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Amy Winehouse dead at 27.

The singer was found at her London home.

By Staff blogger Published 23 July 2011 19:59

Amy Winehouse has died aged 27, police have confirmed.

The singer was found by paramedics at her home in Camden, north London. The cause of death is as yet unexplained.

Winehouse had a short but acclaimed musical career. She dropped out of school aged 16 and signed with Island Records within two years. Her first album, 2003's Frank, was nominated for the Mercury Music prize, and her second, Back to Black, won it.

In 2007, she married Blake Fielder-Civil - their earlier break-up had inspired Back to Black - but the marriage collapsed, its end attributed to their drug-taking. A series of arrests followed, and in 2008 she was filmed taking crack cocaine and ecstasy. The story soon appeared in The Sun newspaper.

Of her musical talent, Clive James once said: "A gift on that scale is not possessed by its owner, but does all the possessing." He wrote in 2008:

Then there's Amy Winehouse, whose best songs really are works of art, no question. And she can actually sing them to you, in a way you would rather remember than forget. And yet she looks as if she can't wait until it's all over.

Tags: music

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11 comments

Sun, 2011-07-24 13:08 — Nathaniel Myers (not verified)

Yesterday was one of the saddest days of my life. Amy's music changed my life, Frank was the best album of the past decade, and she is up there with some of the best of all time.

I will miss her so much, and I'll miss not being able to hope that she will get better and release a Frank 2.

Sun, 2011-07-24 13:39 — Lox (not verified)

What, Swatandra? The fans and media are to blame for Amy Winehouse's death? Sorry, but that sounds like utter bollocks. She made bad choices, and paid the price. I'm not unsympathetic-apart from being a great singer and songwriter, from what I saw of her she seemed to be smart, funny, and a pretty decent person. It's sad for her fans and a tragedy for her family and friends.
I think she probably knew her problems better than you-but perhaps you have trouble getting your head round that because she didn't behave the way that you think she should have.

Sat, 2011-07-23 20:19 — gerry (not verified)

Another pop star with a barely disguised 100% death wish getting what she wanted - just like Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison and Cobain who also all died age 27.

Why are so many genuinely talented pop musicians so totally screwed up as human beings?

Sat, 2011-07-23 21:07 — Lou (not verified)

Another member of 'the 27 club' - so sad.

We say why do all the very talented pop musicians screw up so badly but we don't really have a yard stick with which to make such a statement.

Who knows how many other young, maybe even 27 years young, supremely talented people die but because they weren't in the music field or public eye, their genius isn't laid bare for all to see and muse upon?

The long battle with demons, the dark night of the soul isn't reserved for the pop star alone, it's the preserve of the human psyche and can touch any one of us.

Sat, 2011-07-23 23:16 — trev1959ad

Lou,how very right you are,I spent years living through my own 'dark night of the soul'. It is truly an intrinsic part of our basic common humanity. RIP Amy.

Tue, 2011-07-26 12:56 — maxinemf

I personally have more sympathy for the victims of the Norway massacre than AW. Her drug and alcohol addiction was self inflicted. She had access to the finest medical treatment that money could buy and yet she chose the path of self destruction for herself and family. Make no mistake there is nothing glamorous about the way she died. For all her fame and fortune; she died alone without friends and family; and her body was not discovered for six hours. As for AW being a genius, I refuse to subscribe to all the hype. Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder. They are the true geniuses.!!!

Sun, 2011-07-24 02:12 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

Well said Lou.

Mon, 2011-07-25 12:14 — JIMIXY

BACK TO BLACK WAS BEATEN BY THE KLAXONS IN 2007, SHODDY JOURNALISM

Mon, 2011-07-25 12:15 — JIMIXY

In the mercury music prize (sorry for the caps)

Sun, 2011-07-24 09:15 — Mike S (not verified)

Yes, very well said Lou.

Sun, 2011-07-24 11:00 — swatantra

Sad. She was so talented. Amy's father warned it was bound to happen. These celebs flout the Law and are not put away in time and made to face up to their problems. And their fans condone their behaviour and lifestyles and want to emulate them. The fans and Media are also to blame for this tragedy.