What is the biggest what-if in music history?

Albums abandoned, residencies cancelled, groups that walked away at the peak. Every entry here is a record that does not exist.

1

Michael Jackson's This Is It residency

Fifty sold-out O2 shows were due to open on 13 July 2009; he died eighteen days before.

2

The Beach Boys' abandoned SMiLE

Brian Wilson shelved his 1967 follow-up to Pet Sounds and finished it only in 2004.

3

Lauryn Hill's second solo album

The Miseducation sold millions in 1998 and no studio follow-up ever came.

4

Prince's shelved Black Album

Pulled from release a week before it shipped in 1987 and bootlegged for seven years.

5

A Beatles reunion

Every offer from 1970 onward was turned down, including Live Aid and a Lorne Michaels gag.

6

Jeff Buckley's second album

He drowned in 1997 with My Sweetheart the Drunk unfinished in demo form.

7

Amy Winehouse's third album

Back to Black swept the 2008 Grammys; the follow-up was never recorded.

8

Led Zeppelin after John Bonham

The band dissolved in 1980 rather than replace their drummer.

9

A Smiths reunion

Morrissey and Marr have turned down every offer since the 1987 split, reportedly including millions.

10

David Bowie's Blackstar tour

He released the album on his 69th birthday in 2016 and died two days later, having planned more work.

11

Jimi Hendrix's unfinished studio album

He was assembling a double album at his new Electric Lady Studios when he died in 1970.

12

Nirvana's fourth album

In Utero was a year old when the band ended in 1994, with new songs only in demo form.

13

Elvis never touring outside North America

He played three nights in Canada in 1957 and never performed anywhere else abroad.

14

The Fugees' third album

The Score made them the biggest group in hip-hop in 1996, then they split within two years.

15

ABBA's 1982 stop

They walked away at their commercial peak and waited thirty-nine years to record again.