It’s better to burn out than to fade away.

That’s the theory, anyway. The idea that true stars die before they ever get the chance to sell out their own sound is a rock legend so set in stone that it’s almost become a cliché.

Though many have spoken out against the tendency we have to romanticise those who die young – Kurt Cobain’s own daughter, Frances Bean, has repeatedly attacked those who try to utilise the tragic death of her dad to create some kind of ‘tortured artist’ image around themselves – it’s hard to avoid the pull of the myth.

Those who die before they can disappoint us are fascinating, forever perfect artists who can never once release a dud record or say something insulting or out of touch on Twitter. So, in order to pay tribute to those absent legends, here’s a list of the greatest songs released by some of the members of the so-called ’27 Club’ – including some lesser-celebrated artists whose legacies still transfix us today.

1. ‘I Am The Cosmos’ – Chris Bell

The only American album more underrated than Big Star’s#1 Recordis the solo record put out by one of the key songwriters for that transformative group. Chris Bell, the man responsible for the trembling pain at Big Star’s heart, wrote and recordedI Am The Cosmosnot long before he tragically died after losing control of his sports car and crashing into a street lamp.

Though he wasn’t alive to see its release, the title track from that album is one of the most heart-rending singles of recent memory – a staggering reminder of Bell’s singular talents. Listen and weep.

2. ‘Valleys Of Neptune’ – Jimi Hendrix

What is there left to say about Jimi Hendrix? Even calling the man a legend feels insincere.

Hendrix wasn’talegend – he was a collection of legends, a teetering tower of accomplishment and genius that seemed almost destined to topple under its own weight. He was a revolutionary guitar player, an endlessly talented songwriter, and the coolest fucking man on the planet Earth. But why do I have to tell you any of this? You know this stuff already.

3. ‘Whirlwind’ – The Gits

There’s an alternate reality out there where The Gits are the biggest band in the world. Everything about the group pointed to their success, from their guts-and-glory pop harmonies to their ugly, sharp-edged choruses.

A genuinely talented punk group fronted by a genuinely talented powerhouse, Mia Zapata, the band’s career was cut short when Zapata was murdered by a fisherman who wasn’t caught until a full decade after he committed his heinous crime. Given the tragedy, there’s nothing left to do except spin ‘Whirlwind’ on repeat and imagine the career Zapata might have had if a psychopath hadn’t cut her down in her prime.

4. ‘Bloodlust’ –Ink & Dagger

Another tragically underrated musician who died before his time, Sean McCabe was lead singer of the punk band Ink & Dagger. Though they never ‘hit it big’ in any serious sense of the word, the band’s bloodied-kaleidoscope worth of trashy tunage still has the power to impress today, and serves as a sad reminder of what McCabe could have wrought into being if he hadn’t have died at such a tender age.

After all, wrap your head around ‘Bloodlust’ and that growling, goopy chorus and tell me that the world hasn’t been robbed of a punk powerhouse.

5. ‘Lithium’ –Nirvana

What do we talk about when we talk about Kurt Cobain?

The Nirvana songwriter is one of those musicians whose legacy has yet to be properly understood. He redefined what pop was capable of – his music bulged with defianceandcompassion, and he was ever-tuned towards those neglected by society. Nirvana’s discography is a refuge for the weird. It’s the first true musical safe space, a home, an extended hand. Kurt Cobain is responsible for that. Kurt Cobain is responsible for keeping people safe.

6. Every last song onDouble Nickels On The Dime– Minutemen/D. Boon

I tried choosing a favourite Minutemen song. I really did. I listened toDouble Nickels On The Dime, the band’s magnum opus, from beginning to end, because I will take any opportunity to listen to that album from beginning to end. Then, when it was done, I listened to the fucker again, and I’ll tell you this – there is no ‘one great song’ from that record.Double Nickelsisn’t an album, it’s a way of life.

Almost everything I have learnt about the human race, and politics, and oppression, and intelligence, and defiance, I have learnt from that record. And even though D. Boon, one-third of the band responsible for bringing it to life, died at the mere age of 27, don’t mourn him. He wouldn’t put up with anything as useless as that. If you’re ever feeling aimless, or useless, or sad, put onDouble Nickels. That’s what it’s there for. That’s it’s purpose. Your life may be awful, butDouble Nickelsnever will be.

El Camino Cantina, the new home of Tex-Mex and music in The Rocks, launches The 27 Club this Monday June 27, celebrating the music of Jim Morrison. The 27 Club will continue on the 27th of every month, with forthcoming events paying tribute to Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Book your tickets here.

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