The Unlucky Number of Rock’N’Roll: Part 1

If ever there were an unlucky number in the world of rock and roll, 27 would be it! It just happens to be the age at which the MOST musicians have died! Amongst this long list their lies a small group of epic musicians whose tragic deaths have eerily similar circumstances…Often referred to as “The Forever 27 Club” their careers lasted such a short time, yet their talent has no doubt had an enormous influence in rock and roll.

The only thing I love more than rock and roll are the crazy stories behind the music.  It’s unfortunate that these artists met an early end,  but not surprising if we take into account the enormous amount of drugs and alcohol they consumed throughout their short careers and combine it with the crazy behavior that comes with having zero inhibitions and limitless boundaries!

But I have to wonder…What would rock and roll be like today if things had worked out differently for these young artists? Would their music be as legendary had they not succumbed to their substances? Or, was it all necessary to solidify their iconic status that has so profoundly influenced modern music?

It’s hard to consider the possibility of icons like Hendrix or Joplin to ever fall into obscurity! Many say that legends are born, but maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe in these cases legends are the ones who live fast, die young and leave their unforgettable mark on the world!

So, what is it about the number 27? Is it just a  creepy coincidence or perhaps it’s a cursed number?

I will let you decide for yourself…

Janis Joplin…She took a piece of our hearts with her.. (1943-1970)

It’s hard to imagine that Joplin’s career lasted only eight years, and yet in 2008 she was ranked number 28 in Rolling Stone’s Greatest Singers of All Time. Throughout her early years she was said to have cultivated her defiant nature by surrounding herself with outcasts and openly sharing her dislike towards racism through which she  spoke out with her lyrics. Her eccentricity was seen very early on, and many family members remember her as “needing a great deal of attention” to keep her relatively happy and calm.

In many ways, she was so ahead of her time, particularly with her sound, which included the combination of soulful blues and rock and roll, a relatively new style in that era. Her tremendous stage presence and beautiful lyrics kept the money flowing into the pockets of record executives and kept her in high demand. Many have suggested that the pressure and fatigue of her  solo career added to Joplin’s stress, and as a result her drinking and drug use escalated. Janis was known to have outlandish taste when it came to her fashion,  and many have said that her constant accessory was a bottle of Southern Comfort that she’d often drink straight from the bottle. It’s no surprise that she had a reputation for drunken antics and black outs!

But, in spite of her partying ways she’d always show up to work, albeit at times with a hangover. In early October 1970, Joplin failed to show up for a scheduled recording session. Worried , her producer Paul Rothchild  went to the motel she had been staying  in only to make a frightful discovery; her dead body on the floor. Her official cause of death was an overdose of heroin combined with alcohol, but many suspect that she had been given an exceptionally strong batch of drugs from her dealer. Like other musicians who died before her, many were shocked at the timing of her death because  she was at the height of her success, but many were not surprised.

Today, she is not only remembered for her talent and charisma, but she is also seen as a pioneer in the male dominated music industry of the 60’s. She was a force of nature who could not be controlled or marketed as a pre-packaged deal because she was one of very few who wrote her own music and had “a devastatingly original voice” that captivated audiences world-wide. She was one of a kind!  It’s safe to say that her short career certainly set the stage for other female performers to make a name for themselves. Most notably Stevie Nicks and Grace Slick have all spoken openly on the profound impact Joplin had on their music careers!

Hendrix Experience (1942-1970)

Seeing Jimi Hendrix perform live must have certainly been an “experience” for his fans, especially those who were lucky enough to see his legendary version of The Star Spangled Banner when he headlined Woodstock, 1969. Like Joplin, Hendrix’s career lasted seven short years before an overdose of sleeping pills ended his life in London, England September 18, 1970.

He was a legend in the making from the very start of his career, attracting the attention of Chas Chandler, former bassist for The Animals. But Hendrix’s eccentricity went way beyond his colorful fashion statements and guitar trick playing. It seems that Hendrix not only liked to experiment with his drugs,  he also loved to experiment with his guitar… Or more specifically he liked to push the boundaries of amplifier feedback and distortion. Amidst all the noisy chaos of his guitar, he was able to create harmonies in the most unlikely ways, and more impressively doing so while playing with his teeth…and at times while on acid!  Once he mastered his new technique, he combined his edgy new sounds with his passion for jazz and the blues, and the result were  epic albums like Electric Ladyland, Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold as Love.

Today, he is remembered as a pioneer with modern effects pedals and distortion feedback, as many of his musical contributions have set the stage early on for heavy medal and hard rock to blossom as a genre, and he took the blues and jazz to a larger and more diverse audience which has  also influenced modern hip hop and funk.

Since his death, many bands have attested to having been inspired by not only his revolutionary skills, but also his emotional lyrics and extremely humble nature. It’s no surprise that this young musician was ranked # 3 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Rock and Roll!

July 3, 1971. The Day the Fire Stopped Burning...

About a year after Hendrix, Jim Morrison, lead singer and front man of The Doors died in Paris. To say he was a complex and deeply misunderstood man would be the understatement of the century, but certainly true to his eccentric character. In life, he was no stranger to conflict, intrigue and he was known to have kept company with several weird and dysfunctional women with whom he had affairs with. So,  it was no surprise that his death is surrounded in conspiracy theory and no official cause of death has ever been released. This along with several other discrepancies in the days and events  leading up to his death have left many speculating on whether or not his death was accidental or intentional. Some have suggested it could have been murder by overdose by his long time partner who was known to be mentally unstable at the time, while others speculate that it could have been suicide; a topic featured in many of his lyrics. I suppose no one will ever know what really happened in that lonely Paris bathroom where Morrison’s lifeless body was found in a bath tub in the summer of 1971. If you ask me, I think that all this intrigue and mystery surrounding his death is such a fitting legacy for a man who literally personified rock and roll!

He is the undisputed  godfather of psychedelic rock, having written such classics as Light My Fire and Love Me Two Times. Jim Morrison invented the rock star image with his style, charisma and his disregard for the law! His weird obsession with Native American folklore combined with his drug of choice, acid,often resulted in wild and bizarre behaviors. He was the first to rock star to ever trash a hotel room, he slept with many of his fans and he was known to perform while “tripping out” on acid! Often, his drug fueled hallucinations would cause him to chant incoherently on stage, incite riots and he’s also been known to engage in lewd acts in front of thousands of fans. He adored attention, but thrived creatively when surrounded by chaos! Ye, in pite of all that most women remember Morrison as an extremely good-looking man who was famous, or infamous, for wearing those tight leather pants!

Morrison led a life of extremes, having been born a very gifted writer and film maker, his talent was discovered early. Long-time girlfriend Pamela Courson encouraged him to develop his poetry, resulting in many publications, yet he struggled daily to find happiness in his open relationship with her and with himself. Most of his days were spent in a drunken hallucinogenic blur, and he lived a very nomadic lifestyle.  Drug induced altercations with Courson was habitual and extremely dramatic. Their were numerous times in which they threatened to kill each other, and once Courson stood on the ledge of a hotel room window threatening to jump in a fit of intoxicated jealousy!  But in my opinion Morrison’s most memorable stunt  was the time he smashed his car into a police cruiser while engaging in sex while driving!

Interestingly, Morrison had a short lived affair with Janis Joplin not long before her death. The two met through a mutual project in which Jimi Hendrix was also a part of!  It is widely speculated that their one night affair was fueled by alcohol and drugs, but one thing is certainly true here; birds of a feather flock together! I can’t think of a more toxic union than Janis and Jim…except perhaps the open relationship that Morrison had with Courson!

In my opinion, Morrison was a living paradox!  Some have suggested that Morrison’s great talent was often overshadowed by his antics as a result of his addiction, while others believe that his extreme intellect was a burden.  Maybe there is some truth to that  as most of the world’s craziest people were also among the most intelligent…

Today, Morrison is regarded as one of the most iconic front-men in rock and roll history. It’s no wonder he was ranked number 47 in Rolling Stone’s: 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Today, his music with The Doors has become a staple in classic rock repertoires and his legend has inspired such musicians like Iggy Pop, Layne Staley and Scott Weiland, who like Morrison have all been known to have very serious drug addictions in spite of their extreme talent and success. Although it’s too late for Layne Staley who died of an overdose a few years ago, we can only hope that other musicians like Scott Weiland will kick their drug habit before they kick the bucket!

Brian Jones..The forgotten Founding Member ….

Most of you are probably wondering: who the hell is Brian Jones?

He was the founding member of The Rolling Stones! It all began in London 1962. Although his time within the band lasted just a few short years, Jones’ early contributions as band creator and manager have certainly led to their success and longevity. As a child and adolescent, Jones was always considered to be a bit odd, often preferring the company of his guitar rather than people.

Having grown up with a passion for jazz and the blues, Jones placed an ad into a local paper inviting musicians to audition for his new blues cover band. Many responded, but a young and very charismatic singer by the name of Mick Jagger caught his attention, and he was invited to join the band  soon after…a decision that would set the stage for Jones’ slow alienation from the band. With the young group in need of a guitarist, Jagger suggested a childhood friend of his, Keith Richards to come and audition. Like Jagger, he had an intriguing stage presence and the chemistry between the band members was instant.

Under Jones’ leadership as manager and lead singer, the band gained limited success through the gigs he booked at local venues where they played blues and jazz covers. In need of a band name, Jones was the one who suggested “The Rolling Stones” while on the phone with a venue owner! Little did he know that this name would eventually become one of the most popular and iconic names in the history of rock and roll! Tension within the band begin to grow when it was discovered that Jones was being paid 5 pounds more per gig than the rest of the band members, as Jones’ believed he was entitled to it as band manager.

Soon after, The Rolling Stones popularity eventually dwindled and Jagger and Richards grew tired and bored of performing the same songs. They felt the need to branch out musically so the pair began co-writing new music and  the result was a drastic change  that would overshadow Jones’ original vision and sound. As more new material emerged, the band’s musical style began to shift to that of rock and eventually, Mick Jagger took on the new role as singer and band  front-man.  Having lost such a vital role , Jones began to withdrawal from the band and throughout their early tours, Jones often traveled on a separate tour bus and stayed in separate hotels!  His drug and alcohol consumption began to escalate as Jagger’s popularity grew. Jones was known to overindulge with alcohol at the band’s inception, but later he would combine his alcohol with LSD, assorted prescription pills and cannabis, and his addictions would eventually lead to several arrests and alot of bad press, which left other band members questioning his abilities as manager.

It wasn’t long until The Rolling Stones came into contact with Andrew Loog Oldham, a famous and extremely successful music producer and manager. He stressed the importance and financial advantages of a band’s ability to write their own material, and began to increase his managerial control until he formally replaced Jones as manager. Having been replaced from yet another vital role within the band, he grew resentful once more and became increasingly anti-social with bouts of hostility towards band members.

Jones’ dependency of drugs and alcohol worsened once more resulting in several hospitalizations which prevented the band from performing.  Jones’ musical contributions became more sporadic and tensions between him, Jagger and Richard’s began to mount as his addiction progressed until he was eventually rendered obsolete within his own band! However, his relationship with the band and particularly Keith Richards was forever severed when his girlfriend of two years left him for Keith Richards while he was hospitalized during a trip to Morocco.

Jones officially quit the band in early June, 1969 after he was denied a working visa to enter into the United States so the band could tour. Eerily, a month after his departure from the band, Jones was found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool at the age of 27. Although the coroner cited it was “death by misadventure,” the circumstances leading up to his death are precarious are surrounded in conspiracy! Although his girlfriend at the time, Anna Wohlin, declared that Jones still had a pulse when he was pulled from the water, however, when ambulance technicians arrived it was too late. In 1999, Wohlin claimed that Jones was murdered by a contractor, Frank Thorogood, in which the couple had hired to work on a new home the ouple had purchased. Having been the last one to see Jones alive, Wohlin suggested that Thorogood’s behavior the night of the death was suspicious and he showed little emotion when Jones was declared dead. Supposedly, Thorogood confessed to the murder on his deathbed to long time Rolling Stones driver Tom Keylock, but Keylock has denied that the confession ever took place.

Jones may be the forgotten founding member of one of the most successful bands, but his odd character and talent has been the inspiration of many songs written about him over the years. Musicians like the Barenaked Ladies and Ted Nugent have all written songs about him, but eerily, one of the most successful and popular songs to ever be written about Jones was the song Tight Rope Ride, written by Jim Morrison of The Doors! In a weird twist of fate, Ray Manzarek of The Doors re-wrote the song after Morrrison died so that the lyrics could apply to both musicians.