The most scandalous, outrageous moments in music history

T.a.T.u and Lesbianism: Exemplary in their attempt to use same sex romance to further album sales were heterosexual teenage Russian duo T.A.T.U.. They promoted their 2002 album, 200km/h In The Wrong Lane, with a make-out session on The Tonight Show – cut by network censors – and heavy doses of girlie action at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards. Later, Madonna also proved that any age is good for public sexual experimentation by smooching popstars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Jacko and Jesus Juice: Semi-religious alias given to whitewine by 47-year-old King of Pop and amateur sommelier Micheal Jackson; red wine correspondingly known as “Jesus’s Blood.” Sipping both from cans of soda, Jackson allegedly plied a 13-year-old boy and his brother with the “holy” drink – along with antihistamines – before making them watch pornography. A former associate of Jackson’s claims the Juice once caused Jackson to pass out on the floor of a plane during a flight to Germany.

Rick and Crack: The smokable and highly potent and addictive form of cocaine is what wrapped its arms around funk singer Rick James with disastrous consequences. In 1991, 24-year-old Frances Alley claimed that an intoxicated James ordered her to strip naked, tied her to a chair and burned her with a hot pipe, after which she was hit in the face with a hand-gun and forced to perform cunnilingus upon James’s girlfriend. Alley went to the police and – following a separate, drug-fueled assault on another woman – James was put on trial. Charges on him included false imprisonment, torture, forcible oral copulation and aggravated mayhem.

Explicit Album Art: We’re not supposed to be judging a book by its cover but that doesn’t mean that we can just ignore album cover art. It’s art after all. During the course of time, banned or altered covers have depicted: naked underage girls (Blind Faith, Blind Faith; anything by Bow Wow Wow); visible nipples (Jane’s Addiction, Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual); trace amounts of pubic hair (The Black Crowes, Amorica); and, worst of all, wildly unkempt pubic hair (John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Two Virgins).

Madonna and Sex: Before Madge was a Britney-kissing spiritualist with a penchant for writing children’s books, the pop goddess was known for her ability to create a scandal. With songs such as Like a Prayer she offended the church, and managed to be so risque that even MTV banned her video for Justify My Love. Her Blond Ambition tour with its raw sexuality, and most notably the introduction of her Jean-Paul Gaultier-designed conical bra outfit caused shock waves. Luckily for us this super wild life is the focus of the documentary In Bed With Madonna (known as Madonna: Truth or Dare in the United States). The documentary consists of backstage footage of her world tour mixed with performance clips from the shows.

Sex, Lies and R Kelly: History will either celebrate R Kelly as an artistic genius or remember him as an unbalanced nut. At the moment the odds aren’t on the genius result, but it would be hard to deny he doesn’t push the limits. The one limit being pushed is the starting date for his trial over 14 child porn related charges. Currently the case is set to begin sometime next year, but it has already been delayed numerous times and people are beginning to wonder if the rapper will ever have his day in court.The cause of the charges is a video released onto the web in 2002 allegedly showing Kelly engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl. The details surrounding the case are dramatic in nature, the girl reportedly in the video (who is now an adult) denies she is depicted in the tape. Kelly also denies he is the man shown in the video. Meanwhile, friends of the girl claim she is indeed the person in the video.

Frankie goes to Hollywood: 80s British dance group whose enthusiasm for S&M outfits, suggestive lyrics and wanton homoeroticism was dimly viewed by the regulators of British broadcasting. They enjoyed a short-lived but nonetheless scandalous career, thanks to good PR and songs like Rage Hard and Relax – which featured the inquisitive lyric, “When you wanna come?” A suitably shocked BBC banned the Relax single in the UK, but the kinky imagery of the video helped it sell more than a million copies.

Warren and Dildos: A dildo, for those may not know, is a latex version of the male genitalia and for fans unable to experience the real thing, Duran Duran guitarist Warren Cuccurullo marketed an 8” dildo, the Rock Rod, modelled on his own crown jewels, in 2002. In general, such sex toys are not recommended for use outside the bedroom. In 1999, two members of German industrial metal outfit Rammstein were arrested for lewd and lascivious behaviour during a concert in Worcester, Massachusetts, for simulating sodomy with a large dildo that emitted milk.

Avril vs Plagiarism: In July 2007, punk princess Avril Lavigne found herself in a storm of controversy when 70s power pop band, The Rubinoos claimed Lavigne’s Girlfriend stole from their song I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend. Across the Internet, amateur musicologists listened to the songs and made their judgements about the validity of the accusation, with opinions varying wildly on the subject. Avril countered the accusation by saying she’d never heard of the Rubinoos. This is almost certainly true, as we are talking about the same woman who in 2003 mispronounced the name of rock icon David Bowie when announcing Grammy nominees. If she can’t get Bowie’s name right, then it’s fair to assume she’s unlikely to know the band that did the theme song to Revenge of the Nerds.

Pamela and a Sex Tape: Pamela Anderson, model and former Baywatch star, sometime consort of Kid Rock, Poison’s Bret Michaels, Michael Bolton, and Fred Durst. Most famous within rock and roll circles for co-starring in 1996 sex tape made with then husband and father of her children, Tommy Lee in which he pleasures himself over generously endowed areas of his wife’s anatomy and honks the horn of a speed­boat without using his hands at all.

Bowie and Bisexuality: Bisexuality is a bit like having the best of both the worlds and David Bowie met ex-wife Angie when they were both “getting physical with the same bloke” (record executive Calvin Mark Lee). Angie later gave a lecture on bisexuality at the very posh English private school Eton. Also doubling their chances, are Madonna, Michael Jackson and Elton John. As John explained, “People should be very free with sex. They should draw the line at goats, though.”

Swords and Zeppelin: “Led Zeppelin,” Jimmy Page once said, “is a stag party that never ends.” At the Tokyo Hilton, Richard Cole and John Bonham sliced their rooms to shred with samurai swords. In a Nantes hotel, Robert Plant was informed that there was no milk on the premises. In retribution two floors were flooded with fire hoses and the toilets were jammed.

Jane T and JT’s 'Nipplegate': During the 2004 Super Bowl half-time show, the United States was thrown into disarray when a Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake duet spiraled out of control. This one event would become the most-watched moment in TV history, redefine censorship in the United States and introduce the term ‘’wardrobe malfunction’’ into popular lexicon.The pair was performing a mash-up of Rock Your Body and Rhythm Nation and at the final line of the song JT tore off a part of Jackson’s costume. Supposedly, the intention was to reveal a red lace bra but Timberlake, proving his adeptness at removing the undergarments of the opposite sex, ended up revealing Jackson’s right breast with its jewelry-encrusted nipple.

Ozzy and The White Dove: In the early 80s, the Ozzy name had been so long out of the public consciousness, that a little publicity was decidedly needed. Therefore, at a CBS Records convention he came equipped with white doves, which he produced at the appropriate moment. Then, to the horror of all those present, he bit the head off one of them, splattering blood over his trousers, and grinned amiably.

Skinhead and The Pope: It was a cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U that shot bald-headed Irish popstar Sinead O’Connor to fame, and it was a cover of Bob Marley’s War that brought her lasting infamy. As the musical act on Saturday Night Live in October 1992, O’Connor was set to perform an acapella version of the Marley tune. The show’s producers, more concerned that guest host Tim Robbins was going to make a political statement, were taken entirely by surprise when during the live performance O’Connor held up a photo of Pope John Paul II at the end of the song. Shouting, “fight the real enemy” she tore up the photo of the pontiff as the deathly silent crowd watched on.

Mystikal and The Jail: An image-conscious sexual assailant, Michael Tyler (Mystikal) blackmailed his hairstylist into submitting to anal and oral sex with him and two others, but not until she had braided his hair. Facing life in prison in a charge of aggravated rape, Tyler pleaded guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Durst and The Nookie: Notorious for chronicling romantic liaisons via overwrought blog entries and, more graphically, a widely circulated rear-entry nookie video co-starring an unidentified model and Fred’s ample stomach. The 3-minute clip – allegedly taken from Durst’s computer while it was being repaired – is the latest in a career-long obsession with proving to the public that he has, despite common sense indicating otherwise, had sex with a woman.

Ganja and Lee Perry: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, one of the greatest producers in reggae who helped legends like Bob Marley and Coxsone Dodd hone their styles, also had a passionate affair going on with Mary Jane, you know, the sweet leaf or simply, marijuana. One day, after staying awake for a full week and toking himself into oblivion, Perry reportedly burnt down his iconic Black Ark Studios. “I did make a dread studio and I said I’d make a religious studio and a Godly studio,” said the man. “It was even too dread for me. I had to burn it down to get rid of that dread vibration. I forgot that I was a soul man. It was a dreadful equation. Too dreadful for me.” We’re still trying to figure it all out.

Bigger than God: In early 1966, London Evening Standard reporter Maureen Cleave interviewed John Lennon for a story outlining the life of the Beatles. Unknown to Lennon, the author, and the British public, the article contained six words that would ignite a massive scandal. Those six words were: “We’re more popular than Jesus now.” In July 1966, four months after the article was printed, US teen magazine DATEbook published a cover story titled The Ten Adults You Dig/Hate the Most, which included Lennon’s statement. All hell broke loose in the conservative Bible belt states where tolerance for long-haired Limeys mouthing off against their Lord Jesus is strictly limited.