Disturbing Study Finds Rock Musicians Die 25 Years Younger Than Average Person

According to a recent Australian study, rock and pop musicians typically pass away far earlier than the average person. This is a concerning trend. According to a study by Sydney University Professor Dianna Kenny, musicians typically die in their late 50s or early 60s, and their life expectancy is around 20 years less than the general population. Even more worrisome, the study discovered that well-known musicians are much more likely to die by suicide, be killed by accident, or even be murdered.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

The study examined the lives and deaths of 12,665 musicians across different genres between 1950 and June 2014. Nearly 91% of those studied were male. The findings were stark—musicians’ lifespans were up to 25 years shorter than the average person in the U.S. “The results of this study are disturbing,” Professor Kenny wrote on The Conversation website. “Across the seven decades studied, popular musicians’ lifespans were up to 25 years shorter than the comparable US population. This is clear evidence that all is not well in pop music land.”

Musicians were found to be two to seven times more likely to die by suicide and up to eight times more likely to be victims of homicide. Additionally, their chances of accidental death were five to ten times higher than that of the general public.

The “27 Club” Myth and the Music Industry’s Role

One positive note from the study was that most musicians do live beyond the infamous age of 27. This contradicts the belief that artists like Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain represent a widespread pattern of rock stars dying young.

However, the study highlights a bigger issue—the music industry itself. Professor Kenny argues that the industry glorifies reckless behavior, drug use, and early death. She believes this culture can attract vulnerable young musicians, especially those struggling with depression. “The music scene celebrates drugs and promiscuity and valorisation of early death,” she told ABC Radio. “They are meeting fellow travelers where they amplify each other’s suicide, depression, or substance abuse, and that gets into an out-of-control spiral leading to early death.”

A Call for Change

Professor Kenny’s research suggests that the industry needs to take responsibility and offer better support to struggling musicians. By recognizing the dangers and providing mental health resources, the music world can help protect the very artists who make it thrive.