27 Club

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The 27 Club is a term that refers to a number of popular musicians who died at age 27,[1] often as a result of drug and alcohol abuse, or violent means such as homicide or suicide.[2] The number of musicians who have died at this age and the circumstances of many of those deaths have given rise to the idea that premature deaths at this age are unusually common.

The "club" has been repeatedly cited in music magazines, journals and the daily press. Several exhibitions have been devoted to the idea, as well as novels, films and stage plays.[3][4][5][6][7] There have been many different theories and speculations about the causes of such early deaths and their possible connections. 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."[8]

However, a study published in the British Medical Journal in December 2011 concluded that there was no increase in the risk of death for musicians at the age of 27. Although the sampled musicians faced an increased risk of death in their 20s and 30s, this was not limited to the age of 27.[9] Informal research using an automated query across Wikipedia data (via DBpedia) in 2012 effectively reached the same conclusion: "There may well be a 27 Club of accursed musicians, but the 74 Club is more popular."[10] A 2015 article in The Independent also provided statistical evidence that popular musicians are not more likely to die at the age of 27.[11]

Origins

Jim Morrison, lead singer of the rock band the Doors.

Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all died at the age of 27 between 1969 and 1971. At the time, the coincidence gave rise to some comment,[12][13] but it was not until the death of Kurt Cobain, about two and a half decades later, that the idea of a "27 Club" began to catch on in public perception.[8]

According to Hendrix and Cobain biographer Charles R. Cross, the growing importance of the media—Internet, television and magazines—and the response to an interview of Cobain's mother were jointly responsible for such theories. An excerpt from a statement that Cobain's mother, Wendy Fradenburg Cobain O'Connor, made in the Aberdeen, Washington newspaper The Daily World—"Now he's gone and joined that stupid club. I told him not to join that stupid club."—referred to Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison dying at the same age, according to Cross.[14] Other authors share his view.[15] On the other hand, Josh Hunter and Eric Segalstad, writer of The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll, assumed that Cobain's mother referred to the death of his two uncles and his great uncle, who all committed suicide.[16] According to Cross, the events have led a "set of conspiracy theorists [to suggest] the absurd notion that Kurt Cobain intentionally timed his death so he could join the 27 Club".[8]

In 2011, seventeen years after Cobain's death, Amy Winehouse died at the age of 27, and there was a large amount of media attention devoted to the club once again.[17] Three years earlier, she had expressed a fear of dying at that age.[18]

References in music

The song "28" by John Craigie off his album Montana Tale, is about the club. The three verses refer to the deaths of Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain respectively.

The theme is referenced in the song "27 Forever" by Eric Burdon, on his 2013 album 'Til Your River Runs Dry.[19]

The name of the song "27 Club" by letlive. off their album The Blackest Beautiful is derived from the club.[20]

Magenta's eighth studio album, The Twenty Seven Club, directly references the club. Each track is a tribute to a member of the club.[21][22]

The song title "27" by Fall Out Boy from their album Folie à Deux is a reference to the club. The song explores the hedonistic lifestyles common in rock and roll. Pete Wentz, the primary lyricist of Fall Out Boy, wrote the song because he felt that he was living a similarly dangerous lifestyle.[23]

People identified as being in the 27 Club

Name Date of death Official cause of death Fame Age 27 Club
references
Alexandre Levy January 17, 1892 Unknown Composer, pianist and conductor Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Louis Chauvin March 26, 1908 Neurosyphilitic sclerosis Ragtime musician Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25]
Robert Johnson August 16, 1938 Poisoning (strychnine [unattributed]) Blues singer and musician who recorded a very influential set of 29 songs. Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][26][27][28][29]
Nat Jaffe August 5, 1945 Complications from high blood pressure Swing jazz pianist Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Jesse Belvin February 6, 1960 Traffic collision (car) R&B singer, pianist and songwriter Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27]
Rudy Lewis May 20, 1964 Drug overdose Vocalist of the Drifters Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [28]
Joe Henderson October 24, 1964 Heart attack R&B and gospel singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [30]
Malcolm Hale October 31, 1968 Poisoning (carbon monoxide) Original member and lead guitarist of Spanky and Our Gang Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][27]
Dickie Pride March 26, 1969 Drug overdose (sleeping pills) Rock and roll singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [31][32]
Brian Jones July 3, 1969 Drowning[33] (coroner's report states "death by misadventure")[34] Rolling Stones founder, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29][35]
Alexandra July 31, 1969 Road accident German schlager vocalist Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [36][37]
Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson September 3, 1970 Drug overdose (barbiturate), possible suicide Leader, singer and primary composer of Canned Heat Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29]
Jimi Hendrix September 18, 1970 Asphyxiation[38] Pioneering electric guitarist, singer and songwriter for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29][35]
Janis Joplin October 4, 1970 Drug overdose (probably heroin)[39] Lead vocalist and songwriter for Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie Band Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29][40]
Arlester "Dyke" Christian March 13, 1971 Murdered Frontman, vocalist and bassist of Dyke and the Blazers Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Jim Morrison July 3, 1971 Heart failure[41] Singer, lyricist, and leader of the Doors Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29][35]
Linda Jones March 14, 1972 Complications from diabetes Soul singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [32][42]
Leslie Harvey May 3, 1972 Electrocution Guitarist for Stone the Crows and brother of Alex Harvey Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [25][27][29]
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan March 8, 1973 Gastrointestinal hemorrhage Founding member, keyboardist and singer of the Grateful Dead Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29]
Roger Lee Durham July 27, 1973 Fell off a horse and died from the injuries Singer and percussionist of Bloodstone Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][27]
Wallace "Wally" Yohn August 12, 1974 Plane crash Organ player of Chase Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Dave Alexander February 10, 1975 Pulmonary edema Bassist for the Stooges Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29]
Pete Ham April 24, 1975 Suicide by hanging Keyboardist and guitarist, leader of Badfinger Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29]
Gary Thain December 8, 1975 Drug overdose (heroin) Former bassist of Uriah Heep and the Keef Hartley Band Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28]
Cecilia August 2, 1976 Traffic collision (car) Singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [43][44]
Helmut Köllen May 3, 1977 Poisoning (carbon monoxide) Bassist for 1970s prog rock band Triumvirat Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][27]
Chris Bell December 27, 1978 Traffic collision (car) Singer-songwriter and guitarist of power pop band Big Star and solo Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27]
Zenon De Fleur March 17, 1979 Traffic collision (car) and subsequent medical complications Guitarist for the Count Bishops Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [45][46]
Jacob Miller March 23, 1980 Traffic collision (car) Reggae artist and lead singer for Inner Circle Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [25][28]
D. Boon December 22, 1985 Traffic collision (van) Guitarist, lead singer of punk band the Minutemen Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][29]
Alexander Bashlachev February 17, 1988 Fall from a height, probable suicide Poet, rock musician and songwriter Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [43]
Jean-Michel Basquiat August 12, 1988 Drug overdose (Speedball) Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [27][28][29]
Pete de Freitas June 14, 1989 Traffic collision (motorcycle) Drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28]
Chris Austin March 16, 1991 Plane crash Country singer for Reba McEntire Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [47]
Joey Cigainero March 16, 1991 Plane crash Keyboardist for Reba McEntire Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [47]
Dimitar Voev September 5, 1992 Cancer Founder of the Bulgarian group New Generation Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [48]
Mia Zapata July 7, 1993 Murdered Lead singer of the Gits Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25]
Kurt Cobain April 5, 1994 c. Suicide by gunshot[49] Founding member, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Nirvana Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. c. [24][25][27][28][29][40]
Kristen Pfaff June 16, 1994 Drug overdose (heroin) Bass guitarist for Hole and Janitor Joe Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27][28][29]
Richey Edwards February 1, 1995 Disappeared; officially presumed dead November 23, 2008 Lyricist and guitarist for Manic Street Preachers Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][27][29]
Stretch November 30, 1995 Murdered Rapper Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [50][51]
Fat Pat February 3, 1998 Murdered American rapper and member of Screwed Up Click Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25]
Freaky Tah March 28, 1999 Murdered American rapper and member of the hip hop group Lost Boyz Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Kami June 21, 1999 Subarachnoid hemorrhage Drummer for Malice Mizer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [52]
Rodrigo Bueno June 24, 2000 Traffic collision (car) Cuarteto singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [43]
Sean Patrick McCabe August 28, 2000 Asphyxiation Lead singer of Ink & Dagger Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27]
Maria Serrano Serrano November 24, 2001 Plane crash (Crossair Flight 3597) Background singer for Passion Fruit Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Jeremy Michael Ward May 25, 2003 Drug overdose (heroin) The Mars Volta and De Facto sound manipulator Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27]
Bryan Ottoson April 19, 2005 Drug overdose (prescription medication) Guitarist for American Head Charge Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24][25][27]
Valentín Elizalde November 26, 2006 Murdered Mexican banda singer Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [24]
Amy Winehouse July 23, 2011 Alcohol poisoning[53] Singer-songwriter Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [25][27][28][29][35]
Richard Turner August 11, 2011 Cardiac arrest Trumpet player, collaborator with Friendly Fires[54] Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [25]
Nicole Bogner January 6, 2012 Undisclosed illness Singer for Visions of Atlantis Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [55]
Soroush "Looloosh" Farazmand November 11, 2013 Murdered Guitarist for the Yellow Dogs Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [56][57]
Slađa Guduraš December 10, 2014 Road accident Bosnian pop singer and actress Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [58]
Tomas Lowe February 13, 2016 Car crash Bassist for Viola Beach Script error: The function "age_generic" does not exist. [59]

See also

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Kenny, Dianna Theodora (April 2, 2015). "Why the 27 Club Is a Myth: Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse May Be Members But That Doesn't Make It Real", The Independent. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ 24.00 24.01 24.02 24.03 24.04 24.05 24.06 24.07 24.08 24.09 24.10 24.11 24.12 24.13 24.14 24.15 24.16 24.17 24.18 24.19 24.20 24.21 24.22 24.23 24.24 24.25 24.26 24.27 24.28 24.29 24.30 24.31 24.32 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 25.23 25.24 25.25 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 27.18 27.19 27.20 27.21 27.22 27.23 27.24 27.25 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.00 28.01 28.02 28.03 28.04 28.05 28.06 28.07 28.08 28.09 28.10 28.11 28.12 28.13 28.14 28.15 28.16 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  30. ↑ Sounes, Howard (2013). 27: A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse, Da Capo Press, p.304.
  31. ↑ "British Musician Dickie Pride, a.k.a. Richard Charles Kneller, Dead at 27", Forever 27. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Members of the 27 Club", Ranker. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
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  34. ↑ Wyman 2002, p. 329
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  42. ↑ "The Curse of 27 – Famous Celebrity Deaths", Nerdygaga.com, August 3, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Saunders, Christian (January 2012). "The Forever 27 Club", Fortean Times. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
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  46. ↑ Simmonds, Jeremy (2012). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches, second edition, Chicago Review Press, pp. 121-122.
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  51. ↑ Stanley-Ayre, Sarah (February 27, 2015). "The Myth of the 27 Club", CityPages. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  52. ↑ Griffen, Brendan (March 28, 2014). "Music & Mortality", brendangriffen.com. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
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