99 replies to this topic

[WHITE]

Hi all and a happy new year !

 

There have been several film stars who ventured into motor racing like Paul Newman, James Garner or, recently, Patrick Dempsey, but I would like to know if there have been music stars who did the same ( appart from Slim Borgudd ).

 

Thank you.

[Ray Bell]

The word 'star' makes life difficult...

Just what does that mean?

Would Elio de Angelis have been a star?

[AJCee]

Mark Knopfler? Andrew Ridgeley? Do they count?

[2F-001]

Two that come to mind instantly are Chris Rea and Nick Mason.
I believe it was Mason, who, when asked in an interview, what was the connection between numerous successful rock musicians (who were 'into' motorsport) and racing cars, replied "I think it's money".

On a slight tangent… isn't the previously-often-seen historics racer Tony Smith, a multiple rock band manager (Genesis, Pink Floyd…)?

Edited by 2F-001, 01 January 2018 - 14:25.

[Tim Murray]

This earlier thread may be of interest:

Racing rockers & musicians

[WHITE]

 " Would Elio de Angelis have been a star? "    Would he had he not been a racing star ?

 

I understand a "star" to be someone who gains notoriety  within his field - in this case music, before venturing into racing.

[2F-001]

I think I saw Pete King (sax player and co-owner/founder of Ronnie Scott's Club) competing in the ETCC in the 70s.

[Ray Bell]

Dare I add this?

Apparently Guy Buckingham was a jazz musician prior to becoming the founder of Nota cars.

[RA Historian]

Dick Smothers, of the Smothers Brothers, raced formula cars for a number of years in the late '60s, early '70s.

 

John Oates, of Hall and Oates, raced in IMSA GTU in the mid '80s.

 

Then there was Giuseppe Campari, who I believe had a very operatic voice and who liked to sing.

 

Tom 

[uechtel]

Johnny Claes

Slim Borgudd

Damon Hill...

[uechtel]

and

[john winfield]

Shane Lynch.

[Gary C]

Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), Cozy Powell.

[Ray Bell]

Coincidentally, there's a book release next Friday...

It's about INXS and has been written by Dave Clement, best known as a Mini racer from the early seventies. He had connections with the group and some sponsorship deals came from that.

[RCH]

Chris Barber, or was he only an entrant? Billy Cotton, "Buddy" Featherstonehaugh.

[group7]

Johnny Hallyday, recently passed.

[f1steveuk]

Cristiano De Matta is a very good guitarist, he showed me a rather nice Fender Mustang that Fender had painted in his helmet colours.

 

Having worked in both motor racing and music, I can say, the cross over either way is way bigger than you'd think, but the term "star" means different things to different people

[HistoryFan]

Adrian Sutil played piano.

[E1pix]

Francois Cevert was a symphony-level pianist, but am not sure that's on topic.

But as the first album I ever bought was Uriah Heep's Salisbury -- at 10, for $1 -- I loved reading here a few years back that he (Edit: Oops, Ken Hensley!) raced Formula Fords!

Edited by E1pix, 02 January 2018 - 18:23.

[2F-001]

Nothing really to do with racing per se (but following comments made in the thread to which Tim linked, above), I'm sure I've read that conductor Herbert von Karajan had a GT40.

Edited by 2F-001, 01 January 2018 - 16:39.

[Tom Glowacki]

Hi all and a happy new year !

 

There have been several film stars who ventured into motor racing like Paul Newman, James Garner or, recently, Patrick Dempsey, but I would like to know if there have been music stars who did the same ( appart from Slim Borgudd ).

 

Thank you.

 

Nick Reynolds, of The Kingston Trio, raced in Formula B, early to mid-1960's.

[GazChed]

Husky voiced northern rock stars Brian Johnson , ( former ? ) lead singer of AC/DC and Chris Rea ( Road to Hell , Driving home for Christmas etc ) qualified alongside one another on the tenth row of the grid for the HRDC Allstars race at Castle Combe in July , Johnson racing his Mini Cooper S and Rea his Police liveried Morris Minor .

Another racing rock star is Neil Primrose , drummer of Scottish band Travis , who has raced a Lola T210 for several years as well as various other cars . So enthusiastic is Primrose that he named one of his daughters Lola !

[wheadon1985]

Mike Lindup from Level 42 has raced in the 2CV championship in the UK.

Maxi Jazz from Faithless raced in Fiestas, Carrera Cup & British GT. He’s now fronting a new band called Maxi Jazz & The E-Type Boys!

[GMACKIE]

Mark Knopfler drove in a celebrity race at an Adelaide Grand Prix some years back. Seem to remember him crashing...

[DogEarred]

Yes, he was in dire straits after the accident....

[GMACKIE]

Yes, he was in dire straits after the accident....

BOOM, BOOM!

[F1matt]

Steve O'Rourke managed Pink Floyd, owned his own GT team Emka racing (named after his daughters) and had some success with Tim Sugden with several 911's and a McLaren F1 GTR including a very good result in the Le Mans 24hrs.

I think BTCC driver James Coles who drives for Subaru has a day job in a tribute band.

[GazChed]

British Formula Three race winner , Barber Saab winner and driver coach extraordinaire Rob Wilson also played in the Strolling Bones .

[john aston]

I think we are conflating racing drives who can sing and play a bit, or even pretty well  (Jordan , De Angelis, D Hill et al ) with musicians who can drive a bit , or even pretty well ( Mason, Johnson, Borgudd) . They are not the same grouping ....  

[Allan Lupton]

I think we are conflating racing drivers who can sing and play a bit, or even pretty well  (Jordan , De Angelis, D Hill et al ) with musicians who can drive a bit , or even pretty well ( Mason, Johnson, Borgudd) . They are not the same grouping ....  

Yes, probably, and as the only formal (i.e. non-pop) musician mentioned above was Cevert, whose ability as a pianist was also mentioned in the TV programme on Stewart, I am left with the point made that many people such as v. Karajan liked fast cars but didn't race them. Denis Brain of happy memory was another such, reputedly reading Motor Sport when the horns had a long period of rest.

[KBY191]

Brian Johnson of AC/DC fame is a car enthusiast and motor sport participant.

https://www.yahoo.co...-200042441.html

[EDWARD FITZGERALD]

Phil Coulter , songwriter musician rallied an Escort and a Porsche Carrera with some success , Campari was an opera singer

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Allan Lupton
Yes, probably, and as the only formal (i.e. non-pop) musician mentioned above was Cevert.....

De Angelis is in the same class, surely?

[Allan Lupton]

h is not

De Angelis is in the same class, surely?

Is he? No mention in this thread except asking if he would have been a "star" which is not a term normally used in "classical" music.

[Sterzo]

Saw Andrew Ridgely thump the Paddock Bend barrier at Brands Hatch... and no, the commentator couldn't resist saying it.

 

Was Francois Cevert a professional musician at any stage?  Never heard that one.  The phrase "classically trained" doesn't really mean much, only that you've had music lessons. 

 

Roberto Ravaglia used to sing over the radio while leading European Touring Car races, to the discomfort of his engineer who had to keep listening just in case. But that's off topic and I'd better not mention it.

[GazChed]

Didn't Damon Hill's son Josh quit motor racing halfway through the 2013 season to pursue a career in music ?

[JacnGille]

I believe Christopher Cross (Sailing, Ride Like The Wind, Arthur's Theme, etc.) ran FF for a short time.

[backfire]

Lance Ellington (son of Ray) and now one of the singers on Strictly Come Dancing, raced in the Austin Rover Turbo Cup.

[GTMRacer]

If we are straying off actual racers, what about Owen Maddock at Coopers? He played the sousaphone with George Melly 

[LotusElise]

'90s pop singer and songwriter Cathy Dennis did some saloon racing. Not sure what in.

 

Howard from Take That has done a few celebrity races and owns a couple of historic racing cars.

[FrankB]

Chris Barber, or was he only an entrant? Billy Cotton, "Buddy" Featherstonehaugh.

I had vague recollections of both Chris Barber and Humphrey Lyttleton having raced. Google brought up this piece by DSJ, confirming one but with an interesting link for the second.

https://www.motorspo...h-2006/23/jenks

[FLB]

Country music superstar Marty Robbins was a sometime NASCAR Winston Cup racer from 1966 to 1982. He had a couple of Top 10 finishes:

 

http://racing-refere...r/Marty_Robbins

[MLC]

Motley Crue lead singer, Vince Neil, did some Indy Lights racing in the early 90s.

[Michael Ferner]

I believe Christopher Cross (Sailing, Ride Like The Wind, Arthur's Theme, etc.) ran FF for a short time.

Progressed to Super Vee, and maybe even an Atlantic race or two (am away from my records, can't check).

Sprint car driver Terry Crousore played at least semi-professionally in a blues/pop band.

[Jim Thurman]

Sprint car driver Terry Crousore played at least semi-professionally in a blues/pop band.

 

A bit beyond "semi-professionally" as the band he was in, The Magnificent Men, recorded at least three albums for major U.S. record labels, though I'm not sure if Crousore appeared on all three with the band.

Edited by Jim Thurman, 03 January 2018 - 21:10.

[JacnGille]

Progressed to Super Vee, and maybe even an Atlantic race or two (am away from my records, can't check).
 

Didn't remember that.

[E1pix]

Neither do I.

Though this defines "murky":
https://m.youtube.co...h?v=VgC7rp0DT1Q

Edited by E1pix, 03 January 2018 - 20:11.

[E1pix]

Lest we forget the Unforgettable John Henry Bonham:
https://m.youtube.co...h?v=8ClIALCuZnQ

[Michael Ferner]

Didn't remember that.

Well, now that I'm home I can see that I have him in six Super Vee races in 1986 (best finish 15th at Mid-Ohio), and four in 1987 (best finish 20th at Road America, though a couple of races my results are not complete, so perhaps he did better. No Atlantic results, though.

[Michael Ferner]

Lest we forget the Unforgettable John Henry Bonham:
https://m.youtube.co...h?v=8ClIALCuZnQ

Give me Bonzo anytime over Mr. Cross!!!