The 27 Club
I took the title of this entry from a book I borrowed from the library once but never read (like most books I borrow from the library, because I get too excited around shelves of interesting, free books and overestimate my abilities) - but it's not hard to otherwise notice a rather spooky pattern when it comes to untimely deaths of talented artists. Of course, one must always keep in mind that coincidence (correlation?) isn't proof of cause or reason, but the fact that it cannot be disproven (just as any negative can't, of course) is what makes it eerie (and worth writing a book about).
Jimi Hendrix, African-American legendary psychedelic rock guitarist. 1942-1970, barbiturate overdose (technically open verdict).
Janis Joplin, prominent female rock musician. 1943-1970, heroin overdose.
Kurt Cobain, musician and lead singer for grunge rock band Nirvana. 1967-1994, shotgun wound (suicide).
Amy Winehouse, English singer-songwriter known for blues-influenced contralto vocals. 1983-2011, alcohol intoxication.
Jim Morrison, frontman for blues-rock band The Doors. 1943-1971, official cause of death unknown (no autopsy performed, at the request of wife Pamela) (listed as congestive heart failure).
Brian Jones, former guitarist and original leader for the Rolling Stones. 1942-1969, accidental drowning in a pool (deemed 'misadventure' but occasionally speculated as murder).
Kristen Pfaff, bassist for Courtney Love-fronted band Hole. 1967-1994, heroin overdose.
Jean-Michel Basquiat, African-American neo-expressionist artist. 1960-1988, heroin overdose.
"Honorable" Mentions: (sorry, I don't know what else to call it when I think they're worthy of inclusion alongside the artists above, but their tragic deaths occurred either just shy of or slightly past age 27.)
Charlie Parker, influential jazz and bebop saxophonist. 1920-1955 (age 34), multiple causes, incl. pneumonia and 'perforated ulcer' exacerbated by cirrhosis of the liver and heavy heroin use.
Edie Sedgwick, actress, muse and fashion model. 1943-1971 (age 28), barbiturate overdose.
Tupac Shakur, rapper and actor. 1971-1996 (age 25), drive-by shooting.
Sid Vicious, bassist for British punk band the Sex Pistols. 1957-1979 (age 21), heroin overdose.
John Belushi, actor and comedian best known for roles on Saturday Night Live and in National Lampoon's Animal House and The Blues Brothers. 1949-1982 (age 33), combination overdose, heroin and cocaine ('speedball').
Well, that was fun! Until next time!