Some of us say that it is better to burn brightly and extinguish quickly than live a life of dullness. And while many of us cherish the idea of a sedate life that stretches on for decades, others go down the route of having a life that only lasts a few decades but makes an indelible mark on the world we reside within. In popular culture, there is a group known as ‘The 27 Club’ – famous and successful people who died at the age of 27.
Think it sounds like a myth? Here are just some famous names who left this world before reaching age 28.
Amy Winehouse
A natural creative and a genius, UK-born pop star Amy Winehouse was a massive success in her 27 years on the planet. The 5-times Grammy Award winner managed to pack in some truly incredible music before an alcohol overdose saw her die at the age of just 27. For many, Winehouse was one of the musical talents of her generation and, like many others on this list, died too soon before her immense accomplishments could be set in stone.
Kurt Cobain
The Nirvana frontman was another who joined this cursed club, committing suicide at the age of 27. As the face of Nirvana, he was the face of a generation and was seen by many as a truly legendary figure within the world of music. To this day, his death is still seen as among the most controversial and shocking of any major celebrity deaths – complete, of course, with numerous conspiracies about what ‘really’ happened, despite ample evidence otherwise.
Jimi Hendrix
Musicians especially seem to be cursed by this, and Hendrix is another legendary musician who met this shadowy fate. Hendrix choked on his own vomit and by taking an excessive amount of recreational drugs. In his time on this planet, though, Hendrix made a simply incredible mark on the world of music and is still an inspiration to generations that came long after his untimely demise.
Janis Joplin
Yet another musician, Joplin died at the age of 27 from a drug overdose. At the time she was a trailblazer for females entering the rock scene. Her enigmatic style and personality made her easy to love for everyone who went to see her. Like the others listed above, Joplin provided a huge amount to the world of music in her short years within the industry.
Each of the above shook the world in their 27 years – yet many other examples exist. Who do you believe made the most significant and lasting impact?