On the surface, music and poker appear to be different from each other. But what most people don’t realize is that both of them are interrelated. Over the past decades, musicians have used this beloved card game as inspiration as well as theme in their work. One popular example is Motorhead. In their song “Ace of Spades”, and the rest of the band told the story of a card player who isn’t looking for anything but his one out, the ace of spades.
Likewise, music has played a significant role in the poker scene. Poker players have adopted the hobby of listening to music while playing live or even at online gaming sites like [partypoker]. According to experts, music is beneficial as it allows poker players to feel relaxed and keep them from giving their hand away with their facial expressions. Using this technique in a game of poker can keep the opponents guessing as to what the player’s next move will be.
Apart from this music-related technique, there are also a number of musicians who have tried their luck at poker tables, instead of just performing at these casinos to entertain other players. Godsmack songwriter and vocalist Sully Erna, for one, has been an active participant in the poker scene for years now. He has finished well and won huge amounts of money in the main event of both 2006 and 2007, making him one of the most successful musicians to have ever played in this prestigious tournament.
Scott Ian of American band Anthrax is another musician who regularly plays poker. Just like Erna, Scott Ian has been a regular at WSOP Main Events for quite some time now. Throughout his WSOP gigs, he has advanced past Day 1 many times. It is reported that there have been several occasions wherein he rearranged the schedule of the band’s summer tour so that he can play in the Main Event.
Ian is also a regular at partypoker and other poker sources online, especially when he’s on the road. Back home, this musician would often host regular poker games. His list of guests includes Jerry Cantrell, Kirk Hammett, and Slash. In an interview, Hammett talked about his poker games with Ian by saying, “Scott is very calm and very cool. He’s got a great poker face for sure! I, on the other hand, am a very reckless, risk-taking player who wins more on a whim rather than on a strategy.” He added, “Kinda like my improvising! But I always am looking for that wild-card aspect, the one thing that comes along that lifts the whole experience to a different level!”
More than just a business venture, these musicians are playing poker because they see it as a great way to relax and take a break from their hectic schedules. Some are also up to the idea of competing in poker tables for charity purposes.