Learning to play a musical instrument takes hard work, practice, and patience. But what if there was a shortcut? Legend has it that the devil is a music aficionado with a soft spot for stringed instruments. In exchange for your soul, he can supposedly turn you into a musical prodigy. While it sounds like a Faustian bargain, here are 10 musicians who, according to rumors, may have taken the deal.
The Devil’s Instrument: Musicians Who Allegedly Sold Their Souls
Why spend years practicing scales when you could become a star overnight? Here are some of the top musicians believed to have made a deal with the devil.
10 Jimmy Page
Led Zeppelin’s legendary guitarist, Jimmy Page, was deeply involved in occultism. He even bought Aleister Crowley’s old home by Loch Ness, believing it to be haunted. Page often spoke about his strange experiences there and followed Crowley’s teachings, focusing his intentions on achieving his desires.
Many claimed that Page sold his soul for his incredible guitar skills. When asked, Page didn’t deny it, suggesting that if he did, the rest of the band did too. This might be the origin of the myth that playing “Stairway to Heaven” backward reveals demonic messages.
9 Niccolò Paganini
Born in Genoa in 1782, Niccolò Paganini began playing the violin at age seven and is considered one of the greatest violin virtuosos ever. His skill was so extraordinary that rumors spread claiming he sold his soul for his talent.
Of course, it could have been his countless hours of practice and unusually long fingers, possibly due to Marfan Syndrome, which allowed him to play three octaves across four strings—an unheard-of feat. Like many musical geniuses, Paganini used his skills to charm women and was even said to trap their souls inside his violin.
8 Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson’s soul is perhaps the most famous in the devil’s collection. The story goes that in the 1930s, he met the devil at the Clarksdale Crossroads. Initially a mediocre guitarist, Johnson disappeared for a few weeks. He supposedly took his guitar to the crossroads in Mississippi, where the devil retuned it and gave him some lessons.
When he returned, his guitar skills were described as “formidable” and “masterful.” Johnson died in 1938 at the age of 27, cementing the rumor. He is now officially known as the Devil’s Bluesman.
7 Giuseppe Tartini
Giuseppe Tartini not only allegedly sold his soul but also composed a song with the devil. “Il trillo del Diavolo” (The Devil’s Trill) came to Tartini in a dream after his dream-self made the deal. However, he found that the music he wrote down wasn’t as complex as the devil’s tune.
The Devil’s Trill is one of the most technically demanding pieces for violin. Tartini spent his life trying to master his own tune, a constant reminder of his bargain. Despite this, he was a renowned musician, womanizer, brawler, and swordsman.
6 John Lennon
John Lennon infamously said that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus. One Beatles scholar has spent years deciphering hidden messages in Lennon’s music, art, and album covers, believing he found evidence that Lennon sold his soul.
This scholar follows trails of sorcery, mysticism, numerology, and theology, using anagrams and backward listening to support his theory. Lennon allegedly made the pact around December 1960, just before Beatlemania exploded. The deal supposedly promised 20 years of success before the devil reclaimed his soul. Lennon died on December 7, 1980, adding fuel to the fire.
5 Snoop Dogg
While most soul-selling stories are secret, Snoop Dogg openly talks and sings about his. He admits being in a dark place when he heard a voice saying, “Bring your lifestyle to me; I’ll make it better.” Mr. Dogg asked how long he would live, and the voice replied, “Eternal and forever.”
Snoop Dogg initially thought he was making a pact with God but was tricked by the devil. Or perhaps, it’s just a song. You decide.
4 The Rolling Stones
In 1968, The Rolling Stones released “Sympathy For The Devil” on their “Beggars Banquet” album, confirming every parent’s suspicion: rock and roll was the devil’s music. Keith Richards told Rolling Stone that some saw them as “unknown agents of Lucifer,” while others thought they were Lucifer themselves.
Some fans embraced the Satanic image, particularly the Hells Angels, who adopted “Sympathy For The Devil” as their unofficial anthem. During the Altamont music festival, where the Hells Angels provided security, a teenage boy was stabbed to death during the song. Although the song wasn’t directly linked, The Stones avoided playing it live for a long time and have faced devil-worshiping rumors ever since.
3 Philippe Musard
Philippe Musard, a French musician, composer, and conductor, was as famous for his colorful life as for his chaotic concerts. He was the rock star of the 19th century known for his theatrical flair and shocking performances. Musard was the first conductor to stand during performances and wildly wave his arms, sometimes throwing his baton into the audience.
He invented the Galop Infernal, frenetic dance tunes used in can-can dances. His wild gesticulations and strange faces led to rumors that Musard had made a pact with the devil, contributing to his phenomenally successful image.
2 Tommy Johnson
Tommy Johnson, was a blues musician credited with starting the rumor that Robert Johnson sold his soul at the crossroads. Before that rumor, people believed Tommy had done the same. During the 1920s and 1930s, Tommy was one of the most influential bluesmen in Mississippi.
His brother LeDell taught him guitar, but as a teenager, Tommy ran away to the Mississippi Delta. When he returned two years later, he was an expert guitarist. LeDell Johnson claimed that Tommy had met a mysterious figure at a crossroads who tuned Tommy’s guitar, enabling him to play like the devil. Tommy then told the same story about Robert Johnson. Perhaps Tommy Johnson was diverting attention from his own diabolic encounter.
1 Bob Dylan
In 2016, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for literature, surprising many. In an interview, Dylan explained, “It’s a destiny thing. I made a devil’s bargain, and I’m holding up my end.” Dylan’s comment aligns with the notion that he exchanged his soul for fame.
Bob Dylan, supposedly, died on July 25, 1965, the same day he played an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival. Accompanied by a rock band, he launched into an un-folky rendition of “Like a Rolling Stone,” which was poorly received. To folk purists, Dylan’s new sound seemed like an unholy pact.
The Cost of Fame
These stories highlight the enduring myth of musicians trading their souls for success. Whether fact or fiction, such legends add mystique to the artists and their music. They also prompt reflection on the sacrifices and choices people make in pursuit of their dreams. Perhaps the true magic lies in the dedication, practice, and passion that fuels their artistry, not supernatural deals. Every musician’s journey is a blend of talent, hard work, and a touch of the unknown.
Which of these stories did you find the most intriguing? Leave your comment below!
