I've made it to that magical age. The age where the good become great upon meeting their mortality. The age where artists posthumously enter the upper echelons of reverence and fame. That's right, I've reached the ripe old age of twenty-seven.
One of the great myths of our time is that the great die young. Indeed, there are a number of iconic figures with a spot in the special '27 club'; a club reserved for those successful artists whose untimely death only heightened their worth. This article takes a look at five of those who met their maker at the height of their powers.
Jimi Hendrix: Without doubt one of history's most significant and influential artists, Jimi Hendrix revolutionised the way guitar players approached their instrument. Where would we be today without his flamboyant experimentalism? Anyone who's anyone in the world of modern music will acknowledge the genius of Hendrix and bemoan his premature death on September 18, 1970.
Kurt Cobain: Cobain's mother famously declared: "He's gone and joined that stupid club" following his suicide aged 27 on April 5, 1994. Following a long battle with heroin addiction and failed attempts at rehabilitation, Cobain took a gun to his head at his Seattle home, leaving behind a legacy as the 'voice of a generation', and inspiring countless youths around the world to start bands influenced by the grunge phenomenon that was Nirvana.
Jim Morrison: Another musician, Morrison was the frontman of The Doors and was known for his visceral poetry and self-destructive edge. Widely regarded by the music community to be one of the most charismatic frontmen in history, Morrison met his death on July 3, 1971, during his time living in Paris. To this day, his grave in Pere Lachaise Cemetery attracts thousands of tourists.
Robert Johnson: A lesser-known victim of the '27 curse' afflicting musicians is Robert Johnson. The great blues guitarist is cited as a massive influence on latter-day guitarists and blues musicians the world over, and is perhaps best known in music folklore as selling his soul to the devil in exchange from his unique talent. Johnson died on August 16, 1938 near Greenwood, Mississippi.
Brian Jones: A founding member of the Rolling Stones, Brian Jones was the spearhead of the band's early career, performing on such memorable tracks as 'Sympathy For the Devil', 'Paint It Black' and 'Street-Fighting Man'. Jones was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool on the evening of July 2-3, 1969.
The above list represents just five of those great artists that died at an unfortunately young age. However, for every Jimi Hendrix there is an Eric Clapton, for every Brian Jones a Paul McCartney.
Such a fact should come as a relief to many whose seminal work has thusfar eluded them, and who can see their 27th birthday looming large. However, for others... beware!
Author Resource:-
Max Clarke is a copywriter for holiday services company, Holiday Extras.
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