Eight Songs For James Dean's 80th Birthday

Craig Hlavaty | February 8, 2011 | 5:10pm

Had he lived, the original angsty hero, James Dean, would have been 80 years old today. Dean died in a violent September 1955 car crash, ending his film career after only three major roles. It only took three movies for the young man to become a brooding, enigmatic legend.

Dean died just as rock and roll was forming into the beast that would swallow up the world whole by the '60s. His look - the leather jacket, the jeans, the white T-shirt - is shorthand for Old Hollywood cool. His sneer and deep-seated turmoil helped light the fire of countless songs and icons of rock.

We never got to find out what the future held for Dean, dying so young. No doubt the reportedly bisexual actor would have taken to the next decade with a full vigor. We would have seen drug busts, countless Oscars, motorcycles, Studio 54, Jack Nicholson buddy pictures, lifetime achievement awards, and maybe even a gawdawful sitcom or two.

Here's to Jimmy, one of the founders of the rock and roll, devil-may-care attitude...

The Eagles, "James Dean"

You were the lowdown rebel if there ever was

Even if you had no cause

James Dean, you said it all so clean

And I know my life would look all right

If I could see it on the silver screen

The Statler Brothers, "Do You Remember These?"