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Hate being told I don't look rock and roll!!!

Must respectfully disagree! For me, Brit rock - which I adore - is synonymous with the mullet! Paul Weller, Rod Stewart, Keef -- list is endless.
The source of true rock power might well reside in mullet or quiff.

Haha... I love Weller's hair, but outside of the dudes in Oasis, how often is it seen? He's an original for sure. I was thinking if the OP tossed on Biker, or just leather jacket, he'd fit right in with bands like the Mighty Lemon Drops, or the Lime Spiders, etc. Very much rock and roll.... at least 30 years ago. sorry... I am old, lol.
 
better question:
what do your bandmates look like?
If you fit in with their look, then it doesn't matter how "rock and roll" or not you look.
If you don't fit in with the look, then you should do something about that.

It's better to look like you belong in a band on stage than to look "rock and roll", IMO.

in other words, look like you're somebody, not just some guy in the crowd that got pulled up on stage.
 
SERIOUSLY?! It's not as if I'm choosing to do that, it's an involuntary thing. I've played in a lot of rough places and nobody has even hinted at saying I'm gay. I really wish we could meet in person; sounds like you're asking to be head butted.

I get it about the hair, but there isn't to much I can do. 7 years ago I had a brain tumour and had to have radiotherapy. After my hair had all fallen out it started to grow back all different, really thick and uncontrollable. I have so many scars on my head I couldn't shave it. Maybe I try and grow it long.

And I am buying a longer strap.
SERIOUSLY?! It's not as if I'm choosing to do that, it's an involuntary thing. I've played in a lot of rough places and nobody has even hinted at saying I'm gay. I really wish we could meet in person; sounds like you're asking to be head butted.

I get it about the hair, but there isn't to much I can do. 7 years ago I had a brain tumour and had to have radiotherapy. After my hair had all fallen out it started to grow back all different, really thick and uncontrollable. I have so many scars on my head I couldn't shave it. Maybe I try and grow it long.

And I am buying a longer strap.
Anyone would think I called called you a queer and you found that offensive. Hmmm.
Serious as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

You haven't said what you can get away with for hairstyle in the daytime. Chicks dig scars so a mohawk would be very rock, tell the chicks you fought off a shark while surfing in Indonesia. You'll have to headbutt the ugly ones.
 
This thread is hilarious - not from the standpoint of the OP because who really wants to get crap criticism to your face? At the end of the day, who cares what people say/think? But at the same time, TB folks certainly are a creative lot. I apologize for not reading the entire thread.. after a couple pages I skipped to the end. But, I will throw in my two or three cents and say: hipster. Shorter hair on the sides, gel or mouse the top a bit so it's tidier. Long sleeve shirts (probably plaid) that just barely fit. Thick-rimmed, black glasses (go without the glass, but keep the frames for the look). Loafers, or "Chucks" (Converse...). Jeans that are longer in the leg so you have to roll them up once. Some sort of wrist band(s) - either one thick one, or several thin ones (think "Johnny Depp"). And yeah: some kind of tattoo like a bass clef on the inside of your wrist. Don't low-sling the bass. If anything, maybe raise it up a bit so they can see a comic book hero emblem belt buckle. Oh - before I forget: sideburns.

Best of luck to ya! And to heck with the haters.
 
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Have you ever seen Elvis Costello? He most definitely cultivates an image fitting of his musical style. Lee Sklar is a hired bass player who doesn't tour with rock and roll bands, so I fail to see the point of mentioning him.

No one looks more nerdy than Elvis Costello, especially in his early years. As to Sklar, he may be a hired gun, but he tours some every year, with some pretty heavy names - Toto, Phil Collins, James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, I believe Eric Clapton.

The key is that looks don't mean jack #$&%$. Play your @$$ off, be dependible, and you will get work.
 
just tell them to piss off ... and that you have a high security day job .. !

I would agree with sloppier hair and T shirts ... whatever the chicks that you like , dig ... is what works ..
I used to show up in 3 piece suits just to freak everyone out .. !! or dig out the ruffled shirt and tux coat from my polka band days ... !! be You ... be unique ... whatever works for you is what matters most ... the sooner you embrace that fact , the happy your future life will be .. !! I don't live to make other people happy ... !! we all are in charge of our own happiness ...

I wouldn't waste my money on tats ... I rather have more music gear ... !!
 
Jesus Christ, almighty...... I'd be willing to bet a month's worth of paychecks that 80% of people on here wear their bass low, "because it's cool." You know who you are. And, they probably cuddle in bed with their shiny little aviators and that "special, extra-long strap" and watch the Kardashians to see what the ball-less guys are wearing and saying on that god forsaken show. It's the "trendy" people like this that at first that made me have a complex for driving a BMW M Series because it's a GREAT DRIVING CAR, when I first purchased it. That's EXACTLY why I drive one. Not to be trendy, or cool.
I bet at one time or another, and I'm 100% certain of this, that they stood in front of a mirror at home to determine the length of their strap. It's people like this that need beat down over & over with a strap-on, never mind a damn strap.
Look man, don't let other people determine how you look or act. If a "trendy" rock star jumps off a damn bridge, are you gonna do it, too? It's weak-minded people like that, that get sucked into a cult (purposely being like others), and they don't even realize it. ******* imbeciles.
And, if anybody comes back on here trying to flame me, that just proves my point 110%. Because I'll know that I hit a nerve, and all the "keep it real" people are on to you like white on rice. Because then we'll all know that I've hit the nail right square on the head.
 
.. I have had the pleasure of playing many roles in stage productions and film, and even with a fairly short, conservative haircut, pulled off some less than conservative rolls ... an 'unkept' look is obviously easy to obtain, look in the mirror each morning and see if that is more suitable for what you are after, or shower and dont comb your hair after you towel it dry, etc ... the reverse of that is get it wet before you go on and slick it all back ... combed would be one look, using only your fingers another .. hats create a wide variety of images, try on several different types/styles ... put on a cheap/worn three piece suit a size (or two) too big/too small, with colored tennis shoes, slick your hair back and maybe put shades on to open the show ... think in terms of what would be entertaining for people to look at, it is an act ... lots of not all that special groups out there in terms of musical ability have created an act on the 'look' alone ...

.. bottom line, appearance is the easiest thing there is to change to convey a different personna ... as long as you have the chops to pull your gig off ...

.. just for the heck of it, drop into your local community theater some day/evening and tell them your dilemma ... those folk that work in the costume/wardrobe will have a blast working with you ...

.. best part is, then you take it all off after the show, go to work the next day in the accountant office and no one is any wiser .. ;)

JMHO's ...
 
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These guys are not rock and roll at all then


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So, there is this saying about books and the picture on the cover or something like that, I don't remember it but not many people have heard it...o_O

I had a friend take us to a show at some dive bar outside of oakland. The band was a bunch of black guys. Not that race was an issue it was the looks, this was oakland, and these were typical black guys from oakland. Sideways hats, jeans 4 sizes too big at just above the knees, you know the drill. I expected some type of music I was not into, I almost wanted to leave. Probably one of the top 5 punk rock bands I've ever seen live.
 
Jesus Christ, almighty...... I'd be willing to bet a month's worth of paychecks that 80% of people on here wear their bass low, "because it's cool." You know who you are. And, they probably cuddle in bed with their shiny little aviators and that "special, extra-long strap" and watch the Kardashians to see what the ball-less guys are wearing and saying on that god forsaken show. It's the "trendy" people like this that at first that made me have a complex for driving a BMW M Series because it's a GREAT DRIVING CAR, when I first purchased it. That's EXACTLY why I drive one. Not to be trendy, or cool.
I bet at one time or another, and I'm 100% certain of this, that they stood in front of a mirror at home to determine the length of their strap. It's people like this that need beat down over & over with a strap-on, never mind a damn strap.
Look man, don't let other people determine how you look or act. If a "trendy" rock star jumps off a damn bridge, are you gonna do it, too? It's weak-minded people like that, that get sucked into a cult (purposely being like others), and they don't even realize it. ******* imbeciles.
And, if anybody comes back on here trying to flame me, that just proves my point 110%. Because I'll know that I hit a nerve, and all the "keep it real" people are on to you like white on rice. Because then we'll all know that I've hit the nail right square on the head.

FINALLY. TB appropriately called out on this one. OP you look just fine. Way too much fashion advice going on here. What the hell is wrong with the rest of you chiming in with your hair and dress tips?
 
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Don't worry about it. People who are more concerned with looks than ability are idiots. That's the biggest problem with much of today's music. There are too many so called artists who look good but can't sing or play so they rely on things like autotune and lip synching.

One of the best compliments my old band received was when we were told that we didn't look like musicians so people weren't expecting us to sound good, but were blown away when we started.
 
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Both me and other musicians I know now look way more clean cut simply because we got tired of people trying to buy certain things from us that we didn't sell.

My response was off topic but the alternative is "[explative deleted]"
 

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