The Rolling Stones are an exception. Fame and long life do not match. A new study has found that music stars are over two times more likely than the rest of the population to die early and within a few years of experiencing success.

The researchers got these results after using the biographies of over 1050 North American and European musicians and singers who became famous between 1956 and 1999. All entered the All Time Top 1000 albums, selected in 2000 and ranged from rock and punk to rap, R&B, electronic and new age genres.

The stars' survival once getting fame and success was compared with the expected lifespan of the general population of the same age, sex, ethnicity and nationality, accounted by 2005. 100 stars out of 1050 had died between 1956 and 2005, with an average death age of 42 for North American stars and 35 for European ones.

Over 25 % of the causes of death were due to long term drugs or alcohol abuse. Compared to the general American or British population, rock and pop stars were not only over twice as likely to die early, but this also within five years of getting the fame.

At about 25 years after experiencing success, the risks were gone for the European stars, but the North American still had higher death rates.

"The music business would do well to take the health risks of substance abuse and risk taking behaviors more seriously," wrote the authors, pointing to the fact that this does not affect just the stars' health on a long term, but also that of the public, due to the influence they exert on those people.

"One in 10 children in the UK aspires to become a pop star, and the droves of eager hopefuls applying to take part in series such as the "X Factor," confirm the attractiveness of this career option. Public health consideration needs to be given to preventing music icons promoting health-damaging behavior amongst their emulators and fans," the authors say.

"Stars could do more to actively promote positive health messages, but these need to be backed up by example. Where pop star behavior remains typified by risk taking and substance use, it is unlikely that young people will see any positive health messages they champion as credible," they warn.