Two things are true of rock music. The genre will always exist, in one form or evolution, probably forever. Just as well, there will always be rumors, myths, and legends associated with the genre. However, many of those rock music myths from the last century are just straight-up untrue. Let’s look at a few examples and debunk them, shall we?

The 27 Club is the subject of quite a bit of intrigue, even today. Throughout the 20th century, a large number of famous rock and pop stars all died at the age of 27, prompting some conspiracy theorists to believe that a curse was afoot. Likewise, white BIC lights were associated with the legend, as many of those members of the 27 Club allegedly carried them before they died. Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin are a few examples.

However, this one’s just not true. BIC did not begin releasing disposable white lighters until after Joplin and Hendrix had already died. A lighter was found at the scene of Cobain’s death, but it was not white.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this one were true. However, it likely isn’t. At the height of their career, the Fab Four received their MBEs from Buckingham Palace for their contributions to English music. The rumor notes that the group found a hidden spot on the grounds of the palace and got really, really high off w**d together.

John Lennon actually started this rumor. However, later on, he admitted that while he wanted to light up at the palace, his bandmates were too afraid to do it, so it didn’t actually happen.

A rumor has been going around for years that Jimi Hendrix, who famously lived in England for a hot minute, caused the southeast area of London to become infested with green parakeets. If you go to that area today, there are still a ton of them around, battling pigeons for dominance.

The legend says that Hendrix owned two parakeets named Adam and Eve, and he released them near Carnaby Street while high as a kite. However, that is likely not the case. Studies have found that the Great Storm of 1987, which damaged several aviaries that held the birds, resulted in their escape and overpopulation.

I don’t even know if this example of rock music myths is physically possible. Still, it made the rounds for years. The rumor, started by Keith Richards himself, details how The Rolling Stones guitarist once had all of his blood replaced with new, fresh blood in a Swiss medical facility in the early 1970s. However, this likely didn’t happen as Richards detailed it. Rather, he had overdosed (or been given a dose of strychnine) and received hemodialysis to save his life.

Photo by George Freston/Fox Photos/Getty Images

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.