A recent study has revealed a correlation between musical stardom and a shortened lifespan, suggesting that famous musicians may live nearly five years less than their less-recognized peers.
The research, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analysed 648 musicians.
The cohort was evenly split between individuals classified as “famous” and those considered “less famous” and included a range of roles from solo artistes and lead singers to back-up vocalists.
The famous stars were selected from the top 2,000 Artists of All Time, a list collated by the ranking website Acclaimed Music.
To ensure a fair comparison, researchers from the University of Witten Herdecke based in Witten, Germany, meticulously paired each star with a less famous counterpart who matched them in age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, and music genre.
The study’s sample was predominantly composed of white male rock artistes from the United States, with 19% being black and 16.5% female.
All participants were born between 1910 and 1975, and more than half performed as part of bands.
The findings were striking. Musicians who achieved fame faced a 33% higher mortality risk. The researchers concluded that stardom can shorten lives by 4.6 years. They found that on average, famous musicians lived to 75 years old, compared to 79 years for their less famous counterparts.
The research also highlighted the peril of going it alone; solo artistes were found to carry a higher mortality risk than those affiliated with a band.
The study suggested that bandmates may provide a crucial buffer through “emotional and practical support”.
Michael Dufner, the senior author, explained that the intense pressures of stardom are likely a major contributing factor.
He cited endless public scrutiny, a loss of privacy, the constant pressure to perform, and the normalisation of drink and drug abuse within the industry as key drivers of the increased risk.
Dufner cautioned that more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms that lead famous singers to an early grave.
He also offered clear advice for those in the profession. To counter the unhealthy effects of touring — such as easy access to drugs and feelings of isolation — he recommended that musicians make a conscious effort to regularly step back from the spotlight.
“A good measure against these could be to take a step back regularly, meet family, old friends, and critically evaluate one’s lifestyle,” he said.
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