Ahead of the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, we’re looking back on our favorite performers’ quotes on fame, fortune and making unforgettable music.
JAGGER & RICHARDS
“I’d rather be death than singing ‘Satisfaction’ when I’m 45.” — JAGGER
FACT: Mick Jagger had a newly discovered breed of snail named after him in 1972—Anomphaulus jaggerius.
BOB DYLAN
“I’ve only written four songs in my whole life, but I’ve written those four songs a million times.”
FACT: Bob Dylan turned down the opportunity to headline Woodstock.
DEBBIE HARRY
“I wish I had invented sex.”
FACT: Debbie Harry is the oldest female singer ever to have a UK Number 1 single.
LENNON & McCARTNEY
“Everybody loves you when you’re six foot in the ground.” — LENNON
FACT: John Lennon was the only Beatle not to attend a Paul McCartney solo show.
ELVIS PRESLEY
“I want to entertain people. That’s my whole life. To my last breath.”
FACT: Aloha from Hawaii, a live gig broadcast worldwide, was watched ny more TV viewers than Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon.
JOHNNY ROTTEN
“I see no problem admiring the Bee Gees and being in the Sex Pistols.”
FACT: Although left-handed, John Lydon plays guitar right-handed, after being injured by outraged monarchists in 1977.
DAVID BOWIE
“You would think that a rock star being married to a supermodel would be on the greatest things in the world. It is.”
FACT: Bowie gave up his 50-a-day cigarette habit in 2004.
PRINCE
“You can always renegotiate a re- cord contract. You just go in and say, I think my next project will be a country-and-western-album.”
FACT: Prince was a vegan.
KATE BUSH
“I don’t like to live in the glary of publicity.”
FACT: Kate Bush played her last full live concert in 1979.
BRANDON FLOWERS
“Life goes so much slow- er when you’re taking it as it comes.”
FACT: Brandon Flowers had an epiphany at an Oasis concert, and realized that fronting a rock band was his true calling—leading to a furious search for like-minded musicians, during which he discovered an ad by guitarist Dave Keuning.
KURT COBAIN
“If I went to jail, at least I wouldn’t have to sign autographs.”
FACT: Kurt Cobain was the top earning dead celebrity in 2006.
Read the new GRAZIA Gazette: Coachella edition:
