Today in History - July 3: The murder theory at the heart of iconic rock star's legacy
July 3
Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones was found motionless at the bottom of his swimming pool on July 3, 1969.
He was pulled to the surface but was declared dead when doctors arrived.
His death at the age of 27 was put down to misadventure.
Jones had been fired from the Rolling Stones less than a month earlier, with the band tiring of his problematic behaviour and poor musicianship.
He was buried three metres deep to deter trophy hunters.
Having alienated himself from the band, only Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts (centre) attended his funeral.
While his cause of death was described by coroners as a misadventure, suspicions fell on builder Frank Thorogood(far right).
The last person to have seen Jones alive, rumours long abounded about Thorogood's involvement.
Exactly two years after Jones' death, The Doors frontman Jim Morrison died on July 3, 1971, also aged 27.
And three weeks later, singer Janis Joplin died at 27.
Despite the remarkable string of rock star deaths at the same age within a two-year span, the ominous connection did not enter the popular zeitgeist at the time.
The so-called "27 Club" did not become commonly known until the death of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain in 1994.
"Now he's gone and joined that stupid club. I told him not to join that stupid club," Cobain's mother said.
Contemporary journalists believed she was referring to the group of rock stars who had died young.
Instead she was likely referring to Cobain's three uncles who had all also committed suicide.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
