3 Pairs of Classic Rock Bandmates Who Married Each Other

Being in a band is a strange thing. For some, it’s a pressure cooker that eventually explodes relationships. For others, it’s the fertile ground that leads to lifelong partnerships. And when it comes to the genre of classic rock, there is certainly a plethora of examples of both. But today we wanted to take a look at three instances of the latter.

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More specifically, three romantic examples. Sure, bands can lead to long-term friendships. But they can also lead to matrimony for some of their members. It might be a surprise, but the high-octane lifestyle of classic rock did lead some bandmates to tie the knot. Let’s dive into their stories.

Sonny & Cher

One of the symbols of the flower power 1960s, Sonny & Cher were the handsome brunette couple known for songs “Baby Don’t Go” and “I Got You Babe”. They got together in the mid-1960s and were said to have wed in 1964, but both later said it was an unofficial marriage (though they did officially tie the knot in 1969). And after great musical success in the 60s, the duo became television stars in the 1970s. Garnering Grammy Awards and millions of record sales, the duo ended up splitting up in 1975, divorcing, and going their separate ways.

The White Stripes

Jack and Meg White might be one of the most interesting duos in rock history. Jack met Meg at the Memphis Smoke restaurant in Royal Oak, Michigan, while he was in high school. Infatuated, the two began to spend lots of time together, talking music, drinking coffee, and smoking cigarettes. They married in September of 1996, and Jack took her last name. The two stayed together while in one of the most significant rock bands ever, The White Stripes. But they split up in March of 2000, and while they divorced, the two remain friends today.

Paul and Linda McCartney

The former Beatle Paul McCartney married his wife and future bandmate Linda on March 12, 1969. It was the end of the Fab Four, who were splitting up after more than a decade playing music together and becoming the biggest band in the world. Paul and Linda had met two years prior. She was an American photographer in London, and the two became smitten. After marrying, the two were together for 29 years until Linda’s death in 1998 from breast cancer. It’s a story as tragic as it is beautiful—just like a great Beatles song.

Photo by CA/Redferns