27 Club Last Photos: Haunting Final Images of Icons

The 27 Club is a somber pattern etched across music history. At just 27 years old, some of the most influential artists left behind not only groundbreaking work, but also the question of how far they would go. Their final photographs capture them in ordinary settings, quiet rooms, or with friends, moments no one knew would be their last.

These images reveal the fragile humanity behind the fame, showing artists with friends and family, still alive in ways their legends often overshadow. They are not meant to sensationalize tragedy, but to offer a glimpse of people at their most vulnerable. Let’s dive into the 27 last known photos of members of the 27 Club.

1. Kurt Cobain

Two men with long hair stand indoors under bright lights. The man on the left has straight brown hair and wears a brown shirt and glasses, while the man on the right has blond hair and wears a graphic t-shirt and a dark jacket. — userdeleted

This photo was taken just days before his death. He carried some serious weight in his eyes.

2. Jimi Hendrix

A man with an afro hairstyle sits at an outdoor table set for tea, holding an electric guitar vertically. The table has a floral teapot, cups, and saucers, and is surrounded by lush green plants. — zero_portrait

Jimi had a photo shoot where this photo was taken just days before he died. He’s pictured here with his favorite guitar, Black Betty.

3. Janis Joplin

A woman in a short dress sits on a couch in a dimly lit room, holding a bottle and looking off to the side. Exposed bulbs and dressing room items are visible on a table and shelf beside her. — kooneecheewah

On the day this photo was taken, Joplin didn’t show up to a recording session. When her producer asked a friend to check on her, she was found deceased in her hotel room.

4. Jim Morrison

A man with long dark hair, wearing a pink shirt and a blue sweater draped over his shoulders, stands in front of a blue window. A child peeks out through the window behind him, partially hidden by curtains. — roanakecroatan

This photo was taken just days before Jim Morrison passed.

5. Brian Jones

A person stands facing forward, hands pressed together in front of their chest. They wear a long, shiny robe with a fur-lined collar over light pants and shoes. The image is black and white with a plain background. — garbegeman

He looks so happy in this photo. It was taken just a few days before his death.

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6. Amy Winehouse

A woman with dark, beehive-style hair and visible tattoos walks on a sidewalk next to parked cars. She wears a short-sleeved, collared shirt and rolled-up jeans, holding sunglasses in one hand. — userdeleted

This is the last known image taken of Amy Winehouse, taken just 2 days before her untimely death.

7. Robert Johnson

Black and white photo of a man holding a guitar, looking directly at the camera, with a cigarette in his mouth. The image is closely cropped, focusing on his face and hand on the guitar's neck. — goku18081999

One of the only 2 photos taken of Robert Leroy Johnson. This blues artist is still considered one of the most famous singers in the history of blues.

8. Alan Wilson

A young person with medium-length dark hair and glasses wears a red patterned shirt and sits indoors in front of wooden furniture and a framed picture. — j3434

Canned Heat lost an incredible vocalist the day this photo was taken.

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9. Chris Bell

A young man with curly hair and a beard wears a patterned sweater under a jacket. He is sitting with his hands resting in front of him, looking at the camera. The photo is black and white. — gregornot

This is one of the last photos of the songwriter/guitarist Chris Bell. He was one of the most influential pop legends of the ’70s.

10. Richey Edwards

A young man with short hair and a striped shirt looks into the camera; behind him is a blurred, colorful background with bright lights and reflections. — userdeleted

One of Richey Edwards’ last photos, taken just days before his passing.

11. Kristen Pfaff

A young woman with long, dark hair, wearing a light-colored, button-up shirt, plays an electric bass guitar. She looks down at the instrument, focused on her fingers, in a black-and-white photo. — shannon_waves

This famous bassist from the band “Janitor Joe” passed away from an overdose.

12. Ronald McKernan

Black and white photo of a man with a goatee wearing a beanie, a leather jacket with patches, and an MIT t-shirt, standing outdoors and looking at the camera.

This is one of the last photos of “Pigpen,” a founding member of the Grateful Dead. His health had been declining rapidly, and just a few months later, he was gone.

13. D. Boon

A man with a shaved head and goatee plays an electric guitar. He wears a sleeveless shirt with handwritten text reading “FIGHT USING YOUR [censored],” and “PEOPLE'S VICTORY EL SALVADOR.” A microphone is visible. — puddingbiafra

This photo was taken just days before D. Boon’s tragic van accident in 1985.

14. Mia Zapata

A young person with light hair, wearing a white t-shirt and dark pants, sits on the floor indoors, resting their hand on their chin and smiling slightly. There are cups and a curtain in the background. — eliaais

This singer/songwriter from The Gits unfortunately met a terrible and untimely death at age 27 in 1993.

15. Freaky Tah

Four men pose together in front of a worn, textured wall. They wear casual, urban-style clothing, including hoodies, sunglasses, hats, and jewelry, and strike expressive, confident poses in a black and white photo. — userdeleted

This is the last photo of the rap group The Lost Boyz with their group member Freaky Tah.

16. Jacob Miller

A group of six men stands and sits casually outside a storefront with metal gates in a sunny urban street. One man leans on a red car, while others pose and chat near the sidewalk. Signs and shops are visible in the background. — sasquatchbrokers

This is the last photo of Jacob Miller with his reggae group Inner Circle.

17. Fat Pat

A Black man with a close-cropped haircut poses in a studio, wearing a white shirt and necklace. He looks confidently at the camera with one knee raised and one arm resting on his knee. The image is in black and white. — 123matlock

Patrick Lamark Hawkins died on February 3, 1998.

18. Jesse Belvin

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Belvin was stolen from us by a head-on collision in 1960.

19. Pete de Freitas

A young man with wavy, light-colored hair looks slightly past the camera. He has a faint stubble and wears a plain light t-shirt. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting. The photo is in black and white. — birdburnett

This is the last known image of Pete, drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen. He was killed in a motorcycle crash in 1989, at the height of the band’s fame.

20. Linda Jones

A smiling woman with styled hair and hoop earrings, wearing a light-colored jacket, photographed in black and white against a dark background. — picryl

This soul singer passed away from complications of diabetes in 1972, shortly after a performance. Her voice remains one of the most underrated in soul music.

21. Rudy Lewis

A vintage newspaper clipping with a photo of seven smiling people gathered together. The headline reads, "Drifters Singer Suffers Fatal Heart Attack," and the article discusses the death of singer Rudy Lewis. — vieilles_annonces

Lead vocalist of The Drifters, Rudy Lewis, died the night before a recording session. This candid backstage photo was taken just hours earlier.

22. Evangelina Sobredo (Cecilia)

Black and white portrait of a young woman with long, straight dark hair, parted in the middle, looking slightly to the right and smiling softly. The background is plain and light-colored. — wikimediacommons

This Spanish singer-songwriter died in a tragic car crash in 1976. This photo was taken on tour, showing her surrounded by fans.

23. Leslie Harvey

A musician with long hair and a mustache plays an electric guitar on stage next to a microphone, wearing a sleeveless shirt and a vest. — wikimediacommons

The Stone the Crows guitarist died after being electrocuted on stage in 1972. This candid shot was taken just minutes before soundcheck that day.

24. Richard Turner

A person with medium-length brown hair looks into the distance outdoors, with a blue sky and a few clouds in the background. The sunlight softly illuminates their face from the side. — ,anchesterjazzfestival

The trumpeter from the band Friendly Fires died of a heart attack while swimming.

25. Valentin Elizalde

A young man in a dark shirt and black cowboy hat smiles with his mouth slightly open, looking directly at the camera against a plain background. — wikimediacommons

A rising star in Mexican regional music, Elizalde was killed in a targeted shooting. This was taken minutes before he took the stage for the final time.

26. Pete Ham

A person with long hair sits on a chair, holding an acoustic guitar and a cigarette, gazing towards the camera. There is a stack of audio equipment in the background. The photo is black and white. — baran124/VIA Reddit.com

Pete Ham was a gifted Welsh singer and guitarist for the iconic 1970s band Badfinger. He tragically took his own life in 1975, joining the infamous “27 Club.”

27. Mac Miller

A person with tattoos on their fingers and hand covers part of their face with their hand, revealing one eye looking through their fingers. The background is blurred and neutral in color. — mackyrains/VIA Reddit.com

Although Mac Miller passed away at 26, he is still considered part of the “27 Club” by many. This is the last photo taken of him, just days before his passing.

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