BBC: Why rock and roll stars die young

2007.Sep.4. Tuesday - by lvhrd

It has come to pass as a law of rock stardom, a dogma for those who defy convention and inspire generations: you are going to die young.

There is no corner of rock history that doesn’t testify to this rule: the golden age of rock and roll starting with Buddy Holly and Bobby Fuller, the counter culture revolution lead by Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, and John Lennon. Jam band pioneers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman brothers, all the way through punk’s Sid Vicious and Kurt Cobain. Rock and roll tells the story over and over again of incredibly talented lives ending all too soon.

We’ve talked this over numerous times: is it coincidence? A curse? Seems our jukebox musings just got vetted to the max: the BBC published a study this morning reporting that musicians are twice as likely to die early than the rest of the population, with the median age of death placed at 37.

The minds behind the study say that it serves as a warning, and should be seriously looked into by the music industry. Furthering this siren, the study claims that record labels seek out artists they suspect will self-destruct given strenuous touring schedules and million dollar advances, broadcasting their collapse through all forms of media as a form of publicity.

Is the musical genius gene irrevocable linked to the addict gene? Are planes and tour buses loaded with guitars and drums somehow more likely to crash? Tell us who your favorite dead rocker is and lets talk it out.

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Alicia Says:
Sep.4.2007 : 9:38 pm

Unfortunately, my favorite living rocker will probably be dead by 37. But that’s only because of the unrequited love, drug use, and alcoholism. Hopefully he’ll make it to Prague for music composition studies before then.

john hopper Says:
Sep.5.2007 : 5:42 am

Let’s not kid ourselves - there are a large number of old rock/pop stars out there, well over the age of 37 - we in the UK seem to have more than our fare share. It is fare to say, however, that there are a lot of young casualties.

We are all still hooked into the 19th century romantic poet theme. The handsome hero who has to deal with inner demons and then die tragically young from self loathing, or TB.
You could say that the record industry are well aware of vulnerable geniuses in their midst and take advantage of them - while they can - which they probably do. But the general public are just as much to blame. We sit back and watch in fascination as a creative life unravels before our very eyes - ‘it was all so tragic, but so wonderful at the same time’.
Maybe all of us are locked into these tragic episodes - company, star and public - and they will probably never end.

BBC: Why rock and roll stars die young

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