Professor Brian Cox, the physicist known for his work in popularizing science, has shared that a concert attendance impacted his academic performance as a teenager. The 58-year-old revealed he received a D grade in his A-level mathematics exam after choosing to attend a New Order concert the night before the test.

Speaking on the Smartless podcast, Cox recounted that he prioritized the gig at the Hacienda nightclub over studying, explaining that at the time he was convinced a career as a rock musician was his future. "I thought, I’m going to be in a band, I’m going to be a rock star. This stuff doesn’t matter," he said, referring to his studies.

Before embarking on his successful career in physics, Cox pursued his passion for music and performed as a keyboardist for the rock band Dare during the 1980s and early 1990s. He also contributed to the pop group D:Ream, which achieved a number-one hit in 1994 with the song "Things Can Only Get Better." Later, Cox shifted his focus towards academia, completing a PhD in physics and becoming a prominent science communicator on television.

This anecdote highlights how Cox’s early ambitions in music briefly overshadowed his academic pursuits, a phase that eventually gave way to his prominent role in science and education.