By Mitch Rice
The stereotypical trappings of players and poker have never appealed to most of them, especially rock stars. Music, online poker, and gambling have always been integral to the entertainment industry, and given the high poker stakes, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the favorites for society’s thrill-seekers.
Gambling provides the thrill rockers, and other artists love since it keeps them on edge, and an exciting offer, for a poker player, is an excellent accompaniment for late nights, camaraderie, stiff drinks, and heavy stuff. Most of these rock stars do not hide their interest in playing poker. And some are often at various gaming spots, such as the Canadian low deposit casino, enjoying the rush of revealing the winning hand by playing either online table or live dealer options. Generally, it is fascinating to see artists enture outside their industry to figure out their varying passions.
There are plenty of top singers and rock stars who have taken a liking to and shuffled a few decks. Whether they are using it as a pastime, killing time on the road, or winding down after a performance, playing poker and other gaming products are ideal for these musicians. Here are a few known stars who are casino and poker players:
Scott Ian Rosenfeld – Rhythm Guitarist of Anthrax
Scott Ian is one of the heaviest metal rock stars and rock star industry names. His wins are phenomenal and he has inspired lots. This win-oriented artist has been mentioned alongside other more prominent names within the metal music culture than most can remember! Scott Ian is the only remaining original member of Anthrax’s thrash metal band. He is the backup lead vocal and a rhythm guitarist for the group.
His love and posts for hard tunes came alongside an immense interest in gaming, with a deep passion for poker. He spends most of his free time playing, and he has consecutively taken part in the World Series of Poker and the Aruba Poker Classic in 2008 and 2009.
Scot has never hidden his preference for betting despite facing the challenge of combining music and poker. However, technology and the internet made things better for the heavy metal musician, allowing him to participate in betting now and then. Some popular places, such as bitcoin casinos, even offered cryptocurrencies. During the VH1 Rock & Roll Celebrity, he outsmarted all others and won the competition, showing his passion for poker.
Paul Daniel “Ace” Frehley – Rock Band, Kiss
He was the co-founder of Kiss band and one of the original guitarists of the glam band from 1973 to 1982. He’s popularly known for his trademark makeup, which he would wear whenever he performs. Frehley eventually ditched the group and rejoined it in 1966, continuing with them for six years before leaving again.
After leaving the Kiss band, Ace got home in various Las Vegas and was a part of the VH1 Rock and Roll stars Celebrity Tournament, which Scott won. He never talks about his gambling successes, but his existence proves his affinity for betting.
Frank ‘Bøddel’ Watkins – Obituary
The long-time known bassist of Death Metal act Obituary and Black Metal act Gorgoroth, Frank Watkins was, apart from being a great musician, a business advisor, mentor, manager, and provided significant influence and guidance for many other metal vocalists and bands. He was also a huge fan of gambling.
After he died in 2015, a special tournament was held in Florida in his memory. Watkin’s brother-in-law, Tim Nigro, planned and organized the Heavy Hitter taking all the money raised to the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, a cancer research institution based in Florida.
Ian “Lemmy” Fraser Kilmister – Motörhead
Kilmister founded and fronted the Motorhead in 1975, which became a leading force in the metal culture and inspired many other bands of the same genre. Of all the biggest stars, Lemmy Kilmister is still widely considered one of the greatest. Lemmy and his soft spot for betting is not a secret, and Kilmister even wrote a hit song called Ace of Spades, but unlike most of his peers, Lemmy Kilmister enjoyed playing slots rather than blackjack and other table games.
Kilmister was a regular figure at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in Los Angeles and could often be spinning and others at the reels at the bar’s video slot. A documentary on his life called “Lemmy: The Movie” clearly shares the rock stars’ old-fashioned way of life and his choice, slot machines in land-based casinos where he would spend spinning the reels while drinking jack and coke cocktails. There’s no record of whether Kilmister ever won big prizes in gambling, but he was probably in it simply for fun.
Salvatore Paul Erna Jr. (Sully Erna) – Godsmack
Sully, born Salvatore Paul Erna, is the founder and the lead vocalist of Godsmack, an American heavy metal band, and he also has a solo album. He is well-known and widely celebrated as one of the leading heavy metal vocalists. Aside from his abilities with Godsmack and interest in various musical instruments such as the piano, harmonica, and other percussion instruments, Sully is also an ardent fan of online gamers, just like Jerry Cantrell.
The tattoo on his back is permanent proof of the musician’s love for other things. It consists of four burning shields alongside the phrase “No Justice,” which represents his realization that this is a game where truth is a non-existent element. This came after he badly lost a game with quad aces while his opponent went all-in with a royal flush.
Steve Albini – Shellac
Steve Albini, the iconic producer, and musician behind Big Black and Shellac is a world-renowned guitarist for several bands, including Nirvana, Pixie, Robert Plant, Mogwai, and PJ Harvey. He has significantly influenced modern tunes and alternative culture in general.
His love for gambling and flopping quad aces is deep-seated. He participated in multiple tournaments, including (WSOP), playing no-limit hold ‘em and seven-card stud. In the Championship, Albini emerged victorious after he managed to outplay 310 people, defeating the famous winners Chris Ferguson and Jeff Lisandro.
Olivia “Liv” Boeree aka Iron Maiden
Popularly known as the Iron Maiden, Liv Boeree is a professional poker player with a deep passion for it. Although her degree in Astrophysics suggests that she has the smarts, she discovered the game when she was chosen to appear on a reality TV show. This led to her being taught the game of poker by the likes of ten-time WSOP Championship bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (The Brat) and Dave Ulliott (Devilfish).
Boeree dedicated her previous time to studying the game intently and received several titles. She later won the 2010 European P. Tour in Italy.
Conclusion
Rock Stars crave nothing more than a way of escaping the toxic schedule and the hustle and bustle of their space. It’s not a wonder that some have a tattoo to signify commitment. They love to enjoy living from the edge and therefore look for activities that provide a good adrenaline rush. Nothing fits the description and satisfies this need other than their favorite games. Although they enjoy posting and sharing results, we could say the same for most of them across various industries. The point is, they share the same sentiments for their respective art even after several years of engaging in them.
These highlighted ones and many others enjoy slots and other table options. But whatever their preference, there’s no doubt that these options provide them the satisfaction they seek.
