Fame is something for which the majority of the population yearns. Having a ton of followers, being on the big screens, and making a ton of money all sounds like a dream. But being popular isn’t always as glamorous as you might believe. Having no privacy, garnering the hate of others, and even suffering through the drug and alcohol abuse that one can endure ruins all the positives of being a celebrity. There are certain celebrities such as singers, actors, and comedians who lost their lives and joined what is known as “The 27 Club”. “The 27 Club” is for celebrities who all, coincidentally, passed at the age of 27. The theory is that these celebrities sold their souls for their extreme skills and talents. Let’s recognize some amazing stars who, sadly, lost their lives too soon.
Kurt Kobain was best known for being the lead singer of the grunge band “Nirvana”. He was known for making punk rock and grunge mainstream. The singer sadly died by suicide, shooting himself with a gun. He was worried about losing his home in a lawsuit. Cobain also struggled with substance abuse. The singer passed away on April 8, 1994 and forever will be 27.
Amy Winehouse, an inspiring figure who went from nothing to something, sadly passed away from alcohol intoxication. The singer openly talked about her goals for her future but ended up only focusing on her image to the public eye. The worry over her image sent her into a self-sabotaging spiral and she died taking her last few sips of alcohol in London on July 23, 2011. Amy will forever be known for her top hits like “Back to Black” or “Rehab”, and her legacy will be talked about forever.
Jimi Hendrix was an iconic guitar player and songwriter who everyone still knows today. Like many other celebrities, Hendrix struggled with drug addiction. His friends have come out in interviews saying that he would take a handful of pills at a time, never knowing what the pills were. On September 18, 1970 Hendrix would take some sleeping pills and never wake up again.
Actor Johnathan Brandis was known for his movies such as “It”, “Sidekicks”, and the popular tv series “SeaQuest DSV”. Brandis was a heartthrob and had great fame after his show came out but had a hard time keeping up his fame when the show ended in 1996. He went on to film a movie, but his scenes would later be cut. Because of his downfall he struggled hard mentally and eventually would commit suicide. He died on November 12, 2003 by hanging.
“The 27 Club” would end up having many more members such as Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Benjamin Keough. These talented figures lived short lives and were not given the time to live up to their full potential. This tragic coincidence will live on forever in “The 27 Club”, but the reason behind this strange occurrence will never be known.
