We’ve all had jobs we’re not proud of-sandwich artists and whatnot-but it’s fascinating to see some of the not-so-rock star jobs that rock stars had before they made their way to the big time. Some are humbling, unexpected and, quite frankly, terrifying jobs. It’s amazing what people will do when they can’t make music for a living.
MADONNA
Madonna worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts, serving up coffee and pastries, before she was serving up hit albums.
EDDIE VEDDER
Eddie Vedder worked as a security guard for La Valencia Hotel before he started Pearl Jam.
ROD STEWART
Rod Stewart was a newspaper delivery boy growing up and also worked as a silk screen printer. He later plotted graves at Highgate Cemetery, partly to face a childhood fear he had of death.
JACK WHITE
Jack White worked as an upholsterer at a furniture shop called Third Man Upholstery. He would create his own music label called Third Man Records.
GIRL TALK
Gregg Gillis worked as a biomedical engineer before he became the musical mad scientist known as Girl Talk.
KURT COBAIN
Kurt Cobain worked as a custodian just before Nirvana’s debut album.
NICK HARMER
Death Cab for Cutie’s bassist Nick Harmer used to work in sanitation, which proves that you can be both a musician and a trash man.
CHRIS CORNELL
Chris Cornell worked as a seafood wholesaler and was a sous-chef at a Seattle restaurant before beginning his music career, in which he would be the frontman for bands like Soundgarden and Audioslave.
OZZY OSBOURNE
Ozzy Osbourne, the “Prince of Darkness,” used to tune car horns, as well as work as a construction worker, plumber and slaughterhouse employee before he hit it big with Black Sabbath.
MICK JAGGER
Mick Jagger worked at a mental hospital to help pay tuition at the London School of Economics.
WAYNE COYNE
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips worked as a “chef” at Long John Silver’s.
CYNDI LAUPER
Cyndi Lauper worked as a pet kennel cleaner before getting recognized. She would later work in retail and as an IHOP waitress during the early phase of her music career.
GENE SIMMONS
Gene Simmons worked as an assistant to an editor at Glamour and Vogue.
