Amy Winehouse
We know that today about the death of the soul star
Amy Winehouse made music history with songs like “Back to Black” and “Rehab”.
© Universal Music
Amy Winehouse died on July 23, 2011 – with over four per thousand alcohol in her blood. What is known today about her death?
Amy Winehouse (1983-2011) died ten years ago, on July 23, 2011, of alcohol poisoning. But how did it happen? As with many stars, the success also left its mark on the Queen of Soul. The downside to fame is often drugs and alcohol. Amy Winehouse also had psychological problems. Her tragic story ended in a far too early death. Amy Winehouse died at the age of just 27 – and is thus part of the macabre Club 27, which also includes music stars such as Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970), Janis Joplin (1943-1970) and Kurt Cobain (1967-1994).
Amy Winehouse’s life got off to a promising start. Her talent was recognized early on. Among other things, she went to the renowned Sylvia Young Theater School, later she studied at the London BRIT School – as did stars like Adele (33) and Jessie J (33). But even then, she allegedly displayed behavior that not everyone liked. Throughout her life she had a mind of her own and only did what she wanted. She changed schools five times and dropped out after just one year.
International success goes hand in hand with crashes
The first record deal was not long in coming: at the age of 19 she signed with Island Records, and in the same year the singer made her breakthrough in her native UK with her debut album “Frank”. The songs on it were largely about her on-off relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Taylor. Their second long player then brought international success: “Back to Black” climbed to number one in the charts in the United Kingdom as well as in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The singer with the beehive hairstyle and dark eyeliner was famous all over the world, and her fans also included later stars such as Adele and Lana Del Rey (36). However, Amy Winehouse’s international fame led to substance abuse and mental health problems. Her ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil, with whom she had an on-off relationship and from 2007 to 2009 also a marriage, had, according to her own statement, introduced her to hard drugs. He also kept her from withdrawal.
One of Winehouse’s biggest hits, “Rehab” (2006), is about her refusal to go to rehab. It was only through the separation from Fielder-Civil that the singer managed to get away from drugs. What remained was the alcohol. In addition, the singer developed bulimia from 2007, in photos Winehouse appeared increasingly thin. She often gave concerts in an unstable condition. In 2008 she took a career break to get back on her feet.
Attempt at comeback fails
First things went uphill again for Winehouse: In 2009 she went to rehab on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, and in 2010 she designed her first own clothing line for Fred Perry. For 2011 the management announced another big tour. The concerts in Brazil went smoothly, but Amy Winehouse apparently experienced a relapse in Europe: She was late for her concert on June 18 in Belgrade and babbled in front of her fans. It should have been her last appearance – the singer’s announced third album was also no longer completed.
On July 23, 2011, Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment. She had 4.16 per mille in her blood and died of alcohol poisoning. Two years later, a second investigation into her death from a formal misconduct was required. But the second autopsy result also confirmed the death from alcohol poisoning. The responsible forensic doctor said in a 2013 court hearing that “two empty vodka bottles” were found on the floor next to Winehouse, as the “Evening Standard” reported at the time. After a long period of abstinence, Winehouse consumed alcohol for three days before her death.
“She specifically said that she didn’t want to die”
Winehouse’s GP Christina Romete said the singer was “generally unwilling” to “follow doctors’ advice but wanted to do things her own way.” The night before her death, she saw the soul star again. “She specifically said that she did not want to die,” Romete said in court. Winehouse started drinking again “out of boredom”. “I asked Amy if she would stop drinking that night and she said she didn’t know.”
Amy Winehouse would have celebrated her 38th birthday on September 14, 2021. Her hits live on even after her death – from “Back to Black” to “Rehab” to “You Know I’m No Good” and “Stronger Than Me”.