The ‘27 Club’ myth masks a public health problem: systems that amplify musicians’ psychological vulnerability. This multiple-case study uses reflexive thematic analysis of Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, triangulating biographies, archives and documentaries. Across cases we identify a vulnerability triad – emotional dysregulation, chronic distress and substance-mediated coping – and show how ‘tortured genius’ narratives, industry pressures and fragmented care normalise risk. Cohort evidence indicates musicians face 1.7–3 times excess mortality for decades post-fame, especially solo artists and trauma survivors. We propose integrated risk assessments in contracts, mobile dual-diagnosis support and narrative interventions.
