The 27 Club – 15 Famous Rockers Who Died at Age 27

The 27 Club is one of the most famous (and creepy) things about rock music, with so many great talents having met their end at age 27.

1. Jim Morrison

Lead singer and songwriter of The Doors. After struggling with drugs and alcohol for some time, Morrison died of a presumed heart failure on July 3rd, 1971.


2. Dave Alexander

Bassist for legendary punk band the Stooges. Died of pulmonary edema (associated with alcohol) on February 10, 1975.


3. Janis Joplin

Singer/Songwriter and ’60s icon. One of the first true female superstars. Died of a heroin overdose on October 4, 1970.


4. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan

Founding member and original keyboardist of the Grateful Dead. Died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage (again associated with alcohol) on March 8th, 1973.


5. Richey Edwards

Founding member and lyricist for the Manic Street Preachers. Disappeared and presumed dead from suicide on February 1, 1995.


6. Jimi Hendrix

Legendary guitarist and songwriter for the Jimi Hendrix Experience & Band of Gypsys. Dead from asphyxiation as a result of wine and sleeping pills on September 18, 1970.


7. Robert Johnson

Pioneering blue musician and guitarist. Most likely died from poisoning on August 16, 1938. Widely considered the first member of the ‘27 Club.’


8. Pete Ham

Keyboardist and guitarist of the British band Badfinger. Died from suicide by hanging on April 24, 1975


9. Alan Wilson

Lead singer and songwriter of Canned Heat. Died of an overdose on September 3, 1970.


10. Brian Jones

Founding member and guitarist of the Rolling Stones. Died from drowning in a pool one month after being kicked out of the band on July 3, 1969.


11. Chris Bell

Founder and songwriter of the extremely influential band Big Star. Died of a car crash on December 27, 1978.


12. Jean-Michel Basquiat

NYC based artist, friend of Andy Warhol, and founder of the band Gray. Died from a heroin overdose on August 12, 1988.


13. D. Boon

Guitarist and lead singer of the band Minutemen and extremely influential punk musician. Died as a result of injuries from a car crash on December 22, 1985.


14. Kristen Pfaff

Bassist for Hole. Died of an overdose on June 16, 1994.


15. Kurt Cobain

Singer and songwriter for Nirvana and grunge icon. Death by suicide on April 5, 1994.

(via BuzzFeed)