Famous musicians who have become criminals

The history of popular music has its dark spots, and many. Musicians and producers have repeatedly found themselves involved in crime. They broke the law under the influence of alcohol or drugs, mental illness, or a sudden gust, and sometimes with malicious intent. Someone criminal acts completely broken career and destiny, someone found the strength to survive the hit and move on (and even engaged in creative work, while in custody). Although in some cases, the severity of the acts committed is not allowed to count for the rehabilitation and the continuation of a musical career.

Tell us about serious offenders from the world of show business. With respect to the guilt of some heroes of our collections, in spite of the decision rendered by the court, to still debate regarding the other most stringent sentences seem to be quite justified.

Leadbelly

Charges: murder, attempted murder, theft, and more.

Status: repeated measures of deprivation of liberty.

Harvey William Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, - the legendary bluesman, which has had a huge impact on the development of popular music. His active career came in the first half of the XX century (the actor died in December 1949). Leadbelly was a very distinctive character of the dashing and controversial era. Of course, his songwriting and performing talents were not subject to the slightest doubt.

However, for all their creative talents, Leadbelly also went down in history as the perpetrator of many crimes. Fights, murder, attempted murder, escapes from prison, banal theft - small and big trouble with the law was accompanied by musician-athlete (his nickname means "Lead belly") throughout life's journey. Even a little surprising that with such a way of life, having behind him many years of hard labor, Leadbelly was able to hold on to 61 years. Musician died in 1949 from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Chuck Berry

Charges: burglary, theft, coercion into prostitution.

Status: twice sentenced to imprisonment.

Pioneer rock 'n' roll was in trouble in school days. Berry was sentenced to 10 years in prison for taking part in an armed robbery and car theft. Finally Chuck vain wasted no time, developed a precocious musical talent. Having reached the age of 21, and released from prison under an amnesty, he quickly managed to assert themselves. As a result of 1950 for Berry became the golden age.

Alas, but the flip side of popularity in the end, too, has had an effect. Chuck was involved in the trial and found guilty of a violent transportation of a minor girl to another state and forced her into prostitution. The verdict - the new 5 years in prison (as a result of the musician served three). Imprisonment Berry, along with the death of Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley's appeal to the army, many historians of pop music is regarded as the end of an era of classic rock 'n' roll.

Joe Meek

Charges: murder.

Status: committed suicide immediately after the crime.

In 1950-60-ies producer and sound engineer Joe Meek earned a reputation as a "mad genius". On the one hand, an innovator of studio work, tireless experimenter, constantly in search of innovative solutions that can decorate any composition. On the other hand, Joe was a sort of "troublemakers" who liked to argue and bicker with the boss (or former colleagues). He was keen on the occult, he was arrested for homosexuality, he arranged the recording session in the cemetery. In general, anything deadly in all of this was not - perhaps a little light on the eccentrics, which, with all its frills, live to old age and enjoy the love from others? However, Joe is believed to be undoing what his production career relatively quickly went into decline, the commercial success over. It is likely to overlap, domestic conflicts, remaining unknown to the public. Anyway, life is a "mad genius" broken 3 February 1967. On this day, for unclear reasons, Joe Meek shot his landlady, Violet Shenton and then committed suicide.

Keith Moon, drummer of The Who

Accusation of negligence homicide, driving under the influence.

Status: found guilty on charges of driving under the influence.

In the life of unbridled drummer The Who had a lot of adventures and incidents, but one episode stands alone. He may to a certain extent brought the untimely death of the musician. This refers to the infamous "car accident" January 4, 1970, when Keith, pretty merry in a pub, came into conflict with the local skinheads, annoyed his luxury car.

Jumping behind the wheel and tried to drive off away from unpleasant company, Moon got killed by his bodyguard and friend Nick Boland. According to the results of the investigation into prison drummer missed - he was found not guilty of the accident. Justice was limited to probation for drunk driving. But the moral anguish proved to be much stronger. In the opinion of relatives of people after the tragedy Keith constantly tormented by remorse, he suffered from nightmares, and said that he no longer has the right to life.

Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols)

The charge: murder.

Status: the investigation was not completed due to the death of the accused.

Chronicle of the last months of life dissolute British punk too well known, glorified in songs and filmed to her recount in detail here. Arrest on suspicion of murdering girlfriend, bail, followed by suicide. With all the heavy addiction Sid, the circumstances of the death of Nancy Spungen to the end have not been clarified. Therefore, there remains a possibility that Vicious should not be on this list.

Jim Gordon

The charge: murder.

Status: sentenced to prison, transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

Jim Gordon was one of those musicians who did not shine in the foreground, but nevertheless play an important role in shaping the sound of his era. As a guest and session musician, Jim (drummer of the main specialization) worked with The Beach Boys (including in the album Pet Sounds) and Joan Baez, The Byrds and Gene Clark, Eric Clapton and Derek and the Dominos, Alice Cooper, John Lennon and George Harrison.

Life and a successful career ruined Gordon progressing schizophrenia. First, he said goodbye to the music, and in 1983 he was arrested after the murder of his own mother. Jim said that voices in his head ordered him to commit this crime. Former musician was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but, as of 2018, Gordon is still under the supervision of psychiatrists in a special hospital.

Vince Neil, frontman Mötley Crüe

The prosecution: violation of traffic rules, which entailed a fatal crash.

Status: sentenced to prison, parole.

The band Mötley Crüe famous for their crazy antics and problems with the law, alcohol and drugs. The fact that all of the original four are still alive and active - a truly incredible luck. Vocalist Vince Neil, as befits the frontman of the band, always keep the brand notorious rowdy and hung. The only problem is that sometimes lead to uncontrolled binge real tragedies. In 1984, Vince company group Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas Dingley, when he was pretty drunk, went to the car to replenish depleted stocks of alcohol. It ended all about the accident. Dingli was killed and two passengers of another car were seriously injured. The accident occurred due to the fault of the Nile, in a drunken state has lost control of the vehicle. The verdict was quite soft. In prison, the singer spent only 15 days, the next 5 years - on probation. In addition, Neil has paid 2, 6 million dollars in compensation to relatives of victims and survivors. In 2010, it turned out that the mistakes he does not learn - Vince was re-arrested on charges of driving a car while intoxicated. Fortunately, this time no one died, and the court again showed humanity, the good singer expressed his remorse and willingness to cooperate with the police.

Varg Vikernes (Burzum)

The charge: murder.

Status: sentenced to prison.

The iconic musician has been in prison 16 years for the murder of colleagues of the Norwegian black metal scene, Mayhem guitarist Euronymous. The ups and downs of the business, was widely reported in the media, celebrity and made Varga split metallers crowd, many of whom were forced to join one of the parties. "The burden" to the murder, the musician found guilty of arson of three churches. Finally Vikernes remained creatively active, wrote a number of books and articles, and made a number of recordings on the synthesizer (as other tools are not resolved by the prison administration).

Faust (Emperor)

The charge: murder.

Status: sentenced to prison.

Bord Eythun aka Faust, another prominent representative of Norwegian black metal. His crime, the murder of a homosexual Magne Anreassena, he made even before the incident with Varg Vikernes and Euronymous. However, the police from time to time could not unravel the case. Only after the arrest Varga, during interviews of musicians, detectives came to Faust, they arrested him and made frank confession. The drummer had been imprisoned for 9 years and 4 months.

Gary Glitter

Charges: possession of child pornography, rape, sex with a minor.

Status: sentenced to prison.

Gary Glitter (aka Paul Francis Gadd) - a vivid example of a man made his way from the star status of a universal favorite and idol of millions to the life of an outcast. Reputation once one of the brightest glam rockers collapsed overnight when in 1997, in his computer found child pornography files. The musician spent two months in prison and was included in the list of dangerous pedophiles. Since then began wandering Glitter all over the world, during which he constantly accompanies plume sex scandals. In Spain, Cambodia, Vietnam (where he even spent several years in prison), Thailand.

Gary Glitter arrested by Vietnamese authorities

How justified were the accusations and suspicions of each case, hard to say - perhaps it was the fact that the reputation of Gary defined the attitude of judges and the public. However, the "native" British court in 2015 sentenced an elderly artist to 16 years in prison for sexual abuse of underage girls in 1975-80-ies.

Boy George

Charges: the intentional infliction of bodily harm, false imprisonment.

Status: sentenced to prison, parole.

Irish artist addicted to drug use brought him a lot of trouble and a negative impact on a career in music. Seriously singer got involved in 2009 when the Norwegian Auden Carlsen has accused him that George due to the failure to engage in sex with him on the first date beat him with a metal chain, and handcuffed to the bed, holding as a prisoner. Initially, the musician denied the charges, but later pleaded guilty and went to jail. Protection Boy tried to appeal to his many years of drug addiction as a mitigating circumstance. As a result, the court sentenced the singer to 15 months' imprisonment, of which he served four and was released for good behavior. The remainder of the term of George ordered to wear an electronic tracking sensor, to respect, to report to the inspector and to take part in a program of rehabilitation.

Phil Spector

The charge: murder.

Status: sentenced to prison.

What quarrelsome and scandalous producer will end badly, in principle, to anticipate many. Leonard Cohen even claimed that during the recording of the album Death of a Ladies' Man Phil threatened him with a weapon and did not let out of the studio, until the singer did not finish recording the vocals. It can be said Spector kept for a long time.

But in 2003, at his home discovered the body of the actress Lena Clarkson, shot in the mouth. In the ensuing lengthy judicial process, Phil was found guilty and sentenced to long prison terms. However, here, as in the case of Sid Vicious, there are many opponents to the official version, consider that Spector was convicted of violent temper and defiant lifestyle, not because of the existence of real hard evidence, and in fact the producer did not commit a crime.

Ian Watkins, Lostprophets vocalist

Charges: multiple rape of a minor, possession of pornography and more.

Status: sentenced to prison.

Events leading to the cessation of the existence of the Welsh group Lostprophets, still fresh in the memory. Initially, it was impossible to believe in what is happening - so seemed wild accusations against the singer Ian Watkins. More than a dozen episodes of pedophilia (including conspiracy to rape old child), possession of extreme pornography involving animals, drugs. However, the musician has pleaded guilty to charges against him episodes and went to jail for 35 years. This story I would like to forget, but it is still difficult to get rid of misunderstandings - what prompted such a dark and repulsive impulses in the head seems to be successful frontman of popular rock band.

Tim Lambesis, leader of As I Lay Dying

Accusation part in the murder of the organization.

Status: sentenced to prison, parole.

In 2013, the leader of the metalcore band As I Lay Dying distinguished by the fact that he was arrested on charges of plotting the murder of his wife Meggan, with whom relations have soured long before. In the end, Tim has confessed and said that the reason was the unwillingness to lose a significant portion of the state in case of divorce. Musician was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but the 9 February 2017 Lambezis was released early.

Tay-K

Charges: murder.

Status: the court's decision is not yet made.

About rapper Mota sentences for crimes of varying severity, it can be a separate article, but will talk about perhaps the most controversial and dramatic stories in 2017 out of a dangerous world of hip-hop.

17-year-old Teymon Trevon McIntyre, better known as Tay-K, last year released the song that became the most popular track in 2017 on the largest strimingovyh services. Autobiographical number The Race rapper recorded while on the run from the police - who were looking for an escaped from custody a youth for allegedly not in one but in several murders.

On the day of the release composition The Race "chase" for McIntyre ended he was arrested, and soon transferred to an adult prison. Over the young man threatened the death penalty, but shortly after sentencing was postponed for lack of circumstances. Meanwhile, in order not to waste any time, right in the prison Tay-K released his first album - Santana World.