50 Jobs Musicians Had Before They Became Famous

February 26, 2014

You know them as famous musicians and rock stars, but do you have any idea where they worked and what they did before they were famous?

 Here it is:

 1. Eddie Vedder Worked as a Night Security Guard

Pearl Jam member Eddie Vedder was a security guard at the La Valencia Hotel but may not have been the best security guard as rumor has it that Vedder was fired from the job for playing the guitar instead of doing his actual security job. At least he knew what he wanted to do next and succeeded big time.

2. Johnny Cash was a Military Code Breaker

During his time in the army, Johnny Cash was assigned to the cryptographic intelligence unit broke military codes. Not only this job very interesting, but Cash was really good at it too.

3. Gene Simmons was an Assistant to Editor at Glamour and Vogue

Gene Simmons worked at various jobs before being a famous musician with KISS. Among his jobs, Simmons worked as a teacher at an elementary school, was a lifeguard at a hotel pool and an editorial assistant for fashion magazines. It's a good thing he found something he's really good at.

4. Keith Richards was a Ball Boy

Yes I know, it's hard to imagine Richards working at all but there was a time back in the days when Keith Richards worked as a ball boy at a tennis club when he was a teenager.

5. Noel Gallagher was a Construction Worker

I shit you not but Oasis' band member Noel Gallagher actually had a job as a construction worker. Sure, he worked for his dad but still, a job is a job, right? Besides this job he was also a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets before being part of Oasis.

6. Ozzy Osbourne (almost) Did It All

Ozzy was very busy before becoming famous and some of his jobs include being a construction worker (you think it was with Noel?), car factory horn-tuner (what is that???) and even a slaughterhouse worker (well that actually suits Ozzy if you ask me). Think he'll get another job soon after quitting music?

7. Mick Jagger Worked as a Porter at a Mental Hospital

I guess The Rolling Stones band member Mick Jagger prepared himself for a life in rock by working as a porter at a mental hospital and even selling ice creams at a beach resort. Maybe one of the patients told Jagger the secret to keep moving and dancing to this day.

8. Rod Stewart was a Gravedigger

Did Rod Stewart starred death in the eyes, or was it just the dirt? Still a creepy job to have being a gravedigger, but that he did. At least he was also a professional soccer player with Brentford Football Club as this sounds to be a happier job, but nothing beats being a famous musician I guess.

9. Pink Worked at McDonalds

And with this important info, about a million 15-year olds teenagers working at McDonalds have a new dream. Just ask Pink.

10. Cyndi Lauper was a Dog Kennel Cleaner and Ear Piercer

Do you too wonder like me if she pierced dogs' ears or human ones? I mean…it's Cyndi Lauper, you know?

11. Elvis Presley was a Truck Driver

Elvis was a truck driver before becoming the king and that was working for The Crown Electric Company in Memphis.

12. Kurt Cobain worked as a Janitor

Before becoming famous with Nirvana and in the world of grunge, Cobain used to sweep the floors as it was part of his job being a janitor. We're all familiar with the video clip for the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit", but did you even wonder why there's a janitor in the clip? Now you know.

13. Snoop Dogg was a Drug Dealer and a Grocery Shop Worker

Snoop Dogg did a good job serving the citizens of Long Beach, California whether selling them drugs or helping them pick their fruits and vegetables.

14. Moby Worked as a Golf Caddy

That's actually not a bad job at all if you think about it. Think he's a good golfer as well?

15. Fergie was a Voiceover Artist

The Black Eyed Peas band member Fergie used to be a voiceover artist and her famous one was as the voice of Sally in some Charlie Brown cartoons.

16. Brandon Flowers was a Casino Worker

The Killers band member Brandon Flowers used to be a casino worker. I guess if he wouldn't have been so successful in music he could always turn to poker or blackjack. After all, I'm sure he learned a trick or too working at a Las Vegas casino.

17. Elvis Costello Worked as a Data Entry Clerk

Before playing the guitar and writing songs, Costello used the computer a lot at Elzabeth Arden and even worked at a bank.

18. Johnathan Davis was an Embalmer

Johnathan Davis of Korn studied mortuary sciences and used to work at a funeral home in California before taking all this darkness with him to the stage.

19. Chris Cornell was a Fish Handler

Soundgarden band member Chris Cornell used to work for a seafood wholesaler before becoming famous, spending his days cleaning up the slime and fish guts at fish markets.

20. Madonna Worked at Dunkin Donuts

You think she ate too many donuts before looking at a mirror and telling herself: "No more! From now on I'll become the queen of pop music and stay fit."?

21. Greg Graffin was a Paleontologist

Gregory Walter Graffin from Bad Religion was a Paleontologist and he has a Ph.D. He kept his professional and music lives separate and so held a number of teaching jobs including at Cornell University and UCLA while still performing with the band! You know who also was a Paleontologist? Ross from Friends.

22. Gwen Stefani Worked at Dairy Queen

Gwen Stefani worked at Dairy Queen before joining No Doubt, serving soft serve and then moving on working at a department store.

23. Sting was a Tax Officer, Bus Conductor, Construction Labourer and a Teacher

I guess after all this string of jobs Sting finally understood that being a rock star and a famous musician is much more rewarding.

24. James Brown Worked as a Shoe Shiner, Catton Picker and a Car Washer

If that's not enough, he also used to work in a pool hall.

25. Kanye West Worked at Gap store

I guess now we know where Kanye gets his sense of style.

26. Jack Black Worked as a Telemarketer

I bet Jack Black can sell anything using the phone because he's Jack Black and he's awesome.

27. Frank Bello used to be a Waiter

Anthrax band member Frank Bello worked as a waiter, but was he any good? He claims he got crappy tips and that he is very fortunate he's able to make a living from music. I guess we should all be so lucky.

28. Sebastian Bach Worked as a Landscaper

Skid Row's front man Sebastian Bach worked as a landscaper but apparently held the job for only two weeks before getting fired for singing too loudly at the job. As if it's a crime, right?

29. Gotye was a Library Assistant

Reading is always good and a great source of knowledge, even in today's internet era you can always use books, just ask Gotye for some help.

30. Eminem Worked as a Short Order Cook and a Dishwasher

I guess these jobs gave him a lot of material to rap about.

31. Lance Bass was a Snow-blower

I guess he worked half a year at best which left him plenty of time to develop a music career and becoming famous.

32. Bebbie Harry was a Waitress

Blondie's front woman worked as a waitress at the legendary restaurant and club Max's Kansas City in New York City.

33. Tony Iommi was a Sheet Metal Worker

It seems heavy metal was always close to Iommi's heart and it was in this job as a sheet metal worker where he chopped off the end of one of his fingers. He is able to play his unique playing style thanks to a prosthetic fingertip.

34. Serj Tankian was a Software Company Owner

It's true! System of a Down band member Serj Tankian graduated from California State University with a degree in business and marketing and formed his own company which made "proprietary vertical industry modular accounting software."

35. Tom Ataya Worked as a Respiratory Therapist

Ataya from the band Slayer used to work in hospitals, helping people who suffered asthma and other conditions. Impressive!

36. Alanis Morisette was an Envelope Stuffer

Seriously? Is that a thing? I guess so…

37. B.B. King Worked as a Tractor Driver

This was one of King's first permanent jobs and he actually loved this job a lot.

38. Beyonce Knowles was a Hair Salon Worker

Beyonce used to work at her mom's salon, sweeping up hair of various customers before becoming a major star that she is today. Thank god for that or else she never would have met Jay-Z.

39. Jon Bon Jovi Worked as a Christmas Decorations Assembler

I don't know what a Christmas decorations assembler is just as you probably have no idea what it is, but that was his job. Maybe it was a seasonal job only?

40. B.o.B. was a Sandwich Maker at Subway

Hungry?

41. Tom Waits was a Pizza Restaurant Worker

Waits did not forget where he came from or at least where he started working and it shows in his music as he wrote several music tributes to Napoleone's Pizza in National City, California where he used to work. The Pizza restaurant is still in business and you can actually find a lot of Waits' tunes on its jukebox.

42. Courtney Love was a Stripper

Love used to work as an exotic dancer in Portland, Alaska, Taiwan and Japan. I see why Kurt Cobain loved her so much.

43. Jeff Buckley Was a Hotel Receptionist

Buckley worked the front desk at L.A.'s Magic Hotel for 6 years! Can we get the presidential suite?

44. Kim Deal was a Biochemical Lab Technician

Kim Deal of the Pixies went to 7 different colleges without graduating from a single one. Eventually she got an associate degree in biology and worked in a biochemical lab. Could be worse…

45. Chuck Berry was a beautician and a robber

I know, I know, it's a weird combo but here's how went: Barry served for 3 years in Algoa Intermediate Reformatory for an armed robbery and later on trained as a beautician for a short period of time. Now you get it.

46. Ian Curtis was a Welfare Officer

Joy Division's Ian Curtis helped the unemployed find work as a Welfare Officer before turning into music.

47. Freddie Mercury was a Market Stall Operator

Yes, even the great Freddie Mercury started his glory by selling art and clothing in Kensington market and he continued to do so even after Queen released their first album.

48. Boy George was a Grocery Bagger

Sounds a bit shocking, right? You too would have been shocked if Boy George bagged your groceries.

49. Bon Scott Worked as a Postman

He was not bad at all in his job and besides being a postman he worked also as a barman which I guess suits him more.

50. Nick Hammer was a Sanitation Worker

I have nothing to say about this, so we'll end here.

 

Back to TixSearcher.com's Blog