The Fun Online Hobbies That Your Favorite Musicians Love
When you’re a touring artist, you probably don’t have much downtime. In between soundcheck and the actual show, you also have to work with your PR team, take part in interviews, and interact with your fans – which doesn’t leave too much time for a social life or your hobbies outside of music.
Although it may seem that time is limited, that hasn’t stopped some of your favorite musicians from delving deep into their favorite hobbies and finding the time to work on them within their busy schedules. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the online hobbies that some of the biggest musicians of the moment love to take part in.
Madonna – Poker and Blackjack
Table games are rising in popularity, and given the fact that online gaming opportunities are vastly accessible for everyone, people know enough about online blackjack and other table games, so you would probably understand Madonna’s passion. The pop phenomenon has reportedly been visiting Las Vegas every single year since the mid-80s to indulge in her favorite hobbies. The singer is a big fan of the poker and blackjack tables, where she can usually be found sitting during one of her yearly trips.
But, unsurprisingly, it’s not just Madonna who likes to try their luck at the Las Vegas gambling tables. Musicians like Jay Z, Lady Gaga, P Diddy, and Justin Timberlake are all big fans of casino games – some even enter themselves into closed competitions to show off their skills.
Tom DeLonge – UFOs
Being one part of the biggest punk bands of the 90s wasn’t enough for Blink 182s frontman, Tom Delonge who recently took a hiatus from the band to pursue a lifelong passion for aliens and UFOs. In his mission to answer, for once and for all, whether aliens really exist, DeLonge took his passion a lot further than just a side hobby.
The singer and guitarist set up his academy, called the To the Stars Academy where he could further explore his interest in all things outer space. But, it doesn’t end there, the singer-turned-allien-hunter’s work attracted the interest of some very important institutions – the US Army and Navy. Tom DeLonge is now back touring again with Blink 182 but we’re sure that his interest in aliens is still going strong.
Flea – Chess
When Flea, who’s best known as being the bassist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, isn’t joining Bruno Mars on stage as part one of the legendary Superbowl Half Time Performances, or recording best-selling albums with his band, Flea is a huge fan of Chess.
Even before The Queen’s Gambit sent sales of chessboards soaring, Flea has been an avid player of the tactical game. In fact, back in 2011, Flea took on the world chess champion during a festival in Brazil. Of course, the bassist was no match for the champion chess player, but he was able to hold his own for a good portion of the game (even if that was just because the champion was holding back and going easy on him!).
Board games like chess have always proved to be a popular pastime for musicians as they provide a much-needed break from the over-stimulating world of being a touring artist. Chess is a game that is all about your mental skills, and your ability to think ahead and avoid distractions. It keeps your mind agile, without stimulating it too much, which is just what many people need after they come off a buzzing stage.
Rod Stewart – Model Trains
When you think of legendary singers like Rod Stewart, you may think that their hobbies are much more extravagant and expensive than a humble model train set. But, this is one of Stewart’s biggest hobbies – and has been for quite some time.
In a 2019 interview, Rod Stewart revealed that for the past 26 years, he’d been painstakingly building a 124-ft-long model of a city just for his model trains to zoom around in. The city, which was inspired by New York and Chicago, is extremely detailed and realistic, making it the perfect place for avid model train collectors to test out their toys. Trains are a popular hobby, whether it’s model trains or spotting real ones out on the tracks, so it’s not too hard to see why Rod Stewart is also a passionate fan.
Courtney Love – Dolls
Another iconic musician who enjoys being a collector is Courtney Love who is reported to have an impressive collection of Mattel dolls from the 1960s. In fact, her passion for collecting dolls has even been penned in the 1994 song, “Doll Parts’.
As a musician, having fun hobbies to indulge yourself in during your free time must be a welcomed break from the busy life of touring. Which of these celebrity hobbies can you see yourself getting behind?
