Lived Fast & Died Young: The 27 Club

In the wake of Amy Winehouse’s untimely death, fans have noticed that the English singer died at the age of 27. Historically, many famous and legendary rockstars have died at 27, creating a sort of superstition about posthumous musical success.

Select Members of the 27 Club:

Brian Jones, The Rolling Stones ~ February 28, 1942 – July 3, 1969 (accidental drowning)

Alan Wilson, Canned Heat ~ July 4, 1943 – September 3, 1970 (drug overdose)

Jimi Hendrix, The Jimi Hendrix Experience ~ November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970 (asphyxiation on vomit)

Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company ~ January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970 (heroin overdose)

Jim Morrison, The Doors ~ December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971 (cause of death unknown)

Dave Alexander, The Stooges ~ June 3, 1947 – February 10, 1975 (pulmonary edema)

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana ~ February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994 (purported suicide)

Others Who Died Young:

‘50s

Buddy Holly ~ September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959 (22, airplane crash)

Ritchie Valens ~ May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959 (17, airplane crash)

The Big Bopper ~ October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959 (28, airplane crash)

‘70s

Duane Allman, The Allman Brothers Band ~ November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971 (24, motorcycle accident)

Cass Elliot, The Mamas & The Papas ~ September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974 (32, heart attack)

Ronnie Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977 (28, airplane crash)

Steve Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ September 14, 1949 – October 20, 1977 (28, airplane crash)

Cassie Gaines, Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ January 9, 1948 – October 20, 1977 (29, airplane crash)

Keith Moon, The Who ~ August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978 (32, prescription medication overdose)

Sid Vicious, Sex Pistols ~ May 10, 1957 – February 2, 1979 (21, heroin overdose)

’80s

Bon Scott, AC/DC ~ July 9, 1946 – February 19, 1980 (33, asphyxiation on vomit)

John Bonham, Led Zeppelin ~ May 31, 1948 – September 25, 1980 (32, asphyxiation on vomit)

Bob Marley, Bob Marley & The Wailers ~ February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981 (36, melanoma)

Randy Rhoads, Ozzy Osbourne (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982 (25, airplane crash)

Karen Carpenter, The Carpenters ~ March 2, 1950 – February 4, 1983 (32, heart failure)

Razzle, Hanoi Rocks ~ December 2, 1960 – December 9, 1984 (24, car accident)

Cliff Burton, Metallica ~ February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986 (24, tour bus accident)

Hillel Slovak, Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988 (26, heroin overdose)

‘90s

Bradley Nowell, Sublime ~ February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996 (28, heroin overdose)

Jeff Buckley ~ November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997 (30, accidental drowning)

Hide, X Japan ~ December 13, 1964 – May 2, 1998 (33, purported suicide)

’00s

Dimebag Darrell, Pantera/Damageplan ~ August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004 (38, shot onstage)