What became famous for 9 legendary musicians who fulfilled the commandment "to live quickly and leave young"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In the world of musical idols, there is a myth called Club 27. By some strange tragic coincidence, many cult musicians died at the age of 27. The mythology of this "club" began to develop rapidly after the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994. The musician left at the same age as the iconic rock artists, including: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Amy Winehouse's premature death at the age of 27 in 2011 has reignited interest in the curse of age. Why did these musicians, who became legends during their lifetime, left our world? A curse? A pact with the devil?

1. Robert Johnson (1911-1938)

This musician was born exactly a century ago in the countryside of Mississippi. He was a blues singer and guitarist. Robert Johnson did not manage to attract special attention to himself during his lifetime. He was remembered in the 1960s. After all, it was his revolutionary, innovative vision of music that had such a huge impact on the many pioneers of rock and roll. According to legend, Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his amazing talent. The performer wrote three dozen songs, which he recorded in the period from 1936 to 1937. As a true rock 'n' roll player, Robert was quite partial to women and whiskey. The musician was poisoned by the jealous husband of one of his many mistresses.

2. Brian Jones (1942-1969)

Jones was the founding father of the Rolling Stones along with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. He was the unofficial leader of the group. Despite the fact that in fact his name does not appear on the records, everyone who knew Jones says that he was a real musical genius. He could play absolutely any instrument. Its main advantage, its key property, was a surprisingly logical, mathematically accurate way of thinking. His ideas have always been innovative and ingenious. And who knows, the rollings would have become who they are today if Brian had not been with them then?

Jones has a serious substance abuse problem. By the mid-1960s, this had already severely undermined his health. The musician has been imprisoned several times. His behavior pushed his bandmates away from him. He was forced to leave the Rolling Stones in June 1969.

In July of that year, Jones was found dead at the bottom of his pool. Police said he drowned while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Only recently, new details have appeared in the press, which indicate that everything was not so simple and unambiguous.

It all started when a womanizer fell in love with a woman named Anita Pallenberg. They even lived together for a while. The musician was crazy about her, in the truest sense of the word. She preferred Richards at some point. From that time on, problems began in Brian's life. Maybe it broke him morally? Geniuses are so often too vulnerable people. In any case, this was the beginning of the end. Problems with drugs, with alcohol, with the members of the Rolling Stones, and indeed with all the people around him. After the tragic death of the musician, his house was barbarously plundered. All of his musical instruments, recordings with new materials - everything was stolen. Paul McCartney said that Brian was constantly writing music, he had many ingenious developments … Who knows if these recordings were not published under false names after? …

3. Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson (1943-1970)

The musician was nicknamed because of poor eyesight Blind Owl. He was the leader of the American blues band Canned Heat. They even performed at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969. Alan was the band's songwriter, guitarist. He also played the harmonica. Wilson was the one who was able to re-teach the aging blues legend Son House to play his own songs. He lived for decades in obscurity and oblivion, although he had a significant impact on the development of blues and music in general.

Wilson struggled unsuccessfully with mental illness. He tried to commit suicide. The talented musician eventually died of a drug overdose in September 1970.

4. Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970)

Hendrix is to this day one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music. Jimi revolutionized rock and roll. His life was incredibly short and bright. He appeared on the musical horizon like a supernova, to just as abruptly and suddenly disappear. The genius musician, who deservedly occupies a place in the rock and roll hall of fame, has done more in four short years of his career than many famous musicians could not in a whole life …

Jimi died in the fall of 1970 in London. In a dream. A friend of the musician said that before that he took a handful of sleeping pills, washed down with red wine.

5. Janis Joplin (1943-1970)

The future legend of the rock scene in Texas was born. Janice literally conquered the San Francisco music scene with her blues vocals and powerful stage prowess. She first performed as a soloist with Big Brother and the Holding Company, and then continued her career as a solo artist.

An ugly face framed by ever-tangled hair, a not-so-large figure, a disproportionately large mouth and gaudy multi-colored boas … It was striking at once. Only when Joplin started singing did it all disappear without a trace. Her unusual, not femininely harsh, raspy voice, scratching, reached the bottom of the soul of everyone who heard it. Unfortunately, like many of the stars of the scene, Janice is addicted to drugs. Heroin and alcohol became her idols. Despite numerous attempts to quit, she plunged deeper and deeper into darkness.

The singer died of a heroin overdose in October 1970. After the death of her friend, Jimi Hendrix, less than three weeks had passed. Janis Joplin's life was incredibly short, but insanely bright, stormy and tragic. Janice was not the type to feel sorry for something. Once she said:

6. Jim Morrison (1943-1971)

The genius poet and true philosopher Jim Morrison became famous as the frontman and songwriter of the cult band The Doors. He founded it himself with a friend in 1965. Very soon, Morrison's alcoholism became a huge problem not only for him, but also for his colleagues. Jim was constantly late for concerts, often he could not even sing.

In July 1971 in Paris, Jim died of a heart attack. It was caused by a heroin overdose. They say he mistook it for cocaine and inhaled a dose that became lethal for him.

7. Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (1945-1973)

Ron McKernan was one of the founders of the legendary Grateful Dead. He is known under the nickname Pigpen. Ron was not a drug addict, did not share the love of his bandmates for LSD. He had another problem - Ron was not a fool to drink. Alcohol and ruined him. McKernan developed cirrhosis of the liver. Already in the early 70s, the musician was forced to interrupt the tour - health did not allow. In the spring of 1973, Ron passed away.

8. Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)

An icon of the grunge scene, Kurt Cobain founded Nirvana with a friend in 1985. The collective's worldwide success destroyed Kurt. Whether because of character, or because of mental illness, aggravated by taking drugs, but Cobain was not happy about this. The scrutiny of fans and the press infinitely irritated him. As a result of all this, serious health problems were added. In the end, Kurt lost the battle with his demons. He committed suicide in April 1994. The musician is survived by his wife and daughter.

9. Amy Winehouse (1983-2011)

The stories about Amy usually begin with words from her own song, which has become a classic of soul. It is about a woman who does not want to fight drug addiction. She is full of heart and soul tearing despair, and is probably the most memorable of the singer's work. The song has long become Winehouse's trademark. There is a grain of truth in this, full of special tragedy. "Rehab" has been a significant part of the history of real wrestling. A fight that ended in the summer of 2011. The girl, who so did not want to go to the clinic, did not wake up after severe alcohol poisoning. The body, exhausted by bulimia, weakened by drugs to impossibility, did not cope.

The most talented English singer, whose incredibly powerful voice, unique style and grotesque image conquered the world, has passed away. Amy always honestly said that all her songs are about herself, about her own feelings. She always wanted people to be interested only in her work. In life, it was not like that. The tabloids were more interested in the scandals that surrounded the singer. The press even turned Amy's death into a booth. One of the best jazz performers of all time wrote the best obituary for herself - in her songs. They can be endlessly quoted and hummed, better without thinking that there is a whole life behind them.

Read more about one of the members of the "Club 27" in our article Kurt Cobain's last note sheds light on the tragedy.