Fame can take as many years off a musician's life as occasionally smoking cigarettes, a new study has found, after comparing data between famous singers and less well-known artists.
Stardom can shorten lives by 4.6 years, according to research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Touring, performing, and rock'n'roll lifestyles have previously been found to lower life expectancy for musicians, but the new analysis shows a direct link between fame and mortality for the first time.
Researchers from the University Witten Herdecke based in Witten, Germany, examined data from 648 singers, half of whom were dubbed famous and the other half less famous. Famous stars were selected from the top 2,000 Artists of All Time, with the Beatles and Bob Dylan among them.
The analysis showed that famous singers lived to an average age of 75, while less famous singers lived to 79. The risk associated with fame is comparable to other known health risks, such as smoking, and the study highlights the need for interventions to mitigate its negative effects on longevity.
The research indicates that solo artists face a higher mortality risk due to less emotional and practical support compared to performers in bands. Factors like loss of privacy and intense scrutiny were noted as potential contributors, marking a need for further investigation.
While previous studies have highlighted the risks of drug and alcohol abuse associated with a 'live fast, die young' lifestyle, this study uniquely isolates fame as a significant health risk.
Moreover, the study was predominantly male-focused (83.5% male to 16.5% female), raising questions about gender dynamics in the music industry and related health outcomes.
This research contributes to the ongoing conversation surrounding the pressures faced by public figures and the impact of stardom on individual well-being.
