Music is a weird thing... I think they need to be iconic to work. Iconic in a pop culture way that completely transcends music.
Right now I have Elvis, The Beatles and Michael Jackson In my collection. In a way that's sort of the perfect music collection. A trifecta of the three biggest musical icons of all time, and in way adding anyone else sort of screws up that perfect balance.
That's not to say I don't like Rage or the Chilis, U2, NIN, pearl jam, radiohead or other artists who are almost there in terms of larger than life entities more than evis or MJ...
But they are not important enough to the zeitgeist to mean something beyond their music, in a way that moves merchandise outside of t shirts as a persona and not the music itself which is more intangible.
In fact outside of what I think are the magic three there are some clear contenders
Johnny Cash
Bob Dylan
Jimi Hemdrix
Jim Morrison
Then the waters get even murkier...
Freddie Mercury
Kiss
Zeppelin, but from zeppelin you pretty much just want Page right?
The Stones but do you really want anyone other than Mic and Kieth?
And who besides Slash is worthwhile out of G+R? Not axle.
Even Metallica, it's arguable who the right base player is to put in the lineup and even then no one would buy a 200 Dollar Lars
And from U2 you'd never sell Adam and Larry but do you do Bono without The Edge?
It's why few bands outside of the Beatles really work because each member is a legend in their own right, right down to the lovable but still clear weak link Ringo.
So from Rage is it Zach or Tom? And the truth is are either even larger than life enough to warrant a figure?
I'll admit being dead helps that icon status, such as with Cobain. It meant something to us 90s kids when he blew his brains out and it meant something to that time culturally, but real grunge fans know that Cobain can't hold a candle to Cornell or Vedder, he can't even hold a candle to Dave Grohl if you ask me! But no ones asking for Cornell...
So a long answer to your question but no i don't want RATM figures, but I do however think I'll throw in Evil Empire for a long overdue listen
