The last few weeks haven't really done the reputation of musicians as thinking people too much good. There have been fights at awards ceremonies, baby-like outbursts and even the accidental telling of the world that you caught your mum naked with David Bowie (doh!) to name but a few less-than-bright moments. However we know musos can be pretty bright people. With former Talking Head David Byrne upping the intellectual gauge with recently published book How Music Works, Chad Male picks out five more musicians who would ace Mastermind...
Brian May
Claim to brain: PhD Astrophyics, Imperial College London
Throughout his career in Queen, May had maintained a strong interest in Astrophysics and was eventually contacted by the Head of Astrophysics at Imperial College Londonto complete a PhD in the subject (he picked up his BSC physics and mathematics as an undergrad while Queen were still forming) and completed his thesis a year earlier than planned in 2007.
Brian Eno
Claim to brain: Political adviser, columnist and activist
Brian Eno may not lay claim to too many formal qualifications, but he's certainly earned his intellectual stripes otherwise. He is on the board of directors for the Long Now Foundation, an organization that promotes "slower/better" thinking, has advised politicians and his forthcoming album LUX even started life as art installation.
Professor Brian Cox (D:ream / Dare)
Claim to brain: PhD High Energy Particle Physics, University of Manchester
His contribution to science is far greater than music, but Britain's favourite scientist was no black hole on the keyboards. While studying at Victoria University, Manchester,
he joined D:Ream, helping to give Britain Things Can Only Get Better (Tony Blair says Ta), although we shouldn't overlook his stint in 80s rock band Dare too...
Art Garfunkel
Claim to brain: Polymath
Having major in Architecture at college and earned a BA in Art History in the mid 60s, Art Garfunkel earned an MA in Mathematics in 1967 proving he is pretty confident across a variety of academic disciplines. In fact it didn't end there, while Simon And Garfunkel were enjoying their greatest success, he completed coursework towards a doctorate in Mathematics Education at Teacher's College, Columbia University.
Tom Morello
Claim to brain: BA Social Studies, Harvard University
Want to know where the Rage Against The Machine's man charged political activism springs from? Well the guitarist was Ivy League educated and subsequently ended up being a political aide to a Democratic Senator - after making money as a male stripper, of course. In fact he was the first person from Libertyville, Illinois to ever get into Harvard. Not too bad eh?
Chad Male
10:27 AM | 02/10/2012
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