27. Just 27 years old. Creative souls that changed the course of musical history, all gone too soon. The 27 Club is more than just a coincidence, it’s an enigma that begs the question: Why this age? Why these icons?
TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses topics of suicide, substance abuse, self-harm and death.
Although the term “27 Club” was not coined until the 1990s, the public was always aware of the cultural phenomenon of the group of famous musicians dying tragically at the same age. Most of them leaving during what seemed like the peak of their careers. Fans remained eager to hear decades more of their ingenious way with lyrics and rhythms… but things were halted.
When referring to the 27 Club, most people are familiar with The “Golden Age” of the club. The Golden Age includes four high-profile and well-known musicians lives ending much too soon.
The first musician was none other than the founding member and guitarist of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones. Being an integral member of the band, Jones’ unique sense of rhythm made a lasting influence to the rock genre. Unfortunately, the presence of drugs and bad habits wasn’t a foreign concept to stressed out musicians. Jones was not an exception to these temptations in the crazy world of music.
It did not take long for life on the road and in the studio to take a toll on Jones’ mental and physical health. Instead of practicing healthy coping mechanisms, Jones opted for the quick fix: pills and pushing others away. With a new rocky lifestyle Jones had partaken in, loss was inevitable. In 1969, news surfaced about Jones’ tragic end through drugs and alcohol, and it was a total heartbreak.
The second member of the Golden Age was the true left-handed guitar hero, Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was a staple musician in the psychedelic rock scene, and blew fans away with his crazy riffs and soulful voice. Within the world of music and psychedelic culture, substance use was common, and Jimi Hendrix had his fair share. Sadly, this substance use was attributed to the end of Hendrix’s life, when his career came to a fatal end. The musician after being found dead from asphyxiation while on depressant drugs.
A month after Hendrix’s fatal misfortune, was the next addition to the Golden Age of the 27 Club, psychedelic rock icon of the 60s, Janis Joplin. A notable performer at Woodstock and a discography that encapsulated the public for years with her powerful and entrancing vocals. Once again though, the hectic lifestyle of musicians proved to make drugs that much more appealing, especially during the age of psychedelics and experimenting with drugs. The silent killer for Joplin was none other than heroin, an addictive opioid. What felt careless and playful led to the tragic death of Joplin in a L.A motel room at the heartbreaking age of 27.
The fourth and final notable creative to be a part of the Golden Age was none other than The Doors dreamy and mysterious frontman, Jim Morrison. Morrison not only led his band to be a legendary psychedelic rock band that is used as inspiration for upcoming musicians to this day, but in his own time, was a talented poet that transcended his complex words into lyrics of songs many know today.
Sadly, similarly to Joplin and Jones, Morrison found himself using substances and abusing alcohol on the regular. Jim would often come on stage intoxicated and leave fans wondering if he was in trouble. Just like Joplin, in 1970, Morrison was also found dead in his Parisian apartment, overdosed on heroin.
These three artists left the hardcore music fans of that time shocked that their favorite creatives lead tragic deaths. Weirdly enough, the artists were also the same young age of 27. This was just the beginning of the trend of creatives leaving this world too soon.
In the 1990s, the 27 Club began to receive renewed attention… The deaths of these artists whose music had become deeply influential to the new generations: Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse.
Kurt Cobain, the legend of grunge rock and lead singer of the hugely successful rock band, Nirvana, quickly became the voice of the alternative crowd of Gen X. Once again, similarly to the others mentioned, Cobain fell into the habit of using substances, slowly using more dangerous substances like heroin, morphine, and rohypnol.
After years of struggling with addiction, chronic pain, and the demanding lifestyle of being a rock icon ultimately lead to Cobain’s suicide. On April 8, 1994, Cobain was found dead in his Washington home with a gunshot wound to the head. The singer was also found with rohypnol in his system. Once again, dead at 27, leaving the world shocked that such a successful and legendary figure could leave the world in such a horrible way.
Although Amy Winehouse is not the last of the modern 27 Club, she did add a significant amount of attention to the complexity of the music industry. Winehouse was well-known for her impressively soulful and gorgeous vocals that made her a legend in the world of music. Mixing her powerful voice with eclectic and inspiring genres such as jazz, blues, and rhythm. Despite her success, Winehouse struggled with addiction and tumultuous relationships, which in the end, led to her death in 2011.
Although all six of these musicians’ lives ended much too soon. Their deaths created an awareness for the public eye to help understand the extreme of the music industry. The 27 Club stands as a reminder of the fragility of life, particular in the intense world of fame and artistry. Though the deaths of these artists remain a tragic part of their legacy, their contributions to music continue to influence and inspire new generations of artists and listeners. The 27 Club is a symbol of both beauty and the cost of living an extraordinary life as a talented individual, one that burns brightly, but sometimes burns out too soon.
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I am currently attending the University of North Texas with a photojournalism major. I love going to concerts of all genres, whether I am stage diving or headbanging, I never miss an opportunity to appreciate live music. In my free time, I enjoy thrifting for CD's and records, spending time with my cats, going to art exhibits, and traveling (especially to NYC). My biggest inspiration is Danny Clinch, and one day I aspire to open up my own gallery to showcase my work!
