Proving something we probably would have all guessed anyway, researchers at Liverpool John Moore's University have found that famous musicians are more than twice as likely to die early as someone of similar disposition, but neither famous nor musical.
Taking into account more than 1000 deaths from Europe and North America, the study claims that between two and twenty five years after an individual finds fame/success, they have a terminal risk between two to three times greater than the average Joe.
I've no idea what that really tells us, but stat-wise this study provides a whole host of pub quiz worthy facts, including that around 100 significant musicians died between 1996 and 2005, with drugs and alcohol predictably involved in around a quarter of the incidents. The average age of the young rocker death, meanwhile, was 35, something that may surprise those that believe in the 'club 27' myth, which includes a string of superstars who have tragically passed away at 27, including Ian Curtis, Jeff Morrison, Janis Joplin and Richey Manic (though he is, in theory, still 'missing', of course).
Following the study, a John Moore spokesperson called on the industry to do more to help rock stars live healthy lives, which is nice of him.