Study: Solo stars at higher death risk than bands

Rock 'n' roll may never die -- but it's a hazardous occupation.

A new study confirms that rock and pop musicians die prematurely more often than the general population, and an early death is twice as likely for solo musicians as for members of bands.

Researchers from Liverpool John Moores University studied 1,489 rock and pop stars who became famous between 1956 and 2009 and found they suffered "higher levels of mortality than demographically matched individuals in the general population." The studies found that out of that pool of performers 137, or 9.2 percent, died during the five-decade period. Nearly 39 percent of those deaths were caused by factors related to violence or alcohol and drug intake.

Researchers pointed out that "adverse childhood experiences" could influence drug and alcohol abuse and lead to premature death in other studies. The study noted that wealth and fame can't always change or protect artists from the lingering impact of childhood.

"They may have exactly the same risk factors as everyone else. Their wealth and fame may give them more access to drugs and alcohol but not be the source of their problems," said Bellis.

Another interesting finding centers on solo acts versus members of bands. In North America, 23 percent of solo performers died, versus 10 percent of band-only stars, according to the research.

Lead researcher Mark Bellis speculates that could be because bands provide peer support at stressful times. "You often hear band members talking in interviews about how they provide each other with peer support," and that may make a difference, Bellis said, reports USA Today. The study called for future exploration of "whether bands provide a mutual-support mechanism that offers protective health effects."

In other findings, American stars are more likely to die prematurely than British ones.

The research was published Thursday in online journal BMJ Open.