Life in the fast lane

Just in case you couldn't have predicted it yourself, a British team of epidemiologists has done the maths and worked out the rock stars have lower life expectancies than the general population.

Even if they don't kill themselves (Kurt Cobain [Nirvana], Michael Hutchence [INXS]) or die of a drug overdose (Shannon Hoon [Blind Melon], Janis Joplin), faded stars also have shorter life spans overall, owing to the strain that drinking, drugs and the general party lifestyle place on their health.

Alcohol misuse caused the most health problems.