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Top 10: Rock Myths
askmen ^ | 1/2005 | Bob Scalia

Posted on 09/07/2005 3:27:15 PM PDT by pissant

You just blew $100 on a Paul McCartney concert only to find out that the real Beatle died in a car accident back in 1966. Sound like you fell into the Twilight Zone?

Like a killer chorus or a persistent groupie, myths have a way of following rock bands around and ultimately lingering their way into legend. Some, like the McCartney body double bit, have been proven false. Others remain a mystery.

From slight exaggerations and strange coincidences to tales of the occult and full-blown conspiracy theories, here are the Top 10 rock myths around today.

Number 10 - Marilyn Manson was on The Wonder Years (false)

From missing ribs and breast implants to the eye-for-testicle swap, Marilyn Manson has generated his fair share of creepy myths. Perhaps the strangest and most persistent, however, is that the shock-rock frontman -- born Brian Warner -- played the bespectacled Paul Pfeiffer on the hit show The Wonder Years in the early '90s before morphing into his twisted onstage persona.

Number 9 - Ozzy Osbourne bit a bat's head off (true)

When you earn your living pelting audiences with calf livers and pig intestines, you are quite literally feeding the rumor mills. On one fateful January night in Des Moines, Iowa, Ozzy Osbourne's own eating habits became table talk after a fan threw a live bat onstage to return the frontman's hospitality. Taking the stunned creature for a rubber toy, Black Sabbath's frontman bit into its neck and -- realizing he had bit off more than he could chew -- found himself in dire need of a rabies shot.

Number 8 - Jim Morrison faked his own death (???)

The conspiracy theorists who insist Doors frontman Jim Morrison is still alive and kickin' it up somewhere in Mexico have plenty to fuel their suspicions. For starters, only Morrison's wife Pamela and French physician Dr. Vasille saw the corpse after the rock star was found dead in his bathtub on July 3, 1971. And if the ensuing media blackout, the lack of an autopsy (customary for all suspect deaths in France) and Morrison's many occult connections weren't enough, the singer apparently visited his grave sight only three days before his untimely death.

Number 7 - Keith Richards received new blood (false)

Cheat death often enough and fans will start drawing their own conclusions. Notorious heroin addict Keith Richards learned this lesson back in 1973 when he checked into a Swiss hospital for a blood-filtering treatment known as a hemodialysis. Rumors quickly spread that the Rolling Stone had actually undergone an experimental treatment that amounted to a complete blood transfusion in order to detoxify himself for an upcoming European tour.

Number 6 - David Bowie and Mick Jagger were caught in bed together (true)

Having your wife catch you in bed with another woman is simply one of the occupational hazards of being a rock star. But David Bowie was really put on the spot after his ex-wife told national television audiences that she once found her admittedly bisexual "Thin White Duke" spooning naked in bed with the Rolling Stones' frontman Mick Jagger. Both men and their lawyers denied any gay implications.

Number 5 - Mama Cass choked on a sandwich (false)

Almost 240 pounds when she died, it's not a stretch to believe food had something to do with "Mama" Cass Elliott's passing. But the ham sandwich found next to her bed on that fateful night in 1974 fired up a number of half-baked rumors, including suggestions that the 32-year-old belter for the Mamas and the Papas had choked on her last meal. An autopsy, however, revealed a clean trachea.

Number 4 - The Beatles toked up in Buckingham Palace (false)

Most bands don't go out of their way to feed the rumor mills. Then again, most bands aren't the Beatles. Singer John Lennon once claimed the Fab Four shared a joint in the washroom of Buckingham Palace back in October 1965, the day they were set to receive their honorary Members of the British Empire awards from the Queen herself. George and Paul later denied the story, while Ringo (perhaps only fueling the tall tale) claimed he could not remember.

Number 3 - Jimi Hendrix wore an acid-laced bandana (???)

The colors may not have matched, but many fans still believe the secret behind Purple Haze could be found behind Jimi's red bandanas. Rumors abound to this very day that Hendrix brought his stage performances to dizzying psychedelic heights by placing LSD litmus papers (blotter acids) underneath his trademark bandana, which would ultimately be absorbed into cuts he had made in his skin and roll down as sweat into his eyes.

Number 2 - Robert Johnson signed a pact with the devil (???)

Bluesman Robert Johnson apparently came across more than two highways when he reached the crossroads of US 61 and US 49. Legend has it that the most famous guitar player of the 1930s actually sold his soul to the devil one hot day in Clarksdale, Mississippi, apparently forking over his eternal existence for a style of guitar playing that, for all intents and purposes, has remained unmatched to this very day.

Number 1 - Courtney Love killed Kurt Cobain (???)

When Kurt Cobain was found dead on April 8, 1994, the ensuing public reaction over the tortured musician's suicide was anything but peaceful. Many fans suspected wife Courtney Love had conspired to have her husband killed, hinging on several irreconcilable facts: Cobain's stolen credit card, a weapon without prints, a questionable suicide note, and the simple fact that nobody injected with three times the lethal dose of heroin would have been able to pick up a shotgun and take their own life.


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To: Mr. Mojo

Thought you'd like this.


61 posted on 09/07/2005 4:27:42 PM PDT by Vor Lady (I'm too young to feel this d*&m old.)
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To: pissant
I was born, raised, and lived in nyc for 33+ years, lots of celebs. My fave celeb run-ins were Tony Randall and his young bride on the 6 Train, and years before Tony Randall in the Opera and Classical Music section at Tower Records. AWESOME GUY and CLASS ACT.

Danny Aiello walks around nyc with his warmup suit and his wife just 'being' Danny Aiello. He will talk your ear off - we discussed sauce and meatballs once.

I have seen Woody Allen many times: he is very hard to miss, you can see the Wood-Man coming a mile away.

Once I helped Christina Applegate untangle her carry-on bag in GCT. I only realized it was her after we parted. She was pleasant, very nice and thankful (probably because I really didn't know who she was).

I once posted a lot of my celebrity run-ins on FR when some folks asked me to. I'll see if I can find it!
62 posted on 09/07/2005 4:28:03 PM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: RightOnline

No kidding. Easily one of my favorite female vocalists of all time.


63 posted on 09/07/2005 4:28:45 PM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: RightOnline
LOL. Not the cutest thing, but she seemed sexy when I saw her in the nightclub.


64 posted on 09/07/2005 4:31:02 PM PDT by pissant
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To: pissant

The time has come:


http://mercury.walagata.com/w/the-salamander/cowbell.wmv


65 posted on 09/07/2005 4:31:42 PM PDT by Checkers
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To: HitmanNY
1. I met Peter Gabriel on the 7 train and Jaye Davidson (The Crying Game) on the 6 train.

2. Saw Joel Grey on the red line when he was in Chicago doing a show.

3. Have provided customer service to Holly Hunter, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Matthew Broderick, Francis Ford Coppola, Kris Kattan, and Jerry Orbach.

4. Appeared in an episode of "Sex in the City" with Sarah Jessica Parker and Mikhail Barishnakov (sp). This allows me to tie myself to Kevin Bacon.

66 posted on 09/07/2005 4:32:18 PM PDT by Clemenza (Need new tagline)
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To: pissant

No Elvis sightings? This list needs some work


67 posted on 09/07/2005 4:33:13 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: Cecily

I thought You're so Vain was about John Kerry!!! ;o)


68 posted on 09/07/2005 4:33:30 PM PDT by pissant
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To: HitmanNY

5. How can I forget. At my favorite watering hole (Arturo's) I have share the rail with Ace Frehley and Randy Newman, both of whom were cool guys. Harvey Firestein was once at a table adjacent to the bar.


69 posted on 09/07/2005 4:33:34 PM PDT by Clemenza (Need new tagline)
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To: HitmanNY

I liked Tony Randall alot until I found out what a worthless liberal he was.

I've had a few encounters, but mostly with sports guys.


70 posted on 09/07/2005 4:35:13 PM PDT by pissant
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To: Checkers

LOL. What music thread would be complete without THAT??


71 posted on 09/07/2005 4:36:41 PM PDT by pissant
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To: Clemenza

Hey pal, Arturo's must have come up in one of our convos before this! I lived barely a block away most of my life! It's a great place, even when crowded. I never sit at the bar, I always get a table!

Good food and not expensive. From there, I coax the loveleys for a little desert around the corner at Brunos bakery - some cannoli and a cappucino. Then back to my place - gotta work off that sugar and cappuncino rush, you know! ;-)


72 posted on 09/07/2005 4:37:40 PM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: pissant

Randall is one of the few nausating libs I give a free pass to. One of my alltime faves!


73 posted on 09/07/2005 4:38:14 PM PDT by HitmanLV
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To: stainlessbanner
I think he moved out to the Navajo reservation in Arizona..


74 posted on 09/07/2005 4:44:49 PM PDT by pissant
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To: HitmanNY

I guess if I found out Benny Hill was a lib, I'd give him a pass...


75 posted on 09/07/2005 4:45:40 PM PDT by pissant
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To: RightOnline
Actually, Mick Jagger was having a fling with Bowie's wife Angie and wrote the song for her.

But then again, Bowie was dallying about with Bianca. It all gets so confusing...

76 posted on 09/07/2005 4:48:46 PM PDT by Serb5150 (www.illmitch.com)
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To: RightOnline

Okay. Even Snopes doesn't know THAT ;)

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/bowie.htm


77 posted on 09/07/2005 4:48:53 PM PDT by cgk (We'll have to deal w/ the networks. One way to do that is to drain the swamp they live in - Rumsfeld)
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To: pissant
When I was in Jr. High I did a 20 page paper on the Paul is Dead Myth. There are actually backwards recordings on some of the Beatles songs dating between Penny lane and Revolution #9. I'm not saying I buy into the myth but it was fueled by what was at the time a revolutionary concept of using backwards recorded track as sound effects, and some fan hysteria.
I had a friend at the time whose turntable actually ran backwards so I recorded Revolution #9 and all the allegeg 'Clue' songs and there were actual words. Nothing spectacular.
And if you have an original 1967 Mono copy of Sgt. Pepper, or UK Stereo copy, when the needle runs into the runout groove there is an endless loop of what sounds like "I Don't Know 'Bout Lucy Abbot" It's really hard to tell exactly, but it is well known among Beatle collectors. As a pedigree I have over 2000 Beatle related recordings.
78 posted on 09/07/2005 4:55:25 PM PDT by Brainhose (THINK OF THE KITTENS!)
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To: Brainhose

You are a maniac! LOL. I too was interested in the "mystery" surrounding Paul when I was in 7th or 8th grade. I read all the rumours and tried to play the album in reverse, etc.

Then I discovered Gloria by Them (van morrison's old band) and ditched the Beatles altogether. ;o)


79 posted on 09/07/2005 4:58:16 PM PDT by pissant
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To: Xenalyte; Allegra
Hendrix brought his stage performances to dizzying psychedelic heights by placing LSD litmus papers (blotter acids) underneath his trademark bandana, which would ultimately be absorbed into cuts he had made in his skin and roll down as sweat into his eyes.

That would have to be a weekend project for me, testing-wise.

Ozzy threw a hunk of liver at me once in the Summit but he didn't bite a bat.

He did most effectively hang a midget, though.

And y'all thought Kid Rock & Joe C. came up with that gig.

80 posted on 09/07/2005 5:02:14 PM PDT by humblegunner (If you're gonna die, die with your boots on.)
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