The study throws a spotlight on some of rock and pop's saddest moments. The careers of both Otis Redding, at 26, and Buddy Holly, 22, were cut short by plane crashes, while Sid Vicious, who lived faster than most, also died younger Keith Richards of a heroin overdose in 1979, aged 21. Elvis, Freddie Mercury and Joey Ramone were more typical, dying in their 40s. Among the honorable exceptions still performing into their 60s are Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and the apparently indestructible Rolling Stones - although Jagger and Richards did lose guitarist Brian Jones, drowned in a swimming pool at the age of 27.
Bellis and his team hope they can tame the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle that leads to so many early deaths. "We come at this from a public health perspective," said Bellis. "We've looked at this as an employment industry just like any other. When you do that you identify what people are at most risk of. Some of the key risks are still associated with alcohol and drug use."
For some though, rock 'n' roll deaths have their place. "There is nothing sadder than an old rock star," said ex-NME journalist and author Steven Wells. "We have far too many middle-aged rock stars hanging around, clogging things up. It is a microcosm of the way the baby boomers have dragged youth culture into the grave with them."
Changing music's booze and drugs culture may seem a faint hope, but - the exploits of Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse notwithstanding - there are signs that it is happening. When the team compared the mortality rate before and after 1980 they found a striking drop. Among more recent stars, just 1.5 percent died within five years of their first hit - before 1980 it was more than twice that rate.
Bellis said the behavior of pop stars mattered. "These people hold a special position to potentially influence the behavior of millions of young people who look up to them."
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