# Rock Stars who graduated from college? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 6, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733 "2005-11-06T03:39:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/1 "2005-11-06T03:39:33Z")
My husband and I were talking about our beloved Barenaked Ladies and wondering if any of them had graduated from college. We couldn’t imagine they had because they got together in high school (or maybe it was even junior high). We were thinking rock star is probably one of the few professions where getting a college degree interferes with your likelihood of success. So who’s done both? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/2 "2005-11-06T03:50:30Z")
I seem to recall that Brian May of Queen is quite well educated. In fact, he was working on a Ph.D. in astrophysics, I think, and left when the band took off. Presumably he already had a degree or two. I’ve heard a similar story about some of the guys from The Offspring. I think the guitarist and/or lead singer are ABDs from a Ph.D. program. Last, a friend into hardcore metal told me of a band that was composed of medical doctors. I’ve forgotten their name, but their songs often mention medical stuff… ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/3 "2005-11-06T04:01:24Z")
Gordon Sumner (Sting) attended the University of Warwick and Northern Counties Teacher Training College. He presumedly graduated from the latter as he later worked as a teacher. Mick Jagger attended the London School of Economics. Don’t know if he got a degree. Sheryl Crow graduated from the University of Missouri and worked as a teacher. Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe were all attending the University of Georgia when they founded REM but they all dropped out when the band became big. Phish was another college band. Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Jeff Holdsworth, and Page McConnell were students at the University of Vermont (three of them later transferred to Goddard College). Liz Phair attended Oberlin College. Again, I can’t confirm she actually graduated. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/4 "2005-11-06T04:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I seem to recall that Brian May of Queen is quite well educated. In fact, he was working on a Ph.D. in astrophysics, I think, and left when the band took off. Presumably he already had a degree or two. May attended the Imperial College London and was working on his Ph.D. thesis in astronomy but hadn’t completed it when he left for a musical career. Apparently he was a serious student however and was later awarded an honorary doctorate from Hertfordshire University. > [@](#): > > I’ve heard a similar story about some of the guys from The Offspring. I think the guitarist and/or lead singer are ABDs from a Ph.D. program. According to wikipedia, Bryan “Dexter” Holland is working on his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the University of Southern California. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/5 "2005-11-06T04:11:27Z")
American musician Deniz “The Iceman” Tek is a more famous figure in Australian rock. While studying medicine in Sydney he formed the now legendary _Radio Birdman_ an ongoing influence on Australian music. He returned to the states to become a marine flight surgeon with an appropriate cool call sign. He returned to music with various bands in the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/6 "2005-11-06T05:02:14Z")
Tom Scholz attended MIT and received bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering before getting a job with Polaroid and puttiing his savings into musical equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/7 "2005-11-06T05:11:28Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Mick Jagger attended the London School of Economics. Don’t know if he got a degree. Nope. He dropped out when the Stones began to make it big. Jim Morrison studied film at UCLA and graduated before teaming up with Ray Manzarek, who also studied at UCLA. ---
**Author:** ![DVsickgirlDV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@DVsickgirlDV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVsickgirlDV)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/8 "2005-11-06T06:26:45Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Liz Phair attended Oberlin College. Again, I can’t confirm she actually graduated. She did with a B.A. in Art History. Cite: [http://www.auralgasms.com/default.aspx?BandID=lizphair](http://www.auralgasms.com/default.aspx?BandID=lizphair). Sorry I have no idea how to do the HTML link thingie. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/9 "2005-11-06T06:54:21Z")
I’m pretty sure Gene Simmons (of KISS) was a high school English teacher at one point, so presumably he went to college. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/10 "2005-11-06T07:01:32Z")
Milo Aukerman ( formerly of the Descendants ) supposedly has a PhD in biochemistry. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/11 "2005-11-06T07:02:06Z")
Pretty sure both members of They Might Be Giants are college grads, but can’t seem to find any evidence supporting my claim. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/12 "2005-11-06T07:05:06Z")
Geoff Tate, lead singer of the band Queensryche, double-majored (I think) in Poli Sci and Econ. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/13 "2005-11-06T08:02:28Z")
> [@carlotta](#): > > My husband and I were talking about our beloved Barenaked Ladies and wondering if any of them had graduated from college. We couldn’t imagine they had because they got together in high school (or maybe it was even junior high). I think this was one of the audience trivia questions they asked at one of the Dallas shows. I’m pretty sure they said that Tyler was the only one who’d graduated from college. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/14 "2005-11-06T08:06:03Z")
Bob Dylan went to the University of Minnesota but only for one year Art Garfunkel went to Columbia University Bob Geldof went to Blackrock College David Gilmour went to the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology Chrissie Hynde went to Kent State University Janis Joplin went to the University of Texas but didn’t graduate Lou Reed went to Syracuse University Paul Simon got a degree in English Literature from Queens College Grace Slick went to Finch College and the University of Miami Pete Townsend went to Ealing Art College ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/15 "2005-11-06T11:20:03Z")
The Talking Heads- Rhode Island School of Design (I don’t know how to spell RIZ-dee) ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/16 "2005-11-06T14:22:04Z")
I believe Bruce Dickinson (lead singer of Iron Maiden) got a history degree from Queen Mary’s College in London. ---
**Author:** ![liberty3701](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@liberty3701](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberty3701)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/17 "2005-11-06T14:49:01Z")
Dunno if either of these really count as _rock stars_ but … Greg Graffin, lead singer of Bad Religion, which was formed when he was, like, 14, got his PhD in geology or some such from Cornell. Kris Kristopherson graduated from Pomona College and was a Rhodes Scholar ---
**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:** [November 6, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/18 "2005-11-06T15:38:34Z")
Bryan Ferry graduated from Newcastle University. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/19 "2005-11-06T15:41:17Z")
> [@liberty3701](#): > > Greg Graffin, lead singer of Bad Religion, which was formed when he was, like, 14, got his PhD in geology or some such from Cornell. I think it was sociology. (He’s the guy I came here to mention.) A bunch of guys who went to GWU here in D.C. started a bunch of bands which, while not leading to stardom, did tour and play out alot. Probably the most famous is Neil Fallon of Clutch, which has acheived a good bit of success, though I’d be reluctant tocall them “stars.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733/20 "2005-11-06T15:48:37Z")
Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave has an undergrad degree from Harvard. A drummer in a previous band I was in played in bands at Harvard at the same time and said that he was a full-on, spandex wearing hair metal kinda guy. My friend’s band actually beat Morello’s and a battle of the bands. The drummer from Semisonic (“Closing Time” was their big hit) - I think his name is Jason Schlicter - also went to Harvard. He recently wrote a book about his experience in being in a one-hit band and dealing with the Industry that got very positive reviews… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-stars-who-graduated-from-college/329733.md?page=2)