Music is truly something that connects people across the world.
The '60s were a great time for music, including international sensations and the production of beautiful lyrics that have certainly stood the test of time.
Throughout history, there have been many music groups that won over our ears with their catchy beats and creative rhythms. Only a select few were successful enough to become the bands that we still hold near and dear to our hearts.
However, with instant music success, fame, money, and glamour came many troubles and hardships.
These 10 groups suffered behind closed doors, keeping fans' eyes and ears away from what lurked beneath.
No matter what their band's genre was, there was always something left to uncover. There were so many secrets and other pieces of information that fans just didn't know about their favorite duos, trios, quartets and more.
Scroll through below to check out what these 10 beloved music groups were hiding from their fans!
Thumbnail sources: Instagram, Wikimedia Commons
1. The Beach Boys
Band member Brian Wilson recalled having a very troubled relationship with his father. He and his brothers, Carl and Dennis, witnessed their father's alcohol-fueled fits and experienced violent behavior aimed towards them. Brian claimed it caused him anxiety that he carried with him for years.
2. The Beatles
The four men from Liverpool were no strangers to a little controversy. In fact, both John Lennon and George Harrison were accused and charged with plagiarism in their songwriting, which certainly could have had tragic implications for their careers. Chuck Berry's publisher charged Lennon because Come Together sounded too similar to Berry's You Can't Catch Me. Harrison lost a lawsuit over My Sweet Lord resembling The Chiffons' He's So Fine.
3. The Monkees
The Monkees faced some brutal judgment from music fans who believed "they were a product of deceptive corporate entertainment, taking up airspace that would be better suited to more authentic musicians." The band, which people claimed only made music for their TV show, was a common subject of ridicule.
4. The Rolling Stones
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Keith Richards escaped death a total of 10 times! Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? Keith and his mother fled his childhood home when he was an infant, shortly before it was bombed in a London air raid, he survived electrocution caused by his guitar, and he even made it out of two house fires caused by his smoking habit.
5. The Mamas & The Papas
The Mamas & The Papas went through a whole lot of drama. Cass Elliot knowingly surrounded herself with people that used her for her money and fame. Michelle Phillips was kicked out of the group by her husband, John Phillips, when he found out about her affairs with their bandmate, Denny Doherty, and The Byrds band member, Gene Clark. Sadly, John turned to alcohol in order to cope.
6. The Four Seasons
Frankie Valli was at the height of his career when he began to suffer from a medical condition that would affect how he performed. He developed otosclerosis, the hardening of the inner ear, resulting in hearing loss and even deafness. Frankie had to memorize everything before performances because he was unable to hear properly. Luckily, he had a few surgeries in the 1970s that gave him back most of his hearing.
7. The Supremes
As Diana Ross took center stage as the front woman of The Supremes, Florence Ballard let jealousy get the best of her. She became envious of the attention that people gave Diana and became depressed, started drinking excessively, gained weight, arrived late to interviews, and showed up to performances intoxicated — if she even came at all. After being replaced by other singers halfway through songs, she was eventually removed from the group.
8. Simon And Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were worried about using their real names in the early days of their career. They believed that anti-semitism would drive down their record sales and success. In their high school days, they had gone by the stage name Tom & Jerry, after the infamous cat and mouse cartoon. Once their fears had finally subsided, they introduced themselves to the world as Simon and Garfunkel.
9. The Bee Gees
One member of the Brothers Gibb hid behind a picture-perfect marriage — or so it seemed. Robin Gibb and his wife, Molly Hullins, were actually very far from perfect. During their toxic marriage, Robin accused her of things to diminish her character and she put him through a nasty custody battle. In fact, Robin barely saw Molly during the last three years of their tumultuous marriage that ultimately ended in divorce.
10. The Temptations
Member Paul Williams dealt with several physical and mental health issues behind the stage. He suffered from sickle cell anemia, which forced him to travel with oxygen tanks in order to stay well. He also battled depression and struggled to perform towards end of his career.
Despite their misfortunes, all of these groups managed to bring joy to our lives and music to our ears.
Please SHARE this surprising list with your favorite music fans to see if they had any idea!
