“It’ s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll.” Any successful rocker will tell you that it takes years of practice, hard work, and maybe even some luck if you want to reach the top of the music charts. Surprisingly, some of those famed rockers also found themselves interested in other subjects besides music. Some rockers were college graduates before they found fame, and others went back to school after their fame to pursue degrees in engineering, literature, science, and other fields. Here is a list of ten popular rock musicians that also have impressive college degrees.

Related: Ten Famous and (Sometimes) Strange Musical Alter Egos

10 Tom Scholz

Tom Scholz is the founder and only remaining original member of the American rock band Boston. The multi-talented musician can play the guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums, but the rocker is also an MIT-trained engineer. Scholz earned his master’s degree at MIT, and after that, he went on to work for Polaroid as a product design engineer. While working for the company, he built a personal recording studio in the basement of his apartment.

During this time, Scholz started writing and producing music, which ultimately led to the creation of Boston. Scholz said that he had no interest in rock and roll music when first attending MIT, but bands such as the Yardbirds and Kinks opened his mind to the genre of music. If he had never earned his degree at MIT, we probably wouldn’t have hits like “More Than a Feeling” and “Peace of Mind.”^[1]

9 Gregg Graffin

In 1980, Gregg Graffin co-founded the punk rock band Bad Religion. He is the lead vocalist and the only constant member of the band that is known for its politically charged lyrics. Graffin also embarked on a solo career in 1997 and released three solo albums. He isn’t just a hardcore rocker, though; he is also an evolutionary biologist and has lectured several courses on the subject.

Graffin earned his master’s degree in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He then continued his studies at Cornell University and earned a Ph.D. in zoology. Graffin briefly returned to both universities for short teaching stints in natural science courses. He has also published several books about science and religion.^[2]

8 Rivers Cuomo

Rivers Cuomo is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Weezer. The American rock band produced hits such as “Say It Ain’t So,” “Buddy Holly,” and “Island in the Sun.” Cuomo wanted to be more than just a musician after getting bored on tour, so he enrolled at Harvard after the band’s debut album was released. He eventually dropped out, but he decided to return to the Ivy League school after their album Make Believe. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in English in 2006.^[3]

7 Jeff Schroeder

Jeff Schroeder rocked out with the Smashing Pumpkins from 2007 to 2023. He is the former guitarist of the alternative rock band and the third-longest-serving member of the band. He was also a member of the Violet Burning and the Lassie Foundation bands.

Before joining the Smashing Pumpkins, Schroeder worked to earn a Ph.D. in comparative literature at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and his research focused on East Asian and American literature. The diverse education provided him with a better understanding of cultural and literary traditions that helped influence the way he looked at music.^[4]

6 James Williamson

In the 1970s, James Williamson started touring with rock band The Stooges as their guitarist. Williamson co-wrote many of the band’s songs during this time with the lead singer, Iggy Pop. The Stooges disbanded in 1974 after the members wanted to chase new opportunities. Williamson would take this opportunity to pursue a higher education degree.

After The Stooges split, he continued to work with Pop as a songwriter and producer. Williamson continued this work for about a year before he decided to leave the music business entirely after disagreements with Pop, other musicians, and others in the industry. He immediately enrolled at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and earned an electrical engineering degree.

He then moved to Silicon Valley and began designing microchips for 15 years before becoming Sony’s vice president of technical standards. When Willaimson retired from Sony, he found himself back on stage playing the guitar after receiving a surprising call from Iggy Pop asking to join him on tour.^[5]

5 Tom Morello

One of the most popular metal rock bands of the 1990s was Rage Against the Machine, which was founded by Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello. Morello is best known for his creative guitar playing and strong political views. He was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 as a member of Rage Against the Machine.

Morello was also a member of the bands Audioslave, Prophets of Rage, and Lock Up. He was even once a touring member of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. Before becoming a famous rocker, Morello graduated from the prestigious Harvard University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. His degree helped shape his political views and the music that he wrote.^[6]

4 Art Garfunkel

One half of the folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel was singer Art Garfunkel. The pair released hit songs such as “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “The Boxer.” The pair eventually split, but Garfunkel saw success in a solo career with one top 10 hit, three top 20 hits, and six top 40 hits. He and Simon were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

However, before his rock fame began, Garfunkel initially attended Columbia University in New York, where he majored in architecture. In 1965, he earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from the same university, followed by a master’s degree in mathematics education. Surprisingly, he completed these tough tasks during the height of Simon & Garfunkel’s career.^[7]

3 Milo Aukerman

Milo Aukerman joined the band Descendents after the release of their first single, but he only stayed with the band until the release of their first album, Milo Goes to College. He then decided to pursue a degree in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego. After leaving college, he would find himself going back and forth between the band and biochemistry.

He rejoined the Descendents several times over the next few years after college, but he made the choice to permanently leave again after their tour finished in 1987. He didn’t decide to officially rejoin the band again until 1995. After the next album’s tour, he returned to his career in molecular biology. He would rejoin the band intermittently, but he made the decision to leave his career in 2016, citing burnout, and would rejoin the band full-time as a singer and songwriter.^[8]

2 Dexter Holland

Dexter Holland was the co-founder, singer, and songwriter for the popular punk-rock band the Offspring. Before the band found success, Holland was looking to be a scholar of mathematics. He graduated from high school as class valedictorian, and he attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in molecular biology.
He suspended his studies, though, after the Offspring found success. They are still known as one of the most popular punk bands of the 1990s, with more than 40 million records sold from their 10 studio albums. Their album Smash gained the band mainstream success and went six times multi-platinum, and their songs have been used in several movies and TV shows. Holland eventually resumed his studies and earned a Ph.D. in molecular biology in 2017.^[9]

1 Brian May

Brian May is most known for being the co-founder and lead guitarist for the universally-known band Queen, but he is also a record producer, animal rights activist, and astrophysicist. In 1968, May graduated from Imperial College London with a bachelor’s degree in physics. He stepped away from completing his Ph.D. to pursue his music career, which would turn out to be a very good decision. With hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions,” the band was sure to find fame.

Queen had 53 Top 40 singles, and six of them reached the number 1 spot. The band was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004, and awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

May eventually returned to school and completed his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007. He has authored books on astronomy, was appointed chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University for about five years, and went on to collaborate with other astrophysicists to analyze data from NASA. May has truly lived a life full of rock and science.^[10]

Just because a band or artist doesn’t actually exist in real life doesn’t mean they can’t make great music. Films are full of fictional musicians whose songs are sometimes so catchy that they reach the actual charts. Really, this isn’t all that surprising, considering these songs are often penned by successful musicians.

To qualify for this list, not only do the songs have to be written specifically for a movie, but they can’t be performed in the film by someone who has a high-profile career as a musician in real life. So you won’t find “Shallow” from A Star is Born (2018) or “The Climb” from Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) on this list.

Related: Top Ten Musical Moments from Musical TV Shows

10 “Through the Trees” by Low Shoulder

In Jennifer’s Body (2009), the troubles of the titular character (played by Megan Fox) start when the indie rock band Low Shoulder takes her into the woods and sacrifices her to Satan. The ritual turns Jennifer into a demonic man-eater, but it gives Low Shoulder the success they were chasing, launching their song “Through the Trees” into the limelight.

Amy Driscoll-Dunning—head of Fox Searchlight at the time—suggested Test Your Reflex (now known as Wildling) as a band that could write a song that sounded like Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars.” The band’s frontman, Ryan Levine, was given the song’s title and first few lyrics, which were written by the film’s writer, Diablo Cody. Levine added the rest of the lyrics and the riff, with keyboardist Andrew Ampaya adding the piano track and strings.

In the film, Adam Brody plays Low Shoulder’s evil frontman, Nikolai, and he lip-synced to Levine’s vocals. Levine also appears in the film, though, as Low Shoulder’s guitarist, and his bandmate Sal Cortez plays the drummer. The bassist and keyboardist are played by actors Juan Riedinger and Colin Askew.^[1]

9 “Pretend to Be Nice” by Josie and the Pussycats

Although “Sugar, Sugar” (1969) by The Archies is the most famous song released by a fictional band comprised of characters from Archie Comics, that tune wasn’t written for a movie. Many years later, in 2001, Josie and the Pussycats burst onto cinema screens with an entire album of songs.

The band is formed of Riverdale residents Josie McCoy (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody Valentine (Tara Reid), and Valerie Brown (Rosario Dawson). The three actresses provided backing vocals, but Kay Hanley from Letters to Cleo provided the main vocals for Josie. The tracks were written and produced by a variety of musicians, including Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne, Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Go’s, and Adam Duritz from Counting Crows.

The band’s first single, “Pretend to Be Nice,” was written by Schlesinger. The song hits No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the movie, and while that success wasn’t matched in real life, the soundtrack of the movie was pretty popular. Not only did it reach No. 16 on the Billboard 200, but it was also certified gold.^[2]

8 “Nobody Like U” by 4*Town

Pixar’s Turning Red (2022) is set in 2002 and follows 13-year-old Mei as she starts turning into a red panda. But Mei doesn’t let that get in the way of going to a 4*Town concert. The boy band has three songs in the animated film: “1 True Love,” “U Know What’s Up,” and their biggest hit, “Nobody Like U.”

The songs—which mimic the sound of *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys—were written by Billie Eilish and her older brother Finneas O’Connell (who often writes and produces for his sister). The members of the band—Robaire, Jesse, Aaron Z., Aaron T., and Tae Young—are voiced by Jordan Fisher, O’Connell, Josh Levi, Toher Ngo, and Grayson Villanueva.

“Nobody Like U” had a life beyond the movie, peaking at No. 49 on the Hot 100 and even being performed live by some of the voice actors. At the 20th Unforgettable Gala, Levi, Ngo, and Villanueva were joined on stage by Will Jay and Raymond Ortiz—who filled in for the two missing members—to perform “1 True Love” and “Nobody Like U.”^[3]

7 “Garbage Truck” by Sex Bob-Omb

Music is a huge part of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) due to the titular main character’s (Michael Cera) band, Sex Bob-Omb, competing in a competition to win a record deal. Director Edgar Wright said that he “had this idea that each of the fictional bands within the film should have a different artist doing them. So it was sort of like casting.”

Beck wrote the songs for Sex Bob-Omb, and the actors playing band members had to learn how to sing and play their instruments—aside from Cera, who already knew how to play the bass guitar. Although the opening title track, “We Are Sex Bob-Omb,” won the 2010 Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Song, “Garbage Truck” is the fan favorite (if Spotify numbers are anything to go by).

Other artists who wrote music for the film include Metric, who wrote “Black Sheep” for The Clash at Demonhead, and Dan the Automator, who wrote “Slick” for Matthew Patel (Satya Bhabha).^[4]

6 “Drive It Like You Stole It” by Sing Street

Sing Street (2016) is set in 1985 in Dublin and follows teenage boy Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) as he starts a band with his classmates. Among Sing Street’s soundtrack of Duran Duran, Hall & Oates, and The Cure are a few songs by the titular fictional band themselves. Although U2—which was formed in Dublin—was originally going to help with crafting Sing Street’s sound, writer and director John Carney said that “our schedules didn’t match up. I think they were on tour, and we were shooting back at home, and it didn’t work out on a timeline.”

Instead, Gary Clark, the frontman of Scottish band Danny Wilson, took on the role, with help from Carney, plus Ken and Carl Papenfus from Relish. The musical peak of the film is the fantasy scene where Sing Street performs “Drive It Like You Stole It” in the style of Back to the Future’s Enchantment Under the Sea dance. Both the San Diego Film Critics Society and the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association gave the film awards for its music.^[5]

5 “Fever Dog” by Stillwater

The soundtrack of Almost Famous (2000) features an impressive roster of artists—including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, plus the fictional band Stillwater. It even won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Based on the life of writer and director Cameron Crowe, the plot sees a teenage boy with journalistic aspirations follow a rising rock band, Stillwater, on tour in the ’70s. Stillwater’s sound was crafted by a number of musicians, including Nancy Wilson from Heart and Peter Frampton. As well as penning Stillwater’s hit “Fever Dog” with Crowe, Wilson also played rhythm guitar for the group. The guitar skills of Stillwater’s Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) are actually down to Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.

Although Stillwater’s success didn’t immediately crossover into the real world, in 2021, the Stillwater Demos EP scored the No. 95 spot on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.^[6]

4 “On the Dark Side” by Eddie and the Cruisers

When adapting P.F. Kluge’s 1980 novel Eddie and the Cruisers into a movie, director Martin Davidson knew that he needed to find the right band to write the music. He hired Kenny Vance from Jay and the Americans to help track down a suitable Jersey bar band. Vance came up with the goods, presenting John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, who were reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Although most of the onscreen band is comprised of actors, the saxophonist of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, Michael “Tunes” Antunes, was cast in the movie. The main song from the 1983 film, “On the Dark Side,” proved to be a massive hit, reaching No. 7 on the Hot 100, while “Tender Years” made it to No. 31.^[7]

3 “Walk Hard” by Dewey Cox

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) is a parody of the music biopic genre, but even though it’s a comedy, John C. Reilly (who plays Dewey Cox) said, “We never wanted to lose the listenability of the songs.” The main character and his ever-evolving musical style draw from a huge variety of artists, including Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and Bob Dylan. 40 songs were recorded, with around 33 of them making it into the final movie.

Dan Bern and Mike Viola wrote many of the songs, but for the titular song, “Walk Hard,” submissions were open, with Marshall Crenshaw’s song being chosen. Reilly not only sang and played guitar on the tracks, but he also received writing credits for a handful of them, including “Walk Hard.” He even performed the songs live on the Cox Across America tour.^[8]

2 “That Thing You Do!” by The Wonders

Back in the mid-1990s, Tom Hanks was looking for a song for his movie That Thing You Do! (1996), which follows a band called The Wonders and their rise to fame in the mid-1960s.

Adam Schlesinger—who a few years later found fame with Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom” (2003)—heard that Hanks and his team were asking for demos that sounded “like an American band that was blown away by The Beatles right after they arrived and was trying to imitate them.” Schlesinger loved ’60s pop and rock, so he wrote a song in a couple of days, recorded it with two friends, and sent it in, describing it as “a shot in the dark.”

Hanks loved the track and hired Schlesinger to co-produce the song, as well as his friend Mike Viola, who sang on the demo, to provide vocals for the finished tune. Although the song didn’t make quite as much noise as it does in the movie, it did reach No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[9]

1 “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight” by Spinal Tap

Perhaps the most famous fictional band is Spinal Tap, who started out on TV, but in 1984, the band starred in This Is Spinal Tap, a mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner. The film follows the band as they embark on a hilariously disastrous tour, with the majority of the dialogue being improvised. The main band members are Michael McKean as David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest as Nigel Tufnel, and Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls—all of whom wrote and performed the songs themselves.

Spinal Tap has a large discography for a parody band, with some of their most popular songs being “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” “Stonehenge,” and “Big Bottom.” They’ve also played many live shows, going on tour and even performing at prestigious venues such as Wembley Stadium and the Royal Albert Hall. As for chart success, two of their songs have made it onto the Hot 100: “Break Like the Wind” hit No. 61, and “Back From the Dead” hit No. 52.^[10]

Rock and metal musicians are an interesting group of people. They manage to take what is, for most people, a hobby and elevate it to something that they can make a living off of. But the industry can be really fickle; you never really know what the next big thing is going to be. Just ask the hair metal bands of the late ’80s about the release of Nirvana’s album Nevermind, and you will see how fast the tides turned.

Due to this instability, it isn’t hard to see how one might have a backup plan or develop new skills outside of the music scene to survive. Additionally, the money and fame that come with success can open doors for musicians to pursue other passions that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to pursue before. Here is a list of 10 rock/metal musicians who have had other professions.

Related: 10 Most Dangerous Jobs That’ll Make You Rich

10 Eric Stefani

You might recognize Eric based on his last name. That’s right, he is pop star Gwen Stefani’s brother and one of the founding members of the band No Doubt. Eric helped to form the band in 1986 but suddenly left in 1994 once the group had finished recording their third studio album, Tragic Kingdom. Why would a founding member of a band leave the group just as it was on the up and nearing a breakthrough? To pursue his true passion: animation.

Pursue might not be the best word, as Eric already had an established animation career starting in 1989 with The Simpsons. He actually worked on the very first episode. Eric put his animation on pause as work with No Doubt was ramping up and decided to resume with The Simpsons in 1994. In addition to The Simpsons, he has also worked on Ren and Stimpy and Rugrats and helped animate the opening sequence of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

While it may have seemed like a silly decision to leave a band that would become as big as No Doubt, it looks like Eric’s path was equally as fortunate. I mean, to be able to play a part in one of the biggest animated shows in television history is a huge accomplishment. Eric doesn’t seem to have regretted his decision, as he has been spotted at No Doubt shows and is often supportive of his sister’s career.^[1]

9 Vanilla Ice

Looking back at the rise of Vanilla Ice is like finding photos of your parents as teenagers. It is almost impossible to grasp that certain things were actually cool unless you were around at the time. In the early ’90s, Vanilla Ice was most definitely cool as ice. He was everywhere: in magazines, on the radio, and even on the silver screen. However, trends changed, and Vanilla Ice fell off hard. Accompanying his downfall was hard drug use, which almost killed him in 1994.

Despite his goofy style and somewhat silly rapping, there was more to Vanilla Ice than meets the eye. For instance, his real name is Robert Van Winkle. Ice was actually smart enough to branch out away from music and develop other skills when he noticed his popularity waning. Prior to his music career, he was really into motorsports and, in 1995, became the Number 6 ranked jet-ski racer in the world.

Even more successful was his real estate business, which he started working on the side at the same time. He was so successful with real estate and renovating that he actually scored a TV deal with the DIY Network called the Vanilla Ice Project that lasted for 9 seasons between 2010 and 2019. He has also published books on the process of buying and flipping houses, as well as focusing on how to have a celebrity-style home on a normal salary.^[2]

8 Stevo-32

“I don’t want to waste my time, become another casualty of society.” That was part of the chorus for Sum 41’s breakout hit “Fat Lip.” They are lyrics that only a kid ready to go out and make their mark on the world can sing earnestly. I’m not trying to knock the sentiment, but hearing this come out of a 20-year-old hits differently than someone in their 40s. No example is better than Sum 41’s very own drummer, Stevo-32.

After multiple platinum albums, playing up to 300 shows per year, and surviving through the emo boom of the 2000s, the drummer found himself ready to hang up the sticks. He left unceremoniously, and it was only recently that he discussed why. He states in an interview that he was burnt out and wanted to be with his wife and newborn.

It is totally understandable, but what blew a lot of people’s minds was what he went on to do next: real estate. Some noted that he became one of those suits that Sum 41 was railing against in their youth. Nevertheless, Stevo-32 (now Steve Jocz) is a rather successful real estate agent. There’s even a video showing just how great Steve is at his job!

Recently, Stevo-32 has moved on from “the former drummer of Sum 41” to now being the “current drummer in his basement” with a new YouTube channel focusing on the history of his time in the band while playing some of the old classics. I highly recommend his channel, which is both interesting and hilarious.^[]

7 Dan Spitz

When it comes to the “Big Four” of thrash metal bands, Anthrax is the one that people overlook the most. They shouldn’t, considering the contribution they made by teaming up with Public Enemy to bridge the divide between rap and metal music. On second thought, they may be responsible for the rap metal subgenre, so perhaps we shouldn’t be singing their praises just yet.

“Bring the Noise” was a pivotal moment for both metal and hip-hop, but did we ever consider the impact that this collaboration had on the musicians themselves? For instance, is it possible that the giant clock that Flavor Flav wore around his neck awoke some deep interest in timepieces for the legendary guitarist Dan Spitz? While I can find no actual mention of this inspiration, you cannot deny the link when, in 1995, Spitz quit Anthrax, gave his guitars and equipment away, and went on to pursue watchmaking.

Okay, I may be overselling the Flavor Flav connection: Spitz originally learned all about watches growing up in his grandfather’s antique jewelry store. The interest was always there with Spitz. So, when he grew tired of life on the road, he revisited his old interest, and he was quite good at it. Spitz has multiple degrees in watchmaking from around the world and is considered one of the premier horologists in the world. If you have a spare $128,000, you may be able to get one of his lower-end timepieces but expect to wait at least two years for it to be made.^[4]

6 Tom DeLonge

“Aliens Exist” is the third song on Blink 182’s breakout album Enema of the State. At the time, Blink 182 was seen as highly immature and unserious, despite some of the weightier subject matter that their later songs would explore. Of all the things for co-frontman Tom DeLonge to be serious about on an album with an adult film actress on the cover, songs about prank calling your ex’s parents, and a guy that spreads dysentery, I don’t think anyone expected it to be the existence of aliens.

While the other two members of Blink-182 were aware of Tom’s passion for the extraterrestrial, the public only took notice in 2014 when Tom formed a new band, Angels and Airwaves, that released material under his new company, To The Stars*. What started as an entertainment company releasing all sorts of media exploring space, UFOs, and the unknown quickly developed into recruiting scientists and ex-government employees to begin investigating and communicating with the U.S. government concerning extraterrestrial life.

Tom rebranded the company as To the Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences (TTSAAS) to reflect the more serious nature of the company’s efforts. The hard work paid off in 2023 when a congressional subcommittee met to confirm and discuss the existence of UFOs based on leaked video evidence that had been released by TTSAAS.

Since then, Tom and his band have been taking a sort of victory tour celebrating the band’s return as well as his success with TTSAAS. Mark frequently reminds the crowd that Tom was right. Amusingly, Tom has remarked that when approached by fans, there is a 50/50 split on whether they are fans of his music or fans of his work in Ufology.^[5]

5 Jeff “Skunk” Baxter

By the 1980s, Jeff Baxter had made quite a name for himself as an original member of Steely Dan before leaving to play in another iconic rock band, the Doobie Brothers. His playing style often traversed the musical spectrum from rock to funk to avant-garde, pulling from each to create a unique sound that would later inform his future career as a missile defense contractor. Baxter had a keen interest in recording equipment and noticed the military advancements in technology regarding data compression and storage.

As luck would have it, Baxter’s neighbor was a retired engineer who contributed to the Sidewinder missile program. The neighbor, noticing Baxter’s interest in the subject, bought him a subscription to Aviation Weekly. Baxter’s interest grew, and he became a self-taught missile defense expert. He authored a paper on the subject of converting the Navy’s anti-aircraft Aegis missile to a missile defense system. The paper was pushed along by Republican Congressman Dana Rohrbacher, and Baxter was launched into the world of defense consulting, eventually reaching the level of chair of the Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense.

Baxter has been very clear that his experience in the music industry has informed the unique way he thinks about military defense: “We thought turntables were for playing records until rappers began to use them as instruments, and we thought airplanes were for carrying passengers until terrorists realized they could be used as missiles.” By utilizing existing technologies, Baxter has been able to envision novel defense systems, much like he was able to craft genre-bending leads and melodies. At one point, the chairman of the Armed Service Committee asked an advisor if Baxter “is the guy from Raytheon or Boeing?” The advisor simply stated, “No, this is the guy from the Doobie Brothers.”^[6]

4 Billy Corgan

During the ’90s, one of the most popular bands was the Smashing Pumpkins. Fronted by the mercurial Billy Corgan, the band reached stardom by blending rock n roll (Cherub Rock), dreamy atmosphere (1979), and anger (Zero). To this day, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” remains one of their biggest hits with one of their most memorable choruses: “Despite all my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage.” Initially, we may have all believed this to be a commentary on the futility of trying to escape the modern-day rat race, but maybe Billy was referring to a different type of cage—a wrestling cage match!

Corgan has loved wrestling since he was a kid, and it makes sense when you think about it. Pro wrestling offers violence, drama, passion, and showmanship all in one package. Like the Smashing Pumpkins, they know how to put on a good show. It’s no wonder that Corgan decided to throw his hat into the ring and acquire the National Wrestling Association in 2017. Since then, Corgan has incorporated matches into his music performances, and he even has a reality show, Adventures in Carnyland, that documents his work-life balance between rockstardom and running a professional wrestling company.^[7]

3 Adam Jones

When it comes to artistic integrity, few bands can come close to Tool. Everything they do is with intention and serves their vision. It’s a meme now, but when a band uses the Fibonacci sequence to create a rhythm for their song, you know that they are on another level. Another aspect of Tool that has created an extra layer of interest and mystique is the visuals, especially those found in its music videos. With equal parts H.R. Geiger, Salvador Dalí, and David Lynch, would you be surprised if I told you that one of the members worked in special effects?

Rolling Stone’s 75th best guitarist and Tool’s very own Adam Jones had quite an impressive resume in film before Tool was even signed in 1990. Some of his credits include Jurassic Park, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Predator 2, where he worked on set design, makeup, special effects, and sculpting. One of his most notable creations was the iconic effects for “Freddy in the Womb” from Nightmare on Elm Street 5.^[8]

2 Bruce Dickinson

Some people might be fine with being the frontman of one of the biggest metal bands in the world, but Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson is not some people. While Bruce was out conquering the world with his operatic performances, he decided to take a flying lesson in Florida in 1990. Bruce has stated that he has always had an interest in aviation, which is quite evident from one of Iron Maiden’s biggest songs about war pilots, “Aces High.”

From there, Bruce got his license and began flying chartered flights for Astraeus. When Astraeus went defunct in 2010, Bruce started his own aircraft maintenance company called Cardiff Aviation Ltd. His piloting career has seen him fly members of the Royal Air Force, civilians out of conflict zones like Lebanon, and even the Rangers and Liverpool Football Clubs. At this point, I don’t even know what is more impressive.

I should also note that Bruce has written novels, created a radio show for the BBC, and created beer in partnership with Robinson’s Brewery. These efforts have earned Bruce the title of a Polymath by Intelligent Life magazine, but—much like the influences on Iron Maiden’s sound—I like to refer to him as a Renaissance Man.^[9]

1 Christian Jacobs

Most of the artists in this list are recognizable by their name or band, but Christian Jacobs is more of a cult figure. Nevertheless, his work as a musician and television producer/director has had quite an influence in their respective fields.

Fans of the ska revival of the ’90s might know Jacobs by his stage name: The MC Bat Commander, frontman of the band The Aquabats. For those unfamiliar with the band, The Aquabats are a group of costumed superheroes that travel the world fighting crime and boredom. Their shows include elaborate stage performances paired with their energetic, upbeat songs. While a mostly silly band, the group managed to achieve mainstream success and even had Travis Barker of Blink 182 join their ranks for a while.

You might gather from the description of the band and their shows that the act is for children. It isn’t, but it definitely serves as inspiration for Jacobs’s other project: creating and directing a kid’s television show. Jacobs is the co-creator of Yo Gabba Gabba! Much like his band, the show is quirky, weird, and very positive. Airing on Nickelodeon, the show featured many memorable segments, including drawing with Mark Mothersbaugh, dancing with Elijah Wood, and practicing beats with Biz Markie.

Reflecting on the success of the show and why he helped create it, Jacobs stated, “We wanted to watch something cooler, and that definitely became the design of the show, something that we would want to watch with our kids.” Honestly, I would say mission accomplished.^[10]

+ Bonus: Tim Lambesis

As I Lay Dying is one of those bands that transcended their genre to break through into the mainstream. Originally considered metalcore, their fourth album, An Ocean Between Us, debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200. Shortly after their sharp ascent into the mainstream, frontman Tim Lambesis was arrested in California.

This came as a bit of a shock because the band also marketed themselves as a proudly Christian band with many of the themes of their music based on their faith. Even more shocking was the reason for his arrest. Tim had attempted to hire a hitman to kill his estranged wife. The trial revealed that over the years, Tim became obsessed with working out and distanced himself from his wife and children to the point that while he was on tour, he had emailed his wife stating that he didn’t love her, no longer was Christian, and was having an affair. Tim’s defense attempted to blame his erratic behavior on his rampant steroid abuse, but nevertheless, Tim was required to serve six years in prison.

As I Lay Dying was put on hold, but they eventually returned with Tim. However, news has broken that everyone but Tim has left the band for undisclosed reasons. Maybe Tim is trying to plan another hit or become a mob boss?^[11]

Musicians are just as corruptible as the rest of us. It is commonplace now to see your favorite musicians in trouble with authorities for drug charges or drunken stupors. Drug- and alcohol-related arrests have become something of a staple of the music industry.

However, in rare circumstances, musicians get into trouble for the unlikeliest of transgressions. These strange criminal blunders are undoubtedly rare among musicians, but they are so puzzling and hilarious that they deserve a light shining on them.

10 Paul McCartney

In 1960, former Beatle Paul McCartney was arrested in Hamburg, Germany, for attempted arson. McCartney and then–Beatles’ drummer Pete Best pinned a condom to the wall of the Bambi Kino, their accommodations while playing in Hamburg, and set the condom on fire.

After living in filthy conditions during the early string of shows, Paul’s arson was a boyish act of protest against the Bambi Kino owner Bruno Koschmider. Renowned for beating customers with a chair leg, Koschmider had put up the Beatles in the back of his porno cinema while they tirelessly played for him in his run-down strip club known as the Indra.

As George Harrison, then 17, was already being deported from Germany for flouting Hamburg’s curfew laws for minors, the Beatles were ready to go home—but not before McCartney and Best set the condom alight.

Koschmider subsequently rang the police, who arrested and detained Best and McCartney before deporting them.^[1]

9 Barry White

Before he had a music career and was nicknamed the “Walrus of Love,” Barry White was something of a criminal in his teens (by his own admission). However, White was hardly a master criminal as evinced by his arrest in 1960 for the theft of car tires which led to subsequent jail time.

As a teenager, White often got into trouble with his brother, Darryl. Barry stated that they were a “two-man gang, respected and feared [who] ran and ruled the streets of our neighborhood.” However, the theft of $30,000 worth of Cadillac tires landed him in prison.

Barry White served four months in prison in 1960. While he was incarcerated, the seeds of the Walrus of Love were sown because White vowed to do away with his minor criminal past and focus on music.^[2]

8 D’arcy Wretzky

D’arcy Wretzky, former bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins, was arrested and eventually imprisoned in 2011 due to her horses escaping her home. Wretzky’s neighbors contacted the police after her horses were left to wander from her farm onto their land. Although she was notified of the offense in 2009, it took until 2011 before her antics led to prison time.

Michigan has an “animals running at large” law that Wretzky breached. However, the law is only a minor offense. It was Wretzky’s repeated absence from four consecutive court dates related to the incident that eventually landed her in jail.

Otherwise, Wretzky would have only had to pay a fine. Nevertheless, she was sentenced to six days imprisonment.^[3]

7 Gary Numan

New wave singer and songwriter Gary Numan found himself on the wrong side of Indian police in 1981 when he was arrested on suspicion of smuggling and spying. As an air display pilot as well as a musician, Numan was flying with a friend over India. After the plane’s engine gave out, they were forced to land.

The pair sought help in a local Indian village but instead were arrested on suspicion of smuggling and spying. As the two men were wearing two watches each, the police thought they were smuggling. Worse still, the pair had cameras on them which gave the police grounds to believe that they were spying.

Little did Numan know, there was actually a Russian submarine base 32 kilometers (20 mi) from where they had landed. Therefore, the Indian police thought that they were taking photographs of that base.

Both Numan and his friend were arrested and detained for four days. Eventually, the pair contacted the Home Office, and they were duly released.^[4]

6 Vanilla Ice

Rapper (sort of) Vanilla Ice got in trouble with authorities in 2004, albeit for something far less sinister than his arrest for burglary in 2015. In fact, it was animal control officials that landed Vanilla Ice in difficulty.

Vanilla Ice’s pet wallaroo, Bucky Buckaroo, and his pet goat, Pancho, decided one day to escape Vanilla Ice’s domicile in Florida. Pancho managed to headbutt open the latch of the gate of their enclosure, and the two went for a ramble in Florida.

The rebellious animals actually scratched one woman and kicked her car after she tried to feed them. Animal control officials eventually captured the two, and their days on the lam were cut short.

Animal control officials caught Vanilla Ice with an expired permit and duly fined him $220. Pancho and Bucky were eventually reunited with their owner.^[5]

5 Peter Buck

REM’s guitarist Peter Buck was arrested for an air rage incident in 2001, but the story was far sillier than it sounds. After allegedly making the mistake of mixing a sleeping pill with alcohol, Buck went on a drunken rampage, much to the chagrin of his fellow passengers.

After being refused any more alcohol, Buck in his already-drunk, loutish state overturned a flight attendant’s trolley and demanded to leave the airplane mid-flight. He had to be pulled away from an exit door. As a pilot attempted to calm the situation, Buck responded that “he was just a f—king pilot and [Buck] was REM.” Even stranger, Buck sprayed flight attendants with yogurt and tried to steal cutlery from the plane.

The guitarist was later cleared of all charges, and he did help to clean up the yogurt mess while on the plane.^[6]

4 Bob Dylan

New Jersey police detained poor old Bob Dylan in 2009 over a simple case of mistaken identity. The icon of folk music was set to headline a concert alongside Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. But it nearly didn’t happen thanks to New Jersey police officer Kristie Buble, who believed that Dylan was a mad pensioner who had escaped from a hospital.

Dylan went for a stroll around the Long Branch area on his own in the pouring rain when a concerned citizen rang the police about the suspicious-looking character. When Buble arrived to determine what was going on, Dylan told her that he was indeed Bob Dylan. But for the police officer, that just confirmed her suspicions of a madman on the loose.

Apparently forgetting that people age, Buble expected Dylan to look like her memories of him from his younger years. As a result, Buble believed that the man in front of her was a rambling lunatic and not Bob Dylan.^[7]

Detained by the police, the musician was taken to his nearby tour bus to confirm his identity. When they reached Dylan’s manager, he showed Dylan’s identification to the now-embarrassed police officer. In her defense, it was a little strange that Dylan was wandering around in the rain, but he’s never been one for conventional behavior.

3 Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, And Brian Jones
The Rolling Stones

Although two of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, were infamously arrested and charged with drug offenses in 1967, it was public urination that saw three of the Rolling Stones—Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, and Brian Jones—arrested in 1965.

After being refused access to a petrol station lavatory in London, three of the Rolling Stones took it upon themselves to relieve their full bladders by urinating on the petrol station itself. The unsympathetic station owner had denied Bill Wyman the key initially. However, Jagger and Jones also took offense at this.

All three began chanting “we’ll p—s anywhere, man” to the station owner and a nearby mechanic who had witnessed the scene and was merely attempting to move them on. When the owner wouldn’t concede, Jagger, Wyman, and Jones urinated on the wall of the petrol station while still chanting.

After the trio was arrested, they were charged with public indecency and subsequently fined £5 each.^[8]

2 Frank Zappa

In the early years of Frank Zappa’s career, he was not too discerning about where his much-needed money came from. This became painfully apparent in 1962 when Zappa was duped into making porn for an undercover San Bernardino police detective in California.

After creating several scores for low-budget films, Zappa was offered work by a supposed used car salesman to produce a porn film. As the “used car salesman” knew of Zappa’s amateur film credentials, he turned to Zappa for help.

Though Zappa refused to outright make a porn film for the man, Zappa did offer to record audio-only porn with his friend Lorraine Belcher in a studio owned by Zappa. The recording was essentially a mock-up of a couple having sex.

After Zappa made the recording, the “salesman” refused to pay him. Instead, the police raided the studio and seized the tapes. Of course, the “used car salesman” was simply an undercover detective hoping to entrap an unwitting “criminal.”

Zappa was charged with conspiracy to make pornography and given a 10-day prison sentence. This made Zappa a lifelong cynic toward authority.^[9]

1 Ozzy Osbourne

Yet more public urination from a beloved rock star. Throughout his lengthy career, Ozzy Osbourne has been a staple of the typical rock and roll antics that define the genre’s more reckless practitioners.

Ozzy is the epitome of the drunken, drug-induced wild behavior of rock stars. Some of his most outrageous behavior included biting the head off a bat and snorting a line of ants. But in 1982, a drunken Ozzy was arrested for urinating on a historic landmark.

In a drunken stupor, Ozzy stumbled around San Antonio, Texas, looking for a place to relieve himself. Unfortunately, he chose the city’s Cenotaph dedicated to the fallen soldiers in the Battle of the Alamo.

To make this story even stranger, Ozzy was wearing the clothes of his wife, Sharon, the whole time because she had denied him access to his own so that he could not go out and drink. Obviously, it didn’t work. The police arrested Ozzy for public intoxication. He was freed on $40 bond the same day.^[10]

Edward is a writer and musician.

Last April 5th marked the 26th anniversary of the death of Kurt Cobain. Dead by an apparent suicide, the Nirvana front man became Generation X’s contribution to rock’s mythic 27 Club. While dying at 27 is hardly something to aspire to, the members of music’s 27 Club have been exalted to legendary status because of this very accomplishment (although the fact that some even made it to 27 was probably a feat in and of itself). So many well-known and influential musicians died at 27, but the roster of artists who just missed membership into the club is equally impressive. Below is a look at 10 Musicians Who Just Missed The 27 Club, all by less than one year.

10 Crazy Conspiracy Theories Clouding The Music Industry

10Shannon Hoon

September 26, 1967 – October 21, 1995 (28 Years, 0 Months, 26 Days – 27 Days Past 27)

Best known as the front man of the band whose legacy has been reduced to the iconic 1990s music video image of the bee girl, Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon missed out on the 27 Club by less than one month. After a lengthy struggle with drug addiction that landed him in rehab twice and earned him the company of a sober counselor on the road, Hoon died in 1995 of a cocaine overdose while on tour for the band’s sophomore album, Soup. His life and musical legacy is remembered annually at the 3-day Shannon Hoon Vigil at his gravesite in Dayton, Indiana.^[1]

9Steve Gaines

September 14, 1949 – October 20, 1977 (28 Years, 1 Month, 6 Days – 37 Days Past 27)

Barely 28 at the time of his death, Steve Gaines had recently joined Lynyrd Skynyrd following the departure of guitarist Ed King and upon the urging of Cassie Gaines, Steve’s sister and Skynyrd’s backup singer. While on tour in support of Street Survivors, the band’s first studio album with their new guitarist, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Convair 240 aircraft crash-landed in the swamps of Mississippi, killing six people, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and the Gaines siblings. Copies of Street Survivors with Steve Gaines engulfed in flames were subsequently pulled from shelves and replaced with a more solemn image of the band standing in front of a black backdrop. Only recently has the original album cover been restored.^[2]

8Gram Parsons

November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973 (26 Years, 10 Months, 14 days – 47 Days Until 27th Birthday)

The strange end of the hugely influential country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons is one of music’s more mythic stories. Upon his death at the age of 26 from a morphine and alcohol overdose, Parsons’s friend and road manager Phil Kaufman, acting on a pact the two made for Parsons’s ashes to be scattered over Joshua Tree National Park upon his death, stole his corpse from Los Angeles International Airport and drove to the Cap Rock section of the park where he doused the casket with gasoline and immolated his late friend. If you were wondering what the repercussions were in 1973 for cadaver theft, there were none. There was, however, a $750 fine for the cost of the charred coffin, which Kaufman earned by staging Kaufman’s Koffin Kaper Koncert.^[3]

7Bradley Nowell

February 22, 1968 – May 25, 1996 (28 Years, 3 Months, 3 Days – 94 Days Past 27)

The death of lead singer Bradley Nowell is an interesting one in that it came at a time when Sublime was on the precipice of achieving mass popularity. Following the success of the band’s single “Date Rape,” Sublime was set to perform at San Francisco’s Maritime Hall to a sold-out audience when Nowell was found dead of a heroin overdose in his hotel room earlier that day. Leaving behind a wife of seven days and a son of eleven months, Nowell’s death was largely unnoticed, as their eponymous album was not yet slated to be released for another two months. It was only after the album dropped to massive sales and critical acclaim did fans realize that seeing the band live was not an option.^[4]

6The Big Bopper

October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959 (28 Years, 3 Months, 9 days – 103 Days Past 27)

Universally overshadowed by the death of Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, Jiles P. Richardson, dubbed the Big Bopper, was the third of the three musicians who died suddenly on what was later immortalized in song by Don McLean as “the day the music died.” En-route to Moorhead, Minnesota for the next stop on their 3-week, 24-city Winter Dance Party Tour, the trio’s Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed after spiraling out of control, killing the tour mates and pilot. Motivated by persistent rumors that a gunshot fired aboard the plane caused the crash, the Big Bopper, Jr commissioned his father’s remains to be exhumed in the hopes of settling the controversy and determining if he survived the crash and died looking for help (there wasn’t and he didn’t). The Big Bopper was subsequently re-buried in a new coffin and his original casket can be seen at the Texas Musician’s Museum.^[5]

10 Eerie Quotes From Musicians Who Died Before 30

5Tim Buckley

February 14, 1947 – June 29, 1975 (28 Years, 4 Months, 15 Days – 136 Days Past 27)

Perhaps the artist whose legacy could have best been heightened by membership into the 27 Club is Tim Buckley. Buckley spent his near decade-long career exploring different genres and styles of music, transitioning from folk to rock to psychedelic to jazz to a more soulful sound, with each subsequent album alienating some fans and engendering fanaticism in others. Upon his death from a heroin/morphine/alcohol overdose, Buckley’s friend, Richard Keeling, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for supplying the singer with the fatal drugs. Buckley has since been eclipsed in fame by his late son Jeff Buckley, whose drowning death at the age of 30 also narrowly missed his acceptance into the 27 Club.^[6]

4Bix Beiderbecke

March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931 (28 Years, 4 Months, 24 Days – 150 Days Past 27)

Probably the least known artist on the list, Bix Beiderbecke was a legendary jazz musician whose autodidactic cornet sound made him one of the most innovative musicians of his era (and would have made him the O.G. of the 27 Club had his life been cut short a few months earlier). Beloved by jazz musicians and celebrated as one of the first white musicians to not only gain acceptance, but admiration, in the largely black world of early jazz, Beiderbecke’s problems with alcohol eventually resulted in death during America’s Prohibition period. His musical legacy is remembered at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, which has been held annually in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa since 1972.^[7]

3Nick Drake

June 19, 1948 – November 25, 1974 (26 Year, 5 Months, 6 Days – 206 Days Until 27th Birthday)

Although he released only three albums, Nick Drake has, in death, earned the cult status and widespread acclaim that eluded him in life. By the time he recorded his final album, Pink Moon, Drake’s longstanding depression had incapacitated him so severely that he was unable to function and ultimately hospitalized. Drake died in his parents’ home of an overdose of antidepressants nearly six months shy of his 27th birthday. Posthumous tributes include Dream Academy’s 1985 song “Life In A Northern Town,” which was dedicated to the singer, as well as a music video for “Black Eyed Dog” directed in 2007 by actor Heath Ledger, making Drake’s final recording also one of Ledger’s final artistic outputs before his own untimely death at 28.^[8]

2Otis Redding

September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967 (26 Years, 3 Months, 1 Day – 274 Days Until 27th Birthday)

Hard to believe that Otis Redding was barely 26 when he died in 1967 from a fatal plane crash. By the time his plane plunged into water three miles outside of the intended Madison, Wisconsin airport runway, Redding had already achieved legendary status amongst his peers for his solo and duet recordings with Carla Thomas, as well as through his high-energy performance style. Three days prior to his death, “the Big O” recorded “(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay,” which proved to be his biggest hit and was a marked departure from his “Shake! Otis” sound that defined his earlier career and made him the enigmatic star of Stax Records.^[9]

1Hillel Slovak

April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988 (26 Years, 2 Months, 12 Days – 292 Days Until 27th Birthday)

Although Hillel Slovak died from a heroin overdose before the Red Hot Chili Peppers gained enduring fame, he was the seedling from which the band’s idiomatic sound grew. Prior to forming RHCP, Slovak was guitarist for his high school band Anthym. Dissatisfied with the group’s bassist, Slovak taught his friend Michael “Flea” Balzary to play bass and, from that, Red Hot Chili Peppers was eventually formed. Upon his death, Slovak was replaced with guitarist John Frusciante, at the time a teenager with zero band experience but whose playing style was hugely influenced by his predecessor. Arguably Hillel Slovak’s greatest role in music history was that of a mentor, in that protégés Flea and Frusciante have become two of the most celebrated bassists and guitarists, respectively, in music.^[10]

20 Notable People Who Died At 27

About The Author: Heidi Gillstrom resides in Chicago and occasionally works in television. She is no longer eligible for entry into the 27 Club.

Celebrity endorsements can make a product. For a famous person in need of a little cash endorsements can be a life, or at least bank balance, saver. Sometimes the endorsements make absolutely no sense – Ozzy Osbourne’s advert for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter was hardly rock and roll. But if the item being sold matches up with a celebrity’s brand then there can be big bucks made all round. If celebrity sells and sex sells then would could be bigger than mashing the two together? Here are ten times musicians got down and dirty with the sex industry.

SEE ALSO: 10 Sex Toys With Ridiculously Ancient Origins

10 Rammstein Penises

The German hard rock band Rammstein is not one to shy away from sensitive areas. Their 2009 video for the song Pussy featured rather more flesh and sexual intercourse than American music videos would be allowed to put on display. Coming from the album ‘Liebe ist fur alle da’ – Love is for everyone – the song was a sign of where the band would be going next. They decided to release a special box set for the album, not an unusual merchandising strategy, but they included non-stand items in the hand-crafted case. Like handcuffs, lubricant, and six pink plastic dildos in various shapes and sizes. “Size does matter, after all,” as they sang in Pussy.

The boxset could be bought with either the censored or uncensored version of the album, for those perhaps not expecting rude words from a box of sex toys. In Germany the album could not be displayed in shops after a court ruled it was damaging to youths.^[1]

Despite rumors that the six dildos in the special edition were modeled on the band members’ members it appears this is just an urban legend – unless someone with more intimate knowledge knows better.

9 JLS Condoms

The boy band JLS emerged from the UK version of the X-factor in 2008 after coming second to Alexandra Burke. Of the two however it was JLS who proved to have the staying power racking up several number ones. Being socially responsible the band decided to partner with the condom maker Durex to release their own range of branded condoms.^[2]

As the boys said at the time “it’s important to put your love in a glove.” They decided to repurpose the JLS of their name to make it stand for Just Love Safe.

Each box featured the face of one of the four stars which led to an impromptu popularity contest. Ashton is apparently the one people pick when it comes to safe sex. Those looking to colour code their loving were please to know that each of the pop stars’ condoms came in a different color.

8 Safaree Samuels’ Anaconda

Safaree Samuels is a rapper and songwriter perhaps best known for dating Nicki Minaj for over a decade. Or at least he was most famous for that until his name started trending on Twitter in 2018. Safaree’s nudes had leaked and the internet was going wild. Some suggested that the rapper had been behind the leak of the explicit photos. If he was looking for publicity then it worked.^[3]

This year however he sought to use his internet fame, as well as other of his attributes, to make some hard cash. A replica of the much seen penis can now be bought. Called Safaree’s Anaconda the object comes in at 12 inches long so buyers will be getting plenty of bang for their buck. While some people might be cautious about their purchase Safaree’s current girlfriend said “I’m so excited for you ladies!”

7 Daft Punk condoms

When musician Diplo posted a picture of an empty box of condoms on his Instagram he did what everyone does after sex – he thanked Daft Punk. This was around the time of the release of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ but Diplo was not just talking about the aphrodisiac powers of the bands tune. The condoms he was so ostentatiously showing off were branded with an image of the band and the name of their hit. Someone had got lucky indeed.^[4]

But it soon turned out that rumours of Daft Punk getting into the condom business were premature. Durex denied going into partnership with the band. The condoms were just a promotional item being given away by their record company’s PR. Daft Punk have never spoken about how they feel about being linked in the public imagination to Diplo’s penis but Durex were thrilled. “We do hope that by using Durex condoms, music-lovers will continue to make sweet music together and have great sex!”

6 Dave Stewart’s vibrator

The Eurythmics has some huge hits in the 80s and have reunited several times since their first split to put out new albums. But it does seem as if there have been things other than music on Dave Stewart’s mind. In 2008 it was announced that his song Let’s Do It Again would be available free of charge to those who bought a vibrator inscribed with lyrics from the song – probably for those who get excited by reading.^[5]

This was to be no ordinary sex toy however. For a start it would cost £1000, making the free song seem like less of a bargain. To account for the high price it should be noted that it comes tipped with 28 round-cut black diamonds. Since there is not much light in its intended using spot the diamonds don’t really need to sparkly anyway. For those worried that they don’t get enough use from their toys the vibrator came with a leather cord that meant you could wear it around your neck. It also came with a pick in case you wanted to strum your guitar. Or anything else.

5 Mötley Crüe’s motley crew

Mötley Crüe have always had girls, girls, girls on their mind so it is no wonder that they are always looking for ways to please them. Alongside Lovehoney – “The sexual happiness people ” – the band created a set of eight “powerful” vibrators. Coming in a range of sizes, colors, and with either 7 or 10 functions, the vibrators have names paying tribute to the band’s classic songs. Some, like like Dr Feelgood, hint at the pleasures that await while others, “Too fast for love,” perhaps hint at thwarted passion.

While the makers say that the “eye-catching vibes capture the style and sex appeal of the band perfectly,” some might quibble at the verisimilitude of the wares on offer. If these capture the appearance of the members then there may be many anatomical questions to answer.^[6]

4 The Vibrators’ Vibrator

Sometimes an endorsement is just too perfect to pass up. When persona and product overlap completely you would be a fool not to take the money. When Lovehoney started working with the punk-rock group The Vibrators there was only one product they could possibly make – a Buzzin Bullet Vibrator. And being a punk group it of course had to come in a box shaped like a Union Jack draped coffin.^[7]

The Buzzin Bullet was touted as the first official mash up of musician and sex toy. For years the band had been told they should make money off their name by releasing their own vibrators and when the Buzzin Bullet finally did make its way onto their merchandise stands at concerts they flew off the shelves and into buyers’ hands. And other places. The band thanked Lovehoney, calling them “a company who know so much about the band and who have the right, fun attitude to the product—a good coming together you could say.”

3 Motorhead’s motorised head

Motorhead have been toying with sex toys for a long time. On their 1977 debut album they released their song Vibrator that had such catchy lyrics as:

“I’m really starting to buzz,
Your feeling comes, I’m starting to hum,
I can do it like nothing else does.”

Vibrators were an obvious collaboration choice then for the rockers. They began by releasing four fairly dull looking tubes emblazoned with names from their hit-list like “Ace of Spades” and “Born to lose” as well as just their name. But the band must have been doing something right with their merchandise as they soon came out with three new toys for their range.^[8]

The additions to the range included a vibrating glass wand, two solid glass dildos shaped like bombs and a War-Pig topped with a model of their Snaggletooth mascot. One member of the band cautioned users “Just like the band, our products are EXTREME! Enjoy with care.”

2 Ghost B.C.

The Swedish band Ghost, also known as Ghost B.C. in the USA for legal reasons, is a hard rock group that does not mess around when it comes to sex play. Why merely be deviant when you can also be blasphemous at the same time? The band’s Phallos Mortuus Ritual box set comes with everything you might need to get a party started.^[9]

Inside a book-shaped box lined with red velvet you get one bronze-effect butt-plug with the band’s Grucifix symbol on the base, one dildo finished with the head of one of the band member’s dressed as a bishop, and divorce certificate – just in case things go wrong probably.

The box set comes in a range of sizes to suit all needs from Men’s Small to Men’s Extra, Extra Large.

1 Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson lives to shock people out of their tired assumptions and passivity. Certainly one way to shock someone would be to yank out Manson’s own product – a dildo with his face on it.^[10]

Called the Double Cross dildo it features the singer’s name embossed on the shaft but you probably won’t notice that as long as his face is peering into your soul. Described on Manson’s website as “soft, lifelike,” it does make you wonder which part of the singer it most resembles. It does come with a black velvet bag so when you are done with it you do not have to face Manson looking back at you for long.

Helpfully the product is described as “wipe clean” and the paint used to create Manson’s face is environmentally safe. Unfortunately the face itself “May fade with multiple uses.”

Searching for origin stories in music is often a ceaseless chase through history. Art is rarely created in a vacuum, meaning musicians – however original their work might be – are inherently influenced by others who came before them. Even the freshest of tunes are, via their composers’ experiences, part homage.

There are, though, certain musicians that stand out as pioneers – ones whose special talents or against-the-grain styles became premonition points for where music was going. Whether this meant furthering a fledgling genre or incorporating new techniques and instruments into existing ones, here are ten examples of musicians ahead of their time, in chronological order.

10 Rock And Metal Musicians Who Killed Someone

10 Charlie Christian Electrifies Jazz

Benny Goodman, the jazz clarinetist whose bandleading skills earned him the nickname “The King of Swing,” was unconvinced. In 1939, his group was among the most popular in the U.S., and he wasn’t keen on fixing something that wasn’t broke. So when an associate asked him to consider adding a talented young musician – an afficionado of the them-fledgling electric guitar – Goodman was disinterested.

Luckily for jazz fans, talent scout John Hammond insisted. During a break at a concert in Beverly Hills, Hammond, as clandestinely as possible, slid Christian onto the stage and into the band. When Goodman noticed, he started playing a ditty called “Rose Room” that he assumed Christian didn’t know. He was wrong, and the epic wail that followed made Christian a band member and, shortly thereafter, the electric guitar a popular mainstay in jazz starting in the early 1940s.

Both “Rose Room” and “Solo Flight”, Christian’s other major showpiece with the Benny Goodman Band, displayed the sort of intuitive swing and fluid single-note runs that came to define the electric guitar’s contribution to the genre. Notably, his playing also was decidedly horn-like, so much so that people who heard (but not saw) him play often thought he was playing the saxophone.^[1]

Unfortunately, Christian didn’t get to witness the outsized influence he’d have on jazz. He died in 1942, of tuberculosis, at just 25 years old.

9 John Fahey: Complex Simplicity

The music of acoustic guitarist John Fahey went beyond original and unique; it was flat-out weird. The aural equivalent of leftovers’ night, his style basically threw everything in a pot, simmered their disparate flavors into each other and served it. Starting with a base of folk and blues – in fact, Fahey’s style has been described as American Primitive,^[2] a term coined to define a self-taught, minimalist style prominent in those genres – his music incorporated everything from Eastern ragas and cosmic psychedelia to soaring modern classical and eerie funereal notes.

Despite the myriad influences, the sound itself was oxymoronically simple: sometimes invented on the spot, Fahey’s brilliance typically played out on an unaccompanied steel-string acoustic guitar. The complex yet graceful improvisations, which Fahey claims incorporated both psychological and spiritual elements, have made many see him as one of the founders of a sub-genre known as New Age music.^[3]

Fahey the man was as strange as Fahey the musician. His dark sense of humor included his adoption of an alter ego, Blind Joe Death (which was also the title of his 1959 debut album), and a habit of schizophrenic song titles like “The Waltz That Carried Us Away And Then A Mosquito Came and Ate Up My Sweetheart.”

8 James Jamerson: The Electric Bassist That Powered Motown

“James who?” you ask? James Jamerson: the long-unheralded electric bass pioneer who, along with his studio band, The Funk Brothers, played on more #1 hit records than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and Elvis Presley… combined.^[4]

You may not recognize James Jamerson’s name… but you recognize James Jamerson. Think of the bass riff that opens up The Supremes’ “You Can’t Hurry Love,” or The Temptations’ “My Girl.” That beautiful booming rhythm that owns the soundstage before the singer starts belting… that’s James Jamerson.

Before coming to Motown, Jamerson was a jazz player – a genre where he perfected a plucky, punchy style of play that helped so many hits pop through the radio waves. As prolific as he was gifted, Jamerson was featured on a broad array of hits from Motown’s heyday but, per the label’s habit of keeping its musicians in the shadows, wasn’t even listed on an album until megastar Marvin Gaye made sure he got credit for “What’s Going On”.

Jamerson was among the first to deviate from his bass-playing contemporaries, who generally stuck to more conventional roots and fifths.^[5] By roaming into more adventurous harmonic territory, Jamerson created counterpoint lines with vocalists – an innovation that led to his well-earned nickname: The Hook.

7 Black Sabbath: Metal Pioneers Turned Megastars

It’s tempting to play popularity contrarian and reach back past Ozzy and his bandmates for some arcane examples of now-obscure headbangers. But sometimes the ones that did it first did it well enough that they became megastars; such was the case with Black Sabbath. While deep guitar riffs and scream singing were around before 1970 – Jimi Hendrix, The Who – it was Black Sabbath who, according to music journalist Noah Lefevre, “showed the world what metal was”.^[6]

The group’s self-titled debut album – released on February 13, 1970 (purposefully or not, a Friday) – cracked the top 10 on the UK Albums Chart and peaked at #23 on the US Billboard Chart. In fact, the album did so well that its follow-up, Paranoid, was delayed because its predecessor was still selling.

It was worth the wait: per AllMusic’s Steve Huey, Paranoid – which featured legendary hits “Iron Man” and the anti-Vietnam “War Pigs” – was “one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time,” which “defined the sound and style of heavy metal more than any other record in rock history.”

Black Sabbath’s immediate commercial success was made more impressive because, in true ahead-of-its-time fashion, the band’s early work received negative reviews from many music critics. This included Rolling Stone, which entirely missed the point of the nascent genre by calling the debut album “discordant,” “velocitized” and “never quite finding synch.” Well, duh.

6 Kraftwerk: 80s Music in the 70s

Plenty of eras have acts that seemed to preview where music is headed. A good example is R.E.M., a band that broke through at the height of 1980s hair band glam rock with a trend-pointing alternative vibe. However, the German band Kraftwerk might be the starkest example of decade-previewing clairvoyance, not because of their outsized talent but rather the era in which they did it.

In 1978, disco was king, and an understandably disgusted music counterculture gravitated to punk rock as its polar opposite; you can’t get much further apart than The Bee Gees and The Ramones. In between was a mix of new wave and traditional rock & roll. Nobody was truly capturing that one remarkable calling card of the 1980s: cheesy, perky pop.

The 70s didn’t really have a Safety Dance moment: a dorky but oddly appealing hit providing a sneak peak of corny-yet-catchy 80s pop. But it did have Kraftwerk – who, despite middling-at-best commercial success,^[7] are considered pioneers of electronic music. Above is a particularly weird gem from 1978, called Die Roboter.

Top 10 Criminals That Changed Music History

5 Blondie: Hip-Hop Hero?

Like most genres, hip-hop has many pioneers along its road from underground to mainstream. Arguably the most prominent of these influences was a song that, way back in 1979, helped give the genre its name; this was Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” whose opening riff sent fans to record stores asking for “that ‘hip hop’ song.” The anthem peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Chart, and was lauded by US National Public Radio as among the 20th Century’s most influential songs.^[8]

A less likely fanner of the fledgling hip-hop flame was a white girl named Debbie Harry, lead singer of punk-turned-new wave band Blondie. Interestingly, Harry actually had a connection to Rapper’s Delight: in 1978, Blondie was performing with the funk group Chic in New York when several members of Sugarhill Gang began freestyling over Chic’s “Good Times,” whose bass became the hit rap song’s beat.

The next year, Blondie released “Rapture,” credited as the first major hip-hop hit to use original music^[9] rather than sampled beats. Powered by Harry’s lilting singing, Rapture also became the first #1 song to incorporate a rap element.

Unfortunately, Harry’s emcee skills make Vanilla Ice look like Biggie Smalls. Per songfacts.com,^[10] “Harry’s rap is so goofy that it sounds like she could be mocking the genre.” However, during hip-hop’s early days, the sort of simple, random lyrics like Harry’s “man from Mars eating cars” were typical of the still-evolving art.

4 Schoolly D

Five years after Blondie busted such memorable rhymes as “and you get in your car and you drive real far,” Philadelphia-born Jesse Bonds Weaver, Jr., a.k.a. Schoolly D, gave hip-hop an edgier tone that better reflected the lives of urban minorities in America. Blending impoverished realism with violence, drug use and a dash of sexual bravado, Schoolly D is considered by many the Founding Father of gangster rap.

Among the trio of singles from Schoolly D’s self-titled 1985 debut album was “P.S.K. What Does It Mean?” It meant Park Side Killas, a street gang with which Schoolly D was affiliated. In a storytelling fashion now ingrained in the genre, Schoolly D invites listeners along as he smokes weed, gets laid, and threatens to shoot a “sucka-ass n-gga” trying to kick rhymes as fresh as his.

Several gangster rappers name Schoolly D as an important inspiration, including Ice T, Public Enemy and N.W.A. However, while his subject matter was ahead of its time, Schoolly D’s rap skills were not; typical of the mid-1980s – still very much hip-hop’s infancy – his songs largely comprise simple, often clunkily-cadenced rhymes that don’t hold up to legends like Ice Cube, Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur who would soon take gangster rap fully into the mainstream. Schoolly D recorded a total of eight albums, none of which achieved commercial success.

3 Edie Brickell: Seattle by Way of Texas

Perhaps the most unorthodox preview of the 1990s Seattle sound was provided by a woman from Texas. In 1988, alternative rock band Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians released their sophomore album, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. The album peaked at #4 in the U.S., and its lead single, “What I Am”, cracked the Top 10 on the US Billboard Chart.

Shooting Rubberbands isn’t exactly grunge, but it certainly isn’t metal or glam rock. It stands proudly genre-less amid its contemporaries, an album’s worth of songs saying “maybe we can be a little more low key and dressed down here.” The video for “What I Am” reinforces this refreshing chillness, featuring Brickell breezing around a simple stage, sans the teased hair, leopard-patterned clothing and pyrotechnics common to videos of that era.

While certainly pioneering, Brickell and her band had good company. That same year, Perry Farrell’s trendsetting band Jane’s Addiction released its first major studio album, Nothing Shocking, featuring the classic hit “Jane Says.” Meanwhile the Red Hot Chili Peppers, though not yet commercially successful, had released three albums by 1987.

2 Rage Against the Machine: Hip-Hop Meets Hard Rock

Like Black Sabbath in the heavy metal genre, Rage Against the Machine is both the first and best band their genre, rock-rap, has ever seen. Of course, considering their contenders in this mashup genre include the earplug-inspiring Limp Bizkit and Lincoln Park, that’s not exactly a controversial statement.

With funk-derived beats, the all-time-great-caliber guitar prowess of Tom Morello^[11] and the angry reality rap of frontman Zack de la Rocha, RATM sounded different than anything before it, as relevant as any band during its decade-long run, and flat-out better than any band attempting to combine rock and rap since. Released in late 1992 during the height of the grunge era – and when white youths were starting to buy rap music en masse – the band’s self-titled debut album shot to Number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Chart on the strength of hits like “Killing in the Name,” “Bullet in the Head” and “Take the Power Back”.

It wasn’t just the band’s style that was a stark departure from the Nirvanas and Pearl Jams of the world. Amid a sea of inward-looking alternative music and violent gangster rap, RATM’s calling card was righteous vitriol, with de la Rocha’s inventive wordplay spewing venom against the U.S. government’s treatment of minorities (especially Native Americans), corporate greed and white supremacy. RATM influenced many bands associated with the “Nu Metal” subgenre popular in the mid-to-late 1990s, most prominently Korn.

1 Mann vs (Music) Machine

Save for her stint as singer for the one-hit-wonder 80s band Till Tuesday, Aimee Mann might be the best female musician most people have never heard of. After departing Till Tuesday as a spikey-haired new waver in the spirit of Cyndi Lauper, Mann pivoted to folk-rock and into the musical hinterlands; her first two solo albums, 1993’s “Whatever” and 1995’s “I’m With Stupid,” received critical acclaim but not commercial success.

Mann then did something truly groundbreaking: she told three major labels – Imago, Geffen and Interscope – to go to hell, and not only lived to sing the tale but significantly bolstered her popularity. She became, per the Washington Post, Her Own Mann,^[12] a light-rock rebel who started drawing audiences as much for her tea-in-the-harbor defiance than her prowess as a singer/songwriter.

In 1999 – the same year she founded her own label, Superego – Mann was nominated for an Oscar for “Save Me” (above), from the soundtrack for the film Magnolia. Since then, she has released seven solo albums and, defying Father Time as well as convention, gotten better with age: her latest release, 2017’s Mental Illness, won a Grammy for Best Folk Album.

Despite recording exactly zero top ten hits^[13] in her career, Mann, who turns 60 this year, still sells out concert halls in her native US and abroad – a rare example of a female artist thriving despite flouting the modern music machine.

10 Crazy Conspiracy Theories Clouding The Music Industry

The music industry can be incredibly lucrative, and some artists have amassed staggering fortunes. When the songs from these artists make you laugh and cry, their bank balance reach the sky. Sometimes their singles touch millions of people in the heart, and they get rewarded with millions of dollars. Here are top 10 richest musicians in the world as of 2024.

Let’s take a look at the the wealthiest musicians globally, ranked by net worth. As of 2024, here’s a glimpse into the lives and fortunes of these ten richest musicians in the world.

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z’s Net Worth: $2.5 Billion

Shawn Corey Carter, famously known as Jay-Z, reigns as the pinnacle of musical wealth. Not only has he garnered 24 Grammy Awards, but he’s also made history as the first billionaire musician. Beyond music, his ventures into clothing retail, luxury bars, and streaming platforms have cemented his status as a savvy businessman.

Achievements: Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, is widely considered the wealthiest musician in the world. His success extends beyond music, with investments in various businesses and ventures.

2. Rihanna

Rihanna’s Net Worth: $1.4 Billion

Robyn Rihanna Fenty, or simply Rihanna, embodies both musical prowess and humanitarian spirit. While her wealth is rooted in her chart-topping hits and fashion empire, her philanthropic endeavors, including the Clara Lionel Foundation, reflect her commitment to social causes.

Versatility: Rihanna, known for her chart-topping hits, has also ventured into the fashion and beauty industry with her successful brand, Fenty Beauty.

3. Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney’s Net Worth: $1.2 Billion

As a founding member of The Beatles and a prolific solo artist, Sir Paul McCartney’s influence spans generations. His continual success in music, bolstered by investments in various ventures like MPL Ventures and plant-based food companies, underscores his enduring legacy.

Legacy: As a former member of The Beatles, Paul McCartney’s influence on music is immeasurable. His solo career has also contributed to his wealth.

4. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s Net Worth: $1.1 Billion

Taylor Swift’s meteoric rise to fame has been matched only by her shrewd business acumen. With a record-breaking tour and strategic ventures in concert films, Swift has diversified her revenue streams while maintaining her dominance in the music industry.

Recent Milestone: Taylor Swift crossed the billion-dollar mark in net worth in October, officially becoming a billionaire musician.

See also: The world’s most beautiful women.

5. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Net Worth: $1 Billion

Sean Combs, alias Diddy, epitomizes versatility, excelling not only in rap music but also as a record producer and entrepreneur. With Bad Boy Records as his cornerstone, Diddy has amassed a fortune, complemented by ventures in wine and spirits.

6. Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett Net Worth: $1 Billion (At Time Of Death)

Jimmy Buffett’s musical legacy lives on, even after his passing, through his iconic songs and successful ventures. Leveraging his fan base, Buffett ventured into hospitality and entertainment, epitomizing the synergy between music and business.

7. Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert Net Worth: $850 Million

Herb Alpert’s enduring career as a trumpeter and singer has not only earned him accolades but also substantial wealth. With A&M Records as a cornerstone and ventures in art, Alpert’s multifaceted talents have solidified his status as a musical and entrepreneurial force.

8. Beyoncé

Beyoncé Net Worth: $800 Million

Beyoncé’s unparalleled talent as a performer is matched only by her astute business instincts. From her entertainment company, Parkwood Entertainment, to her successful apparel brand, Ivy Park, Beyoncé has diversified her portfolio while maintaining her reign as a music icon.

See also the details about Beyoncé net worth.

9. Bono

Bono’s Net Worth: $730 Million

Background: Bono, the lead vocalist of U2, has not only made a significant impact in the music industry but also through his philanthropic efforts.

Paul David Hewson, known as Bono, epitomizes longevity and success in the music industry. With U2’s global acclaim and strategic investments, including a stake in Facebook through Elevation Partners, Bono’s influence transcends music into the realm of business.

10. Madonna

Madonna’s Net Worth: $850 Million

Madonna, the undisputed queen of pop, continues to captivate audiences with her timeless hits and unparalleled stage presence. Leveraging her extensive touring and business ventures like Maverick Records, Madonna remains a powerhouse in both music and entrepreneurship.

Iconic Career: Madonna, often referred to as “The Undisputed Queen of Pop,” has been creating catchy lyrics and beats for over four decades. She holds the Guinness World Record for “Best Selling Female Recording Artist Of All Time”.

Remember that these net worth figures are estimates and subject to change. The music industry continues to evolve, and artists diversify their income streams beyond traditional avenues. These individuals have not only achieved immense success in their craft but have also made strategic financial moves to secure their places among the richest musicians in the world.

Related

Learning to play a musical instrument takes hard work. Practice, and patience, and more practice. And that can be such a drag. The devil is believed to be very fond of music, which is not surprising. After all, he does have all the best tunes.

Lucifer is said to have a special affinity to stringed instruments, particularly violins and guitars. In exchange for just one soul, any condition, the Prince of Darkness can teach you how to really play that guitar. He can make you a star.

You might think that no one would take him up on this offer, but we have found at least 10 musicians who, allegedly, thought that this was a great deal.

So, why not take it easy on yourself and trade that soul in today. Who has time for scales anyway?

Trombonists need not apply.

Top 10 Most Evil Men

10 Jimmy Page

Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, was a student of occultism for a while. He bought Aleister Crowley’s old home in Loch Ness, which he believed was haunted. He often talked about the strange experiences he had had there.

He followed Crowley’s occultist teachings about focusing your intentions on what you want to get out of life. Apparently Jimmy just wanted to play a mean guitar, and he certainly got that wish.

Lots of people claimed that he had sold his sold to the devil to get such fast fingers, to which Page replied that if had, then so had the rest of the band.

Which is not exactly a denial. This may be the origin of the myth that if you play Stairway to Heaven backwards, you can hear demonic voices speaking.

Or something.

9 Paganini

Niccolo Paganini was both a violinist and a guitarist, so he didn’t stand a chance. Born in 1782 in Genoa, he began learning the violin at the age of 7, and is considered by many to be the greatest violin virtuoso of all time.

He was so much better than his peers that a rumor circulated, and persisted, that he must have sold his soul in exchange for his virtuosity (though not his virtue). It could have been that, of course, or it could have been the hours of practice and his extremely long fingers which allowed to him to play three octaves across four strings, which was unheard of.

His hand span, was probably due to Marfan Syndrome, which typically leads to sufferers being exceedingly tall with long limbs. Paganini, like all music geniuses, used his skills mostly to get girls. He was a great womanizer and was said to trap the souls of young women inside his violin, although quite how he did it, no one ever explained.

One concert goer in Vienna even claimed to have seen the devil guiding Paganini’s arm. Which probably made for interesting conversation during the interval.

8 Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson’s is probably the most famous soul in the Devils collection.

Sometime during the 1930s he said to have met the Devil, allegedly at the Clarksdale Crossroads.

He was said to have been a decent harmonica player but a ‘terrible guitarist’. Then he disappeared for a few weeks. He is supposed to have taken his guitar to the crossroads in Mississippi, where the devil retuned his guitar and gave him a few lessons.

When he returned, his terrible guitar technique was now described as ‘formidable’ and ‘masterful’.

When Robert Johnson died in 1938, at the age of 27, the rumor became a fact, and Johnson is now known officially as the Devil’s Bluesman.

7 Giuseppe Tartini

Giuseppe Tartini is said not only to have sold his soul to the devil, but also to have composed a song with him. Trillo del Diavolo, or The Devil’s Trill, came to Tartini in a dream. The music came to him, he said, after his dream-self had also sold his soul.

He failed to check the small print on the deal, however, because the music he wrote down when he awoke was not as complex as the Devil’s tune.

Perhaps that’s just as well, however, as the Devil’s Trill is said to be one of the most technically demanding pieces for violin ever written. Although he was a very accomplished musician, he soon discovered that he was not really good enough to play his own tune, and so he had traded his soul for a tune he could not play.

They’re tricksy, these devils.

Tartini spent the rest of his life trying to properly master his own tune, which must have been annoying. He was, however, a first class musician, as well as a notorious womanizer, a brawler and an expert swordsman.

6 John Lennon

John Lennon is famous for saying that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus. So we already knew he was a blasphemer. One Beatles ‘scholar’ however, has spent years interpreting hidden messages and symbols in John Lennon’s music, art-work and album covers, and he believes that he has ‘evidence’ that Lennon actually sold his soul to the devil.

He follows an apparently ‘fascinating’ trail of sorcery, mysticism, numerology and theology to explain his theory, as well the slightly less reliable mystical science of anagrams and listening to songs backwards.

OK, so there is a good chance that this Beatles scholar is a little bit nuts, but then again, who are we to judge? Lennon allegedly signed his pact with Lucifer some time around December 1960, shortly before the first known outbreak of that well-known viral disease, Beatlemania. If true, it seems particularly hard on Lennon, as the other 3 band members, presumably managed to keep their souls intact while still sharing the glory.

Lennon was promised 20 years of success before the devil reclaimed his own.

Lennon died on 7th December 1980.

Well, we’re convinced.

Top 10 Evil Children

5 Snoop Dogg

Usually these devil-soul transactions are shrouded in secrecy. Occasionally, however, a performer comes along who is happy to talk about it. Or even sing about it.

Snoop Dogg admits that at the time he was in a dark place, when he heard a voice say, “Bring your lifestyle to me I’ll make it better”

Mr Dogg asked how long he would live, and the voice cried back, “Eternal and forever.”

Sounds like a good deal. There is some evidence that the artist at first believed that he was making a pact with God, but was tricked by the devil.

Or perhaps, it’s just a song.

You decide.

4 The Rolling Stones

In 1968, The Rolling Stones released a new album that confirmed every parent’s darkest suspicions. Rock and roll was indeed the devil’s music. The opening song of Beggar’s Banquet was, of course, Sympathy For The Devil.

Keith Richards told Rolling Stone magazine that some people saw them as “acting as unknown agents of Lucifer while others think we are Lucifer.”

Either way, they were trouble.

Some of their fans, however, really bought into the Satanic Majesties thing (the title of their previous album). In particular, the Hells Angels lapped it up. If it was possible for an illegal biker gang to have an official anthem, Sympathy For The Devil was it. They provided ‘security’ for the Stones at Altamont free music festival.

Trouble erupted during that song, and a short time later a teenage boy was stabbed to death.

Although the song was not directly linked with the stabbing, the Stones didn’t play the song live again for a long time. The Stones have been dogged by rumors of devil worshiping ever since, possibly because of secret messages embedded in their music, or possibly because of the large horned devil’s head tattooed on Mick’s chest.

3 Philippe Musard

Philippe Musard was a French musician, composer, and conductor who was known as much for his colorful life as he was for his concerts, which is saying something, because the concerts were said to be chaotic, riotous affairs.

Philippe Musard was the rock star of the nineteenth century.

He certainly had theatrical flair, and loved to shock his audience. Musard was the first conductor to stand up during his performances, and the first to fling his arms around wildly. Sometimes he even threw his baton into the audience. He is credited with inventing the Galop Infernal, frenetic dance tunes that were often used as the accompaniment to the can can dances of the time.

He was phenomenally successful, and Parisian confectioners even sold his effigy in chocolate. While he conducted, he was said to pull strange faces, and to look almost possessed with his wild gesticulations. It may have been this that led to the persistent rumor that Musard had made a pact with the devil.

2 Tommy Johnson

Tommy Johnson was a blues musician and is the man credited with starting the rumor that Robert Johnson had sold his soul at the crossroads. Which is odd, because, before that rumor got around, it was thought that Tommy had done the exact same thing.

Tommy Johnson was one of the most influential bluesmen in Mississippi during the 1920s and 1930s. His older brother LeDell was teaching him how to play the guitar, when, as a young teenager, Johnson ran away from home to the Mississippi Delta. When he returned 2 years later, he was an expert guitar player.

LeDell Johnson claimed that his brother had met a ‘mysterious figure’ at a crossroads. The stranger tuned his guitar for him, after which he could play like, well, the devil. Which exactly story what Tommy said about Robert Johnson.

Could it be that Tommy Johnson was diverting attention from his own diabolic encounter? Or perhaps the devil spends a lot of time hanging around crossroads with a guitar tuner.

1 Bob Dylan

In 2016, Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel prize for literature. It was pretty much a surprise to everyone. Except, perhaps, Bob. He explained in an interview, “It’s a destiny thing. I made a devils bargain and I’m holding up my end.”

Well that seems pretty conclusive. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise though. Bob Dylan, apparently, died on July 25, 1965. Coincidentally, that was the same day that he walked on stage at the Newport Folk Festival stage with an electric guitar.

An electric guitar. At a folk festival. To make it worse, he was accompanied by a rock band and they launched into a decidedly un-folky rendition of his new song, “Like a Rolling Stone.”

Didn’t go down well.

So it will come as no surprise to any of the tambourine shaking, harmonica blowing folk fans that Dylan had signed an unholy pact.

Top 10 Most Evil Women

About The Author: Ward Hazell is a freelance writer and travel writer, currently also studying for a PhD in English Literature

[WARNING: contains foul language and offensive concepts.] In their early days, The Who’s live performances would sometimes culminate in the band destroying their instruments. Guitarist Pete Townsend would hold his six-string aloft and proceed to smash it against the stage. Earlier this year, Californian indie star Phoebe Bridgers attempted a similar feat on Saturday Night Live. At the climax of her song “I Know The End”, Bridgers started bashing her guitar against a monitor. A few sparks came out, but nothing actually broke. She later tweeted that she had asked the guitar company’s permission before trying to trash their kit and assured fans that the monitor was a prop. Outrageous behavior.

Off the back of performances like that, it is easy to see why some people think punk (and other forms of protest music) is dead. The majority of musicians today seem to be terrified of controversy (or are simply now part of the status quo or paid off to not inhibit “progress” which most of them agree with anyway). Most of those who have anything of any substance to say keep quiet or dilute their message to ensure the flow of money. But towards the fringes, there are plenty of musicians who are unafraid to speak their political (typically left-wing) minds. These feisty players call out conservatives; engage in protest; and rebel against those whom they consider to be crooked politicians. Here are ten bands and artists that prove the spirit of punk is still very much alive.

Top 20 Best Rock Bands Of All Time

10 Fat White Family

Fat White Family is one of the most outspoken bands around today. The south London rockers seem to thrive on controversy, especially in their early days. First emerging in 2011, they made a name for themselves touting a confrontational blend of transgressive art, nihilism, and brazen drug references.

Their debut album, Champagne Holocaust, featured frontman Lias Saudi singing about “fifteen-year-old tongue” and throwing out such lines as “Hell hath no fury like a failed artist. Or a successful communist.” Fat White Family has gone on to release songs such as ‘Bomb Disneyland’, ‘Vagina Dentata’, and ‘Goodbye Goebbels’, a tongue-in-cheek love letter to the infamous National Socialist politician.

The band first made headlines in 2013, following the death of former British PM Margaret Thatcher. The day the Iron Lady died, Fat White Family members scrawled the words ‘The Witch is Dead’ onto a banner and joined the hundreds of people out partying in Brixton to celebrate Thatcher’s demise.

The notorious shock merchants have since found themselves at the center of various controversies. There are rumors of band members stripping naked on stage and covering themselves in poop. US music site Pitchfork criticized Saudi, who has Algerian heritage, for using the term “sand nigger” in a satirical Twitter post. In 2020, the band was attacked online after Saudi wrote a damning treatise against Bristol punk band Idles.

Despite that madness, the band finds their antics to be fairly innocuous. “It’s not like we’re breaking any boundaries or anything, y’know?” they told reporters back in 2015. “People got naked and covered themselves in sh——t on stage like thirty years ago. It’s nothing new… I don’t think we’re doing anything unique or special.”

9 Sleaford Mods

Sleaford Mods are another British group raging against the establishment with their pro-vegan and socialist viewpoint (missing the irony of wearing a Cartier watch . . . oops). Originating in Nottingham, the duo soon earned a formidable reputation for their in-your-face live shows. During performances, frontman Jason Williamson howls obscene lyrics of Brexit-era Britain at the audience. His partner in crime Andrew Fearn stumbles about behind him, loading up angry, jagged instrumentals for Williamson to rant over.

“I’m sick of trying to hold it down,” he rages. “I just want to get f——cked up all the time. I wanna leave work, go pub, buy drugs, and f——cking spit at people.”

Sleaford Mods released their latest record, Spare Ribs, at the start of 2021. The album features tracks like ‘Shortcummings’, a piece about conservative political advisor Dominic Cummings, and ‘Out There’ which the NME described as “a perfectly tragicomic painting of our Plague Island.”

8 Goat Girl

When band members give themselves names like L.E.D, Clottie Cream, Holly Hole, and Rosy Bones, you know they mean business. London-based Goat Girl is a band with extremist political intent (as is pretty much every band or form of “entertainment” these days).

Their self-titled debut album was described by singer and guitarist Clottie Cream as being “about gentrification and the wealth gap that exists in London, which is insane.” On ‘Burn The Stake’, ¬she implores the listener to “Build a bonfire. Build a bonfire. Put the Tories on top. Put the D.U.P. in the middle and we’ll burn the f——cking lot.” It is a fierce track lambasting Britain’s ruling alliance between Boris Johnson’s Conservative party and the Northern Irish right-wing.

7 Amanda Palmer

Journalists have called Amanda Palmer a pioneer of crowdfunding, a DIY musician adored by fans the world over. In 2013, the former Dresden Dolls member found herself in the tabloids after a minor onstage wardrobe malfunction. Palmer claims that The Daily Mail wrote an entire article about her nip slip but failed to mention anything about the performance itself. Instead, the journalist focused solely on the fact that one of Palmer’s breasts had apparently “escaped her bra”. She says the Daily Mail published photos of the incident under the title “Making a boob of herself!”

Amanda Palmer is no stranger to nudity. As she pointed out, if the newspaper had put in the slightest bit of effort to look her up they would have found far more salacious images online. Palmer found the experience to be so odd that she performed a song about it at the Roundhouse in London. “It’s so sad what you tabloids are doing,” she sang as a waltz to an audience of devoted fans. “Your focus on debasing women’s appearances devolves our species of humans”.

Halfway through the tune, the acclaimed songwriter stripped off completely in protest at her treatment by the British press. In video footage, she can be seen tossing her kimono to the side and completed the song wearing nothing but a pair of black gloves. “It’s just a naked woman,” she told her whooping audience with a wry smile, before finishing the song with a rousing cry of “Dear Daily Mail, up yours.”

6 Stormzy

Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, better known as Stomzy, is one of the most popular rappers in Britain today. But in 2018 he used his position as a well-known musician to attack the government. At that year’s Brit Awards, the grime MC criticized then-prime minister Theresa May in an impassioned performance.

“Yo, Theresa May where’s that money for Grenfell? What you thought we just forgot about Grenfell?” In June 2017, the residential Grenfell Tower block went up in flames. The blaze killed 71 people and left hundreds more without a home. “You criminals,” he continued, “and you got the cheek to call us savages. You should do some jail time. You should pay some damage. We should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.” Stormzy went on to win Best British Male and Best Album at the ceremony.

5 Noname

Noname is another hip-hop artist continuing the tradition of political rebellion. The Chicago rapper is known for her songs on race, sex, and identity, all of which inform her politically focussed lyrics. Although she started as a self-declared poet, she soon turned to rap music, collaborating with her Chicago peers like Chance The Rapper and Saba.

Like Chance, Noname refuses to sign to a record label. Instead, she is an independent artist who finances her own projects and is proud of what she calls her “fight the man mentality.” Noname used the money from her 2016 mixtape Telefone to pay for her debut album Room 25.

4 Slowthai

Over the last few years, Tyron Frampton has become something of a national sensation. Born in the English town of Northampton, the rapper is known for his no-nonsense attacks on the British government.

In September 2019, Slowthai performed at an awards show holding an effigy of Boris Johnson’s severed head. He walked on stage at the Hyundai Mercury Prize with a decapitated dummy of the British prime minister, shouting, “Fu——k Boris Johnson, f——ck everything, and there’s nothing great about Britain.”

Some social media users were quick to criticize Slowthai’s stunt, but the rapper was having none of it. “Last night I held a mirror up to this country,” he wrote on Twitter “and some people don’t like its reflection. Yet this is exactly where we’re being taken, cut off and at all costs. The people in power who are trying to isolate and divide us aren’t the ones who will feel its effects the hardest.”

3 Pussy Riot

For the last ten years, Pussy Riot has been fighting back against the alleged human rights abuses of the Russian government. The musical outfit is known for its outrageous, attention-grabbing stunts. Several members have been jailed for criticizing the Kremlin.

Formed in Moscow, the group staged its first performance in November 2011. The band clambered up scaffolding, ripped open pillows, and threw the feathers onto the subway below. Other early outings included a show next door to Moscow Detention Center. In another, called ‘Putin Z——ssa’ aka ‘Putin Has P——ssed Himself’, they let off a smoke bomb in the Red Square.

Global notoriety came in 2012 when they demonstrated against the re-election of Vladimir Putin. Putin won the vote amidst accusations of rigging the ballot (much like the US and Joe Biden recently). Five Pussy Riot members in colored balaclavas staged a protest in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They leapt around the altar singing their anti-Putin anthem ‘A Punk Prayer’ under the slogan “Sr——n Gospodnya” (“sh——t to the Lord”).

Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were jailed for their role in the stunt. Both women were sent to gulags hundreds of miles from their families. After their release in 2014, the band started playing more conventional gigs. They described them as a “subversive mix of activist art and live set.”

But in 2018 Pussy Riot made headlines once again when they invaded the final of the Russian World Cup. Four members ran onto the pitch of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium dressed in police uniform. The band demanded that the Russian government:

• Free all political prisoners
• Stop arrests at public rallies
• Allow political competition in the country
• Stop fabricating criminal cases and jailing people on remand for no reason

The stunt took place during the second half of the France v Croatia match, in which France won 4-2.

After the pitch invasion, Tolokonnikova’s ex-husband Pyotr Verzilov fell ill and was taken to hospital in serious condition. Doctors strongly believe that he was poisoned.

2 Grup Yorum

Grup Yorum is, without a doubt, one of the most rebellious bands that have ever existed. The Turkish folk group (who are really punk in spirit only) has battled against state repression since they formed in 1985. The founding members created the group as students at Marmara University. They were inspired by the left-wing Nueva Cancion cultural movement of Latin America.

Despite changes in the band’s line-up, Grup Yorum has kept its firm “progressive” stance. The band performs folk music shaped by centuries of traditional Turkish culture. But Grup Yorum is not stuck in the past. Their songs also explore themes like the killing of teenager Berkin Elvan by state police, the Kurdish liberation struggle, and women’s rights.

The Turkish government has responded by banning their live shows, arresting many of their members, and raided their cultural center in Istanbul on several occasions. They accuse the band of being part of the Marxist-Leninist group DHKP-C. But state repression could not kill the band’s popularity. In 2015, Grup Yorum held a free concert in the western city of Izmir. Over a million people are said to have turned up.

After the attempted coup in 2016, the Erdoğan regime stepped up its attacks on the group. Six members were announced as wanted terrorists as placed on the government’s “grey list”. Two fled to Europe, while another five were arrested and sent to prison. In May 2019, they made the decision to go on a hunger strike.

On April 3rd, 2020, after 288 days without food, singer Helin Bölek died. She was 28. Mustafa Koçak, a supporter of the band who joined them in their hunger strike, died three weeks later. Bassist İbrahim Gökçek also passed away, aged 39, on May 7th. All three died fighting for the right to perform and demanding their freedom of expression.

1 Kunt and the Gang

Kunt and the Gang is rebellious irreverence at its very best. Despite the name, the act is made up of one man, a foul-mouthed synth player from the British town of Basildon. Kunt started out in 2003, playing provocative comedy hits like ‘A Lonely Wank in a Travelodge’, ‘Jimmy Saville & The Sexy Kids’, and ‘Sh——tting On A Picture of the Queen’.

Then, in December 2020, Kunt and the Gang released his first big single. ‘Boris Johnson Is A F——cking C——nt’ is less than a minute long, but it is clear in its message. The novelty protest piece made it to number five in the Christmas charts and went on to become the twentieth best-selling song of that year. Clearly, it must have captured something in the psyche of the British progressive public.

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