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Very Superstitious: 13 Artists With Bad Luck
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
The Mars Volta
After guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez gave Mars Volta bandmate Cedric Bixler-Zavala a Ouija board in 2007, weird things began happening. First, their engineer suffered a nervous breakdown, and the band had to hire people to bust down his door to get their tapes back. Then their studio flooded twice, and Bixler-Zavala had painful foot surgery that required him to relearn walking. They ditched the board, but not before using it as inspiration for their album 'Bedlam in Goliath.'
The Upside: Finally -- something to talk to reporters about.
The Upside: Finally -- something to talk to reporters about.
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Aerosmith
In 1998, Steven Tyler suffered a ligament injury when his mic stand crashed into his knee. He had throat surgery in 2006 and multiple leg and foot operations in 2008. In 2009, he fell off a stage and broke his shoulder, and in March 2010 he caught pneumonia. In 2009, Joe Perry battled infection related to a knee replacement and in 2010 suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle accident. Also in '09, Brad Whitford hit his head getting out of his Ferrari, resulting in internal bleeding. A month later, cancer survivor Tom Hamilton had undisclosed surgery.
The Upside: They're back in the saddle again in 2010.
The Upside: They're back in the saddle again in 2010.
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Death Cab for Cutie
In 2000, Death Cab were selling out clubs and bars after the release of their second album, 'We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes.' As a reward, they returned to Seattle for a few months of relaxation. But their time off wasn't exactly relaxing. Bassist Nicholas Harmer was almost blinded when he was hit in the eye by a snapped water-skiing towline, guitarist Chris Walla broke his foot in a staircase accident, and singer Ben Gibbard was hit by a car while riding his bike.
The Upside: Remember: "Death" is in the band name. Coulda been worse.
The Upside: Remember: "Death" is in the band name. Coulda been worse.
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Quill
In 1969, this Boston band was sent by Woodstock festival promoters to quell some of the fears of locals objecting to the upcoming event by performing a series of goodwill concerts at nearby prisons and mental hospitals. In return, Quill was promised a slot at the fest and in the 'Woodstock' movie. They did perform, and they were filmed. But because there was a problem synchronizing the audio and film, Quill was left out of the movie. The band split in 1970.
The Upside: Greatest mental hospital concert of 1969.
The Upside: Greatest mental hospital concert of 1969.
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Stevie Wonder
Born blind, Wonder lost two of his other senses in a frightening 1973 car accident. While headed to a benefit concert in North Carolina, the car he was riding in rear-ended a flatbed truck. The bed of the truck smashed through the windshield, and Wonder was struck in the head. After four days in a coma, Wonder lost his sense of smell and, temporarily, taste.
The Upside: Couldn't taste the hospital food.
The Upside: Couldn't taste the hospital food.
Redferns / Getty Images
Shuggie Otis
As the son of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Johnny Otis and a teenage guitar prodigy, it seemed Shuggie was headed for stardom. The psychedelic soulster was so sure of himself that in 1975 he turned down an offer to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones. But after spending three years recording his album 'Inspiration Information,' it flopped, his label dumped him, and Otis ran into drug and health problems. As a result, the once-promising musician had to take on day jobs.
The Upside: Heck, who remembers the Rolling Stones anyway?
The Upside: Heck, who remembers the Rolling Stones anyway?
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Jan Berry
One of the writers of the Jan and Dean song 'Dead Man's Curve' wanted the 1964 teen drag race tune to end with the drivers finishing in a tie. But it was co-writer Jan Berry who insisted the song conclude with a tragic wreck. So, of course, it was a prophetic twist two years later when Berry himself crashed his Stingray not far from the Dead Man's Curve mentioned in the tune. In a coma for weeks, the accident left Berry paralyzed and brain-damaged.
The Upside: Berry returned to the studio a year later.
The Upside: Berry returned to the studio a year later.
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Fats Domino
In 2005, Domino's New Orleans home was flooded by Hurricane Katrina, leaving Fats and his family stranded and presumed dead, as evidenced by the "RIP Fats. You will be missed" message spray-painted on his door. The eight-foot floods destroyed priceless pianos, cars and memorabilia. Then, to make things worse, burglars -- tipped off by national news reports of Domino's rescue -- entered the empty house and stole his gold records.
The Upside: Spray-painted reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.
The Upside: Spray-painted reports of his death were greatly exaggerated.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd
Taking bad luck to an extreme, no original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd have made it to age 60: Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines -- all 28 -- died in the infamous 1977 plane crash. In 1986, survivor Allen Collins drunkenly crashed his car, killing his girlfriend and paralyzing himself, dying from accident-related complications in 1990 at age 38. Leon Wilkeson died in 2001 from chronic liver and lung disease at 49. Hughie Thomasson, 55, fatal heart attack in 2007. Billy Powell, 2009 heart failure, 56.
The Upside: Gary Rossington, who survived the plane crash, can break the curse if stays healthy until December 2011.
The Upside: Gary Rossington, who survived the plane crash, can break the curse if stays healthy until December 2011.
Redferns / Getty Images
Bret Michaels
For the Poison frontman, it all began with a knock on the head. After performing at the Tony Awards in 2009, Michaels was leaving the stage when he was hit by a descending half-ton set prop. Turns out it was just the first of a string of medical maladies: He would later suffer a near-fatal brain hemorrhage and a stroke. Then the lifelong diabetic underwent an emergency appendectomy and learned he had a hole in his heart.
The Upside: He miraculously survived and went on to open for -- and we don't recommend this -- Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The Upside: He miraculously survived and went on to open for -- and we don't recommend this -- Lynyrd Skynyrd.
AP
Curtis Mayfield
Just after taking the stage for a 1990 outdoor concert, a gust of wind toppled a heavy lighting scaffold, breaking Mayfield's neck. Paralyzed for the rest of his life, the soul pioneer later had to have one of his legs amputated due to accident-related complications, which also led to his 1999 death.
The Upside: The resilient Mayfield was able to record one last album, 'New World Order,' by lying on his back -- the only way he could get enough air into his lungs -- and singing one line at a time.
The Upside: The resilient Mayfield was able to record one last album, 'New World Order,' by lying on his back -- the only way he could get enough air into his lungs -- and singing one line at a time.
Getty Images
311
Even after the release of their 1993 debut, 'Music,' 311 had to finance their own tour. They borrowed an old RV from drummer Chad Sexton's dad and used a Volkswagen bus for their gear. But while driving to a show in Nebraska, the RV caught fire -- and then the VW. The band jumped through a flame-filled doorway, avoiding injury. But all their instruments, and possessions, were destroyed.
The Upside: The blaze inspired the song 'Omaha Stylee,' which opens: "In a minute everything you have can all be straight gone."
The Upside: The blaze inspired the song 'Omaha Stylee,' which opens: "In a minute everything you have can all be straight gone."
Redferns / Getty Images
Pete Best
Few knew who the Beatles were when Pete Best was their drummer. But it didn't take long for the band to become world-famous after kicking Best out in 1962. In an interview, Paul McCartney recalled that it was producer George Martin who said, "I'm not happy with the drummer." As a result, Ringo Starr became a comic foil, and Best became a civil servant.
The Upside: His inclusion on the Beatles' 'Anthology I' album finally made him rich -- 33 years after getting the most notorious pink slip in the history of rock 'n' roll.
The Upside: His inclusion on the Beatles' 'Anthology I' album finally made him rich -- 33 years after getting the most notorious pink slip in the history of rock 'n' roll.
Redferns / Getty Images
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Add a Comment
nick fabulis
For all you people bashing Ringo, just listen to his work. He never over-played his part. His style was and still is Fantastic. Very tight That George guy that made his comment sounds like an IDIOT ! And he must not even have a clue about music.
October 16 2010 at 11:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
c4cc
rick nelson was still alive with his wife when the plain burned!.........
October 16 2010 at 8:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Davie-doo
What about the horrific tragedies of Pink Floyd?
October 16 2010 at 8:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
jay bellerose
Shuggie Otis was way ahead of his time. He made a very influential and artistically significant record. It wasn't a flop ! It was courageous and vital.
September 24 2010 at 10:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Stu Pidman
Substance abuse and not bad luck probably had a role to play in some of the misfortunes in the article.
As for Stevie Wonder...he shouldn't have been driving
Iain
No mention of Spinal Tap in this article!
September 11 2010 at 5:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
M Whitby
Pete Best was kicked out of the Beatles because he wouldnt get involved in the drug culture that all of the others were involved. He was a far superior drummer than Ringo Starr
September 11 2010 at 5:49 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Rick Starling
I think Roy Orbison's bad luck stories are more tragic than some of these. His wife died in a motorcycle accident, two years later, apparently talking in on tour in England about how fireproof his house was, it was burning down, killing his two eldest sons. This together with the fact that his career suffered a downturn, until his new-born fame with The Wilburys and interest in music via film soundtracks, until his death in 1988. The only 'luck' he had it seems was being gifted with probably the greatest voice in pop history!
September 04 2010 at 9:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
David Miles
Superstition is nonsense.... Touch Wood
August 30 2010 at 2:41 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
rj
they are all shite anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 30 2010 at 10:41 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
18 Comments