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Musings On Music History: Bowie, Starr, & Rose Get Hitched!

04.24: On this day in 1992 David Bowie married fashion model Iman in Switzerland. And they are still married! This shatters our theory about the unspoken rocker/supermodel marriage rule of “use ’em and lose ’em” (see Billy Joel/Christie Brinkley, Axl Rose/Erin Everly, Rod Stewart/Rachel Hunter, et al). But, in this instance, at least, it’s okay because this coupleis probably one of the most stunning creatures ever to wander Earth. They’ll probably rule us all one day soon, and we’re okay with that. We’ll forgive them their transgressions against the unspoken rule.

04.26: On this day in 1982 Rod Stewart was mugged and robbed at gun point in broad daylight on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The object of the gunman’s affection? Stewart’s $50,000 Porsche.

04.27: On this day in 1976 David Bowie was detained at the border between Poland and Russia while customs officials confiscated Nazi memorabilia from his train. Bowie claimed the material was more than just light reading. He was researching a movie project about Nazi propaganda leader, Joseph Paul Goebbels. Hmmm….not sure about that one. We guess it’s possible, but the only movie that Bowie made around that time was The Man Who Fell To Earth, which had nothing to do with Nazis or Goebbels or trains and everything to do with alien-Bowie.

04.27: On this day in 1981 Ringo Starr married former Bond girl, Barbara Bach. The pair met while filming Caveman, quite possibly one of the most underrated films of all time, one of the most visceral and punishing screen portrayals you’ll ever watch, and one of the most amazing films by a rock musician ever. If you believe that, we’ve got a bridge in New York we’d like to sell ya.

04.27: On this day in 1990 Axl Rose married Erin Everly – daughter of Don Everly. Sadly, the love affair didn’t last. Rose filed for divorce after just 27 days. This is great for us, though, because it keeps our faith in the rocker/supermodel unspoken relationship oath of “use ’em and lose ’em” that’s held fairly steady for the last fifty years or so. Before that it was crooner/supermodel or crooner/actress unspoken oath, but the central tenet of the oath has remained true through the years. Just ask Billy Joel/Christie Brinkley and Rod Stewart/Rachel Hunter. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule, but the David Bowie/Imans of the rich and famous world are greatly outnumbered by the Axl Rose/Erin Everleys. And for that we thank them. Without the oath, we’d lose faith in rock.