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Singers You Know That All Died at 27

All of these musicians and singers became part of the everlasting '27 Club.'

By Cheyenne SchallerPublished 6 years ago 8 min read
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The following is a list of musicians who died at the age of 27.

Pete Ham

On April 27th, 1947 in Surrey, England this rock star was born. Pete played the roles of singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Later during his life he became the vocalist of the band Badfinger with top hits you probably know like “Baby Blue,” “Day After Day” or “No Matter What.” Ham also individually helped co-write Harry Nilsson’s “Without You.” Pete was considered to also be one of the earliest artist to introduce power pop to the music industry. He was offered label records from Apple, Warner Bros Records, and Rykodisc and had close relations with members of the band The Beatles and was even able to sing a duet of “Here Comes The Sun” with George Harrison at The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.

Fun Fact: Badfinger’s song “Baby Blue” played in the last episode of the TV show Breaking Bad.

Unfortunately, Badfinger was dealt an unlucky hand after being sued by Warner Bros. Records, leaving them impecunious along with the oft disappearance of band member, Stan Polley. Pate Ham was set on believing that his career was over and turned to suicide. Only three days before his birthday on April 24, 1975, Ham hung himself in his garage leaving a suicide note for his pregnant wife and her son saying "I will not be allowed to love and trust everybody. This is better. Pete. P.S. Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me."

Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan

Ron was born September 8, 1945 in San Bruno, California. Most known for his genres of rock, blues and psychedelic rock. McKernan became original singer of the band The Grateful Dead. He was not only a singer, but a musician; best with his organ or harmonica. Through this life he was in other groups like Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks.

Fun Fact: McKernan was the only member of the bad who ventured away from psychedelic drugs.

Although he was not a drug user, McKernan was a heavy alcoholic. On March 8, 1973 he died of gastrointestinal hemorrhaging from alcoholism. He was buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California. After his death, the band was devastated and fell apart over the years. Jerry Garcia said himself at McKernan's funeral “After Pigpen’s death, we all knew this was the end of the original Grateful Dead.”

Amy Winehouse

Born on September 14th, 1983 in Southgate, London, Winehouse created her career as a solo singer and songwriter. Her love for 1960s girl groups inspired her look of beehive hair and Cleopatra's makeup style encouraged the eyeliner Winehouse is trademarked for. One of Amy’s tops songs “Rehab” was actually written about her substance addictions. Loved ones attempted to get Amy into rehab, but she refused. Over time she donated to many children’s charities and was named “the most charitable act” by Pop World. At age 24, she already had six Grammy nominations. In 2007, she married Blake Fielder-Civil and was later divorced in 2009.

On July 23, 2011 she died of alcohol poisoning. She was found in her bed by her bodyguard who went to check on her for a second time and realized she was not breathing and had no pulse. Days following her death day, people made a tribute to Amy outside her home with pictures, flowers, notes, etc.

Brian Jones

Born February 28, 1942 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Jones was a musician, songwriter, and composer for the acts The Rolling Stones, Master Musicians of Joujouka, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix. Jones is most known for his contribution to the band The Rolling Stones. He was offered levels from Decca, Atco, London, and Rolling Stones. But, unfortunately, his drug problem increased over the years and it was hard for Jones to stay on topic with the band. In 1969, Jones was asked to leave the band and later he was replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor.

Around midnight of either the second or third of July 1969, he was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool by his girlfriend, Anna Wohlin. She claimed he was still alive after being taken out of the pool, but by the time professionals arrived it was too late.

Janis Joplin

Joplin’s was born January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. Being still only so young, Janis was already considered one of the most followed female rock stars of that time (1962-1970). She produced psychedelic rock, soul, and blues music and was primarily a vocalist. Janis didn’t become the star until appearing at Monterey Pop Festival where she played the part as the lead singer of the band Big Brother and the Holding Company. Later she was invited to play at Woodstock in 1969. She came out with many cover of songs like “Cry Baby” and “Down on Me.” Joplin was also offered a record label from Colombia for her beautiful voice.

Sadly, in October 4, 1970, Janis died of a heroine overdose. She was discovered by Paul Rothchild, her producer, who felt it was unusual for Janis to not show up to a recording session. John Crooke, Full Tilt Boogie's manager, went to check on Janis and found her lying dead beside her bed.

About three months passing Joplin’s death, producers released her album Pearl. Quickly gaining its position of number one of the Billboard charts.

Robert Johnson

Robert was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on May 8, 1911. His love for music led him to be a delta blues singer, songwriter, and musician playing guitar and harmonica.

Johnson lived his life shadowing himself from extreme fame. There is only 2-3 confirmed photos of him! One of the biggest myths of Johnson is that he sold his soul to the devil around crossroads in Mississippi in order to have as much recognition and talent as he did.

For years, he has been a tremendous inspiration for blues (and other) music. Eric Clapton expressed that Johnson was “the most important blues singer that ever lived.” And was also considered the fifth best guitarist by Rolling Stones Magazine.

Like he lived his life, Johnson died mysteriously of unknown causes near Greenwood, Mississippi. Since then there have been plenty of myths that he had been murdered, etc.

Unfortunately, there are no confirmed photos of him.

Jim Morrison

Born December 8, 1943 in Melbourne Florida, was an artist. Jim Morrison is most known for his leading role in the band The Doors. His poetic lyrics led to the band's mysterious attraction. Fans grew dramatically, especially after the release of “Light My Fire.” The Doors were touring and getting labels from Colombia and Elektra.

When Morrison was young, he drove past a Navajo family in a car crash. Since then he claims the spirits of those men were almost a part of him. This is what most likely led to his crazy and deep lyrics and behaviors. Mary Werbelow, who was considered to be Morrison’s first love, inspired some of the Doors early songs. The 11 minute song “The End” was told to be “a short goodbye love song to Mary,” said Ray Manzarek (Doors band member). Later Morrison began a relationship with Pamela Courson, who he met at a university. She pushed Morrison to expand his poetic skills and was probably one of the main reasons The Doors came together.

Jim Morrison, around 1969, led his own mini career and made voice recordings of his poetry. The most famous one being “Ghost Ship.” Around this time, Morrison grew a beard and gained weight. Morrison was very “pro-weight” and pushed that everyone was beautiful no matter what.

But like most people during this time, Morrison was a highly active drug addict and mostly alcoholic. On July 3, 1971 Jim Morrison was found dead in the bathtub of an apartment him and Pamela rented in Paris. The official cause of death was heart failure. Morrison’s final resting place is in Père Lachaise, Paris and is commonly visited by fans who leave notes, flowers, etc. The Doors proceeded to release two albums after Morrison's death, but his death tore them apart and they dismembered in 1994.

Kurt Cobain

Cobain was born on February 20, 1967 in Aberdeen Washington. In 1987 Cobain and Krist Novoselic created their grunge band, Nirvana. They found their most recognizable success after releasing “Smells like Teen Spirit” in 1991 on their Nevermind Album. In 1992, Kurt married singer Courtney Love and later had their first and only child, Frances Bean Cobain.

Growing up, Kurt Cobain's parents divorced and left him devastated. In a 1993 interview, he said, “I remember feeling ashamed, for some reason. I was ashamed of my parents.” Years later, only weeks prior to high school, graduating Kurt realized he didn’t have enough credits and his mother kicked him out. During this period of homelessness, Kurt slept under a bridge. This eventually inspired the song, “Something in the Way.”

In 1994, Courtney Love called the police and said Kurt was suicidal and locked himself in his room with guns and pills. When police arrived, he claimed he was not suicidal and was only trying to hide from Courtney. Devastatingly, on April 8, 1994 an electrician came by Cobain's house to install a security system and found his body lying dead on the floor with a shotgun pointed to his chin and a note by his side.

Jimi Hendrix

Born November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. Jimi Hendrix began his mostly solo career of blues and psychedelic rock. Hendrix was offered labels from Track, Barclays, Polydor, Reprise, and Capitol. Jimi was a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer.

When Jimi was 15, he got his first guitar and a few years later he enlisted in the U.S. Army and trained as a paratrooper and was later discharged. He got into as many gigs as possible. Hendrix grew popular, as time went on, for his talent and even was a guest artist in 1969's Woodstock.

On September 18, 1970 Hendrix died of choking on his own vomit while intoxicated. Monika Dannemann first found Hendrix breathing, but unresponsive after sharing a bottle of wine together.

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