Back to This Week in Music History: September 30 - October 6

October 4, 1970: Janis Joplin Died

Evening Standard, Hulton Archive

Hard drinking and hard drugging singer Janis Joplin was found dead at the Landmark Hotel Hollywood after an accidental heroin overdose. Joplin, the voice behind #1 hit "Me And Bobby McGee," died at age 27. It's a particularly conspicuous number because musical peers like Rolling Stones' Brian Jones, Jimi Henrix, The Doors' Jim Morrison, and Canned Heat's Alan Wilson would all die within a two year period between 1969-71 -- at age 27.