On Saturday afternoon, Amy Winehouse was found dead at her home in Camden. The police have yet to announce an official cause of death, but a couple of sources have speculated that it may have been the result of her taking "a dodgy pill." As the news broke, everyone started talking about how she'd just joined Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and all those other dead musicians in the 27 Club, while fans, reporters, and nosy neighbors gathered at the police cordon outside her house. We went down to gauge the mood.VICE: Hello. Sad day today.
Pamela: Indeed. I love her singing. It’s a huge waste. I'm a little nosy and live nearby, so I came to see what’s going on.Would you say you saw it coming?
No, because you always hope for the best. I knew she was in and out of rehab, but because of her talent I always thought she’d recover.Do you know what the 27 Club is?
You mean how Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and all those other people died at 27? Yeah, I read about it in the Daily Mail.Yeah, that's the one. Do you think it has any significance?
Yes, definitely. Maybe it’s just the age that one reaches their artistic peak. I mean, if you achieve stardom before the age of 20 and go on a rampage, you’ve only got so many years before the party stops. I was in a band when I was 20, but I quit before it got too weird.Hey, what’s up?
Sofia: I can’t believe it! I’m only in London for three weeks—I was hoping to bump into her, but not like this!So Amy meant a lot to you, then?
I just love her music and her lifestyle. She was so fantastic, I love her. She was a part of me. She inspired me to start playing the bass. I’m connected to her.How do you feel about the way the media has treated her?
It’s hideous! She took drugs because of them, I think. They are too hard—they shouldn’t treat people like that. It’s just horrible.What do you make of all this 27 Club stuff?
I think people get to an age where they can’t stand the paparazzi anymore. I’m sorry, I’m too upset to talk to you anymore.That's OK. I hope you feel better soon.Hey! I see you brought flowers. Do you live around here?
Claire: Yeah, I live in Kentish Town just up the road. When I heard the news this morning, I thought the least I could do was come and pay my respects.Did you ever see her around the neighborhood?
My roommate did. He was on his way to work one morning when she walked past him. She said she liked his necklace. That’s a nice memory to have, I guess.How do you think she’ll be remembered?
She was amazing. I grew up listening to so many of her songs. She just means so much to me. I think it’s the same for many people my age—I’m 25. She was an icon for young kids. Before she started abusing drugs and alcohol, that is.What about the way the tabloids treated her?
They did chase her, but she kind of gave them a reason to.Hi, why are you here?
Aslahan: You know, it’s strange, I was getting some food in Shoreditch earlier with my friend and we were talking about her canceled concert in Istanbul, because that’s where we’re from. We kind of expected it to be canceled after what happened in Belgrade, but we were still disappointed.Did you see this coming?
Yeah, we were talking about it, saying, “Eh, she’s probably going to die soon.” But we didn’t expect it to be this soon! When a friend told us the news we got very spooked and left everything to come here and pay our respects.Have you heard about the 27 Club?
No.Well, people like to talk about the fact that Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, and Kurt Cobain all died at 27 just like Amy.
Oh my God! Do you think that’s why she died? Do you think she committed suicide to be with them?No, I don't.Abby (L), Faye (R).Hey guys. Your outfits are glamorous.
Faye: Yeah they’re appropriate, aren’t they? We thought it’d be the best way to pay our respects and celebrate her life. Abby's a singer.
Abby: I'm a singer.
Faye: I don’t think we should get too hung up about her death.
Abby: We are inspired by her.You must have been shocked by her death though, right?
Faye: We just wish someone had helped her earlier.
Abby: The tabloids certainly didn’t help.
Faye: The more publicity she got, the more out of control she got.Yeah.
Abby: As I was saying, I am a singer. And I also hope to be an actress. I’m very influenced by jazz, as was Amy.
Faye: Sing a song! Sing "Back to Black"!
Abby: Do you want me to?Err…
Abby: "We only said goodbye with words."[TV journalist cuts in]: Hey girls, would you mind speaking to us for a minute?Abby: "I died a hundred times."[Camera lights turn on us, I’m pushed away.]Old man: You have such a beautiful voice! Beautiful! You're singing for God. You're singing for the angels. Bless her soul.[video]Hey. You’re obviously upset.
Sonja: She meant a lot to me because I’m a recovering addict. At least she’s out of her misery now. She could have sorted herself out, though. I did.Do you live around here?
Yes, I actually met her a couple of weeks ago. It was around nine in the morning and she was walking around with this fella, completely out of it. I asked her for an autograph and she couldn’t even speak. Her mouth was so dry the only thing she could say was “A’ight." But she did give me the autograph.Well, that's nice.(L) Genevieve, (R) Acar.When did you guys hear the sad news?
Acar: I heard at work and I was shocked to hear people say, “Oh well,” because to me she meant so much more. She’s a Camden artist and I grew up in Camden. Yes, she had her problems, but she was only human. I mean, we met her. She was really cool.
Genevieve: Yeah, we were just sitting outside her house drinking when she came out and sat with us. She didn’t talk much, but she stayed for about ten minutes and she wasn’t rude and she didn't tell us to go away.What about the 27 Club theory?
Acar: I think it’s a kind of curse, or conspiracy. Just think of all the money her company’s going to make now. I mean, they supposedly gave her time to sort herself out. If they wanted this to happen, it would have happened.Your iPhone’s kind of loud. Are you planning to stay here all night?
Genevieve: Yeah, we’re gonna camp here and listen to her music till the morning.Have fun.Hello. Do you feel alright?
Gejo: I don’t know what to say. Her lyrics were something else. I identified with them. Sometimes I thought her songs were the soundtrack of my life. My partner feels the same way. We’re both great fans of Amy.Where is your partner now?
He couldn’t take it. He stayed at home.How do you feel about the way the media has treated her?
I think it’s been disgusting. Even the BBC have done nothing but talk about her addiction, whereas they should focus on her music. We all knew she was troubled, but that’s not for us to judge.(L-R) Jane, Kelly, Spencer, Amber, and Kerris Hammond.Hey guys, care to share a few words?
Amber: Sure.
Spencer: We are from Essex. We came all the way here especially for this.
Jane: Yes. To pay our respects.
Spencer: Because Kerris is a big fan. Kerris and Amber are twins, you know. They’re going to be fashion designers; they make beautiful things. You should put that in your article.OK, I will. So Kerris, what did Amy mean to you?
Kerris: Her music was so inspiring.
Jane: Where were you going to see her live?
Kerris: In London…
Amber: …but she didn't come and it was canceled.
Jane: It’s a shame that she had to go down that road.
Spencer: It just goes to show that drugs is a killer. Drugs is a killer.
Jane: And her poor dad. When he went on the telly in 2008 you could see his desperation trying to bring his daughter back.
Kelly: So sad.What do you think about the 27 Club?
Kelly: You know, we were just talking about psychic connections tonight and whether that’s part of our predestined nature.Did you come to any conclusions?
Spencer: Everything happens for a reason, dunnit?
Kelly: Maybe they just live so intensely that they use their life up more quickly than the rest of us.
Spencer: Eventually God takes them.Thank you guys.ELEKTRA KOTSONI
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Pamela: Indeed. I love her singing. It’s a huge waste. I'm a little nosy and live nearby, so I came to see what’s going on.Would you say you saw it coming?
No, because you always hope for the best. I knew she was in and out of rehab, but because of her talent I always thought she’d recover.Do you know what the 27 Club is?
You mean how Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and all those other people died at 27? Yeah, I read about it in the Daily Mail.Yeah, that's the one. Do you think it has any significance?
Yes, definitely. Maybe it’s just the age that one reaches their artistic peak. I mean, if you achieve stardom before the age of 20 and go on a rampage, you’ve only got so many years before the party stops. I was in a band when I was 20, but I quit before it got too weird.Hey, what’s up?
Sofia: I can’t believe it! I’m only in London for three weeks—I was hoping to bump into her, but not like this!So Amy meant a lot to you, then?
I just love her music and her lifestyle. She was so fantastic, I love her. She was a part of me. She inspired me to start playing the bass. I’m connected to her.How do you feel about the way the media has treated her?
It’s hideous! She took drugs because of them, I think. They are too hard—they shouldn’t treat people like that. It’s just horrible.What do you make of all this 27 Club stuff?
I think people get to an age where they can’t stand the paparazzi anymore. I’m sorry, I’m too upset to talk to you anymore.
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Claire: Yeah, I live in Kentish Town just up the road. When I heard the news this morning, I thought the least I could do was come and pay my respects.Did you ever see her around the neighborhood?
My roommate did. He was on his way to work one morning when she walked past him. She said she liked his necklace. That’s a nice memory to have, I guess.How do you think she’ll be remembered?
She was amazing. I grew up listening to so many of her songs. She just means so much to me. I think it’s the same for many people my age—I’m 25. She was an icon for young kids. Before she started abusing drugs and alcohol, that is.What about the way the tabloids treated her?
They did chase her, but she kind of gave them a reason to.Hi, why are you here?
Aslahan: You know, it’s strange, I was getting some food in Shoreditch earlier with my friend and we were talking about her canceled concert in Istanbul, because that’s where we’re from. We kind of expected it to be canceled after what happened in Belgrade, but we were still disappointed.Did you see this coming?
Yeah, we were talking about it, saying, “Eh, she’s probably going to die soon.” But we didn’t expect it to be this soon! When a friend told us the news we got very spooked and left everything to come here and pay our respects.Have you heard about the 27 Club?
No.
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Oh my God! Do you think that’s why she died? Do you think she committed suicide to be with them?No, I don't.Abby (L), Faye (R).Hey guys. Your outfits are glamorous.
Faye: Yeah they’re appropriate, aren’t they? We thought it’d be the best way to pay our respects and celebrate her life. Abby's a singer.
Abby: I'm a singer.
Faye: I don’t think we should get too hung up about her death.
Abby: We are inspired by her.You must have been shocked by her death though, right?
Faye: We just wish someone had helped her earlier.
Abby: The tabloids certainly didn’t help.
Faye: The more publicity she got, the more out of control she got.Yeah.
Abby: As I was saying, I am a singer. And I also hope to be an actress. I’m very influenced by jazz, as was Amy.
Faye: Sing a song! Sing "Back to Black"!
Abby: Do you want me to?Err…
Abby: "We only said goodbye with words."[TV journalist cuts in]: Hey girls, would you mind speaking to us for a minute?Abby: "I died a hundred times."[Camera lights turn on us, I’m pushed away.]Old man: You have such a beautiful voice! Beautiful! You're singing for God. You're singing for the angels. Bless her soul.[video]Hey. You’re obviously upset.
Sonja: She meant a lot to me because I’m a recovering addict. At least she’s out of her misery now. She could have sorted herself out, though. I did.
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Yes, I actually met her a couple of weeks ago. It was around nine in the morning and she was walking around with this fella, completely out of it. I asked her for an autograph and she couldn’t even speak. Her mouth was so dry the only thing she could say was “A’ight." But she did give me the autograph.Well, that's nice.(L) Genevieve, (R) Acar.When did you guys hear the sad news?
Acar: I heard at work and I was shocked to hear people say, “Oh well,” because to me she meant so much more. She’s a Camden artist and I grew up in Camden. Yes, she had her problems, but she was only human. I mean, we met her. She was really cool.
Genevieve: Yeah, we were just sitting outside her house drinking when she came out and sat with us. She didn’t talk much, but she stayed for about ten minutes and she wasn’t rude and she didn't tell us to go away.What about the 27 Club theory?
Acar: I think it’s a kind of curse, or conspiracy. Just think of all the money her company’s going to make now. I mean, they supposedly gave her time to sort herself out. If they wanted this to happen, it would have happened.Your iPhone’s kind of loud. Are you planning to stay here all night?
Genevieve: Yeah, we’re gonna camp here and listen to her music till the morning.Have fun.Hello. Do you feel alright?
Gejo: I don’t know what to say. Her lyrics were something else. I identified with them. Sometimes I thought her songs were the soundtrack of my life. My partner feels the same way. We’re both great fans of Amy.
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He couldn’t take it. He stayed at home.How do you feel about the way the media has treated her?
I think it’s been disgusting. Even the BBC have done nothing but talk about her addiction, whereas they should focus on her music. We all knew she was troubled, but that’s not for us to judge.(L-R) Jane, Kelly, Spencer, Amber, and Kerris Hammond.Hey guys, care to share a few words?
Amber: Sure.
Spencer: We are from Essex. We came all the way here especially for this.
Jane: Yes. To pay our respects.
Spencer: Because Kerris is a big fan. Kerris and Amber are twins, you know. They’re going to be fashion designers; they make beautiful things. You should put that in your article.OK, I will. So Kerris, what did Amy mean to you?
Kerris: Her music was so inspiring.
Jane: Where were you going to see her live?
Kerris: In London…
Amber: …but she didn't come and it was canceled.
Jane: It’s a shame that she had to go down that road.
Spencer: It just goes to show that drugs is a killer. Drugs is a killer.
Jane: And her poor dad. When he went on the telly in 2008 you could see his desperation trying to bring his daughter back.
Kelly: So sad.What do you think about the 27 Club?
Kelly: You know, we were just talking about psychic connections tonight and whether that’s part of our predestined nature.Did you come to any conclusions?
Spencer: Everything happens for a reason, dunnit?
Kelly: Maybe they just live so intensely that they use their life up more quickly than the rest of us.
Spencer: Eventually God takes them.
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