Musicians' Nearly Career-Ending Stunts

Before Billy Squier's rather un-rockin' "Rock Me Tonite" video was released, he was revered among headbangers for his Camaro-rock anthems like "The Stroke" and "Everybody Wants You." For those songs, he made straightahead concert videos, but then, in the middle of the 'Flashdance' craze, he succumbed to pressure to make a trendy MTV video. The result was three or so horrifying minutes of Billy jazzercising frenetically around a 'Miami Vice'-style... more 

Before Billy Squier's rather un-rockin' "Rock Me Tonite" video was released, he was revered among headbangers for his Camaro-rock anthems like "The Stroke" and "Everybody Wants You." For those songs, he made straightahead concert videos, but then, in the middle of the 'Flashdance' craze, he succumbed to pressure to make a trendy MTV video. The result was three or so horrifying minutes of Billy jazzercising frenetically around a 'Miami Vice'-style penthouse loft in artfully ripped pastel dancewear, writhing in satin sheets, and crawling panther-like on all fours. And it only took those three or so minutes to destroy Billy's entire macho reputation and career. He never recovered from the post-video backlash, and he has frequently, publicly blamed the "Rock Me Tonite" video for his slide into obsolescence. less