# Rock musicians who went to art school? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376 "2006-06-20T01:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/1 "2006-06-20T01:31:44Z")
First of all, thanks to all of those who participated in my thread a few months ago and helped us to decide where my son should go to high school. The problem was that his main interest is guitar playing and he was accepted at a great arts high school, but not in the music track. He was accepted for visual art. We decided that he will go to that school and thanks again for the input. During that thread it was mentioned that lots of musicians studied art in school and I believe one was mentioned. Some friends have made the same point but no one seems to remember any names. Lots of maybes, like David Byrne and other Talking Heads, Mick Jagger, Ray Davies, John Lennon, Jimmy Page. Any others you know of? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/2 "2006-06-20T01:39:48Z")
Pete Townshend. Brian Eno. Viv Stanshall. Bryan Ferry was an art school _teacher_ before he formed Roxy Music. Mick Jagger? Not an art school guy–he attended the London School of Economics, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/3 "2006-06-20T02:13:55Z")
Before they were Talking Heads, they were art school students. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/4 "2006-06-20T02:20:02Z")
John Lennon went to art school. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/5 "2006-06-20T02:21:43Z")
The Bonzo Dog Band were all art school students when they formed the band. Here are some British art schools and the musicians who started there: Camberwell Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd founder) Central School of Art (now merged with St. Martin’s) Vivian Stanshall, Larry Smith (both Bonzos) Ealing College Roger Ruskin-Spear, (Bonzos) Pete Townshend, Freddie Mercury (66-69) Goldsmith’s Neil Innes (Bonzos, Monty Python) Isleworth Polytechnic Freddie Mercury (64-66) Kingston Eric Clapton Polyechnic College, Regent St. Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright (Pink Floyd) ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/6 "2006-06-20T02:28:37Z")
The original core members of **Dream Theater** – John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, John Myung & Kevin Moore – all went to the [Berklee College of Music.](http://www.berklee.edu/) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/7 "2006-06-20T03:34:05Z")
The members of Gwar went to art school. So did Rob Zombie IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/8 "2006-06-20T03:44:31Z")
Nick Cave went to art school. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/9 "2006-06-20T11:04:37Z")
As I’ve said before “I love this board!” Thanks for info so far. My son will love to see this before he goes to camp for the summer. Should definitely help him to be psyched for school. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/10 "2006-06-20T11:37:49Z")
Pink Floyd - Syd Barrett attended Camberwell Art School. Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason studied architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic. Gang of Four - University of Leeds Arts Travis - Glasgow School of Art Joni Mitchell - attended art school in Calgary. Franz Ferdinand - Glasgow School of Art Devo - Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale Kent State art students Brian Eno - Winchester Art School Kanye West - International Academy of Art and Design and Technology, a local art school in Chicago Talking Heads - met at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Chicks on Speed - met while at Munich Art Academy Yeah Yeah Yeahs - met at Oberlin College ---
**Author:** ![Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hook)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/11 "2006-06-20T11:50:29Z")
Iconic Aussie rockers **Mental as Anything** were art students at East Sydney Tech went they met and formed the band. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/12 "2006-06-20T12:40:42Z")
Jerry garcia dabbled in ink and watercolors… I had a deal going to by a signed Litho of his, the he up and died and the price was untouchable, damn. tsfr ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/13 "2006-06-20T12:43:39Z")
Years ago, Peter Noone hosted a TV show on VH1, and one time, he had Bill (King Crimson, Yes) Bruford, Roger (The WHo) Daltrey and Mick (the Clash) Jones on as guests. Mick Jones talked about how he’d gone to art school solely because he wanted to start a rock band! Pressed on that point, Jones said, “Well, I had no talent as an artist, no real interest in art. I really wanted to get into a band. And it seemed like all my favorite musicians (he mentioned Ray Davies, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend and John Lennon) had gone to art school. So, I went to art school. I just figured my first day, I’d walk into the toilet and there’d be a bunch of guys with guitars, and we’d be all set.” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/14 "2006-06-20T12:46:21Z")
I was going to say Freddie Mercury, but now that I’m thinking about it, he may have just been an art major. He did design Queen’s logo, though. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/15 "2006-06-20T13:27:59Z")
Nothing to add, except that this is a fascinating read. And I now have “Art School Girlfriend” by Stone Temple Pilots in my head. Darn it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/16 "2006-06-20T15:12:21Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I was going to say Freddie Mercury, but now that I’m thinking about it, he may have just been an art major. He did design Queen’s logo, though. See my post #5. He actually went to two art schools, so I suppose that’s why people say he was bi. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/17 "2006-06-20T15:47:39Z")
> [@xnylder](#): > > And I now have “Art School Girlfriend” by Stone Temple Pilots in my head. Darn it. “She wears the leather, I wear the make-up, we’ll never break up…” Tons of British punk and new wave bands were art schoolers. Goldsmiths was mentioned earlier; the majority of **Blur** attended. **Mike Lindup** of UK funk band **Level 42** also attended a music school, though I can’t remember which. I think **Dominic Miller** was there - he was almost a member and now is probably best known for playing with **Sting**. **Mick Jones** was mentioned, and I’m 99% sure **Paul Simonon** was also at art school - he’s an accomplished painter. I think **Joe Strummer** was there as well. I’m also pretty sure that members of **Coldplay** went to art school as well. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/18 "2006-06-20T16:01:53Z")
How could I have forgotten the classic, from Ealing Art College - [Ron Wood](http://www.sfae.com/index.php?action=gallery&status=show_artist&ID=2) who actually sells works and spends far more time painting than playing. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/19 "2006-06-20T16:05:26Z")
**Michael Stipe** - art major at University of Georgia before starting **R.E.M.** ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376/20 "2006-06-20T16:25:25Z")
IIRC, in a _Guitar Player_ magazine interview ca. 1977, Keith Richards said that there were more good guitar players in art school than there were good artists. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-musicians-who-went-to-art-school/361376.md?page=2)