Why These 4 1970s Classic Rock Legends Got Into So Much Trouble

Rock ‘n’ roll and scandals go hand in hand, particularly when it comes to the legendary performers of the 1970s. In their prime, legends like David Bowie and Led Zeppelin weren’t always praised by everyone. Their celebrity frequently caused controversy, whether it was because of their audacious on-stage characters or their chaotic, unpredictable off-stage lives. However, that is what made them memorable. The top four most contentious rock stars of the 1970s are shown here.

John Lennon
The Beatles helped launch John Lennon’s career, but by the 1970s, he was a well-known solo performer and vocal political campaigner. The Bed-In for Peace, which he and his wife, Yoko Ono, organized to oppose the Vietnam War, was one of his most contentious actions. It received widespread notice, but it also generated a lot of criticism.

Lennon’s private life was equally tumultuous. He cheated on Cynthia, his first wife, and Yoko, his second. In addition, he had trouble controlling his rage and occasionally acted in an unpleasant and homophobic manner. Unfortunately, in December 1980, a fan named Mark David Chapman shot him, ending his life abruptly.

Ozzy Osbourne
From 1969 to 1979, Ozzy Osbourne led Black Sabbath as their singer, although his career has always been marred by controversy. He was charged with being a Satanist and advancing sinister themes in his songs, particularly “Mr. Crowley,” which was based on the notorious occultist Aleister Crowley.

Osbourne refuted the charges, but his defiant persona did not help to dispel the confusion. He subsequently left the band due to his crazy lifestyle, which included extensive drug and alcohol usage. Even though Osbourne maintained that his actions were no worse than those of his comrades, they garnered media attention and contributed to his infamous reputation as the “Prince of Darkness.”

Led Zeppelin
Even now, part of the debate surrounding the rock band Led Zeppelin has not been established. The most scandalous tale about them is that they tied a groupie to the bed and stuffed shark pieces in her vagina to defile her in their hotel room. But Vanilla Fudge, another band, says they are to blame for what is now nicknamed the mud-shark incident.

No further witnesses have come forward to attest to or refute the incident. Led Zeppelin’s multi-platinum record career is still marred by it.

David Bowie
Although David Bowie was always a singular artist, his persona as Ziggy Stardust truly stretched the boundaries of both the music business and his own sanity. Ziggy’s stage antics became increasingly chaotic, while his songs reached the top of music charts worldwide. He wore only a sumo wrestler’s loincloth during one performance, while in another, he pretended to be having oral sex with guitarist Mick Ronson’s instrument.

Although he retired the character after only a year, Bowie claims that Ziggy Stardust continued to influence his personality for years to come.

We still adore these performers’ music despite their struggles with scandal. What is your favorite? Here, you can request your preferred “controversial” songs from our music collection.