Why do lots of performers wear black when on stage?

[Strat Hater]

I always wondered why this is. Too many do it for it to be coincidence!!

[cableguy]

it must be the slimming effect.......

[dickfitts]

I do it to look badass...also, less than 300 lbs.

[Anthony Fury]

I just do it to hide spaghetti / pizza stains. It also has a slimming effect (see first sentence).

[topo morto]

Doesn't show the dirt. Same reason I wear black in the office. And in bed.

[Anthony Fury]

Cableguy beat me to it!!!

[VanillaThundah]

It matches nearly anything!!

[Mushroo]

To showcase my awesome collection of cat hair.

[aguacateojos]

Really? Nobody has said it yet? To hide the sweat!

[Biggbass]

all of the above, plus Johnny Cash made it look good so why not?
I have a half dozen black long sleeved shirts that I purchased for playing private events gigs. So that has become my 'uniform'. Stage Black is what they call it in the stage hands and rigging biz.
But I DO think it's a good idea to dress differently than your audience dresses - it sets you apart as the entertainment and not one of the attendees...and black usually accomplishes that.

[FrenchBassQC]

To match my rig and I wasn't too keen to gig when I had an Orange amp and cab. But I take this way, I might have influence Ricky Fowler.

Edit: My amp is now black...

[Raymeous]

Floating heads?

[bassmeknik]

Originally Posted by Biggbass

I DO think it's a good idea to dress differently than your audience dresses - it sets you apart as the entertainment and not one of the attendees...and black usually accomplishes that.

+1 Black is also often thought of as a color for "professionals" (IE; business) and it works well on stage too. A old band leader from a previous band demanded black pants for the stage to set us apart from the audience and I learned to agree with him over time. It all adds up to the way you present yourself, do you want to be remembered (hopefully positively) or forgotten? Your sound alone will often not be enough to get you noticed unless you are the next Hendrix or something.

[dmusic148]

Black is 'slimming.'

[Jazzdogg]

I've been in bands in which sidemen were asked to wear black as a sort of stage camouflage to help the conspicuously attired front man/woman stand out.

[Biggbass]

Originally Posted by bassmeknik

+1 Black is also often thought of as a color for "professionals" (IE; business) and it works well on stage too. A old band leader from a previous band demanded black pants for the stage to set us apart from the audience and I learned to agree with him over time. It all adds up to the way you present yourself, do you want to be remembered (hopefully positively) or forgotten? Your sound alone will often not be enough to get you noticed unless you are the next Hendrix or something.

Hendrix wore women's clothes on stage! That's what gave him his rock & roll flash

[Duckwater]

I have worn black predominately all my life, I usually wear it on stage as well since I'm a sweater.

[leegreenman]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

I've been in bands in which sidemen were asked to wear black as a sort of stage camouflage to help the conspicuously attired front man/woman stand out.

Same here.

[elgecko]

Pit bands wear black so they're less conspicuous should someone peer into the pit. Same with stage hands, etc.

[lhoward]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

I've been in bands in which sidemen were asked to wear black as a sort of stage camouflage to help the conspicuously attired front man/woman stand out.

+1

That's what I've always assumed, although no one's ever said it as a policy in over 49 years of playing. It just seemed to be the understood 'uniform of the day (or night)'. Besides, black is a classy color and mixes well with just about everything.

Lloyd Howard