‘The 27 Club:’ Famous musicians who died at age 27 - Kiến Thức Cho Người lao Động Việt Nam

Janis Joplin performs at the Newport Folk Festival with her band Big Brother and the Holding Company in 1968. (AP)

Only the good die young.

When the world lost Janis Joplin following an overdose in 1970, she joined several other musicians whose lives were tragically cut short at the ripe age of 27. Each one made enormous contributions to music and were among the most talented minds of their time.

The group of famous lives lost so quickly became labeled the “27 Club” — most notably by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s mother.

“Now he’s gone and joined that stupid club,” Wendy O’Connor said after learning of her son’s suspected suicide. “I told him not to join that stupid club.”

Howard Sounes — author of “27: History of the 27 Club” — said most members of the “club” had terribly difficult childhoods.

All of the wealth and status they achieved was not enough to undo the impact of their early days, he said.

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Amy Winehouse publicly struggled with drugs and alcohol for years, but her death came as a shock after the 27-year-old brunette had allegedly been trying to clean up her act. The “Back to Black” singer was found unresponsive by her bodyguard on July 23, 2011 and was pronounced dead shortly after 3 pm due to alcohol poisoning. (Matt Dunham/AP Photo)

Joplin’s childhood was filled with harassment and bullying, as she once told Dick Cavett. She was overweight and had terrible acne, which she was mocked for from grade school to college.

Eventually, Joplin turned her pain and creativity into music. But her success as a rock star was not enough to keep her from escaping to drugs and alcohol.

She was found dead in a Hollywood hotel room in October 1970.

On what would have been Joplin’s 73rd birthday, we remember all of those who will forever be 27:

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Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin belts out a tune during the summer of 1970 – just months before her death. (HO/AP)

“The Queen of Psychedelic Soul” died of a heroin overdose, just two weeks after legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix joined the “27 Club.” Joplin started to get attention while in the band Big Brother and the Holding Company and went on to be a prominent solo artist with hits such as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Ball and Chain” and “Piece of my Heart.”

Two days before her death she changed her will to allot $2,500 for a party in her honor. It read, “the drinks are on Pearl tonight.” The Grateful Dead performed during most of the party.

Jimi Hendrix

American rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix performing with The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Monterey Pop Festival, California, USA, June 18, 1967. (Bruce Fleming/AP Images) (BRUCE FLEMING/AP)

The famous musician passed away after taking a deadly mix of pills and booze on Sept. 18, 1970. Described by The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music,” the legendary lefty started playing at age 15 and became one of the most influential guitarists ever.

In one of Hendrix’s songs, “If 6 Was 9” — from the 1967 album, “Axis: Bold as Love” he famously says, “I’m the one who’s got to die when it’s time for me to die so let me live my life the way I want to.”

Amy Winehouse

The most recent addition to the “club” was the unfortunate loss of singer Amy Winehouse in 2011. The soulful singer was found dead of apparent alcohol toxicity in her London apartment.

Winehouse was only around for a brief time — with her debut album being released in 2003. She put out hits such as, “Back to Black,” “Valerie” and “Rehab,” which focused on her battle with addiction.

In the film “Amy,” documentary filmmaker Asif Kapadia showed the singer’s struggle with bulimia — an issue that wasn’t well-known to the public.

The end of the film centers on authorities merging from Winehouse’s apartment with body bag.

“How did we let this happen?” Kapadia told Rolling Stone. “How did we let this thing go on, and nobody stepped in and stopped it?”

Jim Morrison (The Doors)

Jim Morrison of The Doors in Germany. (Michael Ochs Archives)

The iconic frontman of The Doors became a member of the “27 Club” in 1971 when he was discovered dead inside a bathtub at his Paris apartment. An autopsy was never performed on Morrison and the official cause of death was listed as heart failure.

The nondescript cause of death led fans to question what really happened and countless books were dedicated to the circumstances surrounding The Lizard King’s final days. Due to his extreme lifestyle where he openly pushed the limits with drugs and alcohol, many suspect that he died of a heroin overdose.

“Their [THE DOORS]words and music captured the sixties zeitgeist with undeniable power,” according to Rolling Stone. “A cult of personality continues to surround Jim Morrison, their tempestuous lead singer.”

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

American singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain of the band Nirvana shot himself in his Washington state home on April 5, 1994. (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

The voice of Nirvana — who is largely credited with fronting the Grunge movement — shot himself in his Washington state home on April 5, 1994.

Conspiracies theorists believe Cobain’s death was framed and several documentaries have been made focusing on his death.

However, Cobain made it clear through music and interviews that he was battling internal demons. He previously tried to committing suicide in his Seattle home in March of the same year.

He left behind his wife, Courtney Love of the band Hole and daughter, Frances Bean, who was just one when her dad took his own life.

Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (Grateful Dead )

One of the Grateful Dead’s founding members Ron “Pigpen” McKernan was found dead by his landlady in 1973 of internal hemorrhaging caused by years of excessive drinking.

Pigpen was an organist and singer for the Dead and many said he was the heart and soul of the band.

In McKernan said in an interview, “I’ve always been singing along with records, my dad was a disk jockey, and it’s been what I wanted to do.”

Just days before his death, McKernan recorded a cassette in which his frail voice sings a slow gospel blues song about no longer living in pain.

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Dave Alexander (The Stooges)

Dave Alexander — a punk rock pioneer as bassist for The Stooges — was lost in 1975 from pneumonia and inflamed pancreas.

It is suspected his alcohol abuse also contributed to his early death.

“The Stooges have not only directly or indirectly in? Influenced every punk-rock band, but they have also had an impact on the edgier groups of the grunge and indie-rock eras,” according to Rolling Stone.

Alexander lasted two albums alongside Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton and Ron Asheton before being booted from the band for binging too hard on booze.

His final straw came when he was too drunk to play one of the band’s hometown shows in Michigan.

Kristen Pfaff (Hole)

Kristen Pfaff was bassist for Courtney Love’s band Hole before she was found dead of a heroin overdose on her bathroom floor in 1994.

Pfaff died just two months after Cobain was found dead of an apparent suicide.

She reportedly left the band weeks prior to her overdose to attend rehab and her overdose was said to be a relapse.

Pete Ham (Badfinger)

Pete Ham — singer, songwriter and guitarist for the group Badfinger — killed himself in 1975 following a stint of financial troubles.

In addition to his cash issue, Ham also had an ongoing dispute with the band’s manager Stan Polley. A note left next to Ham’s body read, “Stan Polley is a soulless bastard. I will take him with me.”

Badfinger was known for its hit singles, “Come and Get It,” “Day After Day” and “No Matter What.”

Brian Jones (Rolling Stones)

Brian Jones was asked to leave his role as guitarist for the Rolling Stones bin 1969 — leading the musician into a downward spiral and to eventually drown in his swimming pool at his home in the U.K.

Jones was arrested for marijuana possession twice before being booted, but the band was certain he just didn’t want to be a Rolling Stone anymore.

In Keith Richards’ autobiography he wrote that he and Mick Jagger drove down to Jones’ house to tell him the news he was kicked out of the famed rock band. Jones was then replaced by Mick Taylor.