Rock ’n’ Roll’s Greatest Muses
The idea of a muse — someone who serves as a profound source of artistic inspiration — is far from new. Muses were an everyday part of ancient Greek culture, which typically notes nine muses — all of them goddesses — covering every branch of the arts. They are mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, which was completed sometime around 675 BCE, and the concept never went out of fashion after that. In modern times, muses can still be found throughout the arts — even in rock ’n’ roll. And while men have certainly served as sources of artistic inspiration, the most legendary muses in rock, just like those of ancient Greece, have been women.
Behind some of the genre’s most unforgettable songs stand influential muses — lovers, partners, friends, objects of obsession — who sparked the creative fires that led to classic rock tracks. Here we look at some of rock’s greatest muses — figures who energized albums, defined eras, and occasionally provoked the frustrated smashing of guitars.
Pattie Boyd
Pattie Boyd was the archetypal 1960s “It” girl and arguably rock’s most legendary muse. The English model married George Harrison in 1966 and inspired him to write a handful of classic Beatles songs, including “I Need You,” “If I Needed Someone,” “Something,” and “For You Blue.” Boyd and Harrison divorced after a decade and she married their mutual friend Eric Clapton in 1979, a union that inspired songs such as “Wonderful Tonight” and “She’s Waiting.” They divorced in 1989, at which point Clapton began working on his album Journeyman (which included a song written by Harrison). One track on the album, “Old Love,” was about his ex-wife, proving the potency of Boyd’s enduring role as a muse.
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Marianne Faithfull
In the 1960s, Marianne Faithfull emerged as the ethereal muse of Mick Jagger, inspiring numerous songs by the Rolling Stones, including “Wild Horses” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Being attached to the Stones came with plenty of turmoil and turbulence, but Faithfull survived the excesses of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle while contributing significantly to the band’s creative evolution. Faithfull was far more than just a muse, though — she was a rock star and music icon in her own right, and one of the leading female artists of the British Invasion.
Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono was an avant-garde artist who became John Lennon’s wife, collaborator, and muse. She was unfairly blamed for the breakup of the Beatles, a stigma that has yet to be fully shed — being labeled a “Yoko” is still the death knell of many a rock muse. But without Ono as his creative partner and inspiration, Lennon wouldn’t have penned songs such as the Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” and “I Want You (She's So Heavy).” Fans also would have missed out on Lennon’s most famous and beloved solo track, “Imagine,” for which Ono received a co-writing credit.
Mary Austin
In 1969, just a year before Queen formed, Freddie Mercury met Mary Austin at the fashion boutique where she worked in Kensington, London. They began a long-term romantic relationship that ended when Mercury told Austin that he was gay, but their friendship remained strong. Austin became Mercury’s lifelong soulmate and muse, and he wrote several songs about her, most notably “Love of My Life.” In 1985, six years before his death, Mercury said, “All my lovers asked me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s simply impossible. The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else.” Austin was by Mercury’s side when he died, and he left her half of his $75 million estate.
Bebe Buell
In the 1970s, Bebe Buell caused quite a buzz. As well as being a model and Playboy magazine’s “Playmate of the Month” in November 1974, she mixed with many of the most legendary bands and musicians of the decade — not as a groupie, as she has often said, but as a muse. Enough songs to fill an entire album are believed to have been written about Buell, including Todd Rundgren’s “Can We Still Be Friends,” Prince’s “Little Red Corvette,” and Elvis Costello’s “Human Hands.” Her other high-profile rock star relationships included Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart, and Steven Tyler (Buell is Liv Tyler’s mother) — so it’s likely she inspired more rock ’n’ roll tunes than we know.
Linda McCartney
Linda Eastman met Paul McCartney in 1967 while on a photo assignment in London. The two hit it off almost immediately, beginning one of the greatest love stories in pop music history. Linda McCartney became Paul’s wife, soulmate, and musical partner in the band Wings, forging a personal and artistic relationship that spanned three decades until Linda’s death in 1998. She inspired many of Paul’s songs, including “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “My Love,” “Heart of the Country,” and “The Lovely Linda.” Paul once said of his wife, “Any love song I write is written for Linda.”
