8 Artists Who Balance Music with Remarkably Intellectual Careers

While Pink Floyd’s lyric “we don’t need no education” resonates with some, it couldn’t be less accurate for these musicians. The individuals featured here didn’t merely accept honorary degrees after achieving fame. Instead, they dedicated years to earning advanced degrees and securing roles at prestigious organizations like NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. After all, being known as a 'rock star' is impressive, but adding 'rocket scientist' to your title elevates it to another level.

1. BRIAN MAY

Brian May, the legendary British guitarist from Queen, could have retired after the band’s recording era ended with Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991. However, May continues to perform with his bandmates while passionately pursuing his love for astrophysics.

May had left his doctoral studies at Imperial College London in the 1970s to pursue a rock star lifestyle but returned to earn his PhD in 2007. Since then, he has co-written two books on astronomy and partnered with NASA in 2015 as the New Horizons probe approached Pluto. Additionally, May created the first high-resolution stereo image of the dwarf planet. This is quite an achievement for someone already famous for iconic rock anthems like “We Will Rock You” and “Stone Cold Crazy.”

2. MILO AUKERMAN

The Descendents’ debut album, 1982’s Milo Goes To College, was no joke. Lead singer Milo Aukerman channeled his punk rock energy into academia, earning a doctorate in biology from UC San Diego and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

For years, Aukerman balanced his dual passions, performing with the Descendents while teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware and conducting plant research at DuPont. Though punk rock and biochemistry seem worlds apart, Aukerman found common ground. In a 2011 interview with The Scientist, he explained that both fields involve “seeking discoveries that challenge the status quo.” However, fans shouldn’t expect scientific lyrics: “I will probably never ever write a song about DNA,” he stated. By 2016, Aukerman had shifted his focus entirely to music, telling Spin, “Science has become less interesting to me, and corporate work felt like a burden. When I realized I should focus on music, I was laid off anyway.”

3. DEXTER HOLLAND

The Offspring, the punk rock band from Orange County, California, has been consistently releasing albums and touring since the 1980s. What many fans might not know is that Dexter Holland, the band’s lead vocalist and lyricist, was also deeply involved in HIV research while crafting hits like “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy).”

In May 2017, Holland achieved his PhD in molecular biology from the University of Southern California. His dissertation, titled Discovery of Mature MicroRNA Sequences within the Protein-Coding Regions of Global HIV-1 Genomes: Predictions of Novel Mechanisms for Viral Infection and Pathogenicity, spanned 175 pages. Despite the complex title, Holland explained to Rolling Stone that his research focused on the molecular behavior of the HIV virus. “I’ve always been fascinated by virology and wanted to contribute, even in a small way, to the understanding of HIV and AIDS,” he shared.

4. JEFF “SKUNK” BAXTER

While many people take on side jobs like dog-walking or crafting, it’s far less common to unexpectedly become a consultant for missile defense systems. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, known for his guitar work with bands like the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and Elton John in the 1970s and '80s, has had a second career since the mid-1990s. He has worked with the Congressional Advisory Board on Missile Defense and consulted for General Atomics, landing these roles largely by chance.

Baxter attributes his entry into missile defense to his innate curiosity about technology and its potential for improvement. He often engaged in deep conversations with his next-door neighbor, a retired engineer who had worked on the Pentagon’s Sidewinder missile program. Over the years, Baxter immersed himself in research, studying missile hardware extensively. Eventually, he presented a proposal to enhance the ship-based Aegis missile system to Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, marking the start of his impactful second career.

5. GREG GRAFFIN

For over 30 years, Bad Religion has been a cornerstone of punk rock, with frontman Greg Graffin leading the charge. Graffin’s politically-driven lyrics have earned the band a loyal fanbase, but his interests extend far beyond music.

Since 2008, Graffin has balanced his time between performing with Bad Religion and teaching evolutionary biology at various universities. He holds a PhD in zoology from Cornell University, where he now teaches. Graffin has co-written three books exploring the intersection of evolution and religion and has taught life science courses at UCLA. He sees a connection between his two passions, stating, “Whether I’m at a lectern or on stage, my goal is to inspire people to think critically and expand their perspectives,” as he told the San Diego Tribune.

6. PHILIP TAYLOR KRAMER

Philip Taylor Kramer’s life was marked by extraordinary achievements and profound tragedy. He rose to fame in the 1970s as the bassist for psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly. After leaving music in the early 1980s, he transitioned into computer engineering, where he found significant success.

Following in his father’s footsteps—a professor of electrical engineering—Kramer co-founded a company that made groundbreaking advancements in missile guidance systems and computerized facial reconstruction. Tragically, his life ended under mysterious circumstances in 1995 when he vanished after a frantic phone call to his wife from Los Angeles International Airport, urging her to meet him at a hotel.

After calling the police and declaring his intention to end his life, the musician and computer engineer abruptly hung up. He vanished without a trace until his charred van was found at the bottom of a ravine four years later. While his death was officially ruled a probable suicide, many of Kramer’s family and friends believed there might have been foul play involved.

7. JOHN PERRY BARLOW

Grateful Dead fans recognize John Perry Barlow from the album liner notes, where he is credited as a co-writer of iconic tracks like “Mexicali Blues” and “Cassidy.” However, Barlow’s legacy extends far beyond music. He was a trailblazer in the digital age, co-founding the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990 to champion internet freedom and digital rights.

Recently, Barlow has turned his attention to an unconventional focus—algae. As the vice president of Algae Systems, he is involved in developing microalgae as a sustainable biofuel and transforming sewage into usable fertilizer.

8. TOM SCHOLZ

Boston’s 1976 self-titled debut album became one of the best-selling albums in history, moving 17 million copies. Much of this success is credited to guitarist Tom Scholz’s expertise as a mechanical engineer.

Scholz earned both his bachelor’s (1969) and master’s degrees (1970) in mechanical engineering from MIT but aspired to rock stardom. To support himself, he worked as a senior product design engineer at Polaroid. Using his earnings, Scholz built a basement recording studio, where he crafted nearly every element of Boston’s debut album, except for vocals and drums. Despite Epic Records’ insistence on re-recording the demos in a professional studio, Scholz stood his ground, and most of his original recordings were included on the massively successful album.