DID YOU THE 27 CLUB ?

The 27 Club, also occasionally known as the Forever 27 Club or Club 27, is a name for a group of influential rock music artists who died at the age of 27. The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll details the history of the phenomenon. Musicians usually included in the 27 Club

The impetus for the club's creation were the deaths of Jones, Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison.[1] 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.[2] On the fifteenth anniversary of '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."[3] The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll details the history of the phenomenon.

Date of Picture Name Official cause of death Fame Age death

Drowned in a swimming pool. 27 years Brian Rolling Stones founder and July 3, 1969 [4] The coroner's report stated and 125 Jones guitarist/multi-instrumentalist. "death by misadventure."[5] days

Autopsy showed he Pioneering electric guitarist, singer and 27 years Jimi September asphyxiated on vomit after songwriter forThe and 295 Hendrix 18, 1970 combining sleeping pills with Experience and Band of Gypsys. days wine.[6]

Lead vocalist and songwriter for Big 27 years Janis October 4, Brother and the Holding Company, The Probable heroin overdose.[7] and 258 Joplin 1970 Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie days Band.

Cause of death listed as "heart 27 years Jim Lead singer, songwriter and video July 3, 1971 failure"; however, no autopsy and 207 Morrison director for . was performed.[8] days 27 years Kurt April 5, Founding member, lead singer, guitarist Ruled as suicide by shotgun.[9] and 44 Cobain 1994 and songwriter for Nirvana. days

Other musicians who died at 27

Some lists include other musicians who died at age 27.[10] 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."[10]

Date of Name Cause of death Claim to notability death March 26, Louis Chauvin Neurosyphilitic sclerosis. Ragtime musician. 1908 Bluesman. Recorded very famous and influential set Robert August 16, Unknown, but typically credited of 29 songs that influenced many famous musicians Johnson 1938 to strychninepoisoning. after him, considered the first of the 27 club. August 5, Result of complications from high blood Nat Jaffe Blues musician. 1945 pressure. February 6, Jesse Belvin Car crash. R&B singer and songwriter. 1960 May 20, Rudy Lewis Drug overdose. Vocalist of The Drifters. 1964 October 31, Carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty Malcolm Hale Original member of Spanky and Our Gang. 1968 space heater. March 26, Dickie Pride Overdose of sleeping pills. British rock and roll singer. 1969 Alan "Blind September 3, overdose, possible suicide. Leader, singer and primary composer of . Owl" Wilson 1970 Arlester March 13, "Dyke" Shot. Frontman and vocalist of Dyke & the Blazers. 1971 Christian March 14, Linda Jones Diabetic coma. R&B singer. 1972 Electrocution by live microphone after Les Harvey May 3, 1972 Guitarist for Stone the Crows. touching it with his wet hands. Ron "Pigpen" March 8, Gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with Founding member, keyboardist and singer of McKernan 1973 alcoholism. the . Roger Lee July 27, 1973 Fell off a horse and died from the injuries. Singer and percussionist of Bloodstone. Durham August 12, Died in a plane crash along with three other Wallace Yohn Organ player of Chase. 1974 band members. Dave February 10, Pulmonary edema. Bassist for . Alexander 1975 April 24, Pete Ham Suicide by hanging. Keyboardist and guitarist, leader of Badfinger. 1975 Gary Thain December 8, Drug overdose. Former bassist of Uriah Heep and The Keef 1975 Hartley Band. August 2, Cecilia Car crash Spanish singer 1976 Bassist with 1970s German prog rock Helmut Köllen May 3, 1977 Carbon monoxide poisoning. band Triumvirat. December Singer-songwriter and guitarist of power pop band Big Chris Bell Car crash: ran into a telephone pole. 27, 1978 Star and solo. March 23, Jacob Miller Car crash. Jamaican reggae artist and lead singer for Inner Circle. 1980 Lying down in the back of a van when it December D. Boon veered off road, he was ejected from the Guitarist, lead singer of punk band the Minutemen. 22, 1985 vehicle and broke his neck. Alexander February 17, Suicide by jumping. Russian poet, rock musician and songwriter. Bashlachev 1988 Jean-Michel August 12, overdose. Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray. Basquiat 1988 June 14, Motorcycle wreck on his way back from Pete de Freitas Drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen. 1989 filming a music video. Mia Zapata July 7, 1993 Murdered. Lead singer of the Gits. June 16, Officially ruled as an accidental heroin Kristen Pfaff Bass guitarist for Hole and Janitor Joe. 1994 overdose. Richey James c. February 1, Disappeared; officially presumed Lyricist and guitarist for Edwards 1995 dead November 23, 2008. November Stretch Shot Rapper 30, 1995 February 3, Fat Pat Shot. Rapper and member of Screwed Up Click. 1998 March 28, Freaky Tah Shot. Rapper and member of the hip hop group Lost Boyz. 1999 Sean Patrick August 28, Asphyxiated on vomit after ingesting too Lead singer of Ink & Dagger. McCabe 2000 much . Rodrigo June 24, Car accident Argentinian Cuarteto singer. Bueno 2000 Maria Serrano November Plane crash. Background singer for Passion Fruit. Serrano 24, 2001 Jeremy May 25, Heroin overdose. The Mars Volta and De Facto sound manipulator. Michael Ward 2003 April 19, Bryan Ottoson Prescription drug overdose. Guitarist for American Head Charge. 2005 Valentín November Murdered. Mexican banda singer. Elizalde 25, 2006 Orish c. April 20, Kidney failure. Founding member of '90s R&B group 702. Grinstead 2008 September Lily Tembo Severe gastritis. Zambian musician. 14, 2009 Amy July 23, 2011 To be determined.[11][12] British singer/songwriter. Winehouse