Moments That Nearly Destroyed Rock

It’s easy to think of rock stars as iconic figures who can do no wrong. That’s because we see all of their well-documented successes in retrospect, seeing how each one in turn led to the creation of their legends.
Let’s say we could go back to certain critical moments in the career of a certain band and say “what if?” Would the Beatles still be the Beatles if they had kept Pete Best and never hired Ringo Starr? Could Alice Cooper have still made it if he’d kept the name Vincent Furnier? Would things still turn out the same, or could one small thing destroy the entire legend and change the course of rock and roll history?
We partner with Diffuser and Loudwire to take a look at some of those “what if” scenarios in our list of the Moments That Nearly Destroyed Rock.


Pink Floyd Almost Rap



So, what do a legendary British progressive rock band do for a second act when they’re recording their first album after the loss of one of their most important members? They turn to rap, obviously — at least, that’s what producer Bob Ezrin suggested to Pink Floyd when they were recording ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason.’

“I brought some in to David Gilmour‘s thing going, ‘Boy, I think this stuff with a rock beat would be awesome,’” he recalls.

Fortunately, Gilmour was having none of the credibility-destroying idea. “He said, ‘Oh my God, that would be terrible,’” Ezrin says, laughing. “He couldn’t believe it. He hated the idea.”


Keith Richards Almost Loses ‘Satisfaction’



In 1965 the Rolling Stones scored their breakthrough hit, ‘Satisfaction’ — but guitarist Keith Richards almost didn’t finish the song. He came up with the main riff during the early morning hours at a motel in Florida while on tour, putting it down on tape before lapsing back into sleep.

When Richards woke, there was only a bit of the riff on tape, followed by 45 minutes of snoring, he claims. But it was enough for him to show it to Mick Jagger, who recognized its potential and swung into action, finishing the song. Had Richards not taken a moment to record the bit — or forgotten and not gone back to it — the Stones might very well have missed out on their signature song. Ironically, Richards himself didn’t care for it at first.


John Lennon Says the Beatles Are ‘More Popular Than Jesus’



In 1966, John Lennon, in an interview with the London Evening Standard, spoke about his belief that Christianity was dying out, saying of the Beatles, “We’re more popular than Jesus now.”

The quote was taken out of context in the US, prompting an enormous backlash that centered — surprise! — in Alabama, where two disc jockeys initiated a boycott of the Beatles that included burning their records.

The incident could have destroyed the career of the most important rock group of all time — but the furor eventually blew over after Lennon clarified his remarks at a press conference.


The Clash Consider Rock Hall Reunion



Let us start by saying we’re in no way glad Joe Strummer died in 2002. When the Clash legend succumbed to a previously undiagnosed heart condition, rock lost one of its most passionate, least compromising figures. That said, had Joe made it to the 2003 Rock and Roll Hall of of Fame induction ceremony, he might have reunited honorees the Clash for the occasion. He’d convinced guitarist Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon to join in, leaving bassist Paul Simonon as the lone holdout. Simonon had it right: The Clash only stood to tarnish their legacy, and their story didn’t need this, the Rock Hall, as its final chapter. When Strummer and Jones joined forces one last time in November 2002 at benefit for striking firefighters, it was a more fitting coda for the Only Band That Matters.