The 27 Club.

Remember I told you that something about another “Conspiracy Theory” would be winging it’s way to you? Well here it is…….

The number 27 may be the most infamous number in the history of rock music. This number has taken on mythical status due to the prevalence of many iconic and groundbreaking musicians who died at the age of 27. There is now a certain mystique associated with that age and the general notion of important musicians dying young. The 27 death phenomenon started to become prevalent during the years 1969-71. During that period the rock & roll world lost the musicians Brian Jones, Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Even though the media began to coin the term the 27 Club after the death of Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones in 1969, there were other musicians who died at the age of 27 before that. The most prominent is one of the founding fathers of the blues, Robert Johnson. The earliest recorded member of the 27 Club was composer Alexandre Levy who died on January 17th, 1892.

Let’s take a look at a few of the members of The 27 Club. This includes well-known members along with unsung heroes.

Jim Morrison.

Morrison and his band, the Doors, burst onto the music scene in 1967, displaying an innovative blend of blues-rock and psychedelia. Morrison became a counter-culture icon, known for his poetic lyrics and bluesy vocal delivery, but he struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism, leading to the Doors ceasing to perform live. Eventually, Morrison left the country and moved to France where he died at the age of 27 on 3rd July 1971. He allegedly died of a heroin overdose, but because an autopsy was never performed there is still some debate concerning the official cause of death. One conspiracy theory involved Morrison faking his death, to escape the trappings of rock stardom. This was because he was living in Paris at the time and no one knew many of the details surrounding his death. Jim Morrison was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. His gravesite has become a popular tourist attraction. It has also caused issues with the cemetery due to vandalism. Jim Morrison’s longtime companion, Pamela Courson, died on 25th April 1974. She was also 27 years old.

Kurt Cobain.

It was Kurt Cobain’s death on 5th April 1994 which really started to regenerate interest in the 27 Club phenomenon. It was after the death of the Nirvana frontman that the term “Forever 27 Club” started to be used. Like many of the previous members of the 27 Club, Cobain was deeply troubled and struggled with drug addiction and the burden of being seen as the voice of a generation. The official cause of death was suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but there are those that feel he was murdered. There are also theories that Cobain intentionally timed his death so that he could join his musical idols as a member of the 27 Club. This theory started when Cobain’s mother was interviewed by a local newspaper after his death, saying that “Now he’s gone and joined that stupid club. I told him not to join that stupid club.” By club, many people thought she was referring to the 27 Club.

Janis Joplin.

“The Queen of Psychedelic Soul” died just 16 days after Jimi Hendrix on 4th October 1970. The official cause of death was cited as a heroin overdose which may have been exasperated by alcohol abuse. Joplin had fronted the San Francisco band Big Brother and the Holding Company before embarking on a solo career of her own. Her trademark bluesy singing style made her into one of the most iconic singers of the era. She is also widely considered to be one of the most influential female vocalists of all time. Like many of the members of the 27 Club, she was a deeply troubled artist who lived a hard life. Joplin struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction, with both worsening as her career began to take off.

Jimi Hendrix.

Jimi Hendrix is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarist of all time and is considered to be one of the most influential musicians in the history of rock. One of the remarkable aspects of Hendrix’s recording career is that his rich legacy was primarily established during a three year period from 1966 to 1969. After spending years toiling away in obscurity as a sideman, Hendrix was discovered by Chas Chandler of the Animals, who convinced him to come to England in 1966. While there, the Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed, and the rest is history. Jimi Hendrix died at the age of 27, on 8th September 1970. The official cause of death has been cited as asphyxiation caused by vomit inhalation after an overdose of painkillers. That being said, conspiracy theorists have also cited the possibility of suicide and murder. Like many of the great rock & roll casualties, the mysterious circumstances behind his death have added to his legacy.

Brian Jones.

Brian Jones was a founding member and guitarist for the Rolling Stones. Due to developing a serious drug addiction, he was kicked out of the Rolling Stones in 1969, being replaced by Mick Taylor. Less than a month later he died on 3rd July 1969 due to a tragic drowning accident which took place at his swimming pool. While Jones had played a prominent role in founding the band, eventually Mick Jagger and Keith Richards became the dominant musical forces in the Rolling Stones, relegating Jones to a lessened position in the group. Coupled with a bad drug addiction, this made it impossible for Jones to remain in the band. When people refer to the 27 Club, Jones is quite often referred to as the start of that phenomenon. His death was the beginning of a two year period which also marked the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison at the same fateful age.

Amy Winehouse.

When Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning on 23rd July 2011 she became the most high-profile member of the 27 Club since the death of Kurt Cobain. Winehouse’s death renewed interest in the curse of 27. Just like the other more well-known members of the 27 Club, Winehouse was deeply troubled, and she lived a hard life which lead to her premature demise. Winehouse struggled with substance abuse, eventually succumbing to alcohol poisoning. Her throwback style was considered to be an inspiration to many female artists who would go on to achieve substantial success. Despite her brief career, Winehouse became a critical and commercial success after the release of her highly influential album Back to Black in 2006.

Robert Johnson.

Because there has been so little that has been properly documented about the influential blues artist Robert Johnson, he has developed an almost mythic legend around him. His death at the young age of 27 also added to his mythology. He died on 16th August 1938. At the time his death was attributed to strychnine poisoning, but this is also widely disputed. The mystery surrounding his death also contributes to his significant legacy. Even though his recordings consisted of a scant 29 songs that were recorded during 1936-37 his music was an essential part of the fabric of rock & roll. While he was initially under appreciated at the time of his death, many famous blues guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Keith Richards discovered his music and were influenced by his playing style. It was said that Johnson went down to the crossroads in rural Mississippi one night and met a large black figure, the devil, exchanging his eternal soul to become a great guitar player. This myth began because when Johnson had started playing around the deep south he was not known as a good guitar player. One day he suddenly showed up as an expert player, with technical skills that no one else could match. Many people thought that his rapid development was due to some supernatural influence and thus the crossroads myth was born.

Al “Blind Owl” Wilson.

The band Canned Heat enjoyed considerable artistic and commercial success, crowned by an appearance at Woodstock in 1969. But guitarist Al “Blind Owl” Wilson was a troubled man. Like many in the 27 Club, he was estranged from his family; he lacked confidence and suffered from depression. One of his eccentric habits was sleeping outdoors, as he did at vocalist Bob Hite’s house in Los Angeles on the last night of his life. Wilson’s body was found in Hite’s yard on 3rd September 1970. His hands were crossed over his chest and there was a bottle of the barbiturate Seconal by his side. Cause of death was officially given as an accidental overdose of barbiturates, but drummer Fito de la Parra has said he believes Wilson committed suicide. We will never know.

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan was a founding member of the Grateful Dead. On 3rd March 1973 he was found dead of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage which was complicated by alcohol abuse. Much like Brian Jones, McKernan was one of the early leaders of the band, steering them in a more R&B direction early on. Eventually, guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir decided to take the band on an improvisational and psychedelic Journey, a style that the group became known for. This caused McKernan to take a back seat at concerts, and his role continued to diminish until he was forced to step down from the Grateful Dead due to his worsening health. McKernan also had a brief relationship with fellow 27 Club member Janis Joplin. On a couple of occasions, the two dueted together on the Dead’s live standard “Turn on Your Lovelight.”

Pete Ham.

The most notable confirmed suicide within The 27 Club is Peter Ham of Badfinger, one of the bands the Beatles signed to their Apple label in the 1960s. As is sadly the case with a lot of suicides, Ham reached a point where death seemed to be the only solution to his problems. He met bandmate Tom Evans in a pub near his home in England on the evening of 24th April 1975, three days before his 28th birthday, and told him: “Don’t worry, I know a way out.” Fortified with drink, Ham went back to his home, wrote a note in which he expressed his bitterness towards his manager and hanged himself in his garage. Evans hanged himself seven years later. Two tragedies in one band.

Les Harvey.

Les Harvey was one of the founding members of the band Stone the Crows and remained with them until the end. When the band was performing at Swansea in 1972, Harvey touched a microphone onstage which was improperly earthed, and in a flash of blue light the guitarist was electrocuted. An urban myth arose regarding the accident, in which it was presented that Harvey had been standing in a rain puddle on stage, but the accident occurred within an indoor venue, Swansea Top Rank, and the contact between guitar and microphone stand led to the fatal accident. Ironically Stone the Crows is an expression used to express shock and surprise. Les was, of course, 27 years of age at the time of his fatal encounter with that unearthed microphone stand. Interestingly, although it is often claimed that Les Harvey died onstage during a performance, he actually passed away later at a hospital.

Gary Thain.

In the late winter of 1972 Gary Thain joined Uriah Heep as a full time member, and through heavy touring and recording developed a loyal following. Thain appeared with the band on their four most popular albums, in terms of sales, and during the tours supporting those albums. The albums he played on and toured were Demons & Wizards, The Magician’s Birthday, Sweet Freedom, and Wonder World. He also played on the live recording Uriah Heep Live. In 1974 he was seriously injured when he was subjected to an electric shock onstage, and subsequently was released by the band, officially due to injury, but unofficially (and more truthfully) because his addiction to heroin had become so debilitating that he could no longer perform. On 8th December 1975, he died of complications of heroin addiction, specifically respiratory failure, at his home in London, thereby achieving membership of the 27 Club.

A bit of a gruesome subject that one wasn’t it? Gruesome but weirdly interesting at the same time.

Keith.

Jim Morrison – The Doors: “Riders On The Storm”