They were brilliant, raw, revolutionary — and gone too soon. It’s bizarre when you think about it, as artists from Jimi Hendrix to Robert Johnson all died tragic deaths at the exact same age: 27. These legends have been folded into what’s now known as the “27 Club,” a mythic, almost eerie list of talent who unexpectedly. And there are more iconic Black artists on this list than you might expect.
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While the “White Lighter” theory — that several of them died with white lighters on, or near them — has since been debunked, the truth that lies beneath may be far more disturbing. Let’s dig into their stories and unpack what really went down behind the myth.
Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970)
Hendrix — a legendary Black rockstar and guitarist known for revolutionizing and refining rock music – died at 27 from drug-related asphyxiation. He reportedly took nine Vesparax tablets — 18 times the prescribed amount, causing him to choke on his own vomit — per the Royal Life Center.
Kurt Cobain (1967–1994)
The voice of a generation, Kurt Cobain fronted Nirvana and helped define the grunge movement of the early ’90s. Cobain’s tragic suicide at 27 cemented his status as an icon of youthful rebellion and the dark toll of fame. The guitarist had been missing for six days, per Rolling Stone.
Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)
Amy Winehouse will be remembered for her explosive vocal talent, as well as her troubled personal life, which often spilled onto the stage. “The “Rehab” songstress died at her Camden Square home in London of alcohol poisoning in 2011.
Janis Joplin (1943–1970)
Known for her raw and emotional blues rock, Janis Joplin’s life was tragically cut short by a heroin overdose at the age of 27. She was eventually found after she was a no-show for a scheduled recording session, per History.
Jim Morrison (1943–1971)
The Doors frontman — the Lizard King — was a beloved rock star whose life was cut short at the age of 27 due to mysterious circumstances. Rumors swirled that the star faked his death to escape the public eye, his official cause of death was listed as heart failure. An autopsy was never performed, per American Songwriter.
Robert Johnson (1911–1938)
Johnson, a Black Mississippi bluesman with haunting vocals — famously said to have “sold his sold to the devil at a crossroads in exchange for musical genius” — died at 27 in 1938. While many details are left unknown, the blues legend was allegedly poisoned by a lover’s jealous boyfriend, per History.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988)
Basquiat broke barriers as a Black artist in the predominantly white art world of the 1980s. His eye-catching artwork challenging race, identity, and power took New York City by storm — before he tragically died at 27 from a heroin overdose, per Green Wood Cemetary.
Rudy Lewis (1936–1964)
Lewis was the lead vocalist for The Drifters between the late 1960s until his death in 1964. The “On Broadway” star died in his hotel room just before the group was scheduled to record “Under the Boardwalk” — a song written for him. His passing was attributed to a “probable” drug overdose, as an autopsy was reportedly never performed.
Jesse Belvin (1932–1960)
Famed R&B singer-songwriter of the classic doo-wop hit, “Earth Angel” Jesse Belvin, and his wife Jo Ann died in a car crash under suspicious circumstances after having performed his first integrated show in Little Rock, Ark. Their driver, Charles Ford, veered into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision, per the Blue Moment.
Brian Jones (1942–1969)
A founding member of The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones became more troubled as his band rose to fame. With Mick Jagger and Keith Richards grabbing creative control, they asked Jones to leave the group due to his growing substance abuse habits. Less than a month later he was found dead at 27 in his home swimming pool, per Remind Mag.
Kristen Pfaff (1967–1994)
The bassist for Hole and close friend of Kurt Cobain, Pfaff was rising in the rock scene. As she was planning to leave the band and return to Minneapolis, Pfaff was found dead in her bathtub at 27 from a heroin overdose. Syringes and other paraphernalia were located in a nearby purse, per LA Times.
Pete Ham (1947–1975)
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Pete Ham was the frontman of Badfinger — a vibe similar to The Beatles. After years of financial exploitation and legal drama, Ham ended his life at 27, hanging himself in his garage. In his last note, he blamed their manager, Stan Polley, for his despair, per BBC.
Mia Zapata (1965–1993)
Lead vocalist of the punk band The Gits, Mia Zapata was known for her electrifying performances on stage. That said, her life was violently cut short at 27 when she was raped and strangled to death while walking home in Seattle, per Rolling Stone.
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