OK, Boomer. You Rock.
Before the 'OK Boomer' debacle, Gen X looked up to several of them. Here are some of the greatest.
I promised Gen X Deep Dives, and I will deliver.
With a twist.
I was going to highlight Gen X-born legends. But as I was doing my research (*coughs* Google), I suddenly realized that many of the folks we looked up to were actually Boomers.
That’s right. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Our icons, those larger-than-life figures who shaped our childhood and teen years, were born before the Gen X timeline even began.
But does it matter?
Nah.
They are still ours. And their influence helped define our generation.
Another quick caveat. Don’t be upset if you don’t see someone you love on this list. There’s only so much space available, and our attention span has been severely damaged over the last 20 years of social media and instant gratification.
Without further ado (and in the order they were born), I give you our heroes.
Freddie Mercury (1946-1991)
They don’t get any more iconic than the flamboyant frontman of Queen.
News of the World was released the year I was born, 1977. The first time I heard We Will Rock You was in my dad’s 1972 white Ford Mustang. I remember getting the chills with the unmistakable and unique rhythm of its stomping and clapping.
Stomp, stomp, clap. Stomp, stomp, clap.
And Freddie’s powerful delivery, ‘Buddy, you are a young man…’
Tell me it doesn’t get your blood pumping even after all this time.
David Bowie (1947-2016)
The Chameleon of Rock wasn’t just a musician. He was a shapeshifter. He bent and redefined genres. He made it cool to be weird and daring: Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke, or just plain Bowie.
To this day, I cannot listen to Space Oddity without getting teary-eyed.
His music and style were a rebellion and an explosion of color and imagination. Bowie was a trip to listen and to watch.
At this point, I will direct you to the picture of myself above wearing my favorite hat of all time.
Stephen King (1947)
King’s novels tapped into our primal fears, often bringing everyday life into dark and terrifying places.
He created entire worlds where evil lurked behind every corner, but he did it with such an unassuming nonchalance that it felt like we could find ourselves lost in the middle of one of his tales for real.
I wonder how many people around the world developed coulrophobia because of him. Don’t know what that is? I didn’t either; I had to look it up for this article. It’s an extreme fear of clowns.
To be fair, I was probably way too young to even be reading his stuff or watching his movies.
Robin Williams (1951-2014)
No one captured life's mania and melancholy quite like Robin Williams. He had this unmatched ability to make you laugh or cry within a 10-minute time span.
I’m positive that none of the movies he was in would’ve achieved the level of success they did without him.
He tied the whole thing together with such vulnerable humanity that one couldn’t help but feel his characters' pain.
I have limited myself to viewing his films just once.
Because they are THAT good.
Joe Montana (1956)
When I was growing up, Joe Montana was football. Later generations can keep their Tom Brady for all I care.
To me, there is no better than The Comeback Kid.
The guy had charisma for days.
Montana’s ability to deliver in clutch moments made him THE embodiment of never giving up. And as a football fan, you just knew that if the team were within reach of a comeback, they would most likely get it.
He delivered with such grace under pressure that it became the stuff of legend.
Full disclosure: I am a Raiders fan. And I absolutely hate it that we’ve never had a quarterback like Joe.
Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Star Wars was such an integral part of my upbringing that, for me, there was never a doubt a lady could be a full-fledged bonafide hero.
Sure, Luke was the hero, and Han Solo was the lovable bushwacker, but she was the person in charge. Period.
She was the heroine who didn’t need saving. Carrie Fisher was fierce, funny, and vulnerable in a galaxy far, far away, but also in real life.
Fisher wasn’t just an actress; she was a writer, a mental health advocate, and one of the most authentic voices of her generation.
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
For all the controversy surrounding him later in life, there’s no denying that Michael Jackson was the King of Pop.
Growing up in the 80s, having the Thriller Jacket in your wardrobe was a legit flex.
I did.
Michael gave us the moonwalk, Thriller, and music videos that became cultural events: the glove, the moves, the songs, the voice, the massive concerts.
MJ, and his influence on pop music is as strong today as it ever was.
Ricky Henderson (1958)
Speed. That’s what comes to mind when you think of Ricky Henderson. The guy stole bases like no one else in baseball. Henderson’s swagger and athleticism made him one of the most entertaining players ever to set foot on a field.
If you blinked, you would miss him stealing second. And probably third, too.
As I grew older, I lost interest in baseball. But I always remember how much fun it was to watch him play.
Madonna (1958)
The biggest impression I remember having every time I saw Madonna on TV was thinking, “Do they allow THAT to be broadcast?”
All sexiness aside, she was just so much fun. I have nothing but genuine admiration for everything she accomplished.
Absolute trailblazer.
She pushed boundaries and refused to be pigeonholed. She became a fashion icon and a symbol of female empowerment at a time when pop stars were expected to behave a certain way.
And she simply didn’t.
So, there you have it folks. Gen X heroes who weren’t born Gen X. They transcended their boomer status and became icons for our generation.
There will be plenty of time to discuss the accomplishments of our own, but I felt it necessary to acknowledge the contributions of those who paved the way.
Major brownie points if you leave a comment with your personal hero.
No judgement zone.
Ray Bradbury is one of the greatest writers ever.