The United Kingdom abounds with world-renowned, talented writers, actors, visual artists, and craftspeople, but what propels them to legendary status are the eccentricities that make them who they are. Just like the providers powering the games for online slots nowadays, these artists set themselves apart from the ordinary.
Where we seem to get the best glimpse into these oddities is often through their daily routines and rituals. Mystery author Agatha Christie found inspiration for her books by snacking on apples in the bath, while Vogue beauty editor Charlotte Tilbury starts every day with a mantra, herbal tea, buckwheat toast, and a boiled egg. But what about the UK’s top musicians? Do they have equally intriguing daily routines that could help explain their lasting success? Let’s explore the curiosities of four legendary musical artists.
Elton John
Elton John – or Sir Elton Hercules John to you – went from being an average child raised in a council house to a world superstar, changing the trajectory of popular music. He’s best known for his mastery of the piano, his singing and songwriting skills, and his flamboyant stage presence and bold clothing choices. John’s extensive accolades are hard to summarise in a nutshell – he has over 50 top-40 hits in the UK and US, 7 number-one albums in a row, and is one of only 19 entertainers ever to win the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Academy, and Tony awards).
That level of success could be attributed to Elton’s rollercoaster journey of spontaneity, the unexpected, and his winning battle with addiction. Some celebrities stick like glue to a strict routine, while others fly by the seat of their pants – and Elton is the latter. One of his diary entries outlining his day, according to Reuters, simply read: “Got up, tidied the house, bought a Rolls Royce, had dinner, wrote ‘Candle in the Wind,’ had dinner with Ringo Starr.” He takes an incredibly spur-of-the-moment approach to life, and it’s clearly worked for his successful 50-year career.
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury had a much different start to life than Elton John did before their respective careers. He was born in Zanzibar and went to English boarding schools during his childhood in India, and it was there he began to take piano lessons and collect stamps. He formed his first band at 12 but eventually had to flee to England due to the revolution against the Sultan and his government. After graduating from college, he dove headfirst into the rock star lifestyle, joining bands left, right, and centre.
When Queen was born, Mercury quickly propelled himself, with his incredible four-octave vocal range and electrifying performances, into the limelight as one of the greatest singers in rock history. While Freddie was known to be especially private about his personal life, what we do know from his personal sources is that he was quite ritualistic yet intentional about things – and led a pretty mundane life outside of stardom. He needed his nine-o’clock cup of Earl Grey with two sugars and milk and marmalade jam and toast for breakfast, and he enjoyed feeding his koi by hand. Before Queen, he toured with just one outfit – a t-shirt with a belt and trousers that he’d take off and fold neatly, ready for the next day. Maybe the key to success in this case is contrasting mundane moments with those larger-than-life.
John Lennon
Fellow marmalade fan and gifted musician John Lennon also led an everyday lifestyle outside his work with the Beatles. As the founder, rhythm guitarist, and one of the vocalists of what many call the most influential band of all time, Lennon’s daily life starkly contrasted with his global fame. His early life was characterised by a custody battle, Elvis Presley records, and trips to Blackpool to see artists like Dickie Valentine and George Formby. His mother bought him his first guitar in 1956, but this wasn’t where his ventures into music would begin. It was John’s mother’s death that traumatised him and troubled him for years until he channelled that tragedy into creative inspiration.
The story of the Beatles began soon after, and as time went on, John Lennon found his footing. His lifestyle involved a lot of comfortability and ordinary happenings, dotted with drug and alcohol use and contradictory choices to his “love and peace” persona. Although we could say he didn’t have a specific routine, he valued his creative time heavily, devoting much of his days to rehearsals and songwriting bouts with fellow Beatles. When his son Sean was born, though, he spent the first five years of his son’s life – and the last five years of his own – on a hiatus from music. Lennon devoted his daily life to Sean, claiming that all he did was bake bread and look after the baby.
Paul McCartney
John Lennon’s right-hand man when it came to songwriting was Paul McCartney – bass guitarist for the Beatles and master of musical instruments. A self-taught musician, it’s clear that McCartney was born with an innate talent. And while we’ve talked about many musicians that don’t have the word routine in their dictionary, Paul is one of the seemingly few that do. Paul finds his rhythm by consistently finding ways to refine his craft and stay healthy so he can perform and create at his best.
Touring staff and musicians have talked about his daily meditations, walks, songwriting sessions, and quirk of playing certain instruments at specific times of the day, no matter where he is or what’s going on that day. He attributes his musical success to his routines – his cooking regimens with his late wife Linda, his headline breaking fitness routine, his daily ritual of transcendental meditation, and his unwavering optimism for life – all of which have kept him going through the ups and downs in his life.
