The Dark Curse of 27: These Music Icons Fell Under Its Spell

Died in the Club 27: List of music legends who have all passed away at the age of 27. Here you can learn more about the myth of Club 27 and its members.

What is the Club 27?

The Club 27 consists of famous musicians, especially from the genres of rock and blues. All of the musicians in the Club 27 died at the age of 27. Many members of the Club 27 lived fast-paced and excessive lives. They often died from drug and alcohol abuse or committed suicide. To this day, conspiracy theories surround their deaths. Numerous music legends now belong to the Club 27.

How did the Club 27 start?

The Club 27 phenomenon began in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, the rock 'n' roll world lost four important music legends: Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. The death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain in April 1994 gave rise to the term Club 27. His death led the media to speculate about Club 27 – and the myth was born. They wondered why so many famous musicians die at the age of 27. For a while, there was speculation that the age of 27 was particularly dangerous for musicians. This assumption was scientifically proven wrong. Nevertheless, it is uncanny in a way that many icons have left us far too early at the age of 27.

Died in the Club 27 List: Core Members

The core members of the Club 27 all had a huge influence on music history. They set milestones for the next generation. At the same time, they experienced the dark side of fame, which in the cases of the Club 27 ended in tragedy.

The core of the Club 27 consists of the following members:

• Brian Jones – ✝ July 3, 1969
• Jimi Hendrix – ✝ September 18, 1970
• Janis Joplin – ✝ October 4, 1970
• Jim Morrison – ✝ July 3, 1971
• Kurt Cobain – ✝ April 5, 1994
• Amy Winehouse – ✝ July 23, 2011

Brian Jones

Born: February 28, 1942

Died: July 3, 1969

Known for: being a member of the band The Rolling Stones

The British guitarist Brian Jones was a founding member and lead guitarist of the Rolling Stones. For a while, he was the most popular Rolling Stone. Female fans idolized the rock star and he was the most frequently photographed of all the band members. Brian Jones was known for his excessive lifestyle. His drug and alcohol addiction often forced the band to perform without him. He suffered from bouts of paranoia and spent long periods in rehab. He repeatedly canceled concerts, which did not go down well with the band members. He was kicked out of the band shortly before his death for this reason.

Brian Jones died on July 3, 1969. The official cause of death is: Drowned in a swimming pool (accidental death). The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear to this day. Brian Jones was at home with friends, including the builder Frank Thorogood. The two were swimming together in the house's own pool. Brian Jones was later found dead at the bottom of the pool. To this day, there are unproven rumors that Thorogood murdered Brian Jones over a disagreement about money.

Jimi Hendrix

Born: November 27, 1942

Died: September 18, 1970

Best known as: Rock guitarist, singer and songwriter

Guitar legend Jimi Hendrix joined the “27 Club” with his untimely death on September 18, 1970. He was known for his experimental style of playing the rock electric guitar. Jimi Hendrix led several bands, including The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Gypsy Sun & Rainbows. With his bands, he had numerous performances at the most popular music festivals of his time – including a legendary performance at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. He started out playing blues and switched to rock in the late 1960s. He often played his guitar with his tongue or teeth and rocked one guitar solo after another. He liked to use complex and unusual chords.

In the opinion of many, the best guitarist of all time joined the 27 Club on September 18, 1970. He spent his last day with his girlfriend Monika Dannermann in London. He took an overdose of sleeping pills combined with a lot of alcohol. Jimi Hendrix then choked on his vomit. Throughout his life, Jimi Hendrix had struggled with his drug addiction. He started out consuming pot and alcohol, and later added LSD and sleeping pills. To this day, there are various conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Jimi Hendrix. He is said to have committed suicide or been murdered. The theories have not been proven to this day.

Janis Joplin

Born: January 19, 1943

Died: October 4, 1970

Known for: being the lead singer and songwriter of several blues and rock bands

Hippie icon Janis Joplin was the first female member of the Club 27. She joined the club on October 4, 1970, 16 days after Jimi Hendrix's death. In her time, she was known for her volcanic and passionate stage presence. Her singing voice was powerful, explosive and captivating. Her unique blues singing was formative for the 1960s and earned her the title “Queen of White Blues Rock”. Janis Joplin and her incredible music will remain unforgettable.

Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970. Her manager and friend John Byrne Cookie found her dead on the floor of her hotel room. She had struggled with alcohol and drugs her whole life, which proved to be her undoing. The tough musician had been dealing with the effects of bullying. For a while, she is said to have drunk up to a liter of bourbon whiskey a day.

Jim Morrison

Born: December 8, 1943

Died: July 3, 1971

Known for: Fronting the rock band The Doors, songwriter, poet

The legendary band “The Doors” is considered one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. With their dark sound and rock theater performance, they broke through the flower power world. Jim Morrison was the band's frontman and wrote the poetic lyrics and poems separately from the music. At Doors concerts, he often shared his poems spontaneously with the fans. The rock and roll icon Jim Morrison lived by the motto ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ until the end. The charismatic rock star became an American sex symbol in the mid-1960s. He was known for his excessive and self-destructive lifestyle. His drug use was rampant. Jim Morrison used every drug imaginable.

On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died of a heart attack in Paris – two years to the day after the death of Brian Jones. He was found dead in the bathtub by his girlfriend Pamela Courson. The exact circumstances of his death could not be determined in Paris. His body was not autopsied. Pamela Courson was convinced that Jim Morrison had died of a heroin overdose. Three years later, Pamela Courson also died at the age of 27 – of a heroin overdose. Due to the unresolved circumstances of Jim Morrison's death, various myths have developed around his death. Among other things, there is a theory that Jim Morrison faked his own death.

Kurt Cobain

Born: February 20, 1967

Died: April 5, 1994

Best known as: singer, songwriter and guitarist for the band Nirvana

Nirvana lead singer and songwriter Kurt Cobain became a youth idol in the early 1990s. The grunge icon can basically be seen as the founder of the legendary Club 27. The Club 27 phenomenon was only launched after his death. Kurt Cobain was particularly known for his sincere and poetic lyrics and his rousing and powerful singing. The band became a role model and mouthpiece for Generation X. However, their success and fame also had downsides. Kurt Cobain struggled with mental health issues and drugs for years.

Kurt Cobain flew to Rome with his wife Courtney Love. Two days later, he was admitted to hospital in a coma. Cobain had taken an overdose of sedatives and mixed them with alcohol.

The family persuaded Cobain to check himself into a detox clinic. On April 1, 1994, he fled the facility and went into hiding. Kurt Cobain died by suicide on April 5, 1994. He shot himself in the head with a shotgun. He was found by an electrician. Next to him lay a farewell letter that ended with the famous lines from the Neil Young song “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”: “It's better to burn out than to fade away.”

The farewell letter was addressed to Kurt Cobain's imaginary friend Boddah. His imaginary friend can be described as an evil alter ego. As a teenager, Kurt Cobain was accused of torturing a cat. He blamed Boddah. To this day, countless conspiracy theories revolve around the death of Kurt Cobain.

For example, it is claimed that Courtney Love hired a hitman. There is also a rumor that Kurt Cobain faked his suicide in order to emigrate to Peru.

Amy Winehouse

Born: September 14, 1983

Died: July 23, 2011

Known for: Soul and jazz singer, songwriter

The British soul singer Amy Winehouse was known for her exceptionally gifted and glamorous voice. She achieved her international breakthrough with her album Back to Black (2006). The album climbed to the top of the charts in 20 countries, including Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom.

The heartbreaking songs “Rehab” and “Back to Black” still touch many people today. Her music includes soul influences from the 1960s. Amy Winehouse's style was also inspired by the 1960s. Her beehive hairstyle was her trademark and the retro look became trendy again thanks to her.

Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011 of alcohol poisoning with 4.16 per mille in the blood and thus became a member of the Club 27. Amy Winehouse had to struggle with mental health issues as well as drugs and alcohol – the dark side of fame.

According to her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, he was to blame for her addiction. He introduced her to all kinds of hard drugs and kept her from drug withdrawal. After her separation from Fielder-Civil, Amy Winhouse managed to withdraw from drugs.

However, she continued to consume vast amounts of alcohol and suffered from bulimia. At her concerts, she often appeared in a wasted state.

Similarities between the members of the Club 27

The reasons and similarities of the deceased music legends are obvious. They lived by the mottoes: “Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young” and “Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll”. The dark side of fame was their undoing. The members of the Club 27 all lived fast-paced and excessive lives. Their lives were characterized by drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.

The specialist Borwin Bandelow also suspects that many members of the Club 27 suffered from borderline syndrome. Borderline symptoms include impulse control disorders, the urge to self-harm and suicidal tendencies. In one study, he found that people with borderline personality disorder reach their most difficult peak on average at the age of 26.9 years and are therefore particularly at risk of suicide.