Even if hard partying and pharmaceuticals aren’t your cup of tea, it’s impossible to deny how intriguing rock n’ roll couples are. Ever since the inception of “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll,” these couple have captivated audiences with their stories. From one of the world’s greatest love triangles to the two lovers who allegedly broke up The Beatles, here are some of my favorite couples that rocked………

“You’re just a memory of a love that used to be”

Rolling with The Stones for all of the late 60′s, Italian actress and model Anita Pallenberg seemed to the apple of each of the band member’s eye. She began dating guitarist Brian Jones in 1965 after they met while see was on a modeling gig. A tumultuous relationship from the very start, by 1967 she had her sights set for another Stones guitarist, Keith Richards. On holiday in Morocco the two got together and Pallenberg was with Richards from then on. The couple would go on to have three children, the first being their son Marlon in 1969. Together till 1980, Pallenberg and Richards spent many pinnacle years together, particularly at the Villa Nellcôte, in the South of France in the Spring and Summer of 1971 where the Stones wrote and recorded the majority of “Exile on Mainstreet”.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash

Because your mine, I walk the line

These two country crooners shared a romance that has already gone down in history, despite prior marriages on both ends. Amidst the beginning of their musically-infused romance in 1967, Johnny and June won a Grammy award together Best Country & Western Performance, Duet, Trio Or Group (vocal or instrumental) category for the song “Jackson”. A year later in 1968, Johnny Cash proposed to Carter during a live performance at London Arena in London, Ontario and they married on March 1, 1968. In years to come they would continue to make award-winning country music but perhaps their greatest composition of all was their son John Carter Cash. The offspring of Johnny and June Carter Cash, not so surprisingly ended up with a successful career as a songwriter and producer. After 35 beautiful years of marriage to Johnny, June experienced complications during a heart surgery and passed away in Nashville, Tennessee on May 15, 2003. At Carter’s funeral, her stepdaughter, Rosanne Cash stated that “if being a wife were a corporation, June would have been a CEO. It was her most treasured role.” Johnny passed away less than four months later on September 12, 2003, perhaps, to finally reunite with his beloved songstress in heaven!

Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed

Satellite of love

Although it wasn’t until 2008 that they finally got hitched, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson shared decades of love for music and performance, as well as each other. Laurie, an experimental performance rock artist, was a prominent figure on the New York City music scene in the 70′s, as was Lou who had just quit The Velvet Underground and embarked on a solo career. While both experienced similar musical successes, it wasn’t until the late 90′s that the two artists got together. Laurie contributed to “Call on Me” from Lou’s collaborative project The Raven, on the tracks “Rouge” and “Rock Minuet” from Ecstasy, and “Hang on to Your Emotions” from Rthe Twilight Reeling; Lou Reed contributes to the tracks “In Our Sleep” from Laurie’s Bright Red and “One Beautiful Evening” from Life on a String. Eventually, they decided to marry and had a private ceremony in Boulder, Colorado.

Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger

Please, Sister Morphine, turn my nightmares into dreams

In the late 60′s, when The Rolling Stones broke onto the Swinging London scene with their blues covers and rebellious attitude, Frontman Mick Jagger and young folk musician Marianne Faithfull crossed paths. The beginning of what would become a very tumultuous relationship. While most remember their relationship as being full of wild and reckless times, Faithfull served as inspiration for a lot of Jagger’s finest work. After Faithfull introduced Jagger to “The Master and Margarita” By Mikhail Bulgakov, the book served as the inspiration behind one of The Stone’s most acclaimed hit, “Sympathy For the Devil” of Beggar’s Banquet. It’s also rumored that the songs “Wild Horses” and ” You Can’t Always Get What You Want” off of Sticky Fingers were about Faithfull. She and Jagger split up in May of 1970.

George Harrison & Pattie Boyd

“Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover”

Having read Pattie Boy’s autobiography many times over, I am completely intrigued by the rock n’ roll love triangle for which she was the object of desire. It all began with The Beatle’s George Harrison who fell for 20-year old Boyd on the set of the film ” A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964. Upon their first meeting Harrison said ” Will you marry me? Boyd laughed, so Harrison said ” Well, if you won’t marry me, will you have dinner with me tonight?” Boyd eventually obliged and the two fell madly in love. They married in 1966 and had a tumultuous relationship which ended in 1974. Boyd inspired The Beatles classic ” Something” and eventually Eric Claptions hit “Layla”. Despite being close friends with Harrison, Clapton was head over heels for Boyd and pursued her for years prior to the end of her marriage. (read more below)

Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd

Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind

In the late 60′s, Eric Clapton and George Harrison began writing and recording music together and became close friends. However, that couldn’t help Clapton from falling in love with Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd. After Boyd dismissed his affections, Clapton pursued her younger sister Paula. However, Paula left him as soon as she heard the lyrics to “Layla” in which Clapton professed the state of his love for Boyd. After years of love letters back and fourth, and the demise of Boyd and Harrison’s marriage, the two lovers finally got together. They married in 1979, and Boyd experienced similar pains to her previous marriage with Harrison. However, on the good days, Boyd inspired Clapton to write the classic love ballad “Wonderful Tonight.”

John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Love is living, living love, Love is needing to be loved

Whether or not you believe that Yoko Ono broke up The Beatles, if you’re a romantic you simply cannot die the beautiful love that she and John Lennon shared (despite the puzzling “Lost Weekend”?). It all began in 1966, when John saw one of Yoko’s works at the Indica Gallery called “Ceiling Painting,” as follows: “The viewer is invited to climb a white ladder, where at the top a magnifying glass, attached by a chain, hangs from a frame on the ceiling. The viewer uses the reading glass to discover a block letter “instruction” beneath the framed sheet of glass – it says “Y E S.” It was through this work that Ono met her third husband and longtime collaborator, John Lennon.” Lennon, when relating this story to Dick Cavett on his talk show in 1971, explained that if the word had been “no,” he would have left the gallery and not come back, but was so moved by its positivity that he had to get to know Yoko.” From there, despite a period of separation from 73′ – 75′, the couple were together up until Lennon’s tragic death on December 8th 1980. Yoko has dedicated a large part of her life to commemorating John’s life.

Paul and Linda McCartney

I know my heart can stay with my love. It’s understood, it’s in the hands of my love

Paul first met rock n’ roll photographer Linda in 1967 at a Georgie Fame concert at the Bag O’Nails club in London when she was on an assignment to take photographs of “Swinging Sixties” musicians. Later that night the two went to the Speakeasy Club on to see Procol Harum and again four days later at the launch party for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. When her assignment was completed she flew back to New York City. In May 1968, they met again in New York, as John Lennon and  Paul were there to announce the formation of Apple Corps. In September of the same year, he phoned her and asked her to fly over to London. They were married six months later in a small ceremony. The couple had four children together (one of whom was fashion designer Stella McCartney) and even were both in Paul’s group, the Wings. Linda also introduced Paul to her Vegetarian lifestyle which eventually led to The McCartneys became outspoken animal-rights activists. Sadly in 1995, after a touch battle with breast cancer, Linda died. Paul’s last word to her were ”You’re up on your beautiful Appaloosa stallion. It’s a fine spring day. We’re riding through the woods. The bluebells are all out, and the sky is clear-blue”.

Debbie Harry and Chris Stein

Once I had a love and it was a gas, soon turned out had a heart of glass

Debbie first met Chris after moving to New York City and joining his band, The Stilettos, in 1974. After feeling both musical and personal chemistry the two eventually left the band and went on to form Blondie, which was named after the popular nickname men would bestow her. After becoming regulars at clubs like the legendary CBGB’s, Blondie found mass popularity and success. Through the 80’s Debbie and Chris’ relationship would stay strong, even when Debbie had to take a few years off and nurse Chris when he was in bad health. Despite breaking up romantically in the 90s, the two have continued to work together and make the same extraordinary music that brought them together.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham

You, you make loving fun, and I don’t have to tell you but you’re the only one

Ever since the Stevie and Lindsey met, they were both lovers and musical collaborators. In the beginning of their relationship, the coupled recorded seven demos in 1972 on an analog 4-track machine, and drove to Los Angeles to pursue a record deal. Their album, Buckingham Nicks, was released in September of 1973, and although it had very poor sales then, it is now very highly regarded by rock critics. Mick Fleetwood had heard the song ”Frozen Love” from the album and courted Lindsey as a guitarist for his band. Lindsey insisted that he and Stevie were a package deal and the couple was asked to join Fleetwood Mac on New Year’s Eve, 1974. After a great amount of commercial success, the fame and fortune started to take it’s toll on Stevie and Lindsey’s relationship. In November 1977, after a New Zealand concert for the Rumours tour, Nicks and Fleetwood, who was married, secretly began an affair.The pain the couple endured both before and after their breakup is best illustrated on the 1977 Fleetwood Mac album, Rumours. It was during the album’s tour that Stevie became involved in a short lived-romance with singer/songwriter of The Eagles, Don Henley. While Stevie and Lindsey are no longer romantically involved, they continue to work together on musical projects.

“Prohibition was supposed to usher in an era of sobriety and restraint. Instead, America’s “Noble Experiment” was submerged by the madcap wave of the Roaring ’20s, when inventive recording artists on their way to fame unleashed spirited sounds that set the tone for the century”

Every morning when I venture into Starbucks for my morning coffee, I peruse the display albums as I always the love the compilations they choose. Call it Boardwalk Empire fever, of which I certainly am under the influence, but when I saw the beautiful cover featuring a 1920s’ vixen and “SPEAKEASY TIMES” plastered above her, I was immediately intrigued. I had dabbled into 20s’ music but I’ve always known I wanted to delve deeper into the era.

Once I had a look at the track list, I was immediately sold. Not only did I see some familiar favorites, such as Duke Ellington, Bill Crosby, and Louis Armstrong, but I was also introduced to some artists I’d never heard of before. The album sleeve also gave a brief history of each artist which always makes me appreciate the music more. Just from looking I knew there had to be some hidden gems, and was I ever right! Find your fellow booze hounds, throw a party, and have a listen!

1. Ruth Etting – Button Up Your Overcoat!
2. George Olsen and His Music – The Varsity Drag
3. Benny Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra – Get Low-Down Blues
4. Duke Ellington – East St. Louis Toodle-oo
5. Cab Calloway – Minnie the Moocher
6. The Charleston Chasers – Moanin’ Low
7. Frankie Trumbauer & His Orchestra (Featuring Bix Beiderbecke) – Singin’ the Blues
8. Jimmie Rodgers – Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standin’ on the Corner)
9. Mississippi Mud Steppers – Jackson Stomp
10. Bessie Smith – Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
11. The Mills Brothers – Diga, Diga Doo
12. Josephine Baker – Aux Iles Hawaii
13. Bing Crosby – Some of These Days
14. Louis Armstrong – I’ve Got the World on a String
15. Ethel Waters – Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All the Time)
16. Bert Williams – The Moon Shines on the Moonshine

After unearthing a collection of lost Rolling Stones photographs, Bob Bonis’ work is on display again in a book entitled The Lost Beatles Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive, 1964-1966.

The Beatles tour manager throughout the mid-60′s, these snapshots captured the band on tour in America, both behind-the-scenes and on stage. Bonis’, who died back in 92′, insisted on keeping the photos private but his son finally struck a book deal and now we have the pleasure of seeing the Fab Four through his insider lens.

At Seattle Tacoma Airport, the Beatles boarded their chartered Americn Flyer Airlines Lockheed Electra plane bound for Vancouver, British Columbia, to give their first-ever Canadian concert, at the Empire Stadium, on August 22, 1964.

The Beatles sit on the diving board by the pool in Bel Air, Los Angeles, August of 1964.

Paul gets pushed into the pool, Bel Air, Los Angeles, 1964.

George and Ringo have a mock fight for the camera. Ringo holds a toy gun that was reporedly a gift from Elvis Presley.

George Harrison tunes up backstage at the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, August 16, 1966.

John Lennon traveling from St. Louis, Missouri on August 21, 1966 to New York City for a concert at Shea Stadium on August 23.

Paul smiles for the camera while performing in Bloomington, Minnesota, August 21, 1965.

George gives a thumbs up during a performance in Bloomington, Minnestoa, August 21, 1965.

Paul and John warming up backstage in Detroit, Michigan, August 13, 1966.

Ringo Starr traveling from St. Louis, Missouri on August 21, 1966 to New York City for a concert at Shea Stadium on August 23.

Ringo, George and Paul backstage at Shea Stadium with Neil Aspinall on August 24, 1966.

I’m truly elated to share with you my feature “A Day in the Life” during New York Fashion Week by way of StoryBox.

StoryBox.it is an incredible social image-based storytelling platform which allows you to create beautiful collages fast and easily. By taking images from my personal Instagram and combining them together, the team at Storybox has chronicled my fashion week journey in a way which is unique to me as someone extremely passionate about fashion and music. Reminiscent of scrap-booking, StoryBox is a perfect way for me to keep track of my musings on the go!

The best part about Storybox, is that it encourages its users not only to create their own Storyboxes, but to share and remix others.  If you’re interested in remixing one of my Storyboxes, proceed to the StoryBox.it site here and follow the instructions!

Be sure to join in on the sharing and remixing on Storybox today, as well as follow them on Twitter (@storyboxit) and Facebook. Happy Storyboxing!

If all fashion houses were as passionate about music as Burberry is, the world would be a better place. Plain and simple.

For the past two years, Mr. Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer, has headed a project, entitled “Burberry Acoustic” which sheds a spotlight on emerging artists from Britain. ”Music is so important to Burberry, as it is to everyone,” explains Mr Bailey. “With Burberry Acoustic, we wanted to bring people into live contact with bands that we love, bands we admire and bands we believe in.” The project was in full flight last September, when the “Burberry Acoustic” LP was released. As the first release of the collaboration series between London Fashion Week and Sony music, the album features a slew of emerging artists, along with classic British Artists such as David Bowie and Elton John! The album art was even designed by Mr. Bailey himself and features his own photography! I encourage you to have a listen online as the album isn’t available for purchase on iTunes here in the states.

BURBERRY ACOUSTIC TRACK LIST:

1. David Bowie – Eight Line Poem
2. Ramona – How Long (for Burberry Acoustic)
3. Elton John – Skyline Pigeon
4. Midge Ure – No Regrets
5. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Joan Of Arc
6. The Pogues – Tuesday Morning
7. Status Quo – Everything
8. One Night Only – Just For Tonight (Acoustic)
9. Squeeze – Who’s That
10. Patch Williams – Jealousy (for Burberry Acoustic)
11. The Boomtown Rats – Diamond Smiles
12. The Housemartins – Flag Day
13. Good Shoes – City By The Sea (for Burberry Acoustic)
14. The Waterboys – Trumpets
15. Carter USM – The Impossible Dream
16. The Pogues – Love You ‘Till The End
17. The Animals – The House Of The Rising Sun
18. Life In Film – Alleyway (for Burberry Acoustic)

In addition to the release of the album, Burberry has made a point of using social media to spread the music! If you follow Burberry on their YouTube channel, you’ve most likely had the pleasure of viewing their short music films, which feature their favorite up-and-coming artists. From “Remember” by  Misty Miller to most recently “I’ll Move the Mountains” by Roo Panes, the films mix the artist’s acoustic melodies with the Burberry visual aesthetic. The films continue to rack up hundreds of thousands in views and I predict that Burberry’s music project will not only continue, but encourage other fashion houses to face the music!

From the soulsters after my own heart – The King, Otis Redding, & Sam Cooke – to the mean streets of Long Beach streets with Warren G and Nate Dogg, the Mulleavy sisters (behind fashion house Rodarte) have curated a list of all-embracing California songs that are made-to-fit for these laid-back summer days.

The playlist is as follows, have a listen below complements of RookieMag!

1. These Arms of Mine – Otis Redding

2. Left of the Dial – The Replacements

3. Tell Me When It’s Over – Dream Syndicate

4. The Unheard Music – X

5. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas

6. Crying – Waylon Jennings

7. Blue Moon – Elvis Presley

8. Blue Thunder – Galaxie 500

9. Regulate (ft. Nate Dogg) – Warren G

10. Sad Mood – Sam Cooke

11. Parties in the U.S.A – Jonathan Richman

12. Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty

California Dreamin’ With Rodarte from RookieMag on 8tracks.

Be sure not to miss my review of Stella McCartney’s garden affair presenting her Resort 2013 collection for MyFDB:

“The romanticized garden party is all the rage thanks to The Great Gatsby fever and its fashion was evident throughout Stella McCartney’s Resort 2013 Collection, as well as its posh presentation.

Taking place at the 19th century Marble Cemetery nestled in the Lower East Side, the site was transformed from drab burial ground to one fit for a decadent garden affair. On hand was New Orleans eight-member ensemble, the Soul Rebel Brass Band, which serenaded partygoers with equal parts jazz and soul. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a McCartney event without a throng of stars, which included the fashionably adept set: Anne Hathaway (sporting her Les Misérables bob), Solange Knowles, and Greta Gerwig, as well as those with more of a penchant for comedy, such as Jim Carrey and Amy Poehler. The eclectic crowd was invited to practice croquet, sip fresh-squeezed lemonade, and nosh on black bean burgers from the strictly-vegetarian barbeque, as part of a carnival-like fair. Models donning the pastel collection topped their looks off with star-shaped glasses as they paraded around the party…….“

To read more, proceed to MyFDBlog

Despite the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust (and the spiders from Mars), the iconic imagery associated with this fictional character — the brainchild of glam rock star David Bowie — has remained celebrated in today’s pop culture. The most recent example of this being a recent work of Queen Elizabeth II by famed graffiti artist Banksy, who honored her majesty’s Diamond Jubilee fete with a large stencil of the queen with Stardust’s “Aladdin Sane” face paint. Situated on London’s Upper Maudlin st., the painting serves as Banksy’s third work to appear at the site which previously housed the artist’s depiction of a sniper and child, as well as one which displayed the UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron and British Conservative Party politician Boris Johnson rioting.

While the irony should not be lost in this imagery, as the Queen isn’t exactly an archetype of rebellion, this isn’t the first time she’s gotten mixed up in rock n’ roll. After all, she has knighted Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and even the previous poster child for anarchy, Sir Mick Jagger. And who could forget 2003′s ‘Party the Palace’? The celebration was hosted by her majesty, and began with Queen guitarist Brian May performing the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” on the roof of Buckingham Palace. If that’s not royally awe-inspiring, I’m not sure what is.

All in all, while many a conservative may find Banky’s image to be outright ludicrous, I can’t help but think it’s exemplary of just how modernized the monarchy has become thanks to our Queen.

Mick Jagger, 1964

While there hasn’t been a reunion tour, or even a performance for that matter, 2012 has still proved to be one of true celebration as it marks the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones.

I’ve made no secret of my undying love for The Stones and have been reveling in the various fetes (Mick hosting Saturday Night Live just might top the list). In addition to getting a taste for Mick’s comedic chops, I’ve also learned that LIFE is releasing a book in tribute to The Stones’ past 50 years, which includes a selection of never-before-scene photographs on the band spanning from their days of sporting long shags in the 60s to modern day

In this deluxe book, LIFE’s editors tell the story of the Stones in over 140 pages of narrative and photographs, from the band performing on stage to fraternizing with The Beatles. Have a look!

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the recording studio in 1967.

The Stones farewell performance at Marquee in 1971.

Brian Jones in 1966.

Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Paul McCartney

At Rock and Roll Circus in 1968. Keith Richards (on bass) joins John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums.

Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts in 2007.

During fashion week I was fortunate enough to attend the opening of the Impact: Fifty Years of the CFDA exhibition held at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. In addition to getting a first peak at the iconic garments on display, I got to rub shoulders with the most influential American designers of our time – including Diane Von Furstenberg, president of the CFDA, who made a heartfelt speech on why ‘impact’ perfectly embodies what the exhibit stands for. Here’s an excerpt from my coverage for MyFDB, as well as the photographs I took during the press preview.

“Upon entering the The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the city’s sole exhibition gallery dedicated to the art of fashion, you will find towering walls befitted with some of the most remarkable creations derived from American Designers over the past half-century. The display is all part of ‘Impact: Fifty Years of the CFDA, which celebrates the Council of Fashion Designer of America, the leading fashion trade organization in the United States. The exhibition features 100 garments and accessories and each living designer highlighted has selected an ensemble of their own creation that represents his/her impact on the fashion world. Whatever catches your eye first be it Diane Von Furstenberg’s leopard wrap dress circa 1974 or Thom Browne’s pheasant feather suit from his Mens F/W 2008/2009 collection, it is apparent that you are in the presence of milestone pieces of American fashion.” Read more here

xx