Study finds fame shortens musician’s life expectancy by four years

A new study comparing data between famous singers and lesser-known artists found that fame can shorten a musician’s life by as many years as the occasional cigarette.

Celebrities can shorten life span by 4.6 years, according to research published in Science Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Touring, performing and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle have previously been found to reduce musicians’ life expectancy.

However, new analysis shows for the first time a direct link between fame and mortality.

Researchers at Germany’s Wittenheck University examined data on 648 singers, half of whom were known as famous singers and the other half who were less famous. These include solo artists, lead singers and backing vocalists in bands.

Well-known stars are selected from the top 2,000 Artists of All Timea list compiled by ranking website Acclaimed Music. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie and Bruce Springstein round out the site’s top five most famous names.

Academics matched each famous singer with a less famous singer based on characteristics such as gender, nationality and musical genre.

They found that famous singers lived to an average of 75 years, while less famous singers lived to an average of 79 years.

“The increased risk of death associated with fame is comparable to other well-known health risks such as occasional smoking,” the authors wrote.

By identifying fame as a risk factor, the study suggests that becoming a star may be a “tipping point” that leads to greater health problems.

Solo artists also had a higher risk of death than singers who could turn to band members for “emotional and practical support,” the study found.

Loss of privacy, intense public scrutiny and pressure to perform are all thought to be contributing factors, although research suggests there is no conclusive link.

“Being famous is an important factor in longevity and highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate its adverse effects on longevity.”

However, the study had a gender bias, with 83.5% men and 16.5% women.

A “live fast, die young” lifestyle has been the focus of previous research on fame-related mortality risks, including a greater likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse.

The study found that pop stars who became famous between the ages of 2 and 25 were two to three times more likely to die than the general population. A 2007 U.S. study found.

Pop culture references include the 27 Club, a group of rock stars who died at the age of 27, including Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Brian Jones.

2011, A study published in the British Medical Journal It concluded that famous musicians did not have an increased risk of death at the specific age of 27, but that young rock stars had a “generally increased risk of death in their 20s and 30s.”

In recent years, the deaths of young pop artists such as rapper Mac Miller (26), DJ Avicii (28) and One Direction’s Liam Payne (31) have devastated fans and loved ones.