Rock musicians have had a checkered military record. All but one of the performers listed below joined a branch of the military prior to embarking on a music career. To mark Veterans Day here are their stories. Maynard James Keenan (Army) The Tool frontman enlisted in the Army right out of high school in 1984 and did well in training but turned down an offer to continue work at West Point. Fred Durst (Navy) The Limp Bizkit vocalist signed up for a two-year hitch at age 18 (1988–1990) to help finance a career as a tattoo artist. Of course, he eventually took the music route. Phil Labonte (Marines) He joined 1993 but the All That Remains frontman wasn’t able to complete his full term because he sustained a severe ankle injury and was given honorable discharge. Chris Henderson (Navy) Both his grandfather and father served, so the 3 Doors Down guitarist knew he wanted to enlist in the Navy since he was a kid. Artimus Pyle (Marines) The drummer enlisted in 1968, eventually becoming sergeant. He was honorably discharged in ’71 and subsequently joined Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ray Manzarek (Army) The Doors keyboardist enlisted and was assigned to the Army Security Agency serving in Japan before being sent to Laos. When Manzarek was granted a discharge he enrolled in UCLA’s film school, where he met his future bandmates. Jimi Hendrix (Army) After being arrested for riding is a stolen vehicle Hendrix was given a choice – prison or the Army. A better guitarist than soldier, he was given an honorable discharge a year into his three-year term. Jerry Garcia (Army) As Hendrix showed, not everyone in the 1960s enlisted of their own volition. The Grateful Dead founder/guitarist was forced to join in 1960 as punishment for stealing his mother’s car. He was given a general discharge later that year due to his lack of involvement. John Fogerty (Army Reserve) Fogerty was drafted in 1966 during the Vietnam War. Weighing his options, he went to a local Army reserve recruiter and signed up. The Creedence Clearwater singer/guitarist was discharged in 1967. The band’s debut album dropped the following year. Elvis Presley (Army) Drafted in 1957, at age 22 and at the height of his popularity, Elvis served two years of active service. Presley and his people had the foresight to record several songs prior to his induction so the hits kept coming while Elvis was serving in Germany. He eventually became a sergeant. \ Upon his discharge Elvis returned to the U.S, as popular as ever. Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, became a U.S. federal holiday in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known, in 1954, as Veterans Day. ### The post 10 Rock Musicians Who Served In The Military appeared first on RockinTown.