The sad "27 Club" claimed another
musician today as Amy Winehouse died in her North London flat. As of now, no
cause of death has been announced, but the singer had been plagued for years
with substance abuse problems and had several stints in rehab care. Winehouse
joined the company of other famous artists that died at 27; here's the sad list
of other artists that just didn't make it:
Kurt Cobain. The Nirvana front
man died from a self-inflicted gunshot, but is better known for igniting a
generation during the Seattle-grunge invasion of the early 1990s.
Joseph Merrick "The Elephant Man." The famed English
sideshow performer and medical oddity died as a result of asphyxiation from the
weight of his head. Merrick was known to sleep upright because of the weight of
his head, but was found lying down on a bed, most likely trying an experiment
to see if he could sleep in a bed.
Janis Joplin. The soulful sound
of Joplin's voice ended at 27 when she died from a heroin addiction at the
Landmark Motor Hotel in Los Angeles. Winehouse drew comparisons to Winehouse,
both with her singing talent and drug addiction.
Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix died at 27 from a sleeping pill
overdose and asphyxiation from vomiting during his sleep in London in 1970.
Hendrix's impact on music is undeniable, both with his sound and his on-stage
presence.
Jim Morrison. The Doors front man died in a bathtub in Paris
due to an apparent drug overdose. His death remains a mystery due to
speculation of being dumped into the bathtub after he overdosed or that he died
from heart failure or natural causes. An autopsy was never performed on
Morrison, so the questions remain.
Brian Jones. Founding member of The Rolling Stones, Jones
was found dead in a swimming pool after a drug overdose. Jones had left The
Rolling Stones just prior to his death and was replaced by guitarist Mick
Taylor.
Jonathan Brandis. The teen heartthrob icon and star of shows
like Seaquest DSV and movies
including Sidekick's died as a result
of suicide following a bout of depression, according to friends of the actor.
