Being a famous singer raises risk of early death, researchers say

Lead singers in bands fare better than solo artists, but fame – rather than lifestyle or job itself – seems to be major factor

For those who hanker for the limelight, be careful what you wish for: shooting to stardom as a lead singer really does raise the risk of an early death, researchers say.

Their analysis of singers from Europe and the US found that those who rose to fame died on average nearly five years sooner than less well-known singers, suggesting fame itself, rather than the lifestyle and demands of the job, was a major driver.

Solo singers who found fame fared worse than lead singers in prominent bands, the analysis showed, presumably because they were more exposed, faced more pressure and had less emotional support through the ups and downs of rock star life.

“It’s worrying because it indicates that famous musicians are indeed at risk of a premature death,” said Michael Dufner, a professor of personality, psychology and diagnostics at Witten/Herdecke University in Germany and senior author of the study. On average, their lives were 4.6 years shorter, he said.