twenty-seven

A good age at which to die. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to be über famous, to achieve immortality, to leave an enduring legacy, to remain untouchable forever, and make millions at the same time. Only thing is: you have to die.

Or so it seems, for some of the most famous names in contemporary music. People who changed the course of music history or influenced it just enough to leave an indelible mark; pioneers whose absence left a void filled with imitators and wannabes and in-betweeners that hardly satisfy.

Kurt Cobain (founder of Nirvana and grunge music), Jimi Hendrix (who taught us how to play the guitar the way it's supposed to be played), Brian Jones (founder of The Rolling Stones), Janis Joplin (trailblazer for solo female artistes), Jim Morrison (nonconformist who bent the rules to create alternative music) -- all rebels with a cause, all creatively brilliant musicians who shaped the stuff we listen to today, and all of whom died at the age of 27.

Maybe it's just coincidence, or maybe to die at the height of their careers was the best thing to happen to them. And 27 seems to be that magic number. Any later and, perhaps, they would have lost relevance (the way grunge has today), or mellowed, or compromised their music to remain popular to the capricious masses.

And maybe it's just coincidence, but all of them with the exception of Jones (who, nevertheless, was a notorious drug abuser) died of a drug overdose. Cobain did one better by committing suicide after he overdosed himself. What a recipe for success! They're not alive to enjoy it, though (which is the only flaw in this almost fool-proof design, I guess).

So, let's see: I am not famous and by no means a musician, but maybe if I worked at it a little harder... take a few singing lessons, practise more on my guitar, etc., I could die at 27 and bestow the fruits of my labor to whoever I want, leaving them a comfortable life and me a peaceful rest. I'm already high on drugs half the time -- caffeine and nicotine, the opiates of the masses in this 21st century turbulence. I've got enough ego to fill up a phone book, rebellious to a fault, maybe not so much a creative genius but I try. I've got six years to prepare (so it's going to be a rush job), and then it's smooth sailing all the way.

Then again, maybe not.

PLAYLIST

Cigarettes In Hell -- Oasis

Oceania -- Björk

All Falls Down -- Kanye West

Wishful Thinking -- Wilco

Family Tree -- Loretta Lynn

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