The casualties of ROCK AND ROLL-what was it about the ’27 Club’ ?

We were invited down to an special screening of ’27 Gone Too Soon’ a new documentary film all about the ’27 club’ of musicians who died at that age from Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Hendrix to Amy Winehouse & Kurt Cobain. 

The screening took place at The Regent Street Cinema a historic repertory cinema located on Regent Street, London, UK. Opening initially in 1848 its regarded as “the birthplace of British cinema”, the cinema featured the first motion picture shown in the United Kingdom.

 

Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix all died at the age of 27 between 1969 and 1971. At the time, the coincidence gave rise to some comment, but it was not until the death of Kurt Cobain, about two and a half decades later, that the idea of a ’27 Club’ began to catch on in public perception, reignited again with the death of Amy Winehouse in 2011.

Jimi Hendrix and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones at Monterey Pop Festival

This group represent just a few of the many well-known singers and musicians who died at that age, and this film looks at the phenomenon and tries to understand why these particular stars are so mythologised and celebrated – and why indeed their lives ended when they did.

27 Gone Too Soon 

 As Kurt Cobain quoted a Neil Young song lyric in his suicide note in 1994, he told the world, “It’s better to burn out than to fade away”. He may have meant it only cynically or satirically, but regardless, his death was tragically upon us.  However, In today’s world where drug addiction and mental health issues are continually on the rise and are now the focus of much media and government attention, this documentary is sure to propel further debate as it offers further insight into the world of popular music and it’s many pitfalls.

The film shown at Regent Street Cinema, London featured rare and unseen footage and discerning interviews with musicians, ranging from Gary Numan to Olly Alexander from Years & Years, critics and music industry insiders as well as medical and psychiatric experts, who investigate the lives, music, and artistry of these lost icons, who have forever been frozen in time at the age of 27. 

The film Directed by Simon Napier-Bell and distributed via Bulldog Films is a nostalgic watch and released now on  DVD and Digital HD. Highly recommended!

 27: Gone Too Soon [DVD]: Amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/27-Gone-Too-Soon-DVD/dp/B0776K3ZZL

 

 


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