- 27 Club
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The 27 Club—also occasionally known as the Forever 27 Club, Club 27 or the Curse of 27—is the title for a group of popular musicians who all died at the age of 27.[1] Their names are synonymous trademarks of the "rock and roll" lifestyle.[2]
The 27 Club consists of two related phenomena, both in the realm of popular culture. The first is a list of seven famous musicians who died at age 27—blues singer and musician Robert Johnson (considered to be the first member of the 27 Club),[3][4] Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse. The second is the idea that many other notable musicians have also died at the age of 27.[5]
Contents
Musicians usually included in the 27 Club
The notion of a "27 Club" arose after the deaths of Jones, Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison.[6] Cobain, who died in 1994, was later added by some. With the exception of Joplin, there is controversy surrounding their deaths. According to the book Heavier Than Heaven, when Cobain died, his sister claimed that as a kid he would talk about how he wanted to join the 27 Club.[7] On the fifteenth anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, National Public Radio's Robert Smith said, "The deaths of these rock stars at the age of 27 really changed the way we look at rock music."[8] The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll details the history of the phenomenon.
Picture Name Date of death Official cause of death Fame Age Robert Johnson[9] August 16, 1938 Unknown, but typically attributed to strychnine poisoning Blues singer and musician who recorded a very famous and influential set of 29 songs. 27 years, 100 days 
Brian Jones[10] July 3, 1969 Drowned[11] (coroner's report states "death by misadventure")[12] Rolling Stones founder, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist 27 years, 125 days 
Jimi Hendrix[10] September 18, 1970 Asphyxiation (disputed)[13] Pioneering electric guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys 27 years, 295 days 
Janis Joplin[14] October 4, 1970 Probable heroin overdose[15] Lead vocalist and songwriter for Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie Band 27 years, 258 days 
Jim Morrison[10] July 3, 1971 Reported as heart failure (no autopsy performed, disputed)[16][17]. Lead singer, lyricist and video director for The Doors, and poet 27 years, 207 days 
Kurt Cobain[14] April 5, 1994 Suicide by gunshot (disputed)[18] Although Cobain's body was discovered on April 8, 1994, the coroner's report estimates Cobain to have died on April 5. Founding member, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Nirvana 27 years, 44 days 
Amy Winehouse[19][10] July 23, 2011 Alcohol poisoning[20] English singer-songwriter; first British female to win five Grammy Awards in single ceremony 27 years, 312 days Other musicians who died at 27
Some lists include other musicians who died at age 27.[21][22][23][19][24][25]
Cobain and Hendrix biographer Charles R. Cross writes "The number of musicians who died at 27 is truly remarkable by any standard. [Although] humans die regularly at all ages, there is a statistical spike for musicians who die at 27."[5]
Name Date of death Cause of death Fame Age Alexandre Levy[21] January 17, 1892 Unknown Composer, pianist and conductor 27 years, 98 days Louis Chauvin[21][22] March 26, 1908 Neurosyphilitic sclerosis Ragtime musician 27 years, 13 days Nat Jaffe[21] August 5, 1945 Complications from high blood pressure Swing jazz pianist 27 years, 216 days Jesse Belvin[21][22][23][25] February 6, 1960 Car accident R&B singer, pianist and songwriter 27 years, 53 days Rudy Lewis[23][19] May 20, 1964 Drug overdose Vocalist of The Drifters 27 years, 271 days Malcolm Hale[21][25] October 31, 1968 Carbon monoxide poisoning Original member and lead guitarist of Spanky and Our Gang 27 years, 166 days Dickie Pride[23] March 26, 1969 Overdose of sleeping pills Rock and roll singer 27 years, 156 days Alexandra July 31, 1969 Car accident Singer 27 years, 73 days Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson[21][22][23][19][24][25] September 3, 1970 Barbiturate overdose, possible suicide Leader, singer and primary composer of Canned Heat 27 years, 61 days Arlester "Dyke" Christian[21] March 13, 1971 Murdered Frontman, vocalist and bassist of Dyke & the Blazers 27 years, 273 days Linda Jones[23] March 14, 1972 Complications from diabetes Soul singer 27 years, 91 days Leslie Harvey[22][24][25] May 3, 1972 Electrocution Guitarist for Stone the Crows and brother of Alex Harvey 27 years, 233 days Ron "Pigpen" McKernan[21][22][23][19][24][25] March 8, 1973 Gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with alcoholism Founding member, keyboardist and singer of the Grateful Dead 27 years, 181 days Roger Lee Durham[21][25] July 27, 1973 Fell off a horse and died from the injuries Singer and percussionist of Bloodstone 27 years, 163 days Wallace Yohn[21] August 12, 1974 Plane crash Organ player of Chase 27 years, 212 days Dave Alexander[21][22][23][19][24][25] February 10, 1975 Pulmonary edema Bassist for the Stooges 27 years, 252 days Pete Ham[21][22][23][19][24][25] April 24, 1975 Suicide Keyboardist and guitarist, leader of Badfinger 27 years, 362 days Gary Thain[21][22][19][25] December 8, 1975 Drug overdose Former bassist of Uriah Heep and The Keef Hartley Band 27 years, 207 days Cecilia August 2, 1976 Car accident Spanish singer 27 years, 296 days Helmut Köllen[21][25] May 3, 1977 Carbon monoxide poisoning Bassist with 1970s German prog rock band Triumvirat 27 years, 62 days Chris Bell[21][22][23][25] December 27, 1978 Car accident Singer-songwriter and guitarist of power pop band Big Star and solo 27 years, 349 days Jacob Miller[22][19] March 23, 1980 Car accident Jamaican reggae artist and lead singer for Inner Circle 27 years, 324 days D. Boon[21][22][23][24][25] December 22, 1985 Van accident Guitarist, lead singer of punk band the Minutemen 27 years, 266 days Alexander Bashlachev February 17, 1988 Suicide Russian poet, rock musician and songwriter 27 years, 266 days Jean-Michel Basquiat[23][19][24][25] August 12, 1988 Speedball overdose Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray 27 years, 234 days Pete de Freitas[21][22][23][19][25] June 14, 1989 Motorcycle accident Drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen 27 years, 346 days Mia Zapata[21][22][23] July 7, 1993 Murdered Lead singer of The Gits 27 years, 316 days Kristen Pfaff[21][22][23][19][24][25] June 16, 1994 Heroin overdose Bass guitarist for Hole and Janitor Joe 27 years, 51 days Richey Edwards[21][23][24][25] February 1, 1995 Disappeared; officially presumed dead November 23, 2008 Lyricist and guitarist for Manic Street Preachers 27 years, 41 days Stretch November 30, 1995 Murdered Rapper 27 years, 101 days Fat Pat[21][22] February 3, 1998 Murdered Rapper and member of Screwed Up Click 27 years, 61 days Freaky Tah[21] March 28, 1999 Murdered Rapper and member of the hip hop group Lost Boyz 27 years, 318 days Sean Patrick McCabe[21][22][23][25] August 28, 2000 Asphyxiation Lead singer of Ink & Dagger 27 years, 289 days Rodrigo Bueno June 24, 2000 Car accident Argentine Cuarteto singer 27 years, 31 days Maria Serrano Serrano[21] November 24, 2001 Plane crash Background singer for Passion Fruit 27 years, 363 days Jeremy Michael Ward[21][22][23][25] May 25, 2003 Heroin overdose The Mars Volta and De Facto sound manipulator 27 years, 20 days Bryan Ottoson[21][22][25] April 19, 2005 Prescription drug overdose Guitarist for American Head Charge 27 years, 32 days Valentín Elizalde[21] November 26, 2006 Murdered Mexican banda singer 27 years, 297 days Damien Morris December 19, 2007 Tour bus crash Vocalist and member of The Red Shore 27 years, 211 days Orish Grinstead April 20, 2008 Kidney failure Founding member of '90s R&B group 702 27 years, 323 days Lily Tembo September 14, 2009 Severe gastritis Zambian musician 27 years, 298 days John Garrighan January 30, 2011 Heroin overdose Guitarist and vocalist for The Berlin Project 27 years, 304 days Richard Turner[22] August 11, 2011 Cardiac arrest Trumpet player, collaborator with Friendly Fires[26] 27 years, 12 days References
- ^ "After Nirvana Show airs on Saturday 3rd April 2100 - 2200". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/documentaries/nirvana_27.shtml. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Weiss, David. "Amy Winehouse & The 27 Club". Life Goes Strong. http://play.lifegoesstrong.com/amy-winehouse-27-club. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ McMartin, Pete (2011-07-26). "The short foregone song of Amy Winehouse". Vancouver Sun. http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/short+foregone+song+Winehouse/5158532/story.html. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Sullivan, James (2011-05-27). "Robert Johnson Founds the '27 Club' With Devil Pact -- Twisted Tales". Spinner. http://www.spinner.ca/2011/05/27/robert-johnson-crossroads/. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ a b Cross, Charles. "P-I's Writer in Residence Charles R. Cross explores the darker side of 'only the good die young' Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/P-I-s-Writer-in-Residence-Charles-R-Cross-1229072.php#ixzz1WQD7ympT". seattle pi. http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/P-I-s-Writer-in-Residence-Charles-R-Cross-1229072.php. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "The 27 Club: Musicians Who Died Young". UpVenue. http://www.upvenue.com/music-news/blog-headline/1026/the-27-club-musicians-who-died-at-27-years-old.html. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain". HyperionBooks.com. http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=0786884029.
- ^ "Before I Get Old: 'The 27s' Made Early Exits". NPR. http://www.npr.org/2009/04/05/102670912/before-i-get-old-the-27s-made-early-exits. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ http://www.spinner.com/2011/05/27/robert-johnson-crossroads/
- ^ a b c d http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8657314/Amy-Winehouse-joins-the-Forever-27-club.html
- ^ "All about Brian Jones, by Anthony Bruno — "Death by Misadventure" — Crime Library on". Trutv.com. 1969-07-10. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/celebrity/brian_jones/. Retrieved 2011-07-23.
- ^ Wyman 2002, p. 329
- ^ The Final Days, Tony Brown excerpt quoted in http://woodstockhendrix.gobot.com/about.html
- ^ a b http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/amy-winehouse-27-kurt-cobain-214643
- ^ The Washington Post. May 11, 1998. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/features/joplin.htm.
- ^ Walt, Vivienne (July 19, 2007). "Postcard: Paris". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1645167,00.html. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ Walt, Vivienne. "How Jim Morrison Died". Time. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1643884,00.html. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- ^ van Gelder, Lawrence (March 3, 1998). "Footlights". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/03/arts/footlights.html. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Blair, Kevin (24 July 2011). "The Forever 27 Club — Music's Growing List of Stars Who Died at 27 Years Old". StarPulse. http://www.starpulse.com/news/Kevin_Blair/2011/07/24/the_forever_27_club_musics_growing_li. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ "Amy Winehouse inquest records verdict of misadventure". The Guardian. 26 October 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/26/amy-winehouse-verdict-misadventure. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll". The27s.com. http://the27club.the27s.com/Forever27.html. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Forever 27 Hall of Fame". Forever27.co.uk. http://www.forever27.co.uk/forever/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=9. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Members of the 27 Club". Ranker. 31 July 2011. http://www.ranker.com/list/members-of-the-27-club/famous-celebrity-deaths-list. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stopera, Dave. "The 27 Club: 15 Other Musicians Who Died at Age 27". BuzzFeed. http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/15-other-musicians-who-died-at-age-27. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t O'Connor, Rob (23 July 2011). "Twenty-Seven Members of the 27 Club". Yahoo Music. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/141497/twenty-seven-members-of-the-27-club/. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ Smith, K. Alexander. "Richard Turner of Friendly Fires: 1984-2011". http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/08/richard-turner-trumpet-player-for-friendly-fires-d.html. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
Further reading
- The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll, by Eric Segalstad (illus. Josh Hunter).
External links
- forever27.co.uk, "The Forever 27 Club" web site
- the27s.com, "The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll" web site
- 27clubMovie.com
Categories:- Death-related lists
- Lists of musicians
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