Psychedelic Lunch

Welcome to our “Psychedelic Lunch” series, “The 27 Club Edition” where we find out how deep the rabbit hole really goes and explore psychedelic tunes from the 60’s and 70’s. Weekdays At Noon EST. Enjoy the trip!

“The 27 Club” or “Club 27” is the colloquial name given to a group of influential rock musicians who died at the young age of 27. There are a few “members” who are always listed in “27 Club” groupings—such as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain. Of course, not every one in the 27 Club list were musicians, such as renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Though the official causes of death for these famous people vary between the different musicians—from suicide to overdoses on sleeping pills to, yes, choking to death on vomit—drug and alcohol abuse is often cited as a primary cause behind many of these deaths. Everyone on this list will never turn 28 – they will be forever 27.

Technically the music of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain are not of the psychedelic 60’s or 70’ era but for the sake of writing about the “27 Club” I feel his addition is rather pertinent.

Controversy still swirls around the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who, on April 8, 1994, was found dead in his Lake Washington home by an electrician. The coroner’s report estimated Cobain’s time of death to be around April 5 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. However there are conspiracy theories telling a different tale such as his wife Courtney Love hired someone to murder Kurt, among other stories.

Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the rock band Nirvana. He is remembered as one of the most iconic and influential rock musicians in the history of alternative music.

Kurt Cobain had a rough upbringing, bouncing from one family member to the next. Struggling with his own identity, depression and against all odds became a legend rising to stardom in the midst of the grunge rock revolution in the early 90’s.

When news broke out about Kurt Cobain’s death legions of fans around the world grieved the loss of the guitarist and front man of Nirvana who’s lyrics both moved and resonated with the Gen X youth.

There have been a few films made about Kurt Cobain documenting the events that led up to his suicide with mixed versions and conspiracies. Needless to say his death still remains one of the great mysteries.

The music of Nirvana stills holds up today as timeless.