[conductr]

That’s probably a factor in some way but my intuition is it’s the lifestyle itself that’s the dominant risk.

The control point is comparing to less famous musicians. I’d assume many of which have similar personality traits and desire for fame. But when it doesn’t materialize, their personality traits arent causing them to die early.

The lifestyle of constantly partying, drugs, sex, little consequences, money, excess, etc. Versus the less famous musician who has to function like an adult, stresses over their mortgage, etc. Is sure to have a variance with respect to mortality.

[wavemode]

Interestingly, some months ago there was a frontpage HN post, written by Charli xcx of all people: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46016613

Goes into a lot of the realities of the surreal lifestyle

[thijson]

I agree with this. Tony Hsieh (founder of Zappos) also ended up dead because of the lifestyle enabled by his wealth, and he wasn't a famous musician. The wealth also led to lots of hangers on around him that didn't care about his well being, just personally benefiting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW87nhKZ8A0

[reactordev]

Proof that money doesn’t solve your problems. Only business problems ;)

If you have personal problems, it will follow you no matter where you go or how much money you have. It’s attached to you.

[GuB-42]

> The lifestyle of constantly partying, drugs, sex, little consequences, money, excess, etc.

I don't know how much truth there is to it, some musicians are famous for that, but touring is far from easy, musicians move a lot and have to give their best every time when they are on stage. Especially singers, as their body is their instrument, they can't really afford to be out of shape. I am sure that after big public events like concerts, the thing musicians really want is to get done with it and go to sleep, not party all night. There may be drugs involved, but I'd expect it to be more about enhancing performance than recreation.

And that would apply to all professional musicians, famous or not. For most, I'd say what is excessive is their job, not the life of partying famous people are said to have.

[cortesoft]

> The control point is comparing to less famous musicians.

Maybe, although an alternative explanation would be that those musicians with the strongest traits are the ones that succeed, and that same strength of those traits also leads to early mortality.

[tvnap]

On the other other hand, success in music is at least partly luck.[1] So there should be some not-quite-successful musicians who are similar in most respects but actual success.

[1] https://www.princeton.edu/~mjs3/salganik_dodds_watts06_full....

[conductr]

Anything is possible. But wouldn’t that kind of also mean those traits are necessary for talent? For recognition? For art that is appreciated?

I don’t know if I buy it myself as being a big contributing factor. The lifestyles of famous people are well known to be indulgent. So that seems like a more direct explanation. But anything is possible