Rock music is wild by default, but these three insane rock music moments are insane, even for the genre’s standards. And I bet you’ve never heard of at least one of these infamous incidents. Let’s take a look!
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The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards Almost Burned Down the Playboy Mansion
The Rolling Stones got into trouble on more than one occasion. However, one time back in 1972, Keith Richards almost got into some major trouble for nearly burning down the Playboy Mansion. Ahead of a series of concerts in Chicago, the band stayed at Hugh Hefner’s infamous mansion. Richards would later say in his autobiography that he and saxophone player Bobby Keys set fire to their bathroom by accident while getting high.
Eventually, Keys noticed that there was smoke, and employees of the mansion soon burst in with buckets of water to douse the flames before they got serious. Apparently, both rock stars were annoyed by the intrusion.
Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten Called Out Jimmy Saville Before His Death
It’s been made known to the masses that Jimmy Savile was a monster and a predator in the years since his death in 2011. Before then, he was known to the masses in England as a media personality and figure associated with the BBC. And way before allegations from hundreds of people came to light, an unlikely individual first called Saville out. And he was subsequently silenced.
According to Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten, he was once banned from the BBC in 1978 for outwardly calling out the crimes that Saville committed. Those crimes were allegedly suppressed by the BBC at the time. Rotten made the admission in 2015 on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. Rotten was one of the first individuals to speak about Savile’s hidden crimes. The interview in which he called out Savile was never broadcast.
“I found myself in huge trouble back then with the BBC or because of talking about Jimmy Savile,” said Rotten. “All these years later everybody is saying, ‘Oh my God, John Lydon was so right.’”
Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi Set Bill Ward on Fire
This entry on our list of insane rock music moments happened on more than one occasion, apparently. According to Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi, the band would whip out their dangerous party trick of lighting people on fire regularly. However, one incident involving Bill Ward put an end to that particular set of shenanigans.
According to Iommi, Ward once asked Tony if he was going to set him on fire. The trick involved dousing Ward with rubbing alcohol and then lighting him up with a lighter. However, the trick worked too well, as the alcohol soaked into his clothes and actually burned him. Iommi thought Ward’s screaming and rolling on the ground was part of the bit. Later, Ward had to be treated for third-degree burns.
“I felt bloody awful,” said Iommi. “We still play jokes on each other. Not quite as severe as that. I learned my lesson.”
Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage
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