The ’27 Club’ is one of rock’s most somber institutions. Whether based on superstition or coincidence, a disproportionate number of the world’s most celebrated musicians have died at the age of 27.
This exclusive group of ’27 Club’ A-listers has solidified their legacy as rock icons even after their deaths. However, many others have tragically met their end at that same age. Here is a comprehensive list of rock musicians who passed away at 27:
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) – Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain, added his name to the ’27 Club’ after committing suicide in 1994, which brought the concept of the club to the public eye.
- Jim Morrison (The Doors) – The legendary Doors frontman died of heart failure in his Paris apartment in July 1971, though there is speculation it was caused by a heroin overdose.
- Jimi Hendrix – Often regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix died in 1970 from asphyxiation, caused by a combination of red wine and sleeping pills.
- Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones) – Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones drowned in his swimming pool in 1969. His contributions to their album Let It Bleed were significant.
- Janis Joplin – The iconic singer passed away in 1970 due to a heroin overdose, just weeks after Jimi Hendrix’s death.
- Gary Thain (Uriah Heep) – The bassist for Uriah Heep died in 1975 from respiratory failure after a heroin overdose.
- Dave Alexander (The Stooges) – The original bassist for The Stooges passed away in 1975 due to pneumonia and an inflamed pancreas, with alcohol abuse being a contributing factor.
- Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan (The Grateful Dead) – Grateful Dead’s keyboardist and vocalist died in 1973 from internal hemorrhaging due to excessive alcohol consumption.
- Souroush Farazmand (The Yellow Dogs) – Guitarist for the Iranian band Yellow Dogs, Souroush Farazmand, was tragically shot to death in 2013 in Brooklyn, New York, at age 27.
- Kristin Pfaff (Hole) – Hole bassist, and Kurt Cobain’s former partner, Kristin Pfaff, succumbed to a heroin overdose in 1994, just months after Cobain’s suicide.
- Nicole Bogner (Visions of Atlantis) – The lead singer for Austrian symphonic metal band Visions of Atlantis passed away in 2005 after a prolonged battle with a severe illness.
- Sean McCabe (Ink & Dagger) – Vocalist Sean McCabe died in 2000 after drinking excessively and choking on his own vomit.
- D. Boon (Minutemen) – On December 22, 1985, Minutemen’s frontman D. Boon tragically died in a van crash, suffering a fatal neck injury.
- Jeremy Michael Ward (The Mars Volta) – Mars Volta’s sound manipulator died of a heroin overdose in 2003, just months before the band’s debut album was released.
- Helmut Kollen (Triumvirat) – German bassist and singer Helmut Kollen died in 1978 from carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage.
- Thomas Fekete (Surfer Blood) – Guitarist for Surfer Blood, Thomas Fekete, passed away in 2016 from cancer complications.
- Chris Bell (Big Star) – Big Star’s Chris Bell died in 1978 in a car accident at age 27.
- Anton Yelchin (The Hammerheads) – Actor and musician Anton Yelchin died in a tragic car accident in 2016, known for his role in Star Trek Beyond and as a member of The Hammerheads.
- Pete Ham (Badfinger) – Badfinger’s lead singer, Pete Ham, died in 1975 from suicide, caused by ongoing financial struggles and issues with the band’s manager.
- Mia Zapata (The Gits) – The Gits’ frontwoman Mia Zapata was tragically abducted, assaulted, and murdered in 1993.
- Alan Wilson (Canned Heat) – Canned Heat’s lead guitarist, Alan Wilson, died from an overdose in 1970.
- Jacob Miller (Inner Circle) – Lead singer of Inner Circle, Jacob Miller died in 1980 in a car accident.
- Richey James Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) – Guitarist for the Manic Street Preachers, Richey James Edwards, disappeared in 1995 and is presumed dead.
- Pete de Freitas (Echo & the Bunnymen) – The Echo & the Bunnymen drummer died in a motorcycle accident in 1989.
- Kami (Malice Mizer) – Malice Mizer’s drummer, Kami, died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1999.
- Bryan Ottoson (American Head Charge) – American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson died in 2005 from a drug overdose while on tour.
- Leslie Harvey (Stone the Crows) – Guitarist for Stone the Crows, Leslie Harvey, was electrocuted by a live microphone in 1972, witnessed by 1,000 fans