We like our pop stars to be a bit other-worldy. If they were all like Chris Martin it would be a bit dull, frankly. But in a world where strange behaviour is the norm, you really have to go some way to stand out from the pack. Here are ten pop stars known for taking eccentricity to new levels....
10. Lady Gaga
The real deal. Very talented and a total nut-job, the two being very closely linked. Dresses like a cake decoration most of the time deal and occupies a very surreal world that makes Madonna's life look dull. Quite literally gaga.
9. Michael Jackson
Wacko's demise was very sad. But that shouldn't mask the fact that he was clearly bonkers. Neverland, kiddy-fiddling allegations, the baby on the balcony incident, but above all, you've got to ask some serious questions of anyone who's best friend is a chimp.
8. Liam Gallagher
The man's on another planet. The bad boy of rock loves S Club Juniors, is the self proclaimed “Salmon King” on account of his fish cooking skills, and is the only perosn in the entire
music industry that didn't realise Spinal Tap were a spoof band, prompting him to storm out of their gig in disgust when he found out.
7. Marilyn Manson
Brian, as his mum calls him, has taken eccentricity to new levels during his career to date. Here's an example. On his most recent press trip to Britain, he insisted on showing the journalists who'd come to talk to him about his new record the swastika he'd shaved into his female companion's private area. Mad as a box of frogs.
6. Prince
Changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol just because he was in a sulk with his record label for not letting him release four albums a year. Then he wrote all over his face. Rarely gives interviews but anyone granted one must write up the entire conversation from memory. He also thought Sheena Easton was good, which is perhaps the most worrying sign of all.
5. Courtney Love
Twitter has become the perfect vehicle for a lady prone to outbursts of random babble. Last year's posting of a photo of herself with a turtle on her head goes some way towards explaining how barking she is. That, and the fact that even her own daughter has asked for a divorce from her.
4. Morrissey
Loves a lawsuit, especially against anyone who dares to be critical of him so we have to be careful. Walked off stage mid-song during a US festival appearance in 2008 declaring, "the smell of burning animals is making me sick" in reference to the nearby burger and hot dog stalls. Unpredictable to say the least.
3. Frank Zappa
They say there's a thin line between genius and madness and he walked it. Named his first child Moon Unit and his daughter Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. And what's more he was drug-free teetotaller!
2. Sinead O'Connor
Britney certainly wasn't doing anything new by shaving her head. But she hasn't yet gone on to the next stage of pop star barking behaviour a la Sinead. That is to become a Catholic priest – pretty clever given that it's only a job for men. She then tore up a picture of the Pope – technically her boss – live on US TV. Confused? She certainly must have been!
1. Brian Wilson
The man's a genius and thankfully has come back from the brink in recent years. But he was all over the shop for a while. In the pursuit of making perfect music he recorded people eating vegetables, made an orchestra wear fireman's helmets and insisted his piano be placed in a giant sandpit in his front room. He then went to bed for several years.
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