Songs and Music

5 Musicians Who Had Other Occupations Before Becoming Famous

When we think of musicians, we never imagine that they have done anything else. Music is, after all, a passion. It is what everyone would want to be doing if they had the talent for it. This article will take a look at those musicians who did have another career before becoming the musician that we know them as today.

 

James Blunt

James Blunt’s hit “You’re Beautiful” in 2005 saw him accelerate to the top of the charts. He has not always been a musician, though, as he used to be an officer in the British Army Life Guards and served in Kosovo during the conflict of 1999. His previous occupation might be explained by the fact that he was born into a military family. At the University of Bristol, he studied sociology and aerospace manufacturing engineering. His music career is what has made him rich and famous as he now has a net worth of around $18 million, after topping the charts in the UK and the US and selling more than four million copies worldwide of his 2005 hit.

 

Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher of Oasis fame first worked as a construction worker for his dad. Then, as his way into music, he was a roadie for the Inspirational Carpets. Noel’s 1994 debut album Definitely Maybe was a commercial success. His second album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? released the following year would then reach the top of the album charts in a multitude of countries. For the hat trick, his third studio album Be Here Now became 1997’s fastest-selling album in the history of the UK charts. It was not certain where the band was initially heading, given their first album title, but when they were together they ended up achieving great things. Noel currently feels happy with the freedom of writing solo songs.

 

Keith Richards

Keith Richards is known the world over as the English musician, singer, and songwriter, who co-founded the Rolling Stones. During the 1960 and 1970s, he was frequently referred to as Keith Richard. As a teenager, he worked as a ball boy for a tennis club. He has gone on to have a musical career spanning 45 years, and a very successful one, too. The band Rolling Stones was named, according to Keith, during a phone call that was made to Jazz News. When the journalist asked band member Brian Jones for the name of the band, he happened to be looking at a Muddy Waters LP that was lying on the floor where one of the tracks was entitled “Rollin’ Stone”. So, there we have it, that was how the band was named. A band name that now rolls off the tongue in every continent.

 

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger interestingly started off selling ice creams and then was a porter in a mental hospital. Whether this prepared him for a life in rock is debatable. He was also one of the founding members of the Rolling Stones, of course, and also still performing. He has been ranked the 8th richest rock star and worth a staggering $360 million. This compares to Keith Richards’ $500 million. The pair went to school together, so it pays to meet up with some useful friends early on.

 

Rod Stewart

Maggie may wonder what Rod did before he became a famous rock star. The answer is, he was a gravedigger in London’s Highgate Cemetry. He also spent time as a professional footballer playing for Brentford Football Club. Born Roderick David Stewart, Rod is now a Sir and has a CBE to his name. Although born in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. He continues to perform hits such as “Sailing”, and has recently bought his wife a boat for her birthday.

So, five very successful musicians who started in an occupation many of us may still have. Excepting perhaps the one Rod Stewart had that would always seem to be a dead-end job.