How old was Janis Joplin when she died?

Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter who sang rock, soul and blues music. One of the most successful and widely known rock stars of her era, she was known for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage presence.

In 1967, Joplin rose to fame following an appearance at Monterey Pop Festival, where she was the lead singer of the then little-known San Francisco psychedelic rock band 'Big Brother and the Holding Company'.

She appeared at the 'Woodstock' festival and the 'Festival Express train tour'. Five singles by Joplin reached the 'Billboard Hot 100', including a cover of the Kris Kristofferson song 'Me and Bobby McGee', which reached number 1 in March 1971.

Her most popular songs include her cover versions of 'Piece of My Heart', 'Cry Baby', and her original song 'Mercedes Benz', her final recording. Joplin died of a heroin overdose in 1970 at the age of 27.

In pop-culture, Joplin is said to be in the 27 Club. The 27 Club includes popular musicians, artists, actors, and athletes who have died at age 27, often as a result of drug and alcohol abuse or violent means such as homicide, suicide, or transportation-related accidents.

The deaths of several 27 year-old popular musicians between 1969 and 1971 led to the belief that deaths are more common at this age.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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27 Comments

Richard D. Boyle

A remarkable talent and performer. Will never forget the reaction of Mama Cass watching Janis perform at Monterey. Hate to have her in the “27 Club”. What a waste.

goosenbuster

My favorite and can only imagine what great music shel'd be putting out now. I have a huge black n white picture of her I took, and enlarged, from the shoulders of some guy while I was at Woidstock. RIP you are so missed

ninakamwene

Great lady singer Janis. RIP.

filmnut

As I lived on the West Coast of the United States and was very active in the “Music Scene”; The deaths of Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix and Jim Morrison effected me personally. I knew all of them in varying degrees. Morbidly Interesting . . . they all were 27 years old when they crossed the “Bridge of Sighs” to the beyond. I am always reminded of a passage from the “Theban Book of The Dead”; “We who stand here on the edge of the void know that the ‘Ship of the Sun’ is pulled by the “Grateful Dead”.