The history of rock music unfortunately includes many talented musicians who passed away at a young age. Here we listed Rock Stars Who Died at a Young Age
Jimi Hendrix: Considered one of the greatest guitarists in rock history, Hendrix died at the age of 27 in 1970.
Janis Joplin: The influential rock and blues singer also died at the age of 27 in 1970.
Jim Morrison: The lead vocalist of The Doors, Morrison was another member of the so-called “*27 Club”, dying at that age in 1971.
Kurt Cobain: The Nirvana frontman, who played a key role in the grunge movement, died at the age of 27 in 1994.
Brian Jones: A founding member of The Rolling Stones, Jones drowned in his swimming pool at the age of 27 in 1969.
Amy Winehouse: The British singer-songwriter, known for her deep vocals and her blend of musical styles, died at the age of 27 in 2011.
Sid Vicious: The bassist for the punk rock band the Sex Pistols died at the age of 21 in 1979.
Ian Curtis: The lead singer and lyricist for the post-punk band Joy Division, Curtis committed suicide at the age of 23 in 1980.
Randy Rhoads: The guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Rhoads died in a plane accident at the age of 25 in 1982.
Robert Johnson: Often cited as the “Grandfather of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” the influential blues guitarist died at the age of 27 in 1938.
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan: A founding member of the Grateful Dead, McKernan died from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at the age of 27 in 1973.
Marc Bolan: The lead vocalist of T. Rex, a pioneer of glam rock, died in a car accident at the age of 29 in 1977.
Duane Allman: The founding member and the lead guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 24 in 1971.
Bon Scott: The original vocalist for AC/DC, Scott died at the age of 33 in 1980.
Cliff Burton: The bassist for Metallica died in a bus accident at the age of 24 in 1986.
Brad Nowell: The lead singer and guitarist for the ska punk band Sublime died of a heroin overdose at the age of 28 in 1996.
John Bonham: The drummer for Led Zeppelin died at the age of 32 in 1980.
Shannon Hoon: The lead vocalist for the rock band Blind Melon died of a drug overdose at the age of 28 in 1995.
Richey Edwards: The rhythm guitarist and lyricist for the Manic Street Preachers disappeared at the age of 27 in 1995 and was officially presumed dead in 2008.
Dolores O’Riordan: The lead vocalist for the rock band The Cranberries died at the age of 46 in 2018.
Jeff Buckley: The singer-songwriter known for his ethereal voice drowned at the age of 30 in 1997.
Chris Bell: An influential singer-songwriter and guitarist who was a member of Big Star, Bell died in a car accident at the age of 27 in 1978.
Steve Gaines: A guitarist and vocalist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gaines died in a plane crash at the age of 28 in 1977.
Andy Wood: The lead singer for Mother Love Bone, a band that was instrumental in the formation of the Seattle grunge scene, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24 in 1990.
Keith Moon: The drummer for The Who, known for his chaotic style, died at the age of 32 in 1978.
Nick Drake: The influential English singer-songwriter died at the age of 26 in 1974.
Tommy Bolin: The guitarist for Deep Purple and the James Gang died of a drug overdose at the age of 25 in 1976.
Gary Thain: The bassist for Uriah Heep, Thain died of a drug overdose at the age of 27 in 1975.
Rory Gallagher: The Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist died at the age of 47 in 1995.
Jaco Pastorius: One of the most influential bassists in the history of jazz fusion, Pastorius died at the age of 35 in 1987.
The “27 Club” is a term that refers to a group of influential musicians who died at the age of 27. This concept has been noted in popular culture and has become something of a myth, although statistical studies have failed to find a significant increase in musician deaths at this age. It’s a phenomenon that’s more about cultural significance than statistical reality.
