Jimi, Joplin, Jim Morrison, Cobain, Winehouse... Musicians that died at their peak, age 27.
What would each of their legacies have been, if they had lifted weights, enjoyed whey shakes, and used fish oil, and lived to be 70 or 80 years old?
The greatest of all time? Or would they have gotten fat, put out another five average albums, and now be photog'd in TMZ buying cat litter in flip flops?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/27_Club
27 seems so random but makes sense to a degree when the rock star life cycle is broken down (particularly from the 60's/70's):
* early 20's: first rush of fame etc.
* mid-20's: the initial touring frenzy is out of the way. The rock star suddenly finds him/herself sitting on a shit load of money and a tonne of spare time
* coupled with the easy availability, pressures of fame, and often already existing inner demons the star develops a serious addiction
*This gets progressively worse over the next couple of years until around that age 27 the star's luck runs out...
As for how they would look now-
Jim Morrison would have been massively brando-esque fat as there were already signs of him being inclined to porkiness
Jimi might be pumping out some classy blues.
Cobain is a mystery, he was going all REM crazy towards the end (at least according to michael stipe) but who knows.
Brian Jones was just someone who was never going to be old, too insecure & brittle. Probably would have gone down the Brian Wilson psychiatric road.
