Back from the dead - the haunting truth of hologram performances

A thrilling reincarnation of our favourite stars or a technological uprising of the undead: what holograms really mean for the music industry...

                          Epic Records

From Michael Jackson to Tupac, famous stars whose physical presence has previously been accepted as no more have been brought back to life through the increasing rise of holographic performances. Are these potential guardian angels being sent to grace us with their talents once more, or do they herald a more demonic presence within the music industry in the wake of an undead nightmare?

There are some positives to this technology. For example, fans are given another chance to see their favourite artists or the same artist could theoretically do a world tour in one night. Furthermore, future generations can get a taste of what these icons were really all about (and perhaps in doing so causing a revolution of retro influence).

But what about the negatives…

Whilst we can all accept it’s intriguing that we can once again watch MJ rock his moonwalk, there’s a subtle sadness in knowing that it’s just not the same as the ‘real deal’, which makes it difficult to truly celebrate his return. As fans go out to get their dose of nostalgia, what’s to be of artists who are still alive and working harder than ever to please their fans and make their mark on culture? Only so much limelight can be shared through current live shows and the return of lost stars could possibly mean that certain artists dominate this indefinitely, only to suffocate the hopes and dreams of aspiring young artists and dampen the musical palate of fans all around.

                                                          Christopher Polk/Getty images

There also begs the question of what do the likes of Tupac, Roy Orbison and other artists who have passed away think of the use of this technology? The answer is, is that we don’t know. Since this technology has entered public consciousness, current artists have the awareness now to be able to legally declare whether they may or may not allow their image to be used for performances after they have died. Most if not all who have been brought back so far are not quite so fortunate… Although the decision is often left to close relatives of the deceased, it may well be that these artists never truly rest in peace (The title of Michael Jackson’s posthumous track ‘slave to the rhythm’ taking on a tragic sense of irony with this in mind).

It may be undoubtedly thrilling for some to see their favourite stars of old once more, however, there is something rotten about these returning ‘ghosts’. Could this be the musical apocalypse as we know it?...

(In the style of 'The Guardian')