The Curse of 27: A Tribute to Amy Winehouse and others

Today I woke up to the sad but I feel somewhat inevitable news of Amy Winehouse passing away at 27, three years younger than me. Such a waste but in my eyes she was gone to another world a while ago once her drug and addiction sucked the life out of her.

27 is a funny age for some. And throughout your early to mid twenties right until I felt about 28 many people I knew, including myself, were still discovering who they were - some struggling to do so more than others. For me it really wasn't until I hit the 28 mark that I began to feel a lot more in control of my destiny, as far as one can be.

But in Amy's case, I doubt that things would have magically righted themselves for her when she hit 28. It's pretty hard to right anything I guess when you are that far in the clutches of an addiction and battling your demons, though of course some do manage.

But it did make me wonder what other talents stopped their lives short at 27 and so this blog post is a tribute to Amy but also a nod to other talents whose lives ended at the same age. And of course there are other common themes other than age.

This shot of Amy really speaks to me as the first shows her before innocence gave way to temptation - but you can still see a troubled and vulnerable soul lurking in there.

And before the drugs and alcohol took her toll, this was Amy as I would like to remember her - looking fabulous...

 

and at the height of her musical career in 2007. It's sad to watch this now as life imitates art, singing Love is a Losing Game at the Mercury Music Awards.

Jimi Hendrix who needs no introduction, died at age 27 in circumstances which have never been fully clear but it was determined that he asphyxiated in his own vomit which was largely comprised of red wine. 

Janis Joplin, the American musical genius died at age 27 from a heroin overdose in a motel room.

Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, though reported to have died from heart failure at age 27, it was suspected that heroin had a large part to play in this.

Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana shot himself at age 27 after years of struggling with drug addiction.

May your souls all rest in place, but your talents never be forgotten.