The muses that inspire rock stars prove to be just as famous as the musicians themselves. How could we not revere the men and women that effectively gave us our favorite songs? We’d like to take a look at some of the greatest rock muses of all time–and the classic songs they inspired–below.
Videos by American Songwriter
Patti Boyd – “Layla” (Derek and the Dominos)
We’re starting our list of the greatest rock muses with an obvious choice: Patti Boyd. The English model held the affection of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton. They both penned powerful songs in her honor, but “Layla” is unarguably the most famous.
“Layla” saw a heartsick Clapton wax poetic about his friend’s wife. Boyd and Harrison were still married when this rock anthem was released. Layla, you’ve got me on my knees / Layla, you’re begging, darling, please, Clapton sings desperately in the chorus. It’s one of the stickiest situations in rock history, but it produced one of the greatest songs of all time.
Marianne Faithfull – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (The Rolling Stones)
The Rolling Stones‘ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” has generated many theories, but one of the most pervasive is that it was inspired by the iconic rock muse, Marianne Faithfull. Mick Jagger and Faithfull had a public relationship for several years in the late ’60s/early ’70s. Many Stones songs are said to be about her, but few are as pining as this one.
Jagger sings about a missed connection in the lyrics to “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. There is also a titular woman that pops up in the lines. Fans seem to think that woman is Faithfull. Regardless, the song have evolved to cover a much winder scope of topics than was originally intended. Listeners have co-opted this song to apply to many struggles. That’s likely why it has stayed so pervasive in rock music.
Yoko Ono – “Don’t Let Me Down” (The Beatles)
Though not every Beatles fan is a fan of Yoko Ono, no one can deny her influence on John Lennon towards the end of the Beatles’ career. Whether you blame her for breaking up the Beatles or credit her for inspiring some of Lennon’s best music, Ono is indelible to the Beatles story.
One Lennon-penned song that was inspired by his rock muse, Ono, is “Don’t Let Me Down”. This raucous rock track came at the tail-end of the Beatles’ tenure. It proved that the band was still able to produce incredible music, despite being on the brink of disaster.
Claudette Orbison – “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison)
Sometimes the simplest actions prove to be the most inspiring. That was the case when Roy Orbison’s first wife, Claudette Frady, walked to the store one day. While she was gone, Orbison penned one of the most enduring songs of all time, “Oh, Pretty Woman”.
It’s hard to believe that such a beloved track was written so quickly, but given the right inspiration, anything is possible.
[RELATED: The 2 Songs Roy Orbison Wrote for Johnny Cash in 1959 and 1969]
(Photo by Joe Bangay/Express/Getty Images)
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