Four of the Biggest Rock Music Deaths of All Time

The 27 club is a list of famous musicians who were responsible (in most cases) for their own self-destruction at the age of 27. Their deaths are believed to be caused due to the “precipitous lifestyles”, and some prominent names like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain share links with this idea. The “club” is repeatedly discussed in music journals, magazines and the press. There are also many exhibitions that have been devoted to the 27 club, where stage plays, novels, merchandising products and films are distributed. Here are three of the biggest names that bid farewell at 27.

Jim Morrison

Following The Doors’ rise in 1967, the lyricist and lead singer of the band, Jim Morrison was responsible for his own death, having developed a serious drug and alcohol dependency. The lack of an autopsy after his death means that the exact cause is still not clear, but it is allegedly reported that heroin overdose is the reason. Often known for improvising poetry passages with spoken words during the band’s live performances, the man regarded by fans and critics as an iconic, pioneering and charismatic frontman, Jim was ranked 47th on the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list released by the Rolling Stones Magazine, and 22nd on the “50 Greatest Singers in Rock” on Classic Rock Magazine.

Morrison died at 27 years of age, on the 3rd of July, 1971 in Paris, where he had moved with his long-time love, Pam. He is reported to have spent many months in France, walking down streets and admiring the architecture with her. There are some who suggest that the “accidental overdose” of Pam’s heroin caused a haemorrhage that resulted in his premature death.

Jimi Hendrix

American singer-song-writer and musician Jimi Hendrix is considered as one of the greatest ever guitarist in the history of rock music. Although his mainstream exposure was limited to just four years, Hendrix is still regarded among the most influential musicians of his time. He has won a number of prestigious awards for rock music during his short career and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. He is best known for expanding the vocabulary and range of electric guitars into areas that no other musician has ventured into before.

Hendrix died on the 18th of September, 1970 in London. The reason is believed to be that he asphyxiated in his own vomit, primarily red wine that filled his airways! Hendrix had taken 9 prescribed sleeping pills, while a normal dose was a half to 1 tablet. Due to his unfamiliarity with the strong Belgian brand, Hendrix paid the price with his life. There are also allegations that Jimi was murdered by his manager Mike Jeffery as the rocker wanted to terminate his managerial contract. Regardless of what the exact cause may be, The Jimi Hendrix Experience will live for generations to come.

Kurt Cobain

American artist and musician, famous as the guitarist and lead singer for Nirvana, Kurt Cobain sold more than 50 million albums worldwide as a songwriter. Having established Nirvana as one of the most popular band of the time, Cobain found it difficult to cope with his public image and fame, the professional and personal pressures that surrounded his wife, Courtney Love and himself. He struggled with depression, illness and heroin addiction during his last years. Cobain was found dead at his Seattle home on the 8th of April, 1994, having committed suicide by self-inflicting a shotgun wound to the head.

Amy Winehouse

English songwriter and singer Amy Winehouse was popular for mixing music genres and her strong deep contralto vocals. She was nominated for six awards and won five at the 2006 Grammys, tying her for the highest number of wins by a female musician in the same event. She was also the first Britton to win 5 Grammy Awards. Winehouse became a member of the dreaded 27 club when she died of alcohol poisoning on the 23rd of July, 2011.

About the author: Finesse Entertainment Ltd are a UK entertainment agency who provide a variety of bands, singers, entertainers and unusual artists to different types of events throughout the UK.