Move over 13. Triskaidekaphobia might all be well and flourishing but knocking on the doors of superstition and fear is another numerical — 27. And it seems to be fast gaining a reputation as spooky as 13. Well, at least in the music world as another one bites the dust at 27. British singer Amy Winehouse’s death has brought into sharp focus all the mystery and hullabaloo associated with musicians dying at 27.
The stats bear this. Death snatched away the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janice Joplin, Kurt Cobain and many others, all at 27. In fact, a new term was then coined — The 27 Club.
This makes one wonder whether dying rather young, at 27, is simply a coincidence or something more? Philadelphia-based part-time musician, Costas of the band ‘A Study in Her’ seems to think it’s an interesting coincidence about Western rock music that musicians tend to pass away at 27. This is, in fact, part of the lore of underground American music — as represented by the fact that Billy Joe from ‘Green Day’ has a 27 tattooed on him. But then again, it’s not all about coincidence. “My guess is that it’s a mix of our own beliefs about the self-destructive but romantic nature of rock and the realities of ageing within Western societies. Late 20s is a crossroads...whether you are a rock star or not,” asserts Costas.
Musician-composer Avril Quadros, has a completely different take on the matter. Dismissing the coincidence factor, she argues that the ‘27 Club’ musicians did not nurture their talent and instead took to abusing their minds and bodies by taking refuge in alcohol and drugs. It proved to be a heady, nay ‘deadly’, cocktail. And finally something had to give, bringing to life the cliché about sex, drugs and rock ;n’ roll.
One wonders whether this is the cross they have to bear? Chennai-based Indo-western singer-composer Sudeep Swaroop certainly thinks so. A number of factors have been responsible for their early exit — from attention issues to confusion over the impact on the audiences to their troubled love lives and less than perfect relationship with their parents.
Steering clear of the coincidence angle, is Sanjeev Thomas, lead guitarist for A R Rahman. It’s all about pushing boundaries relentlessly, losing control over things, which happens once that person comes into the limelight. And then, hey presto, it’s all over.
Eric Segalstad, author of the book The 27s: The Greatest Myth of Rock & Roll, has busted some myths with regard to rock stars falling victim to rock ‘n’ roll stardom. Some of them he feels were victims of the business side of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle — like Pete Ham of Badfinger, who ended up penniless and frustrated and hung himself.
Also, one wonders whether these musicians have at times grappled with the immortality issue. Neil Young once said “it’s better to burn out than to fade away” — a sentence that would later be found in a suicide note written by Kurt Cobain. Some, however, like Jimi Hendrix were preparing for immortality. The singer, idolised by millions, wrote his own elegy, a song titled ‘The Story of Life’, although he was not to know that he would be dead on the morrow. And yet this song — with its earlier references to Jesus on the cross — does suggest a man making peace with his god, preparing to be immortalised. And on that score at least, he was right.
By dying young and joining the 27 club, Winehouse has ensured that she will never fade away from public memory. RIP Amy.
