The tragic members of the ‘Forever 27 club’ – Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and other stars who died aged 27
The age has become terrifyingly associated with a series of artists who suddenly died at the height of their career
THE Forever 27 Club has become a heartbreaking coin for musicians and artists who died at the tragic young age of 27 – especially between the years 1969 and 1971.
Since expanded to include those before and after those years, we look back at some of the tragic stars who were taken away at the seminal age – and far too young.
Rudy Lewis (1964)
A singer for the popular R&B group The Drifters, Rudy Lewis replaced lead singer Ben E King and became known for his upbeat songs about love, including Up on the Roof.
He was found dead in his hotel room in Harlem, New York in May 1964, the day he was due to lead the band in the recording of their most-famed track, Under the Boardwalk.
His cause of death was never made official, but it has been listed as a suspected drugs overdose.
Dickie Pride (1969)
The British rock n roller became the first in a haunting string of musicians who would die at the age of 27.
Despite having potential, the star suffered a series of mental health issues that was made worse by drug use, which hindered his ability to "make it" as a musician.
By 1967, it was reported that he had been submitted to a psychiatric unit, and some reports state that he even underwent a lobotomy.
He was found dead in his bed after overdosing on sleeping medication two years later.
Brian Jones (1969)
A founding member of the Rolling Stones, the musician became known for his addiction to alcohol, various drugs, and the erratic mood swings he suffered as a result.
In 1969, he left The Rolling Stones after being arrested for possession of cannabis and becoming distant from his bandmates as his addiction took hold of him, leading to a motorbike accident.
When it was revealed that he couldn’t tour the US because of his drug convictions and the doubt that he would be fit to do so even if he could, he eventually parted ways with the band.
Brian was found dead in his swimming pool a month later – and his heart and liver were discovered to be enlarged by his abuse issues.
His death was officially listed as “death by misadventure”.
Jimi Hendrix (1970)
Known for his incredible guitar skills and iconic songs, Jimi Hendrix became a leading name in the psychedelic movement of the 60s.
Openly singing about his use of psychotropic drugs including LSD, Jimi Hendrix had spoken at the age of 25 about “not wanting to be a clown” anymore and wanting to leave life in the spotlight.
He was found in September 1970, and while it has never been confirmed how he dies, it is long suspected that he overdosed and died of asphyxiation.
In another tragic twist, Monika Dannemann, his girlfriend who found him, would commit suicide nearly two decades later.
Janis Joplin (1970)
Janis Joplin was the leading female musicians of the era and became iconic thanks to her distinctive voice.
During her career, she released three albums, but became plagued with issues relating to a drug addiction and alcohol use.
She was found dead on October 4, 1970 from a heroin overdose.
Years later, John Cooke, who worked with Joplin on the road with band Full Tilt Boogies, wrote in a book about the star that he thought her dealer had given her a more potent form of the drug, leading to the overdose.
In her will, she left behind $2,500 for a party to be thrown at her wake.
Jim Morrison (1971)
The lead singer of The Doors, Jim Morrison became one of the most iconic members of the late 60s.
As was the norm during this era, Jim was also heavily involved in recreational drug use and reportedly would snort cocaine and heroin as he had a fear of needles.
He was found dead in a Paris bathtub in 1971, and while an autopsy was never performed his death was ruled heart failure.
His girlfriend, Pam Courson, discovered the body and has since said that she thinks he snorted heroin thinking it was cocaine.
In another tragic twist, she died of a heroin overdose as well – three years later, at the age of 27.
Some conspiracy theorists claim that because of the lack of autopsy that the singer may still be alive, and instead used the ruse of a death to remove himself from the limelight.
Kurt Cobain (1994)
The legendary Nirvana singer was found dead in a room above his garage in his Seattle home in 1994.
Died of a shotgun wound to the head, the star was found next to a suicide note and a high level of heroin in his blood stream.
While the official cause of death was ruled a suicide, some fans and conspiracy theorist continue to believe that the long-suffering addict and depressive was the victim of a staged killing.
Documentaries including Kurt and Courtney and Soaked in Bleach have since been released exploring the topic, but no solid evidence has ever been brought to light.
Amy Winehouse (2011)
After years of fighting a heroin and alcohol addiction, soul singer Amy Winehouse became the next member of the “27 Club” after being found dead in her home by a bodyguard on July 23, 2011.
The tragic singer was found to have 5 times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her blood stream at the time she died and it was ruled she passed of accidental alcohol poisoning.
In a scary foreshadowing of her own fate, Amy had previously admitted that she feared becoming a member of the club a few years before she died.
