4 Times Rock Stars Promoted Themselves With Weird Products

Marketing is a funny thing. Some big names in the music industry just need to tease an album on social media to get attention. Others, especially back in the day, would have to get creative with how they promoted themselves or made money off of product endorsements. Let’s look at four times famous rock stars promoted themselves with unexpected or straight-up weird products!

1. Bob Dylan and Victoria’s Secret

Bob Dylan and Victoria’s Secret (yes, the underwear brand) decided to team up back in the day for a commercial. Dylan foreshadowed the partnership in 1965, when during a press conference he was asked if he could ever sell a product, which would it be? His answer was simple: Ladies’ garments. The commercial wasn’t half bad, either.

2. Bill Wyman and Metal Detectors

Sometimes, a musician’s passions will change and they’ll go in a whole different direction after their time in the spotlight. Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones fame once appeared in a commercial for metal detectors. However, his connection to the brand C Scope goes beyond the occasional commercial. Wyman has long been associated with this factory, and they even produced a few types of metal detectors that they named after him.

3. Neil Young and Trains

Maybe this isn’t so odd for a folk rock musician, but Neil Young isn’t exactly synonymous with trains. However, Young apparently is quite a big fan of model trains. He once teamed up with the model train company Lionel Trains to create an accessibility device that makes building and operating model trains easier for disabled hobby-enjoyers. When the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, Young also bailed them out. Now that’s dedication.

4. Ozzy Osbourne and Dead Bat Plushies (And Butter For Some Reason)

It’s not totally shocking that Ozzy Osbourne would make our list of times rock stars sold weird products, considering he did it twice. Osbourne got creative with his merch and once sold a bat plushie, complete with his logo and a detachable head. Osbourne also decided to lend his acting chops to a butter commercial. Because when one thinks of aging rock stars, they think of… butter? Possibly? We’re not going to pretend that this bizarre commercial isn’t at least a bit entertaining.

Photo by Ross Halfin

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