Fascinating trivia about musicians

LionAquaLooper

I've been reading up about Steely Dan recently (not sure why) and found out the late great Walter Becker (RIP) was apparently the one who coined the term "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" in some guitar mag article many years ago.  Apparently he had amassed a vast collection of gear and when they auctioned all his stuff after he passed away, it set the record at the auction house for something. Raised something in the region of USD 3 million. I did not know any of this. 

So i read some more and it got better. Found out Skunk Baxter is a bona fide missile defense consultant/advisor for the US Govt, and he only got started on that journey from music electronics of all things. Funny considering he was like a hippy when he was in Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers lol. Again I did not know this. 

I also did not know before Steely Dan, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were in a band with one of my favourite comedians Chevy Chase (drums)! 

I love stumbling on these kinds of things about people that I only ever heard via their instruments all these years. Like Brian May having a PhD in Astrophysics which I think most people know about already. Or likewise Dave Mustaine being a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. 

Anyone else got any interesting trivia like these? Would love to hear them! 

CaseOfAce

I had no idea until a few years ago that Jim Morrison's father was a US Navy Admiral who held significant commands of US naval forces during the Vietnam War.

Elton John's reaction to visiting Lennon's New York place and seeing a room filled with Yoko's fur coats.
Imagine no possessions eh?

darthed1981

CaseOfAce said:

Elton John's reaction to visiting Lennon's New York place and seeing a room filled with Yoko's fur coats.
Imagine no possessions eh?

Well we all know that Imagine is really a bit shit... it got highlighted when Gal Gadot disappeared up her (admittedly perfect) arse during Covid because of it.

VimFuego

for some reason I now have an image of Gal Gadot and fur coats indelible imprinted on my brain.

Be back in a few.

Or maybe a bit longer.

LightB4sound

David Lee Roth is a trained (as was active) paramedic, after Van Halen.

I think many will know Bruce Dickinson as the pilot, world class fencer, author that he is. 

PolarityMan

Fred Durst was actually a biochemistry major and co-authored several influential papers on genome editing grains.

thecolourbox

LightB4sound said:

David Lee Roth is a trained (as was active) paramedic, after Van Halen.

I think many will know Bruce Dickinson as the pilot, world class fencer, author that he is. 

And don't forget he hosted Bargain Hunt for years

LionAquaLooper

PolarityMan said:

Fred Durst was actually a biochemistry major and co-authored several influential papers on genome editing grains.

Jesus, that's what I did my BSc on. I actually despise him a bit less now  

darthed1981

VimFuego said:

for some reason I now have an image of Gal Gadot and fur coats indelible imprinted on my brain.

Be back in a few.

Or maybe a bit longer.

Lolwiz

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

The bass player for Suede, Mat Osman, is the older brother of Richard Osman of Pointless and crime novel fame. Not wanting to be outdone by his baby brother, he's also turned his hand to writing and has published two historical fiction/crime novels himself. I've read the 1st one, it wasn't bad! 

crosstownvamp

Grant Shapp's brother André was keyboard player for Big Audio Dynamite and their cousin is Mick Jones.

Philly_Q

crosstownvamp said:

Grant Shapp's brother André was keyboard player for Big Audio Dynamite and their cousin is Mick Jones.

The other Mick Jones from Foreigner is Mark Ronson's stepfather.

racefaceec90

robert fripp is tone deaf according to his wiki page. 

Kittyfrisk

racefaceec90 said:

robert fripp is tone deaf according to his wife's page. 

FTFY 

BillDL

Apparently while Mick Jagger was sharing a flat with Keith Richards and Mick Jones, he was studying finance at the London School of Economics and supplemented this with part-time work as a porter in a psychiatric hospital.  Stories suggest that's where he lost his virginity with a nurse in a broom cupboard (no connection with Schofield) or somewehere like that.

Supposedly Rod Stewart once worked in a funeral home and also at marking out graves in a cemetary before his career as a musician started.

Cols

Damon Minchella, bass player with Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller and Richard Ashcroft, has a PhD in music and lectures at the University of South Wales.

Axe_meister

Paul Wellers Brother was CTO at Centrica (British Gas) in th 2000s

Siejen

Julie James (Welsh housing minister, previously climate minister) brother is Aphex Twin

JezzaSnr

Axe_meister said:

Paul Wellers Brother was CTO at Centrica (British Gas) in th 2000s

He doesn’t have a brother. 

EricTheWeary

   Philly_Q said:

crosstownvamp said:

Grant Shapp's brother André was keyboard player for Big Audio Dynamite and their cousin is Mick Jones.

The other Mick Jones from Foreigner is Mark Ronson's stepfather.

Mick used to play guitar for Jonny Halliday so is one of few musicians who had The Beatles supporting him. 

Neil

Matt Bellamy of Muse's father George was guitarist in The Tornados.
They were first British band to have a number one in both the UK and USA with Telstar.