Why oh why do rock stars die young?

[buckthesystem]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/04/rock_star_survey/

A department of the bleedin' obvious special report

By Lester Haines

Liverpool John Moores University has evidently opened its own department of the bleedin' obvious by revealing that rock and pop stars often die prematurely because of their penchant for a fast-track lifestyle fuelled by drugs and booze, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The uni's study of 1,050 US and European artists discovered they are twice as likely to die early than the rest of the population. Specifically, "100 stars died between 1956 and 2005 with US stars dying at 42 on average and those from Europe at 35"*. Drink and narcotics accounted for a quarter of all celebrity clog-poppings.

The Telegraph cites some famous examples of substance-driven oblivion, including Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. Tupac Shakur also merits a mention for not living long enough to drink and drug himself into the grave, since he was shot four times at the tender age of 25.

NME's news editor Paul Stokes explained: "The problem is that rock stars often spend the first years of their careers struggling to get by and then get everything really quickly. There is no control mechanism and with a culture which often lauds excessive behaviour that spells problems."

Researchers said their findings "should be looked at seriously by the music industry". The music industry responded with a BPI statement declaring: "A very small minority do encounter problems, which due to their fame and success are played out in the media and given a greater prominence than those of young people in other walks of life. Record labels always seek to support the minority of artists who experience difficulties of this kind."

The latest talent to succumb to "excessive behaviour" is, of course, Amy Winehouse - hardly a shining example for the "one in 10 children in the UK aspiring to be a pop star", according to the researchers.

Head researcher, professor Mark Bellis, commented: "Public health consideration needs to be given to preventing music icons promoting health-damaging behaviour among their emulators and fans. Stars could do more to actively promote positive health messages, but these need to be backed up by example."

[nebula]

And these are the people we (particularly the youth) look up to and idolize.

[Scarletprayers]

They had to do a study to find this out???????????

[Afal]

They had to do a study to find this out???????????

No they didn't have to do a study to find this out as it was so obvious. However, they chose to do the study to keep somebody somewhere in employment!!!

[AnotherTraveler]

While getting shot 4 times can shorten or end your life, as well as abusing drugs and booze, often what happens is God measures the value that a person's life has relating to the will of God, and if someone is opposing God, and encouraging others into sin and death, they can certainly shorten their own lifespans by such behaviour.

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Prov 10:27 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Prov 9:10-11 (KJV)

[Guest yod]

How many people are abusing drugs that don't die as young? Prescription drug dependance is higher than ever with advertisements every 15 minutes on national TV. We are an addicted society.

In my opinion, "stars" are dying from an extreme lifestyle. It will wear you out to wake up in a different time zone every day and then get in a car to drive 10 hours and THEN perform like you just woke up after 8 hours of sleep.

There is the constant idolization of fans which causes them to be more isolated than is healthy...and they do more drugs to pass the time.

I think they die young because "we" kill them. They aren't spiritually or physically mature enough to overcome the world's adoration and attention.

just an opinion, though...