College Rankings of Rock: Top 20 Universities Rated for Their Musical Alumni
- Posted by Pat Pemberton
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20
Cornell University
Ithaca, N.Y.
Alumni: Peter, Paul and Mary's Peter Yarrow, Huey Lewis, Harry Chapin, Greg Graffin of Bad Religion.
Pass: On Dragon Day, a tradition since 1901, a dragon erected by freshman architecture students is set ablaze.
Fail: Cornell has an entire school dedicated to producing a new generation of hotel clerks.
Professor Punk: After studying ants, mammals and reptiles while at UCLA, Graffin earned his Ph.D. in biology from Cornell. He now lectures at UCLA and is releasing a book titled 'Anarchy Evolution.'
Pass: On Dragon Day, a tradition since 1901, a dragon erected by freshman architecture students is set ablaze.
Fail: Cornell has an entire school dedicated to producing a new generation of hotel clerks.
Professor Punk: After studying ants, mammals and reptiles while at UCLA, Graffin earned his Ph.D. in biology from Cornell. He now lectures at UCLA and is releasing a book titled 'Anarchy Evolution.'
19
York University
Toronto
Alumni: Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and rapper K'naan.
Pass: York researchers will play a key role in 2016 mission to find life on Mars.
Fail: You might be safer on Mars: The campus is in one of Toronto's diciest neighborhoods.
No Pukes: Page has lamented that his parents, educational psychologists who were overly protective, made him go to college close to home, saying he missed out on the "university life thing," including getting loaded, puking and rolling out of dorms.
Pass: York researchers will play a key role in 2016 mission to find life on Mars.
Fail: You might be safer on Mars: The campus is in one of Toronto's diciest neighborhoods.
No Pukes: Page has lamented that his parents, educational psychologists who were overly protective, made him go to college close to home, saying he missed out on the "university life thing," including getting loaded, puking and rolling out of dorms.
18
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Mass.
Alumni: Natalie Cole, Frank Black of the Pixies, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taj Mahal
Pass: UMass boasts the tallest library in the US.
Fail: Two bucks a day for overdue books
A Mule to Ride: Henry Saint Clair Fredericks was a member of the Future Farmers of America and an animal science major when he began dreaming about India. So he named himself Taj Mahal after the famous mausoleum.
Pass: UMass boasts the tallest library in the US.
Fail: Two bucks a day for overdue books
A Mule to Ride: Henry Saint Clair Fredericks was a member of the Future Farmers of America and an animal science major when he began dreaming about India. So he named himself Taj Mahal after the famous mausoleum.
17
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Alumni: John Legend, Tammi Terrell, members of the Hooters, producer and songwriter Devo Springsteen
Pass: Spring Fling -- largest college party on East Coast!
Fail: No parties for men's basketball team -- 6 wins, 22 losses in 2010.
A Legend in the Works: Legend, who enrolled in Penn at 16, was invited to play piano on Lauryn Hill's solo debut while a student. He later graduated magna cum laude.
Pass: Spring Fling -- largest college party on East Coast!
Fail: No parties for men's basketball team -- 6 wins, 22 losses in 2010.
A Legend in the Works: Legend, who enrolled in Penn at 16, was invited to play piano on Lauryn Hill's solo debut while a student. He later graduated magna cum laude.
16
University of Leeds
Leeds, England
Alumni: Corinne Bailey Rae, Mark Knopfler, Simon Rix of Kaiser Chiefs, post-punk band Gang of Four
Pass: The Who's 'Live at Leeds' being recorded here in 1970 boost its college ranking.
Fail: Leeds has a long history of unrest, dating back to the corn price riots of 1735.
The Scoop: After studying journalism at Harlow Technical College, Knopfler worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post. While there, he pursued an English degree at U. of Leeds and eventually quit newspapers in favor of pub gigs.
Pass: The Who's 'Live at Leeds' being recorded here in 1970 boost its college ranking.
Fail: Leeds has a long history of unrest, dating back to the corn price riots of 1735.
The Scoop: After studying journalism at Harlow Technical College, Knopfler worked for the Yorkshire Evening Post. While there, he pursued an English degree at U. of Leeds and eventually quit newspapers in favor of pub gigs.
15
Harvard University
Cambridge, Mass.
Alumni: Rivers Cuomo, Gram Parsons, Bonnie Raitt, Pete Seeger
Pass: Alumni include past presidents, Nobel laureates, Supreme Court justices and famous novelists.
Fail: And also the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.
No Rush: Cuomo enrolled in Harvard after the release of Weezer's first multiplatinum album in 1995. Eleven years later, he got his degree in English lit, nearly scoring straight A's.
Pass: Alumni include past presidents, Nobel laureates, Supreme Court justices and famous novelists.
Fail: And also the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.
No Rush: Cuomo enrolled in Harvard after the release of Weezer's first multiplatinum album in 1995. Eleven years later, he got his degree in English lit, nearly scoring straight A's.
14
Syracuse University
Syracuse, N.Y.
Alumni: Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison of the Velvet Underground, Pete Yorn, Vanessa Williams
Pass: Syracuse's art collection includes works by Picasso, Rembrandt and Hopper.
Fail: Less artistic is their mascot -- some poor guy dressed as a navel orange.
Shock Horror: At 17, Reed's parents subjected him to shock therapy treatments, fearing his obsession with the devil's music and homosexual tendencies. Despite the treatment's adverse effect on his memory, Reed graduated.
Pass: Syracuse's art collection includes works by Picasso, Rembrandt and Hopper.
Fail: Less artistic is their mascot -- some poor guy dressed as a navel orange.
Shock Horror: At 17, Reed's parents subjected him to shock therapy treatments, fearing his obsession with the devil's music and homosexual tendencies. Despite the treatment's adverse effect on his memory, Reed graduated.
13
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Conn.
Alumni: MGMT, Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls, Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow, Dar Williams, nerdcore artist MC Frontalot
Pass: In 1872, Wesleyan became one of first US universities to attempt co-education.
Fail: In 1912, it changed its mind, and women weren't allowed back until 1970.
Anatomy 101: Palmer, who lived in the same house that members of MGMT would occupy a few years later, conducted her senior art project naked.
Pass: In 1872, Wesleyan became one of first US universities to attempt co-education.
Fail: In 1912, it changed its mind, and women weren't allowed back until 1970.
Anatomy 101: Palmer, who lived in the same house that members of MGMT would occupy a few years later, conducted her senior art project naked.
12
Columbia University
New York
Alumni: Alicia Keys, Vampire Weekend, Sean Lennon, Art Garfunkel, Vanessa Carlton, Lauryn Hill
Pass: On the Sunday of finals week each semester, Columbia students open their windows at midnight and scream as loud as possible to relieve stress.
Fail: All that screaming drowns out the normal NYC screams.
Batty of the Bands: Vampire Weekend, named after an undergraduate film project, performed its first gig during a Columbia band contest.
Pass: On the Sunday of finals week each semester, Columbia students open their windows at midnight and scream as loud as possible to relieve stress.
Fail: All that screaming drowns out the normal NYC screams.
Batty of the Bands: Vampire Weekend, named after an undergraduate film project, performed its first gig during a Columbia band contest.
11
McGill University
Montreal
Alumni: Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen, Burt Bacharach, Chuck Comeau of Simple Plan.
Pass: Alumni include six Nobel laureates, three astronauts, two Canadian prime ministers and four justices of the Canadian Supreme Court.
Fail: Despite student referendum, McGill refused to name student union after alumnus William Shatner because he was neither a major benefactor nor dead.
Finding Religion: Butler initially took fine art classes before seeking more challenging religion and philosophy courses. Then he barely graduated.
Pass: Alumni include six Nobel laureates, three astronauts, two Canadian prime ministers and four justices of the Canadian Supreme Court.
Fail: Despite student referendum, McGill refused to name student union after alumnus William Shatner because he was neither a major benefactor nor dead.
Finding Religion: Butler initially took fine art classes before seeking more challenging religion and philosophy courses. Then he barely graduated.
10
University of California, Berkeley
Alumni: Stewart Copeland, Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Grateful Dead bass player Phil Lesh, Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident, Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins
Pass: Streaking during finals week!
Fail: Not all streakers are created equal.
I Spy: While born in the US, Copeland spent most of his life overseas while his father worked in the CIA. The drummer was attending Berkeley when he went to his family's home in London and met Sting.
Pass: Streaking during finals week!
Fail: Not all streakers are created equal.
I Spy: While born in the US, Copeland spent most of his life overseas while his father worked in the CIA. The drummer was attending Berkeley when he went to his family's home in London and met Sting.
09
New York University
Alumni: Neil Diamond, E Street Band member Patti Scialfa, producer Rick Rubin, Lady Gaga, Grizzly Bear, members of Interpol and the Strokes, Melissa Manchester.
Pass:It's located in the bohemian cultural hub of Greenwich Village.
Fail: Ag opportunities really suck.
Dorm Jam: Def Jam Records was launched in 1984 out of Rubin's NYU dorm room with $5,000. Working out of the dorm, Rubin and Russell Simmons signed their first rapper, L.L. Cool J.
Pass:It's located in the bohemian cultural hub of Greenwich Village.
Fail: Ag opportunities really suck.
Dorm Jam: Def Jam Records was launched in 1984 out of Rubin's NYU dorm room with $5,000. Working out of the dorm, Rubin and Russell Simmons signed their first rapper, L.L. Cool J.
08
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
London
Alumni: PJ Harvey, M.I.A., Joe Strummer, Jarvis Cocker, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Sade Adu, Faris Badwan of the Horrors
Pass: No mathematics.
Fail: No sun.
No Guarantees: After graduating with a degree in fashion from Central Saint Martins, Sade struggled as a fashion designer, at times raiding couch cushions to come up with cigarette money.
Pass: No mathematics.
Fail: No sun.
No Guarantees: After graduating with a degree in fashion from Central Saint Martins, Sade struggled as a fashion designer, at times raiding couch cushions to come up with cigarette money.
07
University of Miami
Alumni: Ben Folds, Bruce Hornsby, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Steve Morse of Deep Purple, Grace Slick.
Pass: College ranking raised by tropical weather, Cuban sandwiches
Fail: Giant bugs -- ick!
No Gracias: While studying psychology at U. of Miami and working as an English/Spanish/French translator at Miami International Airport, Estefan was approached by the CIA to work for the agency as a spy. The Cuban-born Estefan, whose father was arrested after the Bay of Pigs invasion, declined.
Pass: College ranking raised by tropical weather, Cuban sandwiches
Fail: Giant bugs -- ick!
No Gracias: While studying psychology at U. of Miami and working as an English/Spanish/French translator at Miami International Airport, Estefan was approached by the CIA to work for the agency as a spy. The Cuban-born Estefan, whose father was arrested after the Bay of Pigs invasion, declined.
06
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
Alumni: Joe Walsh, Chrissie Hynde, Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees, Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of Devo
Pass: Nationally known business school
Fail: KSU alum Arsenio Hall's best days are probably behind him.
Four Dead in Ohio: After National Guard members shot and killed four students during a 1970 protest at Kent State, Casale witnessed two of the bodies -- including that of Jeff Miller, a friend of Hynde's who lived in Casale's building.
Pass: Nationally known business school
Fail: KSU alum Arsenio Hall's best days are probably behind him.
Four Dead in Ohio: After National Guard members shot and killed four students during a 1970 protest at Kent State, Casale witnessed two of the bodies -- including that of Jeff Miller, a friend of Hynde's who lived in Casale's building.
05
University of California, Los Angeles
Alumni: Jan Berry of Jan & Dean, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Greg Graffin of Bad Religion, Sara Bareilles, members of Black Flag and Maroon 5, Anthony Kiedis, Randy Newman, film composer John Williams
Pass: Swimming pools and movie stars
Fail: Basketball team hasn't been the same since John Wooden left.
Dead Man's Grading Curve: After graduating from UCLA, Jan Berry had completed two years of med school by the time of his near-fatal 1966 car accident, which caused brain damage.
Pass: Swimming pools and movie stars
Fail: Basketball team hasn't been the same since John Wooden left.
Dead Man's Grading Curve: After graduating from UCLA, Jan Berry had completed two years of med school by the time of his near-fatal 1966 car accident, which caused brain damage.
04
University of Georgia, Athens
Alumni: Members of R.E.M., the B-52s and the Whigs, Danger Mouse, Widespread Panic lead singer John Farmer Bell
Pass: To ensure its survival, a professor deeded a tree (The Tree That Owns Itself) to itself in an 1890 will.
Fail: Strong winds blew it down in 1942.
No Service: While Wuxtry Records, where R.E.M. members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck met, still stands, St. Mary's Episcopal Church near UGA, where the band rehearsed, was knocked down for condos.
Pass: To ensure its survival, a professor deeded a tree (The Tree That Owns Itself) to itself in an 1890 will.
Fail: Strong winds blew it down in 1942.
No Service: While Wuxtry Records, where R.E.M. members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck met, still stands, St. Mary's Episcopal Church near UGA, where the band rehearsed, was knocked down for condos.
03
University of London
Alumni: John Cale of the Velvet Underground, Coldplay, Brian May and John Deacon of Queen, Mick Jagger, Alex James of Blur, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Joe Jackson, KT Tunstall
Pass: University of London Society of Bell Ringers teaches students to ring bells in English church towers.
Fail: Can't rock out to 'Sympathy for the Devil' on church bells.
Radical: Queen guitarist Brian May, who was studying astrophysics when he co-formed the band in 1970, got his Ph.D. from U. of London's Imperial College at 60, thanks to his thesis "Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud."
Pass: University of London Society of Bell Ringers teaches students to ring bells in English church towers.
Fail: Can't rock out to 'Sympathy for the Devil' on church bells.
Radical: Queen guitarist Brian May, who was studying astrophysics when he co-formed the band in 1970, got his Ph.D. from U. of London's Imperial College at 60, thanks to his thesis "Radical Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud."
02
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Alumni: Don Henley, Roy Orbison, Pat Boone, Norah Jones, Meat Loaf, Lou Marini of Blues Brothers band, Sister Hazel drummer Mark Trojanowski, Brave Combo
Pass: First Southern college to integrate in 1952.
Fail: In 2006, an albino squirrel thought to bring students good luck was killed by a red-tailed hawk.
What Do They Know?: Henley flunked out of UNT's music department.
Pass: First Southern college to integrate in 1952.
Fail: In 2006, an albino squirrel thought to bring students good luck was killed by a red-tailed hawk.
What Do They Know?: Henley flunked out of UNT's music department.
01
Thames Valley University
London
Alumni: Ray Davies, Ron Wood; as Ealing Art College: Pete Townshend, Freddy Mercury
Pass: The number-one university in our college rankings has been around since 1860, making a name for itself.
Fail: It keeps changing that name. Already having gone through several incarnations, TVU will become the University of West London in autumn 2010.
Faces Painter: Wood, who made a prize-winning submission to a BBC art show as a child, planned to be a scenic designer for films. During his musical career, he has painted portraits of many famous rock stars.
Pass: The number-one university in our college rankings has been around since 1860, making a name for itself.
Fail: It keeps changing that name. Already having gone through several incarnations, TVU will become the University of West London in autumn 2010.
Faces Painter: Wood, who made a prize-winning submission to a BBC art show as a child, planned to be a scenic designer for films. During his musical career, he has painted portraits of many famous rock stars.
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