Rolls-Royce is celebrating a century of its most iconic model, the Phantom, by honoring the car’s remarkable connection to the world of music and celebrity. From jazz and Hollywood glamour to rock ’n’ roll and modern hip-hop, the Phantom has long been a symbol of artistry, individuality and excess.
To mark 100 years of the Phantom, Rolls-Royce has staged one of its most imaginative tributes yet—recreating a notorious rock-and-roll myth. The company lowered a Phantom into the waters of Tinside Lido in Plymouth, England, echoing the long-told story of The Who’s Keith Moon allegedly driving a Rolls-Royce into a hotel pool. Though the tale has never been verified, it remains one of rock’s most enduring legends.
The setting at Tinside Lido, an Art Deco landmark where The Beatles were photographed in 1967, served as a symbolic link between eras of music history. The dramatic gesture underscores the Phantom’s role as more than a luxury car—it’s a cultural artifact woven into the lives of music’s biggest names.
That relationship dates back to the 1930s, when actress Marlene Dietrich received a Phantom I upon arriving in Hollywood. Elvis Presley owned a Phantom V equipped with a microphone and grooming kit, while John Lennon famously covered his in psychedelic paint during the Summer of Love. Liberace’s mirrored Phantom and Elton John’s television-equipped models extended that tradition of flamboyant personalization.
In more recent decades, the Phantom has become a mainstay of hip-hop culture. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne have featured the car in videos and lyrics, turning its “Starlight Headliner” into a modern icon described as “stars in the roof.”
The Phantom 100 celebration serves as both a nod to Rolls-Royce’s craftsmanship and a reflection of the car’s deep-rooted influence in music history—an enduring bridge between timeless design and creative expression.
Via Rolls-Royce
