Image and Rock

[hrodbert696]

Except for the big band where everyone is in a tux ('cause you can't get more dressed up then a tux, really), there's a big flaw in that logic. The Beatles' audiences didn't dress up in suits and ties to go to the show. Hendrix's 'hippy' style was WAY more flamboyant then almost certainly anyone in any of his audiences. Pick any one of the bands from that era, and I think (as a general rule), you'll find the same gap between the audience and the performers. Even in the punk era, the bands typically were way more 'punk' then the audience.

It's been pretty darn consistent through time that performers with a good, solid following always dressed up more then their audiences. True, there are exceptions, but they're the exception, and far and away not the norm.

Beatles Festival Hall Melbourne Audience 17 June 1964 - YouTube

Not the best footage, but around 0:48 and 1:26 you get a pretty good look at some male audience members from when the Beatles still played live. They're in jacket and tie.

Hippie era - sure, Hendrix was flamboyant. CCR were in blue jeans and flannel shirts.

Punk? the Ramones' "look" was blue jeans, t-shirt, black leather jackets.

Sure, there are always some musicians who stand out for a little more flamboyance and flair, whether it's a brighter zoot suit or Peter Gabriel dressing up like a flower. They stick in our memory because that kind of a stage act stands out. But it stands out because it is the exception and not the norm. The band is, to some extent, a projection of the audience, or the audience as it likes to imagine itself. Sometimes the audience wants pure fantasy and you get Liberace, or Alice Cooper. But most of the time the audience wants someone more or less like themselves - maybe a little snazzier, but basically recognizable as like themselves.

 

[bluewine]

Last rehearsal the band who had the space booked before us went over-time, I open the door to the studio and see Dave Lombardo (Slayer Drummer) and one of his bands wrapping things up... Guess how they dressed. They wore clothes like the rest of us as if they didn't give a crap,'cause they didn't. In fact, every 'known' rockstar who rehearses at my studio dresses chill...I ran into Gavin Rossdale in Venice a couple weeks ago, shorts and T-shirt.... This original post is null and void

I remember many years ago I was at a Black Crows show.

The opening band was about to come on. There were a few amps on stage and a box fan. Then these 3 guys came out, they looked like over the road truck drivers. I said, " who are these goofs"? They started to play and within the first 12 bars I was completely blown away.

It was Government Mule.

I can't believe you guys that can't read deeper into the points that I attempt to make. Oh well

 

[bassbully]

All good points, I think it gets tricky when your talking about your average bar band and the venues your playing.

I'm not going to wear eye liner to a hard core biker bar that holds 50 people Max.

I'm not ever wearing eyeliner for any band, anywhere for any price...never going to happen. That stuff is so 80's, stupid and overdone...just be yourself and dress tasteful.

 

[Ben Noblit]

I remember many years ago I was at a Black Crows show.

The opening band was about to come on. There were a few amps on stage and a box fan. Then these 3 guys came out, they looked like over the road truck drivers. I said, " who are these goofs"? They started to play and within the first 12 bars I was completely blown away.

It was Government Mule.

I can't believe you guys that can't read deeper into the points that I attempt to make. Oh well

I think I know what you're getting at here. If you have the chops to overcome that first impression, then by all means dress however you like. For those of us who can't play like Warren Haynes &Co, however, its always better to start from a positive impression looks-wise.

 

[Munjibunga]

"Rock band" has no meaning. I was five when rock and roll was born. So I've heard every version of rock since then. It means something different to everyone who uses the term. No inferences can be drawn about a band that calls itself a "rock band." It means nothing.

 

[pklima]

Last rehearsal the band who had the space booked before us went over-time, I open the door to the studio and see Dave Lombardo (Slayer Drummer) and one of his bands wrapping things up... Guess how they dressed. They wore clothes like the rest of us as if they didn't give a crap,'cause they didn't. In fact, every 'known' rockstar who rehearses at my studio dresses chill...I ran into Gavin Rossdale in Venice a couple weeks ago, shorts and T-shirt.... This original post is null and void

What in the hell? Rehearsal? Wandering around Venice? That's like saying that a banker doesn't wear a suit to mow his lawn on Saturday, and therefore nobody should wear suits to work.

just be yourself and dress tasteful.

In my case, "be yourself" and "dress tasteful" are polar opposites. Good taste is for boring people!

 

[bassbully]

In my case, "be yourself" and "dress tasteful" are polar opposites. Good taste is for boring people!

Huh?..I dont get this. I understand being yourself might not be looking good or dressing tasteful but how is dressing tasteful or to impress boring?

 

[bluewine]

I think I know what you're getting at here. If you have the chops to overcome that first impression, then by all means dress however you like. For those of us who can't play like Warren Haynes &Co, however, its always better to start from a positive impression looks-wise.

My point is the strength of their music became their look.

Yeah I get the 1st impression thing. However looking great and sounding bad is kind of not good

 

[pklima]

Huh?..I dont get this. I understand being yourself might not be looking good or dressing tasteful but how is dressing tasteful or to impress boring?

It was something of a joke, but to me "tasteful" is what I wear to work when I have to deal with foreign clients, or to church. On stage I don't generally wear stuff that would make anyone say "you know, that guy has really good taste".

 

[bassbully]

It was something of a joke, but to me "tasteful" is what I wear to work when I have to deal with foreign clients, or to church. On stage I don't generally wear stuff that would make anyone say "you know, that guy has really good taste".

Ok gottcha! I dress Ok for work and when we play the better clubs which for the most part is all my band does, I dress the part. Take this weekends gig. It's in the big city at a club where its a dinner/drinking crowd. Its a fairly high end pub type and I will wear nice jeans, boots, hat,
shirt and vest..tasteful but not overdone and sure as hell not ROCKSTAR!

 

[HeadyVan Halen]

Don't dress like a million bucks, dress like you have the opputunity to attract a million bucks.

"If they're wearing shorts, I'm wearing slacks. They're wearing slacks, I'm wearing a tie. They're wearing a tie, I'm wearing a suit..if someone comes in and says I got one job to give, I want it to be me..."

-Urban Meyer

 

[bluewine]

Don't dress like a million bucks, dress like you have the opputunity to attract a million bucks.

"If they're wearing shorts, I'm wearing slacks. They're wearing slacks, I'm wearing a tie. They're wearing a tie, I'm wearing a suit..if someone comes in and says I got one job to give, I want it to be me..."

-Urban Meyer

The consensus seems to be that at the local level and depending on genre, your age, venue scene and type. Image might not be a big factor

However I think we all agree, if your on stage do the best you can with what you were born with.

The older 55+ guys know the older you get, options for what you can pull off start to diminish rapidly.

 

[Mattosaur]

The band is, to some extent, a projection of the audience, or the audience as it likes to imagine itself. Sometimes the audience wants pure fantasy and you get Liberace, or Alice Cooper. But most of the time the audience wants someone more or less like themselves - maybe a little snazzier, but basically recognizable as like themselves.

This is it, right here.

It's not about being dressier or fancier than the audience-- it's about letting the audience project themselves onto you. Playing for country rock lovin' trucker types? Grow a beard, get some ripped up plaid shirts, and some biker boots. Playing for scene kids? Grab the guy-liner and tight pants.

With a stage show, you're selling a fantasy as much as you're selling your music. Know your audience, and dress like they wish they could.

 

[drummer5359]

I tailor the look to the gig. My photo on here was taken last winter at an art gallery gig. The painting over my shoulder cost $15,000. A nice sweater and slacks was appropriate. Recently the same singer/guitarist and I played an outdoor festival that was geared more to the biker set. I wore a Zildjian shirt. It worked.

 

[Randall]

Lets see that on the towel

 

[totallyfrozen]

Anyone ever experience this:

Say your a rock Guy a cool rock Guy and maybe a little older. Being a rock guy use to mean looking cool and feeling cool.

The term "Rock Band" has become alot more reletive than it used to be.

Have you ever been between bands and your doing the audition thing.

You see an ad for a "Rock Band" that looks like it might be worth investigation.

You go to the bands web-site and all the band members look like "Larry The Cable Guy"

Happened to me yesterday

Yes. I live in Alaska so pretty much everybody around here dresses like a lumber jack.

Honestly, I hate it. I've always thought bands should look stylish.

 

[bassbully]

Does anyone stuff their trousers these days?

 

[Ben Noblit]

My point is the strength of their music became their look.

Yeah I get the 1st impression thing. However looking great and sounding bad is kind of not good

:shrug: Better than looking bad AND sounding bad. And if you are hiring a band, do you choose the average band with a bad image, or the equally average band with a great image?

 

[TBird1958]

I always dress up for a show.......

I don't care what anybody else does or thinks, it makes me money and happy.

 

[totallyfrozen]

Devastating, my friend. Absolutely devastating.

Brillian come back! LOL!