The antics and lifestyle of rock & rolling musicians, just like those in the metal sphere, have been well-documented and, essentially, a part of their general mythos. Whether we're talking about alcohol abuse, the infamous heroin craze in the grunge era, or the blow consumption of the 1980s, this part of music culture has always been quite…intense.

However, some of these marauding artists have ventured into other, less harmful pastime activities, one of the most conspicuous being playing games of luck. While this activity has significantly changed over the last decades, going from clandestine card games to the chance of playing in a highly technologized Bitcoin casino, rockers still tend to have a palette for it!

Join our exploration of several rock & metal artists who have enjoyed gambling activities, which games they prefer, and what conclusions we can draw from it!

Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister

The obvious choice for our first inclusion has to be Lemmy – one of rock'n'roll's most famous frontmen whose notorious lifestyle never abstained from life's pleasures. Born as Ian Fraser Kilmister in England, his career spanning over half a century was marked not only as the uniquely-voiced vocalist and bassist of Motörhead but also for his off-stage persona.

His larger-than-life personality as an adamant practitioner of the rock'n'roll lifestyle greatly influenced his intensity as a musician, turning him into a legend and icon of the genre, regardless of how people feel about his music or morality.

The main reason why we begin our list with the inclusion of Lemmy is not only his popularity but also his very transparent enjoyment of gambling activities. Considering that his career's success allowed him to have a lot of disposable income for his various satisfactions, you can bet that games of luck were one of them!

The Many Joys of Lemmy

Talking about stating the obvious, the 1980 hit 'Ace of Spades' is a clear example of his joy in challenging fate and getting the most out of the thrill of uncertainty, risk, and chance. As the lyrics themselves say, 'If you like to gamble/ I tell you, I'm your man' – these opening words say more than we could ever attempt to do.

Apart from his obvious love for card games (poker and blackjack, more specifically), he fancied spinning the reels of slot machines just as much as hitting a deck of cards. His activities in West Hollywood and Las Vegas are the stuff of legend, especially when he combined them with his most trusted companion – a Jack Daniel's bottle!

Overall, the lore of Lemmy Kilmister as a hard rock icon is a mosaic of various pieces of intense and unapologetic life living, and playing games of luck was certainly one of them!

Anthrax’s Scott Ian

If metal fans have any doubt whether Motorhead categorises as metal or not, then Anthrax leaves no shadow of a doubt as one of the thrash's Big Four. As one of its founding members, Scott Ian has contributed as the rhythm guitarist and lyrical mastermind behind the band, gaining the legend status as one of metal's most celebrated subgenres.

Scott's love for gambling activities is a much more regulated and stable relationship than Lemmy's, preferring poker as his main passion. His story as a (pro) poker player started after winning a celebrity poker tournament as a Hold'Em rookie and receiving a sponsorship.

A Gifted Rookie

For someone who hadn't played any poker to go ahead and eventually rank in the top 650 at a WSOP (World Series of Poker) tournament, we have to say that this is quite impressive, doing so in 2009. Moreover, he seems to enjoy playing poker in his pastime as well, especially when seeing the footage at a poker night with Hollywood megastar (and part-time musician) Keanu Reeves.

As if his famous relationship with gambling wasn't famous enough, his former ownership of a Las Vegas club along with Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell speaks volumes due to the venue's name: The Dead Man's Hand.

Overall, Scott Ian's pleasant relationship with poker is a fascinating tale of finding a passion by chance at a later moment in one's life, showcasing how gambling can be an interesting venture if treated responsibly!

Godsmack’s Sully Erna

These days, the reputation of the post-grunge musical movement following the Nirvana-led era is relatively spotty, especially due to the rise of the subsequent nu-metal phenomenon. One of the most famous bands in this era was Godsmack, whose name is still relevant in the current zeitgeist due to the massive following it garnered.

The Lawrence, Massachusets-formed group's frontman, guitarist and vocalist, Salvatore'  Sully' Erna Jr, has been at the centre of the band since its inception. Due to the group's famous similarities with Alice in Chains, Godsmack's relationship with metal has long been a subject of debate, even if their popularity has always been undeniable.

Surprisingly Successful

Much like Scott Ian, Sully Erna's main love when it comes to gambling is the game of poker, famously starting his journey of playing professionally at the 2006 World Series of Poker, where he almost cracked the top 700 players in the tournament.

At the following year's edition, he made an even bigger impression by placing in the 237th spot, not to mention being the runner-up in another tournament hosted by the Bellagio. He has subsequently participated in other poker tournaments, including a return to the 2013 edition of WSOP!

Ultimately, this star's reputation of being a passionate poker player is another example of a rockstar venturing into gambling activities as seriously as you can imagine!

Final Thoughts

Some closing thoughts worth considering in this exploration of these rock and metal icons that delved into gambling relate mostly to how we should approach this activity. Regardless of whether you enjoy gambling or not, it'd be best to keep in mind that the best way to delve into this activity is to play responsibly!

Lemmy's lifestyle was something to behold, but only a few of us could keep up with his legendary approach to life, while Scott and Sully have played in a professional environment.

To conclude, thrill-seeking rockstars will always search for adrenaline-fuelled activities, and playing games of luck is the perfect opportunity for that!