The 27 Club - Remembering Janis Joplin

40 years ago today, Janis Joplin's body was discovered in a hotel room, dead from a heroin overdose. (It was a "bad batch" as several other of her dealers "clients" also died that week.) Her on-again, off-again drug use was too overbearing and is her unfortunate legacy.

Janis's ongoing contribution to Rock and Roll cannot be ignored. 40 years later her iconic songs are still remembered, still played, still sung to. Her voice, her powerhouse, still has her listed in the top thirty singers of all time. She's influenced every female rock singer from Stevie Nicks to Avril Lavigne.

Janis is a member of the 27 Club. The Forever Club is named for all the rock and roll artists who died at age 27.

Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Jim Morrison
Kurt Cobain
Brian Jones

There are 36 other members, lesser known musicians, all dead at age 27. Everyone from the drummer of Echo and the Bunnymen, a member of The Grateful Dead, a vocalist from The Drifters, the bassist from The Stooges, the singer of Canned Heat and so on.

It's weird.

So, go crank up "Piece of my Heart" and sing at the top of your lungs, remembering Janis today.

"Cause you know you got it if it makes you feel good!"