27 club

27 Rockers Who Died at the Age of 27

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Janis Joplin – The iconic singer passed away in 1970 due to a heroin overdose, just weeks after Jimi Hendrix’s death.
  6. Gary Thain (Uriah Heep) – The bassist for Uriah Heep died in 1975 from respiratory failure after a heroin overdose.
  7. 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.
  8. Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan (The Grateful Dead) – Grateful Dead’s keyboardist and vocalist died in 1973 from internal hemorrhaging due to excessive alcohol consumption.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Sean McCabe (Ink & Dagger) – Vocalist Sean McCabe died in 2000 after drinking excessively and choking on his own vomit.
  13. D. Boon (Minutemen) – On December 22, 1985, Minutemen’s frontman D. Boon tragically died in a van crash, suffering a fatal neck injury.
  14. 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.
  15. Helmut Kollen (Triumvirat) – German bassist and singer Helmut Kollen died in 1978 from carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage.
  16. Thomas Fekete (Surfer Blood) – Guitarist for Surfer Blood, Thomas Fekete, passed away in 2016 from cancer complications.
  17. Chris Bell (Big Star) – Big Star’s Chris Bell died in 1978 in a car accident at age 27.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. Mia Zapata (The Gits) – The Gits’ frontwoman Mia Zapata was tragically abducted, assaulted, and murdered in 1993.
  21. Alan Wilson (Canned Heat) – Canned Heat’s lead guitarist, Alan Wilson, died from an overdose in 1970.
  22. Jacob Miller (Inner Circle) – Lead singer of Inner Circle, Jacob Miller died in 1980 in a car accident.
  23. Richey James Edwards (Manic Street Preachers) – Guitarist for the Manic Street Preachers, Richey James Edwards, disappeared in 1995 and is presumed dead.
  24. Pete de Freitas (Echo & the Bunnymen) – The Echo & the Bunnymen drummer died in a motorcycle accident in 1989.
  25. Kami (Malice Mizer) – Malice Mizer’s drummer, Kami, died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage in 1999.
  26. Bryan Ottoson (American Head Charge) – American Head Charge guitarist Bryan Ottoson died in 2005 from a drug overdose while on tour.
  27. 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

I'm Emma. I Love rock music, doing guitar reviews, and making food. I love writing works because it is the best way to provide information to people.

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