You usually hear about musicians who want to act, but what about musicians who want to paint? We were surprised to discover that more than a handful of rock stars had actually tried their hand at art, but not so surprised to find out that most of ‘em weren’t very good. But don’t take our word for it, see for yourself (click the thumbnail for a larger image):

Artist: David Bowie
Title: Child in Berlin
Verdict: Bowie’s been painting nearly as long as he’s been making music, and his paintings and sculptures are as sadly beautiful and left of center as the music he makes
Grade: B+

Artist: Paul McCartney
Group: The Beatles, Wings
Title: Unspoken Words
Verdict: Would Sir Paul have a book of his artwork out were he not a Beatle? Probably not. And if his artwork were a band? Definitely Wings and not the Beatles.
Grade: B

Artist: John Mellencamp
Title: Man in a Small Hat
Verdict: Mellencamp has a book out too — “Paintings and Reflections” it’s called. He’s more emotion than technique, but his work has a broad appeal. We’re not sure that makes it good necessarily…
Grade: B-

Artist: Iggy Pop
Group: The Stooges
Verdict: Iggy’s art is outsider to the bone. It’s raw and messy and emotional.
Grade: C+

Artist: Chris Mars
Group: The Replacements
Title: Haggerty
Verdict: Mars’ work is excellent. It’s creepy as shit, and although it’d be hard to hang most of it up in your house, he’s a terrific painter. He likely makes more money as an artist than he ever did behind the drums with the Mats.
Grade: A

Artist: Jon Langford
Group: Mekons
Title: Lofty Deeds
Verdict: Langford’s paintings are tributes to the sound and fashion of rockabilly music and the Old West. His images are wrought with guns and cowboys and guitars and he beats them all up to look weathered and worn. He’s got a unique aesthetic –- scuffed up browns, grays and turquoise. And when you look at one of his paintings, you know it’s one of his.
Grade: A

Artist: David Byrne
Group: Talking Heads
Verdict: Byrne works in many mediums: photography, pen and ink, sculpture –- and like his pioneering rock group, his artwork is interesting, yet totally fucking weird and cerebral at the same time.
Grade: B+

Artist: Marilyn Manson
Title: The Enabler
Verdict: Manson paints in watercolors and he’s quite good. His aesthetic is foreboding, but duh, it’s Marilyn Manson. There’s depth and emotion behind the scary images he paints, and if he hasn’t already, he could easily have a show.
Grade: A

Artist: Jerry Garcia
Group: The Grateful Dead
Title: Lizard Board
Verdict: Jerry may have been a great musician, but his art is pretty lame. It’s colorful and surreal like most hippie art, but looking at it for any extended period of time is like being on an acid trip. That’s probably the point, but that doesn’t mean we want to hang it on our wall.
Grade: C-

Artist: Bob Dylan
Title: Self-portrait
Verdict: Dylan’s self-portrait doesn’t much resemble him, save for the Jewish nose. But maybe the painting is what Dylan would look like were he not to have found music. Perhaps this is a look at Bobby Zimmerman, CPA.
Grade: B-

Artist: Mickey Dolenz
Group: The Monkees
Title: Oh-No Ozone
Verdict: Mickey Dolenz’ artwork is for “Star Trek” fans that are also hippies with bad taste. If you’re not stoned and listening to an extended “Sugar Magnolia” jam, you probably won’t dig this, man.
Grade: C-

Artist: Robbie Krieger
Group: The Doors
Title: She Lives on Love Street
Verdict: Robbie Krieger is to art what Jim Morrison is to… art. What we mean is, Krieger’s pastiche of color and shapes is pretty mediocre. Then again, so were the Doors.
Grade: D

Artist: Tony Bennett
Title: Brotherhood
Verdict: Bennett’s watercolors are smooth, polished and calming –- much like his beautiful voice. Like the classic big band songs he sings, his paintings are tip top and the real deal.
Grade: A

Artist: Robert Smith
Group: The Cure
Title: Self-portrait
Verdict: Oh sad, sad Robert. Pretty good self-portrait though.
Grade: B+

Artist: Jon Anderson
Band: Yes
Title: Children’s Toys
Verdict: Surprisingly, Anderson’s watercolors aren’t half as wanky and self-indulgent as Yes’ music. Still, the paintings are much too nice for our tastes.
Grade: C-

Artist: John Lennon
Group: The Beatles
Title: Real Love
Verdict: Lennon seemed to sketch more than draw or paint, but his images, like his songs, have become iconic. Looking at this image, it is immediately associated with him and Yoko.
Grade: B

Artist: Ringo Starr
Group: The Beatles
Title: Chef Ala Mode
Verdict: Ringo is so fucking happy. These paintings are exactly like Ringo -– all surface. We like Ringo, but you have to really like him to put one of these babies up in your house.
Grade: C

Artist: Ron Wood
Group: Faces, Rolling Stones
Title: Red Charlie
Vedict: Yes, that is indeed Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones drummer. And yes, this is Slash. Ronnie likes to paint his fellow musicians, and he does it just fine… for a guitar player.
Verdict: D

Artist: Eric Burdon
Group: The Animals
Title: Bob Marley
Verdict: Burdon’s work feels very contemporary. His tribute to Bob Marley would be right at home alongside any urban graffiti artist’s best work. And that’s not a putdown.
Grade: B

Artist: John Entwistle
Group: The Who
Title: Generations
Verdict: Entwistle is a pen and paper man and his illustrations resemble the kinds of things you drew on your high school notebook. Subject matter included. But they do make you smile and they have a great child-like quality about them.
Grade: C-

Artist: Ron Asheton
Group: The Stooges
Title: Commercially Dead
Verdict: Much like the messy hard rock of his group the Stooges, Asheton’s paintings are simple and emotional. They are punk rock on canvas.
Grade: B-

Artist: Janis Joplin
Title: Scarecrow
Verdict: Janis could actually draw. She could paint too. She was known for her phenomenal voice, but chances are she could have made it as an artist too.
Grade: B

Artist: Grace Slick
Group: Jefferson Airplane
Title: Carrots
Verdict: Slick’s work is very feminine. There’s an Alice in Wonderland vibe to a lot of it, though she also likes to paint musicians, rabbits and nudes. But if you like your art bland and with cute bunnies, perhaps Ms. Slick is just right for you.
Grade: D+

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