Make your passion your paycheck, they say. And the musicians I’m going to introduce here might no stranger to you, but you might not know their alternative story. They used their creativity, clout, money and fame to achieve wonderful things beyond doing what they are already best at – making kickass music.
While some decided to spend their fortune on upcoming startups, others own business empires, while a few contributed to the good, others lent their creativity to spin magic.
1. Linkin Park – Venture Capitalist
Apart from producing awesome music, Mike Shinoda and team runs Machine Shop Ventures, that invests globally in companies that align with the Linkin Park brand of connecting people and innovation through technology + design.
2. Kanye West – Designed the ridiculously exclusive fashion shoes YEEZY for adidas Originals
Kanye West lent his creativity to help adidas design the uber-casual YEEZY shoes that are notorious for one thing: they are nearly impossible to get your hands on. A few people even call it the Rolls Royce or Bugatti of shoes.
But here’s the inside scoop:
YEEZY BOOST 750 set to launch in India on 19th December at these stores-
adidas Originals, Linking Road, Mumbai and
adidas Brand Centre, 100 Feet Road, Indra Nagar
3. Celine Dion – Cosmetic line
The Canadian singer runs an artist management company based in Laval, Québec, Canada. Apart from that, she also has a perfume line named Celine Dion Parfums in association with Coty, Inc.
4. Akon – bringing electricity to 600 million people in Africa
Akon has setup an initiative named Akon Lighting Africa in 2014 that is devoted to improving the life of people in rural areas of Africa. The initiative has also opened Solar Academy to bring electricity to 600 million people.
5. Brian May (lead guitarist of rock band Queen) – Astrophysicist; worked with NASA
May studied Physics and Mathematics at Imperial college, London. Apart from his illustrious career as a musician, he was a “science team collaborator” with NASA’s New Horizons Pluto mission.
6. Bono (frontman of the band U2) – Activism
National Journal has named Bono as the “Most Politically Effective Celebrity” of all time for his philanthropic endeavours. He works for a varied number of causes, mostly campaigning for third-world debt relief and raising awareness of the plight of Africa, including the AIDS pandemic.
7. Bruce Dickinson (lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden) – Commercial Pilot
Bruce holds an airline transport pilot’s licence and flew Boeing 757s regularly for the now-defunct Astraeus Airlines. After that he started Cardiff Aviation Ltd, an aircraft maintenance business. He also piloted Iron Maiden’s chartered plane carrying the band’s equipment.
8. 50 Cent – Film production and investments
When Coca-Cola acquired Vitamin Water (VM), a vitamin and mineral enhanced beverage company, 50 Cent made huge money. Why? Because 50 Cent was a minority investor in VM. Since then, 50 Cent has been actively investing in various products.
9. Justin Timberlake – Restaurateur, Golf Course Investor, Clothier, Distiller, NBA Team Part Owner
Timberlake is record label executive (Tennman Records), a restaurateur (Southern Hospitality), a clothier (William Rast), a golf course investor (Mirimichi), distiller (Sauza 901 tequila), and NBA team part owner (Memphis Grizzlies); all into one damn singer.
10. Gwen Stefani – Fashion line
Stefani launched a clothing line way back in 2004 and named it L.A.M.B. Apart from the apparel, it also has a perfume line with five different fragrances.
Who knows life better than musicians; after all music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats.
This story is brought to you in association with adidas Originals