# Have there been any rock stars who were monogamous during their entire career? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252 "2010-11-29T03:46:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/41 "2010-11-30T04:19:13Z")
Jinx! Buy me a Coke! (punches Little Nemo in the arm) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/42 "2010-11-30T04:19:45Z")
And…in my study of history, the phenomenon of the parades of mistresses and concubines of so many of the most powerful men throughout the ages has swayed me towards thinking that in the majority of the time, a man who is sufficiently powerful will feed his urge for sexual promiscuity, regardless of the religious or social strictures around him. Rock stars to me fall into the same category of kings and emperors in history in terms of their influence and appeal. But the basic concept remains the same: man of power, status and wealth = easy availability of women. I do believe that the majority of human males _would_ have sex with many different women if they could. By “if they could” I mean both if they were able to attract these women to them sexually, and also if they could do so hypothetically without the objection of their wives or significant others. Many men would not want to cheat on their wives (although some obviously have no problem with it) but if this first category of men could, somehow, by some magical genie’s command, have sex with a lot of different attractive women and have their wives not mind it, they would. I do believe it is more or less hard wired into a male human’s DNA to want to do this. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/43 "2010-11-30T04:31:19Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > [Alice Cooper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Cooper#Personal_life) also seems to be a pretty square guy, married 30+ years, three kids, born again Christian. Quick hijack I know virtually nothing about Alice Cooper’s life, music or religion, but isn’t his whole schtick a faux-Satanic-possessed persona, with whole albums that are themed with such subjects as serial killers, various occult practices, human sacrifice, necrophillia, etc.? How can that possibly jibe with being a practicing Christian? I assume that the answer I will hear is that it’s all an act, and he is merely playing a role, just like an actor who portrays an evil character, but to me it seems that it’s almost impossible to square the two diametrically opposed parts of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/44 "2010-11-30T04:38:03Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > And…in my study of history, the phenomenon of the parades of mistresses and concubines of so many of the most powerful men throughout the ages has swayed me towards thinking that in the majority of the time, a man who is sufficiently powerful will feed his urge for sexual promiscuity, regardless of the religious or social strictures around him. Rock stars to me fall into the same category of kings and emperors in history in terms of their influence and appeal. But the basic concept remains the same: man of power, status and wealth = easy availability of women. > > I do believe that the majority of human males _would_ have sex with many different women if they could. By “if they could” I mean both if they were able to attract these women to them sexually, and also if they could do so hypothetically without the objection of their wives or significant others. Many men would not want to cheat on their wives (although some obviously have no problem with it) but if this first category of men could, somehow, by some magical genie’s command, have sex with a lot of different attractive women and have their wives not mind it, they would. > > I do believe it is more or less hard wired into a male human’s DNA to want to do this. Can you please take this somewhere else? Your argument has diverged rather widely from the topic of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/45 "2010-11-30T04:39:12Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Quick hijack > > I know virtually nothing about Alice Cooper’s life, music or religion, but isn’t his whole schtick a faux-Satanic-possessed persona, with whole albums that are themed with such subjects as serial killers, various occult practices, human sacrifice, necrophillia, etc.? > > How can that possibly jibe with being a practicing Christian? > > I assume that the answer I will hear is that it’s all an act, and he is merely playing a role, just like an actor who portrays an evil character, but to me it seems that it’s almost impossible to square the two diametrically opposed parts of his life. Why? Can’t a Christian actor play a heinous monster in a movie or a TV show? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/46 "2010-11-30T04:39:33Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Quick hijack > > I know virtually nothing about Alice Cooper’s life, music or religion, but isn’t his whole schtick a faux-Satanic-possessed persona, with whole albums that are themed with such subjects as serial killers, various occult practices, human sacrifice, necrophillia, etc.? > > How can that possibly jibe with being a practicing Christian? > > I assume that the answer I will hear is that it’s all an act, and he is merely playing a role, just like an actor who portrays an evil character, but to me it seems that it’s almost impossible to square the two diametrically opposed parts of his life. I dunno; but maybe the defintion of a “practicing Christian” can encompass more than you suppose. If he’s faithful to his family, treats other people the way he’d want to be treated and doesn’t lie, cheat or steal, looks to me like he’s already way ahead of a lot of ostentatious Bible thumpers out there. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/47 "2010-11-30T04:53:58Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Quick hijack > > I know virtually nothing about Alice Cooper’s life, music or religion, but isn’t his whole schtick a faux-Satanic-possessed persona, with whole albums that are themed with such subjects as serial killers, various occult practices, human sacrifice, necrophillia, etc.? > > How can that possibly jibe with being a practicing Christian? > > I assume that the answer I will hear is that it’s all an act, and he is merely playing a role, just like an actor who portrays an evil character, but to me it seems that it’s almost impossible to square the two diametrically opposed parts of his life. Alice Cooper is a stage act. Vincent Furnier is a husband, father, golfer, and pretty decent guy. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/48 "2010-11-30T04:54:56Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Just celebrated my 5th anniversary… Then you must be very unhappy. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Many men would not want to cheat on their wives (although some obviously have no problem with it) but if this first category of men could, somehow, by some magical genie’s command, have sex with a lot of different attractive women and **have their wives not mind it** , they would. Bolding mine. That’s not what you said (or implied) to begin with, and it’s 100% different. Hell, I’d have sex with multiple other dudes if my SO wouldn’t mind it. But what stops me is if I did decide to have sex with other dudes I would suffer in my relationship with him and no longer be allowed to sleep with him. Worse, I’d lose his companionship. I think you underestimate how much this is a two-sided coin here. Also hijack: I was on a flight with Bono once and he was in the waiting area with the rest of us schlubs for an hour ahead of boarding. Now, he and I were off in a less-populated seating area virtually alone. I didn’t even recognize him till I heard him start talking on his cell phone (I mean, who in Atlanta has an Irish accent?) The phone conversation was with his wife and was _too cute_ for words. It’s certainly not _proof_ he’s faithful but it certainly seemed he was inclined towards it. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/49 "2010-11-30T04:55:04Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I dunno; but maybe the defintion of a “practicing Christian” can encompass more than you suppose. If he’s faithful to his family, treats other people the way he’d want to be treated and doesn’t lie, cheat or steal, looks to me like he’s already way ahead of a lot of ostentatious Bible thumpers out there. I actually agree with you, but his whole career seems to celebrate and glorify murder, Satanism, chaos and evil—I don’t think that he is ACTUALLY a murderer, or an evil man, etc. but for his music to fixate on only those type subjects (which I will gladly acknowledge will sell a lot more albums than Born-Again Christian themed music would) seems impossible to reconcile. If an actor refused to take on ANY roles except for evil, depraved monsters, for their entire acting career, I would have trouble believing that he was serious about being a Born Again Christian (or a observant Orthodox Jew or a practicing Muslim). ETA—I am not looking for a serious debate, or trying to bash Alice Cooper, this is just something I have a bit of trouble wrapping my head around, and I assumed that Dopers would respond as you have so far. Thanks for your input!!! ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/50 "2010-11-30T04:59:51Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Bolding mine. That’s not what you said (or implied) to begin with, and it’s 100% different. Hell, I’d have sex with multiple other dudes if my SO wouldn’t mind it. But what stops me is if I did decide to have sex with other dudes I would suffer in my relationship with him and no longer be allowed to sleep with him. Worse, I’d lose his companionship. I think you underestimate how much this is a two-sided coin here. Could you please explain what exactly you think I said or implied to begin with? I’m having trouble understanding where you’re coming from here. By “not monogamous” I did not necessarily mean “unfaithful.” I also meant “not in a committed relationship with one person.” ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/51 "2010-11-30T05:17:23Z")
Robert Smith of The Cure has been married to his wife for eons, and I’ve never heard a breath of scandal about them. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/52 "2010-11-30T05:23:32Z")
Stevie Ray Vaughn and band toured with their wives at least once (this would have been, dunno, IIRC around 1980 or 81). I worked at a college radio station and Stevie Ray did an interview after a show. Radio station types all agreed Double Trouble were pretty boring becuase of the wives and no interest in going out and partying. [FWIW, The Adam Ant after party was a wild full blown orgy] ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/53 "2010-11-30T11:46:47Z")
Rock star, schmock star, look at Steve and Edie! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/54 "2010-11-30T12:50:43Z")
**Argent Towers, lindsaybluth** , if you want to argue about the larger issues of men and monogamy, start a new thread in GD. This thread is for examples of men (apparently, I’m not seeing references to women) who remained faithful to their wives (ditto, contrariwise) for their entire rock careers. And no, **Argent Towers** , there’s no loophole for hijacking just because you’re the OP. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/55 "2010-11-30T15:25:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Stevie Ray Vaughn and band toured with their wives at least once (this would have been, dunno, IIRC around 1980 or 81). I worked at a college radio station and Stevie Ray did an interview after a show. Radio station types all agreed Double Trouble were pretty boring becuase of the wives and no interest in going out and partying. > > [FWIW, The Adam Ant after party was a wild full blown orgy] This changed. I saw SRV in December of 1986 at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh - this was only a month and a half after he finished rehab. He played perfectly, but looked like a wreck. I saw him a couple more times before the crash. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/56 "2010-11-30T16:09:52Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I actually agree with you, but his whole career seems to celebrate and glorify murder, Satanism, chaos and evil—I don’t think that he is ACTUALLY a murderer, or an evil man, etc. but for his music to fixate on only those type subjects (which I will gladly acknowledge will sell a lot more albums than Born-Again Christian themed music would) seems impossible to reconcile. > > If an actor refused to take on ANY roles except for evil, depraved monsters, for their entire acting career, I would have trouble believing that he was serious about being a Born Again Christian (or a observant Orthodox Jew or a practicing Muslim). > ETA—I am not looking for a serious debate, or trying to bash Alice Cooper, this is just something I have a bit of trouble wrapping my head around, and I assumed that Dopers would respond as you have so far. > > Thanks for your input!!! I think that Alice in his prime may have lived the debauched life you seem to be thinking of. He got married in 1976, which seems to have cooled him down a bit, and quit drinking in the mid-1980s, which probably cooled him off a lot. Considering this guy hasn’t had a hit since 1973 (1974 if you count “Muscle of Love”), the timeline makes sense. What DOESN’T make sense is his seeming admiration for socialism in _Wayne’s World_ and his subsequent endorsement of Sarah Palin recently. I guess one’s a role and one’s reality, but c’mon. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/57 "2010-12-01T02:35:02Z")
> [@lawoot](#): > > Besides Alice Stuart, there was also Nigey Lennon, who claims to have had an affair with Frank, to the point of rooming with him on the _200 Motels_ tour. She even [wrote a book about it.](http://www.amazon.com/Being-Frank-My-Time-Zappa/dp/187939541X) > > Not to mention Moon’s description of her dad as ‘a monk… a monk with a taste for Groupies.’ [QUOTE=pravnik] Frank Zappa was married to Gail Zappa from 1967 until his death in 1993, and had four children with her, and there’s no indication he was anything but faithful to her. He more or less eschewed the sex and drugs aspect of the rock and roll lifestyle. [/quote] Agreed about the drugs part ONLY. Gail came to town about 3 years ago and did a talk on campus which included a very interesting video interview of FZ. Not only does FZ freely discuss doing groupies, after the video Gail mentions “her husband’s sexual practices” - almost offhandedly. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/58 "2010-12-01T02:49:48Z")
Eddie Van Halen was reputed to have been faithful to Valerie throughout their marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/59 "2010-12-01T04:03:43Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > I think that Alice in his prime may have lived the debauched life you seem to be thinking of. He got married in 1976, which seems to have cooled him down a bit, and quit drinking in the mid-1980s, which probably cooled him off a lot. Considering this guy hasn’t had a hit since 1973 (1974 if you count “Muscle of Love”), the timeline makes sense. Even before he got married, he apparently had a relatively stable personal life. He had long-term relationships with girlfriends Christine Frka and Cindy Lang when his career was at its peak. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252/60 "2010-12-01T04:31:44Z")
> [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](#): > > Agreed about the drugs part ONLY. Gail came to town about 3 years ago and did a talk on campus which included a very interesting video interview of FZ. Not only does FZ freely discuss doing groupies, after the video Gail mentions “her husband’s sexual practices” - almost offhandedly. Dude, you’re way behind - post 22 already refuted me _and_ had a book! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-rock-stars-who-were-monogamous-during-their-entire-career/562252.md?page=4)