Some of the world’s most famous musicians have achieved success through talent and a lot of hard work, writing and playing songs they hope will strike a chord with those who hear it. Each musician knows there is a risk a new release may not be as well-received as they would like. It is the same frisson of excitement that can be felt when gambling and why some musicians enjoy playing cards, slots or roulette.
Gladys Knight
Whilst giving concerts in Las Vegas, Gladys Knight “The Empress of Soul” would spend her free time sports betting and gambling, with her favourite being Baccarat, according to her autobiography. Whilst she allegedly spent USD40,000 in one night on the game, she is said to still enjoy gambling, though it is not clear if she has tried playing online baccarat at a licensed and regulated site like 888casino. As someone who was a bit of a recluse in her Las Vegas days, it is possible that she would embrace the internet casino experience.
Lemmy Kilmister
Lemmy, the lead singer of Motorhead, was a big fan of gambling right up to his death in 2015. He loved to play slots but was also often seen at the blackjack tables. In 1980, the group released Ace of Spades which explains how much Lemmy loved gambling, as the opening lyrics state, “If you like to gamble, I tell you – I am your man”. Lemmy bought an apartment above the Los Angeles Rainbow Bar & Grill simply so that he could drink there whenever he wanted. Lemmy would also visit a seedy club in London to gamble and chat with other customers.
Scott Ian
Scott Ian, lead singer and founding member of the trash metal band Anthrax, also loves to gamble and spends a lot of time playing poker. He even pursued a professional career as a poker player for five years between 2006 and 2011, though this was not common knowledge to fans of his music at the time. His professional poker experience began when he won a celebrity poker tournament on cable television having never played Texas Hold ‘Em before. The online poker company that sponsored the event chose to sign him up and provide him with poker lessons from poker pros and he enjoyed the experience of playing the game.
Sully Erna
Lead vocalist for Godsmack, Salvatore Paul “Sully” Erna also has a successful solo career as a singer. He has a large tattoo on his back of four aces in flames and a tag line below that reads “No Justice”, a tattoo that was inked after he had lost a poker game. Sully was playing on the celebrity poker circuit in 2007, around the same time as Scott Ian and took second place in one tournament, winning around USD300,000. He now focuses on music, with gambling a pastime that no longer generates publicity.
