Perhaps rock stars are actually made, not born. Even as they have realized that music is the path they will take, the world doesn't immediately grant them hit songs and best-selling albums. Before their music showered them with lots of greens, here are some of the musicians who worked day jobs while waiting for the right opportunity.
1. Jack White - Upholsterer
Jack White is now known as Mr. Side-Project with his string of successful music acts, including The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. But before White founded Third Man Records in 2001, there was Third Man Upholstery. It was not just a business for White, as he personally oversees all aspects of the business. He also started his apprenticeship at the age of 15. In fact, he founded the band The Upholsterers for his mentor's 25th anniversary.
2. Ozzy Osbourne - Slaughterhouse Worker
Made up of the stuff of legend, "Prince of Darkness" has actually bitten a living bat during one of his performances. Perhaps his tolerance for gore has something to do with Ozzy Osbourne being a jack-of-all-trades - construction worker, trainee plumber, laborer, car factory horn-tuner, and slaughterhouse worker.
He was only 16 years old when he entered the slaughterhouse in Digbeth, Birmingham. He apparently started cleaning sheep stomachs before being promoted to cow killer.
3. Eddie Vedder - Nightshift Security Guard
Grunge icon Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam formerly worked as a security guard at the La Valencia Hotel in California. He worked late-night shifts and went home at nine in the morning. He even wrote and recorded the Pearl Jam single "Rearviewmirror" from his experience. Vedder got the inspiration during those times, playing the song's riff over and over until he finally found the time to write the song.
4. Mick Jagger - Mental Hospital Porter
Sir Michael Philip Jagger, the vocalist of The Rolling Stones, was a working student while he was attending the London School of Economics. During this period, the future rock legend also worked as a porter for the Bexley Mental Hospital, earning the equivalent of almost 8 dollars a week. The Rolling Stones also released the hits "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Mother's Little Helper."
5. Sting - Teacher
The former frontman for "The Police" and prominent member of the one-name-artists-club used to be a teacher, among others. Sting taught at a Cramlington school for two years after attending what is now Northumbria University.
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Aside from teaching, Sting also worked a variety of jobs after he left school. He used to work as a bus conductor, building laborer, and tax officer.
6. Gene Simmons - Teacher and Assistant Editor for "Vogue"
One of the rare teetotalers in the music industry, KISS' "The Demon" probably learned his iconic makeup and engaging stage presence from his previous jobs before he became the rockstar everybody knows today.
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The fire-breathing backup vocals actually taught grade school students at a public school in Manhattan. He had to quit because as a teacher, his audience was too small. What Simmons wanted was a stage for him and a lot of people to watch.
Aside from Teacher Gene, his talent with his fingers led him to become an assistant editor at the fashion magazine "Vogue."
