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Monday Coffee Break: The Saddest Club Of All

Posted at 8:37 AM on July 25, 2011 by Steve Seel (33 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

The tragic death of Amy Winehouse this past weekend had another sadly ironic aspect to it: the fact that she died at the age of 27. Oddly, this is an age that a surprising number of music icons through time lost their lives: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain are all members of the so-called "27 Club". The list goes on from there, though, with more names than you might realize. Today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, we're paying tribute to some of those artist who died at the too-young age of 27.

Songs played:
Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"
Nirvana "On a Plain" (Kurt Cobain)
Robert Johnson "Crossroads"
Janis Joplin "Cry Baby"
Badfinger "No Matter What" (Pete Ham)
Jimi Hendrix "Castles Made of Sand"

Comments (33)

"Dead Guys" by Heywood Banks (from the album Picky Picky Picky)

Lyrics:

I am older than a lot of famous dead guys
A lot of famous dead guys didn’t live as long as me
Oh sure, they accomplished more, in a lot less time
But they are dead and what good does that do you?

Now if I become real famous and they know me ‘round the world
When I croak everyone can say
He sure didn’t do as much as some other dead guys
But he had more time to do it in

Posted by Frank | July 25, 2011 8:59 AM

I would like to hear somber/beautiful this morning.

"Castles Made of Sand"- by Hendrix.

"Will You Still Love Me, Tomorrow"- cover by Amy WineHouse

"All Apologies"- Nirvana, Unplugged

"Ruby Tuesday"- Rolling Stones. Brian Jones plays the recorder.

Posted by Justin | July 25, 2011 9:03 AM

I certainly wouldn't put her in the same class with those other 'members'. Cobain, Hendrix, Morrison -- they made timeless music which was some of the best of not only their generation but of all time. Amy made mediocre, mundane pop songs no one will care about in 5 years.

But I digress.

Candle in the Wind by Elton John.

Posted by Brandon | July 25, 2011 9:03 AM

The Gits - Second Skin

Posted by Michelle | July 25, 2011 9:05 AM

Thought of a couple more:

Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel

Posted by Brandon | July 25, 2011 9:05 AM

The tragedy wasn't this weekend, it was the many years preceding her death. You would hope she would straighten things out...but that never happened.

Castles Made of Sand - Jimi
People are Strange - Doors
Bye Bye Baby - Janis
"So long, my honey, so long.
Too bad you had to drift away"

Posted by loran | July 25, 2011 9:05 AM

Kristen Pfaff of Hole / Doll Parts

Posted by Mellisa | July 25, 2011 9:08 AM

Nick Drake, sadly, didn't even live long enough to joing the 27 Club...he died of a drug overdose at age 26. I would love to hear anything by him!

Posted by Sarah | July 25, 2011 9:09 AM

"Cry Baby"- Janis.

I can't believe I left her off my previous requests. Not because I don't love her equally as the others.

Posted by Justin | July 25, 2011 9:12 AM

meh

Posted by rob | July 25, 2011 9:13 AM

D. Boone of The Minutemen (car accident)

Posted by juanita | July 25, 2011 9:14 AM

"The End"- The Doors

"All Apologies" (or "Something in the Way", or "Dumb")- Nirvana

"Sympathy for the Devil"- Rolling Stones

"Rehab"- Amy Winehouse

"Summertime"- Janis Joplin

"The Wind Cries Mary"- Hendrix

And I second "Doll Parts" if one of Hole died at 27!

Posted by Topher Boyd | July 25, 2011 9:16 AM

dave alexendar of the stooges

d. boone of the minutemen

Posted by kim | July 25, 2011 9:18 AM

Robert Johnson

Chris Bell from Big Star's first record

And I second "Ruby Tuesday" from the Stones and Brian Jones

Posted by Patrick | July 25, 2011 9:19 AM

"Amy Winehouse" - Moe Pope

Posted by Randy W | July 25, 2011 9:24 AM

Early club member: Robert Johnson--All My Love in Vain
Amy--Back to Black
The Stones--Ruby Tuesday (or Paint it Black)

Posted by Jud | July 25, 2011 9:25 AM

"It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career" - Belle and Sebastian

Posted by Allan W | July 25, 2011 9:25 AM

Pete Ham, member of the band Badfinger, also joined the "27 Club" back in 1975. He wrote the hit songs "Without You" (done by Harry Nilsson) and "No Matter What". Still missed.

Posted by David W. | July 25, 2011 9:26 AM

I agree this is sad but I have to say I find the idea of using these tragedies as fodder for the coffee break -and the entire notion of the "27 Club"- to be kind of offensive.

Posted by T. J. Larson | July 25, 2011 9:27 AM

Next coffee break?

John Bonham and Keith Moon both died at 32...

Posted by BD | July 25, 2011 9:27 AM

Hey Man Nice Shot - Filter. It's about the death of Curt Cobain

Posted by Scott | July 25, 2011 9:28 AM

I also wanted to say that if there are any young depressed and very passionate musicians or artists out there, please don't aspire to or glamorize the members of this club who, shall we say, over did it in one way or another. For every Ozzy who managed to stay alive past 27 for no reason yet known to man there are plenty of others who didn't. Stay safe.

Posted by Patrick | July 25, 2011 9:28 AM

Shannon Hoon was 28 but I think that falls within the margin of error.

Posted by Chad | July 25, 2011 9:29 AM

"The Man Who Sold the World" - Nirvana, Unplugged

It just has to be. The strings on this are incredible, and it was hands-down the best Unplugged ever done.

Posted by Amber | July 25, 2011 9:29 AM

Oh, and I just read the Minutemen are included, so could we please hear "Corona"? Yes, Jackass's theme song, but that's kind of a applicable, too, as Ryan Dunn just died.

Posted by Topher Boyd | July 25, 2011 9:34 AM

"Corona"- Minutemen

Posted by Topher Boyd | July 25, 2011 9:35 AM

Jimi Hendrix - Waterfall
Nirvana - Come As You Are

Posted by Tampa Jen | July 25, 2011 9:35 AM

Dave Alexander of the Stooges-

Search and Destroy

Posted by Noah | July 25, 2011 9:42 AM

Jim Carroll Band
"People Who've Died"

Posted by Rachel | July 25, 2011 9:42 AM

There is a great band from New Ulm, MN called "27 Years" that honors all of these artists with their name.

Posted by quincycat | July 25, 2011 9:47 AM

Great coffee break but does Kurt Cobain count? He was aware of the 27 Club and may have joined on purpose.

Posted by karla | July 25, 2011 9:49 AM

Ron Pig Pen McKernan, original keyboardist from the Dead

Posted by BD | July 25, 2011 9:50 AM

I liked the sounds of people are strange but the end would also be a good end to todays coffee break from the doors.

Posted by Gus Perron | July 25, 2011 9:58 AM

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