Metal Musicians and Bands in History: Influence of the Game Industry
Ever wondered what, besides shredding axe and instruments, your favorite metal bands and musicians like to do to kill time in between recording sessions and stadium tours? Look out below, because we’ve listed some of your favorite musician’s hobbies and pastimes – some gnarly, some wholesome. Ready to rock and metal?
Which musician loves to bet in metal music history?
It will come as no surprise to fans of Motörhead, but Lemmy Kilmister was a big fan of gambling and themed the band’s most famous song, “Ace of Spades” around this very thing. According to The Damned frontman Dave Vanian in the Lemmy biopic of the same name, Lemmy liked to go to underground London casinos to gamble when he wasn’t on tour, no doubt sipping on a whiskey and coke.
Another frequent gambler is Scott Ian, guitarist from Anthrax. An avid gambler and card man, Ian has stated that he’s been gambling from his early days and loves the thrill, and can be frequently seen at the roulette table or playing some online poker. Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, too, is a big-time poker player, and had a spot on the limited-run TV series Celebrity Poker Showdown. The guitarist played No Limit Texas Hold’em with other celebrity poker players with all proceeds going to charity.
Gambling is a near-universally loved pastime that is highly accessible and takes many forms. Be it playing the tables at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, or playing the online pokies at Ignition Casino, gambling in the 21st century is a highly popular pastime. It has always attracted a diverse customer base and many rock stars have been big-time gamblers over the years.
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Golfing
Many musicians love to golf, and metal musicians are no different. Part of the game’s appeal is tranquillity and peace, the quiet green of the course providing some much-needed respite from the very loud and hectic world of music.
Alice Cooper, a giant of metal, has a handicap of 5.5. The Hall of Fame star is well known to have a huge golf addiction. He even wrote a book on it: Alice Cooper, Golf Monster: A Rock ‘n’ Roller’s Life and 12 Steps to Becoming a Golf Addict from Crown Publishing. Southern rap-rocker Kid Rock also likes to smack the iron about, and plays off a handicap of 18!
Dave Farrell, aka ‘Phoenix’ from Linkin Park is another one of metal’s most famous golfers, and plays the game often. Many professional golfers play with the bass guitarist, like Brendan Steele, who actually took some sage advice from the musician to improve his overall game.
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Metal and rock musicians who love animals
Although their performances don’t suggest it, many musicians have a tender side to them and this comes out in many ways, such as caring for animals. Dave Mustaine, the frontman for Megadeth, breeds horses on his ranch with his wife, Pam. The musician has a long history with horses and genuinely loves the animals he breeds.
James Hetfield is a well-known beekeeper. The Metallica frontman, who dressed up as a headbanging Stranger Things character this Halloween, is a big fan of the pastime. When he isn’t busy touring the world and turning it up to eleven, he likes to take some me time and hang out with his bees. The hobby was passed down to him by his father, and James Hetfield keeps the tradition alive. This is something he shares with guitar maestro Steve Vai, who has been at it for over 20 years and claims to be fully addicted to the leisurely pursuit. Old-school rock legend Roger Daltrey from mod group The Who joins the two above in animal interests, as he raises trout on his Sussex estate, a hobby of his that goes all the way back to 1979.
Metal and rock musicians who acting and performing
It’s not uncommon once you’re in the limelight to be hired for films. But some metal musicians do take their acting really seriously and crop up in stuff from time to time not as cameos but as professional actors.
Marilyn Manson played a pre-op transexual in Party Monster, and the late Meat Loaf was famously a depressed bodybuilder in Fight Club. Some metal musicians surely prove they can do it all!
It’s easy to forget that these giants of metal are normal people too. Maybe the next time you go for a quick go on the pokies or knock a few balls about on the golf course, you’ll be playing alongside your own metal hero.
