The 27 club is an urban legend that popular musicians, artists and actors, die at the age 27 due to some sort of paranormal phenomenon. The term became widely popular after the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994, when rock fans connecting his age to Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and Jimi Hendrix, who died within only two years of each other. When Amy Winehouse died at the of age 27 in 2011, it attracted even more attention to the legend. The deaths are often a result of alcohol poisoning, drug overdose, or violent deaths such as suicide, homicide or accidents, There have been many theories and wild speculations about these devastating coincidences over the years but studies have failed to find any unusual pattern of musician deaths at this age, comparing it to equally small increases of deaths involving people aged between 25 and 32. A 2011 BMJ study noted that young adult musicians have a higher death rate than the general young adult population, concluding: "Fame may increase the risk of death among musicians, but this risk is not limited to age 27.

Celebrities who died at the age of 27

Alexandre Levy (November 10, 1864 – January 17, 1892) Brazilian composer, pianist and conductor. Cause of death - Unknown
Louis Chauvin (March 13, 1881 – March 26, 1908) American ragtime musician. Cause of death - Neurosyphilis
Rupert Brooke (3 August 1887 – 23 April 1915) English poet. Cause of death - sepsis
Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) American blues musician and songwriter. Cause of death - unknown
Nat Jaffe (January 1, 1918 – August 5, 1945) American swing jazz pianist. Cause of Death -Complications from high blood pressure.
Jesse Belvin (December 15, 1932 – February 6, 1960) American singer, pianist and songwriter. Cause of Death - Traffic collision
Rudy Lewis (born Charles Rudolph Harrell; (August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964) American rhythm and blues singer known for his work with the Drifters. Cause of Death - Drug overdose
Joe Henderson (April 24 1937 – October 25, 1964) American R&B and gospel singer. Cause of Death - Heart attack
Malcolm Hale (May 17, 1941, - October 30, 1968, Hale was a member of the popular 1960s musical group, "Spanky & Our Gang.” Cause of death - Carbon monoxide poisoning
Dickie Pride (born Richard Charles Kneller;( 21 October 1941 – 26 March 1969) English singer. Cause of death - Drug overdose, sleeping pills
Brian Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) English multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones. Cause of death- Drowned in swimming pool, misadventure.
Alan Wilson (July 4, 1943 – September 3, 1970) American musician, best known as the co-founder, leader, co-lead singer, and primary composer of the blues band Canned Heat. Cause of death - Drug overdose, possible suicide.
Jimi Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) American musician, singer, and songwriter. he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. Cause of death - Asphyxiation
Janis Joplin - (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) American singer and songwriter who sang rock, soul, and blues music. One of the most successful and widely known rock stars of her era. Cause of death - Drug overdose.
Dyke Arlester Christian (June 13, 1943 - March 13, 1971) Frontman vocalist and bassist of Dyke and the Blazers. Cause of death - Murdered
Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) American singer, poet and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the rock band the Doors. One of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock history. Cause of Death - Heart failure
Linda Jones (December 14, 1944 – March 14, 1972) American soul singer with a strong gospel-influenced style. Cause of death - Complications from Diabetes.
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973), American singer and musician, founding member of the San Francisco band, Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Cause of death - Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, associated with alcoholism.
Roger Lee Durham - (February 14th 1946 - July 27th 1973 ) Rhythm and Blues Musician, member of the popular music group, Bloodstone. Cause of death - fell off a horse.
Wallace "Wally" Yohn ( January 12th 1947 - August 12th 1974 ) American Keyboardist - Cause of death - plane crash that took 6 lives, four of them band members.
Dave Alexander, (June 3, 1947 – February 10, 1975) American musician, best known as the original bassist for influential protopunk band The Stooges. Cause of death - Pulmonary edema
Peter Ham (27 April 1947 – 24 April 1975) Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist best known as a lead vocalist of and composer for the 1970s rock band Badfinger. Cause of death - Suicide by hanging
Gary Thain (15 May 1948, 8 December 1975) New Zealand rock bassist, best known for his work with British band Uriah Heep. Cause of death - Drug overdose.
Evangelina Sobredo Galanes, known as Cecilia, (11 October 1948 – 2 August 1976) Spanish singer-songwriter. Cause of death - Traffic collision.
Helmut Köllen (2 March 1950 – 3 May 1977) German bass and guitar player as well as a singer for the band Triumvirat. Cause or death - Carbon monoxide poisoning
Chris Bell (January 12, 1951 – December 27, 1978) American musician, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Cause of death - Traffic collision
Zenon De Fleur (September 9, 1959, March 18, 1979 ) guitarist for British punk band the Count Bishops. Cause of death - Traffic collision.
D Boon (April 1, 1958 – December 22, 1985) American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the American punk rock trio Minutemen, Cause of death - Traffic collision
Alexander Bashlachev (27 May 1960 – 17 February 1988) was a Soviet poet, singer-songwriter and guitarist, a performer in Russian rock music, Cause of death - fell from height, possible suicide
Amar Singh Chamkila (21 July 1960 – 8 March 1988) Indian singer, songwriter, musician, and composer of Punjabi music. Cause of death - Murdered
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Cause of death - drug overdose, speedball.
Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) English musician and producer. He was the drummer in Echo & the Bunnymen, and performed on their first five albums. Cause of death - Traffic Collision
Finbarr Donnelly (25 April 1962 – 18 June 1989) singer and songwriter from Northern Ireland, who moved to Cork city at a young age. He is best known as the vocalist with the post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea? Cause of death - drowning accident.
Chris Austin (February 24, 1964 – March 16, 1991) American country music singer. Cause of death - Plane Crash
Dimitar Voev (May 21, 1965, September 5, 1992) Bulgarian poet, founder of the New Wave band new generation. Cause of death - Cancer
Mia Zapata (August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993)American musician who was the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits. Cause of death - murdered
Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) American singer, songwriter and artist. He was the guitarist, lead vocalist and primary songwriter and founder of the rock band Nirvana. He was heralded as a spokesman of Generation X and is considered one of the most influential musicians in the history of alternative rock. Cause of death - Suicide by shotgun.
Kristen Pfaff (May 26, 1967 – June 16, 1994) American musician, best known as the bassist for alternative rock band Hole from 1993 to 1994. Cause of death - Drug overdose.
Richard Edwards (born 22 December 1967 – disappeared 1 February 1995), also known as Richey James or Richey Manic, Welsh musician who was the lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. Disappeared from a common suicide spot, presumed dead.
Randy Walker (August 21, 1968 – November 30, 1995), of the stage name Stretch, American rapper and record producer, working in Live Squad. Cause of death - Murdered.
Patrick Lamark Hawkins (December 4, 1970 – February 3, 1998), better known by his stage name Fat Pat (also known as Mr. Fat Pat), American rapper. Cause of death - Murdered
Tahliq Raymond Rogers (May 14, 1971 – March 28, 1999), better known as Freaky Tah, MC, hype man and promoter. Freaky Tah was a member of a hip hop group called the Lost Boyz. Cause of death -Murdered.
Ukyō Kamimura ( February 1, 1972 – June 21, 1999), better known by his stage name Kami, Japanese musician best known as drummer for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. Cause of death - Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Rodrigo Bueno May 24, 1973 – June 24, 2000), also known by his stage name Rodrigo or his nickname "El Potro" Argentine singer of cuarteto music. He is widely regarded as the best, most famous and most influential singer in the history of this genre. Cause of death - Traffic collision.
Sean Patrick McCabe.( November 13 1972 - August 28 2000 ) American musician, lead singer of the hardcore punk band Ink & Dagger. Cause of death - Asphyxiation
Maria Serrano Serrano (November 26 1973 - November 24, 2001) background singer for Eurodance/bubblegum band, Passion Fruit. Cause of death Plane Crash.
Rico Yan born Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan; (March 14, 1975 – March 29, 2002) Filipino matinee idol, model, film and television actor, host, spokesperson and entrepreneur. Cause of death - Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis
Jonathan Gregory Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003) American actor. Beginning his career as a child model, Brandis moved on to acting in commercials and subsequently won television and film roles. Cause of death - Suicide by hanging.
Jeremy Ward (May 5, 1976 – May 25, 2003) American musician, best known as the sound technician and vocal operator for The Mars Volta and De Facto. Cause of death - Drug overdose.
Bryan Ottoson ( March 18 1978 - April 19 2005) American Guitarist of the metal band American Head Charge. Cause of death - Overdose, prescription medication.
Valentín Elizalde Valencia (1 February 1979 – 25 November 2006) Regional Mexican singer. Nicknamed "El Gallo de Oro" (The Golden Rooster). Cause of Death - Murdered.
Damien 'Damo' Morris ( May 22 1980 - December 19 2007) Member of the Australian deathcore band, The Red Shore. Cause of death - Traffic collision.
Orish Grinstead ( June 2, 1980,- April 20, 2008) One of the founding members of the R&B group 702. Cause of death - Kidney Failure.
Lee Eon (5 February 1981 – 21 August 2008) South Korean actor and model. Cause of death - Motorcycle accident
Jade Goody (5 June 1981 – 22 March 2009) English television personality. She came to public prominence in 2002 when she appeared on the third series of the Channel 4 reality show Big Brother. She went on to star in her own television programs after her eviction from the show, which in turn led to her launching a variety of products under her own name. Cause of death - Cervical cancer
Dash Snow (July 27, 1981 – July 13, 2009) American artist based in New York City. Snow's photographs included scenes of sex, drugs, violence, and art-world pretense; his work often depicted the decadent lifestyle of young New York City artists and their social circle. Cause of death - Drug overdose.
Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) English singer and songwriter. She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues and jazz. Cause of death - Alcohol poisoning.
Richard Turner (July 30 1984 - August 11 2011 ) Trumpet player, collaborator with friendly fires. Cause of death - Cardiac arrest.
Anton Viktorovich Yelchin (March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016) American actor. Born in the Soviet Union to a Russian Jewish family, he emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of six months. He began his career as a child actor, appearing as the lead of the mystery drama film Hearts in Atlantis (2001) and a series regular on the Showtime comedy-drama Huff (2004–2006). Cause of death - Accidental blunt traumatic asphyxia
Thomas Fekete ( July 1 1988 - May 31 2016 ) Surfer Blood guitarist. Cause of death - Cancer
Kim Jong-hyun (April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), better known mononymously as Jonghyun, was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author under the SM Entertainment label. Cause of death - Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Derrick Coleman (July 4, 1990 – January 19, 2018), known professionally as Fredo Santana, was an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. The older cousin of Chicago rapper Chief Keef. Cause of death - Cardiovascular disease.
Benjamin Keough (October 21, 1992 - July 12, 2020 ) Elvis Presley's grandson and son of Lisa Marie Presley and brother of Riley Keough. Cause of death - Suicide by gunshot.

Celebrities who died at the age of 27

Alexandre Levy (November 10, 1864 – January 17, 1892) Brazilian composer, pianist and conductor. Cause of death - Unknown

Louis Chauvin (March 13, 1881 – March 26, 1908) American ragtime musician. Cause of death - Neurosyphilis

Rupert Brooke (3 August 1887 – 23 April 1915) English poet. Cause of death - sepsis

Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) American blues musician and songwriter. Cause of death - unknown

Nat Jaffe (January 1, 1918 – August 5, 1945) American swing jazz pianist. Cause of Death -Complications from high blood pressure.

Jesse Belvin (December 15, 1932 – February 6, 1960) American singer, pianist and songwriter. Cause of Death - Traffic collision

Rudy Lewis (born Charles Rudolph Harrell; (August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964) American rhythm and blues singer known for his work with the Drifters. Cause of Death - Drug overdose

Joe Henderson (April 24 1937 – October 25, 1964) American R&B and gospel singer. Cause of Death - Heart attack

Malcolm Hale (May 17, 1941, - October 30, 1968, Hale was a member of the popular 1960s musical group, "Spanky & Our Gang.” Cause of death - Carbon monoxide poisoning

Dickie Pride (born Richard Charles Kneller;( 21 October 1941 – 26 March 1969) English singer. Cause of death - Drug overdose, sleeping pills

Brian Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969) English multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones. Cause of death- Drowned in swimming pool, misadventure.

Alan Wilson (July 4, 1943 – September 3, 1970) American musician, best known as the co-founder, leader, co-lead singer, and primary composer of the blues band Canned Heat. Cause of death - Drug overdose, possible suicide.

Janis Joplin - (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) American singer and songwriter who sang rock, soul, and blues music. One of the most successful and widely known rock stars of her era. Cause of death - Drug overdose.

Dyke Arlester Christian (June 13, 1943 - March 13, 1971) Frontman vocalist and bassist of Dyke and the Blazers. Cause of death - Murdered

Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) American singer, poet and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the rock band the Doors. One of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock history. Cause of Death - Heart failure

Linda Jones (December 14, 1944 – March 14, 1972) American soul singer with a strong gospel-influenced style. Cause of death - Complications from Diabetes.

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973), American singer and musician, founding member of the San Francisco band, Grateful Dead and played in the group from 1965 to 1972. Cause of death - Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, associated with alcoholism.

Roger Lee Durham - (February 14th 1946 - July 27th 1973 ) Rhythm and Blues Musician, member of the popular music group, Bloodstone. Cause of death - fell off a horse.

Wallace "Wally" Yohn ( January 12th 1947 - August 12th 1974 ) American Keyboardist - Cause of death - plane crash that took 6 lives, four of them band members.

Dave Alexander, (June 3, 1947 – February 10, 1975) American musician, best known as the original bassist for influential protopunk band The Stooges. Cause of death - Pulmonary edema

Peter Ham (27 April 1947 – 24 April 1975) Welsh singer, songwriter and guitarist best known as a lead vocalist of and composer for the 1970s rock band Badfinger. Cause of death - Suicide by hanging

Gary Thain (15 May 1948, 8 December 1975) New Zealand rock bassist, best known for his work with British band Uriah Heep. Cause of death - Drug overdose.

Evangelina Sobredo Galanes, known as Cecilia, (11 October 1948 – 2 August 1976) Spanish singer-songwriter. Cause of death - Traffic collision.

Helmut Köllen (2 March 1950 – 3 May 1977) German bass and guitar player as well as a singer for the band Triumvirat. Cause or death - Carbon monoxide poisoning

Chris Bell (January 12, 1951 – December 27, 1978) American musician, guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Cause of death - Traffic collision

Zenon De Fleur (September 9, 1959, March 18, 1979 ) guitarist for British punk band the Count Bishops. Cause of death - Traffic collision.

D Boon (April 1, 1958 – December 22, 1985) American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the American punk rock trio Minutemen, Cause of death - Traffic collision

Alexander Bashlachev (27 May 1960 – 17 February 1988) was a Soviet poet, singer-songwriter and guitarist, a performer in Russian rock music, Cause of death - fell from height, possible suicide

Amar Singh Chamkila (21 July 1960 – 8 March 1988) Indian singer, songwriter, musician, and composer of Punjabi music. Cause of death - Murdered

Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988) American artist who rose to success during the 1980s as part of the Neo-expressionism movement. Cause of death - drug overdose, speedball.

Peter Louis Vincent de Freitas (2 August 1961 – 14 June 1989) English musician and producer. He was the drummer in Echo & the Bunnymen, and performed on their first five albums. Cause of death - Traffic Collision

Finbarr Donnelly (25 April 1962 – 18 June 1989) singer and songwriter from Northern Ireland, who moved to Cork city at a young age. He is best known as the vocalist with the post-punk band Five Go Down to the Sea? Cause of death - drowning accident.

Chris Austin (February 24, 1964 – March 16, 1991) American country music singer. Cause of death - Plane Crash

Dimitar Voev (May 21, 1965, September 5, 1992) Bulgarian poet, founder of the New Wave band new generation. Cause of death - Cancer

Mia Zapata (August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993)American musician who was the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits. Cause of death - murdered

Kristen Pfaff (May 26, 1967 – June 16, 1994) American musician, best known as the bassist for alternative rock band Hole from 1993 to 1994. Cause of death - Drug overdose.

Richard Edwards (born 22 December 1967 – disappeared 1 February 1995), also known as Richey James or Richey Manic, Welsh musician who was the lyricist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Manic Street Preachers. Disappeared from a common suicide spot, presumed dead.

Randy Walker (August 21, 1968 – November 30, 1995), of the stage name Stretch, American rapper and record producer, working in Live Squad. Cause of death - Murdered.

Patrick Lamark Hawkins (December 4, 1970 – February 3, 1998), better known by his stage name Fat Pat (also known as Mr. Fat Pat), American rapper. Cause of death - Murdered

Tahliq Raymond Rogers (May 14, 1971 – March 28, 1999), better known as Freaky Tah, MC, hype man and promoter. Freaky Tah was a member of a hip hop group called the Lost Boyz. Cause of death -Murdered.

Ukyō Kamimura ( February 1, 1972 – June 21, 1999), better known by his stage name Kami, Japanese musician best known as drummer for the visual kei rock band Malice Mizer. Cause of death - Subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Rodrigo Bueno May 24, 1973 – June 24, 2000), also known by his stage name Rodrigo or his nickname "El Potro" Argentine singer of cuarteto music. He is widely regarded as the best, most famous and most influential singer in the history of this genre. Cause of death - Traffic collision.

Sean Patrick McCabe.( November 13 1972 - August 28 2000 ) American musician, lead singer of the hardcore punk band Ink & Dagger. Cause of death - Asphyxiation

Maria Serrano Serrano (November 26 1973 - November 24, 2001) background singer for Eurodance/bubblegum band, Passion Fruit. Cause of death Plane Crash.

Rico Yan born Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan; (March 14, 1975 – March 29, 2002) Filipino matinee idol, model, film and television actor, host, spokesperson and entrepreneur. Cause of death - Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis

Jonathan Gregory Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003) American actor. Beginning his career as a child model, Brandis moved on to acting in commercials and subsequently won television and film roles. Cause of death - Suicide by hanging.

Jeremy Ward (May 5, 1976 – May 25, 2003) American musician, best known as the sound technician and vocal operator for The Mars Volta and De Facto. Cause of death - Drug overdose.

Bryan Ottoson ( March 18 1978 - April 19 2005) American Guitarist of the metal band American Head Charge. Cause of death - Overdose, prescription medication.

Valentín Elizalde Valencia (1 February 1979 – 25 November 2006) Regional Mexican singer. Nicknamed "El Gallo de Oro" (The Golden Rooster). Cause of Death - Murdered.

Damien 'Damo' Morris ( May 22 1980 - December 19 2007) Member of the Australian deathcore band, The Red Shore. Cause of death - Traffic collision.

Orish Grinstead ( June 2, 1980,- April 20, 2008) One of the founding members of the R&B group 702. Cause of death - Kidney Failure.

Lee Eon (5 February 1981 – 21 August 2008) South Korean actor and model. Cause of death - Motorcycle accident

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) English singer and songwriter. She was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues and jazz. Cause of death - Alcohol poisoning.

Richard Turner (July 30 1984 - August 11 2011 ) Trumpet player, collaborator with friendly fires. Cause of death - Cardiac arrest.

Thomas Fekete ( July 1 1988 - May 31 2016 ) Surfer Blood guitarist. Cause of death - Cancer

Kim Jong-hyun (April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), better known mononymously as Jonghyun, was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author under the SM Entertainment label. Cause of death - Suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Derrick Coleman (July 4, 1990 – January 19, 2018), known professionally as Fredo Santana, was an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. The older cousin of Chicago rapper Chief Keef. Cause of death - Cardiovascular disease.

Benjamin Keough (October 21, 1992 - July 12, 2020 ) Elvis Presley's grandson and son of Lisa Marie Presley and brother of Riley Keough. Cause of death - Suicide by gunshot.

The 27 Club

< Back to Urban Legends