It’s the dream of many a teenager, locked away in their bedrooms. The fame, glamour and riches of being a rock star is as intoxicating as ever, and thousands of fans set up their bands in a bid to reach superstardom.
But what do the ones who have made it recommend? How exactly do you ‘make it’, to be adored and loved by hordes of people? Here are some selected pieces of advice from some of the biggest names in the industry. But be warned: some of it isn’t what you might think.
Alex Turner – write first thing in the morning
The first tip isn’t about the excesses that we might associate with ‘rock ‘n’ roll living’, but it’s still a crucial part of being a world-famous musician: find the best time to write.
For Arctic Monkeys’ lead singer Alex Turner, his creative side came out right after he woke up, which is backed up by some scientists and, importantly, other creative people.
In an interview, Turner mentioned how ‘lyrics came to him’ first thing in the morning, as opposed to later in the day when he said his mind was ‘too defensive’.
Presuming you’re not waking up with a hangover, the theory does make sense. You may not be fully to your senses after you’ve woken up, and you’ve probably just finished dreaming, which gives you closer access to that part of your brain.
It worked for Alex Turner, anyway: each of his eight studio albums have topped the UK charts.
Eddie Vedder — make sure the guitar always covers your crotch
The online ‘How to…’ industry is booming nowadays. ‘How to play guitar’ guides are just one of thousands of tutorials that cover everything from ‘how to tie a Stafford knot’ to ‘how to play online slots’: but there are some things that perhaps don’t appear in black and white.
When Bradley Cooper sought out the legendary Eddie Vedder for his guitar tips, the Pearl Jam frontman came back with some unique advice: ‘make sure the instrument is always covering your balls’.
While we may think that this is so you can look cooler, there is a practical reason, too. Cooper said it was so that you’re protected if someone in the crowd throws something, like an orange or a tennis ball.
The advice seemed to work: when Cooper adopted the pose for the film A Star is Born, where he plays a rock star opposite of Lady Gaga, Vedder said he was ‘blown away’ by how cool the actor looked.
Shaun Ryder – Don’t hire a manager who parties harder than the band
As the infamous frontman of British group The Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder knows what it takes to survive the madness that fame throws at you. In fact, he dedicates a whole book to it.
How to be a Rock Star, released last year, is a memoir dedicated to riding the highs and lows of being a notorious rock ‘n’ roller. Some of his tips seem like a common sense: never correct a good rumour about yourself, for example, is a key part of forming a positive public perception.
Some, however, are a little stranger. Ryder advises potential rockers to ‘never hire a manager who parties harder than the band’. While this may seem unlikely, it’s apparently common in the music industry, and it comes with negative consequences; like missing out on top gigs and money going missing from the band’s coffers…
Sex tips from rock stars
There’s no avoiding it: sex is a much talked about part of the rock ‘n’ roll life. Rather than just focus on one tip from rock’s most promiscuous members, though, writer Paul Miles decided to write a book of them.
His 2011 book received mixed reviews, but it did give an insight into some of the extra-curricular activities of some of rock’s biggest names.
The one tip that features most heavily in the book is to not drink too much alcohol before sex, which many might think of as obvious. For people serious about becoming a professional, though, the book may just be worth a read.
Johnny Marr – Record your riff and post it through the frontman’s mailbox
The Smiths had stunning success in the 1980s, with hits like This Charming Man and Hand in Glove helping to make indie one of the most popular genres in the world.
The creative process behind the hits is the subject of much discussion, and guitarist Johnny Marr insists that one technique worked for them: by not actually making the songs together with the writer Morrissey. Instead, Marr used to post song riffs through his bandmate’s mailbox, and Morrissey would produce the lyrics to them on his own.
By the time the song was ready for the studio, the two musicians had already created the song, and it was just a case of playing it to the other two band members, a drummer and bassist, who would simply add their parts on top.