson's case, his light burned bright for a long time -- bright enough to burn things in our minds that we wish weren't there. It illuminated the good and the bad ... and I'm not talking about the album.

The plastic surgeries, the allegations and that terrible on-stage kiss with Lisa Marie Presley are just a few of the stomach-turning moments in Jacko's life on display that we could have done without.

Maybe a tragically young death would have been better. Sounds awful, I know, but it got to the point that the darkness and eccentricities of his personal life overshadowed his great contributions to music. I would much rather have been really sad 15 years ago with only the memories of Bad, Thriller and the Jackson 5 years to reminisce on.

I'm not heartless; in fact, I was a huge fan. The first tape I ever owned was a dub with the Footloose soundtrack on one side and Thriller on the other. I wore that tape out. I had a Michael Jackson T-shirt, and I would put on one garden glove and moonwalk in the backyard.

When I heard of Jackson's death, I was sad. But what makes me even more sad is the fact that the man who gave the world the word jamon will always be mentioned as a freak and a genius in the same breath.

Unless it comes out that he videotaped his entire life -- which maybe he did; he was a rich, weird guy -- it will never be possible to fully evaluate the allegations made against him in his personal life.

Personally, I honestly don't know what to believe. But I do firmly believe if he had died after Thriller, Don McLean would have written a song about him.