Some musicians get a taste of fame and don’t know how to act. That was the case, in some capacity, for these three rock stars who got in trouble with the law. They didn’t exactly win their respective legal battles, either. Let’s take a look!
1. Keith Moon
Keith Moon was one of the most famous drummers of all time, and he was also known for getting into trouble outside of performances. And, sometimes, during performances.
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One famous arrest occurred when Moon was quite young. Back in August of 1967, Moon was arrested after celebrating his “21st birthday” when it was only his 20th. He may not have been caught for underaged drinking if he hadn’t caused such a ruckus at the hotel he was staying at.
Moon caused a food fight, trashed his hotel room, set off a few fire extinguishers, and drove a Lincoln Continental into a swimming pool naked. He snapped a tooth during the whole ordeal and avoided going to jail, but the hotel in question did send Moon a bill for $24,000 and a firm ban from ever returning.
2. Ozzy Osbourne
In this example of rock stars who got in trouble with the law, it’s hard not to feel a little bit bad for Ozzy. When you gotta go, you gotta go. The England-born rocker likely didn’t know that he was urinating near a revered monument that commemorated the Alamo while touring in Texas. While Osbourne didn’t let loose on the monument, he did publicly urinate on a sidewalk wearing one of his wife’s dresses.
He was subsequently arrested in Texas for public intoxication. Unfortunately, he was also banned for 10 years from performing in San Antonio.
3. Paul McCartney
I still don’t know what Paul McCartney was thinking with this one. Paul McCartney and Wings were prepared to head to Japan for an upcoming tour in 1980. Paul McCartney, knowing he wouldn’t be able to purchase any marijuana there, opted to pack a bag with eight ounces of cannabis to bring with him.
Obviously, he was arrested and charged with possession. He was stuck at Tokyo’s Narcotics Detention Center for nine days, and the tour was subsequently cancelled. The arrest was very expensive for the band and eventually led to its disbandment.
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