Remembering 27 Club Musicians

The 27 Club. It is the name of a group of musicians, but not a band. Unfortunately, these musicians were never aware of their membership in this club. 

The 27 Club refers to an informal list of prominent musicians who died at the age of 27. The term became mainstream after Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994. 

Although it may be a widely recognized notion, the idea of the 27 Club has long been scientifically refuted. It is thought to be a tragic coincidence. However, I find it interesting how multiple musicians of the 27 Club had alluded to an intuitive sense they were going to die young or soon close to their actual death. 

Here are five iconic musicians who sadly became members of the 27 Club:

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)

Jimi Hendrix is one of the best guitarists of all time and significantly impacted the modern electric guitar sound. He combined techniques and style from blues, jazz, and rock. Hendrix was known to play his guitar behind his back, with his teeth, and set it on fire. His biggest hits were “All Along The Watchtower'', “Purple Haze”, and “Little Wing”. His career saw three album releases, which he produced and mixed himself. Hendrix also started Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York, which was widely used by many prominent musicians then and still is today. The list includes Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. On September 18, 1970 Jimi Hendrix died due to a sleeping pill overdose. Nobody knows for sure whether the overdose was intentional or accidental. It was not out of character for Hendrix to drink and take a bunch of pills, not always knowing what they were. 

Janis Joplin (1943-1970)

Janis Joplin was known for raspy voice, assertive stage presence, and blend of blues and rock and roll. Nobody sounds like her. Joplin, often referred to as the first queen of rock ‘n’ roll, paved the way for many female musicians to come. Her biggest hits include “Me and Bobby McGee”, “Piece of My Heart”, and “Cry Baby”. She released three albums over her career, two with Big Brother and the Holding Company and one as a solo project. Less than one month after Jimi Hendrix’s death, Joplin was found dead in her Hollywood hotel room. unintentionally overdosed on heroin.

Jim Morrison (1943-1971)

Jim Morrison was the lead singer of the Doors, one of the classic Los Angeles rock bands of the late 1960s. The Doors were one of the first American bands to make it into the mainstream rock sphere, and Morrison was arguably one of the most influential frontmen in rock history. Some of The Doors’ biggest hits were “People Are Strange”, “Break on Through (To the Other Side)”, and “Riders on the Storm”. Much of their success was seen after Morrison’s death, particularly after their song “The End” was used in Coppola’s Apocalypse Now in 1979. After his death, people were catching on to the idea of the 27 Club, making him and his music that much more alluring. Morrison was known for his reckless behavior and drug use. It is said that he died of heart failure, but an autopsy was never done. Many believe it was actually a heroin overdose. 

Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)

Kurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge rock band Nirvana. Nirvana was one of the decade-defining Seattle rock bands of the 1990s that created the grunge sound. Their influence is seen in the Seattle music scene, clothing style of the 1990s, and all throughout alternative rock music. Their biggest hits were “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are”, and “Heart-Shaped Box”. It was no secret that Cobain struggled with mental illness and substance abuse. He was fairly open about his struggles and it was very evident in his songwriting. He died by suicide in April of 1994. It was after Cobain’s death that the media and general public used the phrase 27 Club much more often. 

Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

Amy Winehouse, the most recent 27 Club member on this list will forever be one the biggest powerhouse vocalists of all time. Fans loved her strong raspy voice, sense of humor, and unique soulful feel. Her massively successful sophomore album Back To Black was released in 2006 and launched her into stardom. The biggest hits were “Back To Black”, Rehab”, and “Valerie”. The time in pop culture she rose to fame in was packed with tabloid-style media. The press loved picking apart her relationships, drug use, time in rehab, and overall behavior. This only exacerbated her problems. Her long struggle with alcoholism ultimately led to her death in 2011. 

These are just five music legends who all happened to tragically die at the age of 27. Although their lives were cut short, their legacy never could be. Their influence will live on forever through their own music and the countless other musicians inspired by their work.