What is the Forever 27 Club and who is part of it?
If you're a musician and you've made it past the age of 27, you'll never be able to join this club, and that's probably a good thing. Today, we're looking back at its history and, most importantly, who belongs to it.
The 27 Club is an informal group of famous rock and blues artists who died at the age of 27.
Also known as Forever 27 or the 27 Club, the phenomenon returned to the spotlight in 2011 when Amy Winehouse died at the age of 27.
The idea of a "cursed age" can be traced back to the deaths of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison between July 1969 and July 1971. This succession of high-profile deaths led to the belief that age 27 was somehow the age at which artists disappeared at the peak of their fame. The myth was reinforced in 1994 with the death of Kurt Cobain.
Why Do Artists Die at 27?
Science, once again, tends to spoil the legend.
According to a study conducted by Australian statisticians in 2011, famous musicians are not more likely to die at the age of 27 than at any other age. Researchers examined the careers of 1,056 musicians who had at least one number-one album in the United Kingdom between 1956 and 2007.
A second study carried out by British researchers in 2012, covering 1,489 twentieth-century artists, reached the same conclusion: being famous does not increase the likelihood of dying at 27.
Who Is Part of the 27 Club?
Because the 27 Club is not officially recognized, there is no definitive list. Membership often depends on interpretations based on musical style, influence, or fame. However, a core group of artists is almost universally accepted.
The 27 Club is generally considered to include:
Robert Johnson (August 16, 1938 – cause of death unknown)
Brian Jones (July 3, 1969 – drowned in his swimming pool)
Jimi Hendrix (September 18, 1970 – asphyxiation)
Janis Joplin (October 4, 1970 – heroin overdose)
Jim Morrison (July 3, 1971 – heart failure)
Kurt Cobain (April 5, 1994 – suicide by gunshot)
Amy Winehouse (July 23, 2011 – accidental death)
A Curious Coincidence
Interestingly, 27 is also often cited as the age at which people's musical tastes begin to stabilize and become less likely to change significantly. Is there a connection? Probably not, but it remains an intriguing coincidence.
If you'd like to learn more about the subject, we recommend Pierre Mikaïloff's book, "Le Club des 27", which explores the stories and legends surrounding these iconic artists.
The 27 Club remains one of the most enduring myths in music history. While scientific studies have shown that musicians are no more likely to die at 27 than at any other age, the tragic deaths of several legendary artists at the same age continue to fascinate music fans around the world. Whether viewed as a coincidence, a cultural phenomenon, or a modern legend, the 27 Club remains deeply embedded in the history of rock music.
