The Science of Conspiracy Theories

Club 27 phenomenon.

Club 27 phenomenon.

Thanks to @WilloStars for this idea.

This conspiracy has to do with the fact that a number of popular musicians have died at the tender age of 27. Among the notables that are members of this exclusive club are: Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Amy Winehouse, and Kurt Cobain, whose suicide I discussed in an earlier post.

Many of these people died from drug overdose or suicide, and it's not unusual for musicians to die young, but the number that have died at age 27 is very disturbing. Are these deaths a coincidence or is there some strange phenomenon involved here.

There are five possible reasons for this strange age related death statistic. One is numerology. The number 27 can be mathematically reduced to the number 9, which represents the end of a cycle of transitions. These transitions are highly charged if you accept this paranormal concept.

A German psychologist, Erik Erikson, has a theory that there are eight stages of psychological development from birth to age 65. The stage between 18 and 35 involves a struggle between intimacy and isolation. This is where a person contemplates whether they will be a loner or connect with someone. A person who can't make a clean transition through this phase could end up taking his or her life, or doing something that would have the same result.

There is a possibility that this phenomenon could result from an astrological cycle in which Saturn returns for the first time. Saturn cycles take 29.4 years, but its influence starts at age 27, where the real transition to adulthood is complete. Someone who has a problem transitioning will find this age brutal. This is a time of confusion and the possibility of drug addiction.

Some drug abusers suffer from poor health due to repeated drug overdoses. This could be a condition that catches up to a 27 year old. These drug complications affect thinking and decision-making, two things that could cause suicide or drug overdose.

Then there is the idea that members of the '27 club' have signed a contract with the devil in order to enjoy success and fortune. This is not a new idea. It has been used in stories and plays for some time.

What about the musicians that died younger or older than 27? This list includes: Richie Valens, who died at 27 in a plane accident with Buddy Holly, aged 22. The Big Bopper, who died in the same accident, was 28. Otis Redding died in a plane accident at age 26, whereas Patsy Cline died in a plane crash at age 30.

Some people claim that these people belong in the '27 club' because of a curse.

It's hard to imagine how this curse could be real, but it seems to be a phenomenon nonetheless.

Thanks for reading.