The very thought that Jamiroquoi has anything in common with Princess Grace and Jackson Pollock is a bit puzzling, perhaps, at first glance. There are, of course, connections with fame that these three all share, as well as a certain boldness in their lives (although to varying degrees). There are also connections among them in terms of how this same fame did affect their behavior in the world, and altered their perceptions of this same world. The most significant connection, however, is related to their automobile tires.
Jamiroquoi’s Jay Kay makes the top ten list for extremely expensive car crashes, and fortunately, he lived to tell the tale of loss. This loss amounted to about $360,000, and one of the world’s most beautiful Lamborghini’s would never be the same again. On the lists of top ten bad things that can happen in cars, expensive car crashes is perhaps the most uplifting, because in most cases, the people involved do survive. The costs are varying, but there have been several crashes that cost well over a million dollars. Although the victims (or perpetrators) might live, these can still be considered tragedies. Just ask Rowan Atkinson, whose million dollar-plus McLaren came to a terrible end in 1999.
There are more severe results of high speed crashes, and these are the ones that work their way into popular culture more rapidly, and stick around for a very long time. It can be argued that in general tires played a small role in most of these incidents, there is still enough of a reason to do a safety check on one’s own vehicle. In most of these cases, though, a safety check would not help very much.
With Princess Grace it was a stroke that lead to her loss of control. The timing is very much the very stuff of tragedy, and if her life weren’t already mythic enough, this would have put it over the top. In Jackson Pollack’s case, as in many cases of untimely deaths in traffic accidents, alcohol played a very significant part, if not the central role. If there is anything to learn from these top ten lists, then, it’s that there are some things that are in our control, but at the same time, we are all mortal, no matter how rich or famous. That the spectacularly fiery scenes in photos and films is something that could happen to anyone puts everyone on a kind of equal, if uneasy, footing.