Undisputed, All-Time Coolest Rock Star "Look"

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The Champ:

Bob Marley

Runners-up:

Elvis Presley

Buddy Holly (the archetypal "so un-cool it's fucking great" look)

― PB, Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Chuck Eddy to thread to vote for Moon Martin!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

Bob Marley? Elvis Presley? You're joking.

My vote:
http://homepage2.nifty.com/gazelle/music/vu/factory.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

It's a party, not a fuckin' funeral!

― Austin (Austin), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Second choice, in the "so ridiculous it's dead cool":

http://ubl.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/UBLPORTRAITS/overrides/misfits.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

http://www.rockphotography.co.uk/LIVE/LimpBizkit/LimpBizkit__Leeds2000_01.jpg

simple, effective, unforgettable

― miccio (miccio), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

Also, your choice of

― Austin (Austin), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:47 (twenty years ago)

Then, of course....

http://www.clubdevo.com/mp/images/discog/fashions/yellowsuits.jpg

http://www.plasmatics.com/CoupPoster.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

I love that VU pic. I'm always reminded of my fave band:

http://www.hotellounge.com/pics/dEUS.press2004.b-w1.jpg

(just think the singer looks cool in that one, the rest can f right off. heh)

― nathalie barefoot in the head (stevie nixed), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

Highly theatrical absurdity? Yes please

― Austin (Austin), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

Nudie Suits were the topic of a recent thread, but they belong here, too.

― Austin (Austin), Sunday, 13 March 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

http://80music.about.com/library/postcards/images/blondie.jpg

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:01 (twenty years ago)

DAVID YOW!!!!(in his dishevelled prime)

He's now in marketing.

― hull hole (hull hole), Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:04 (twenty years ago)

http://mitkadem.homestead.com/files/Genesis_PeterGabriel_live.jpg

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:07 (twenty years ago)

Debbie Harry was one of the coolest. But the dorks in the band detracted from the band's overall coolness (or did they amplify hers?).

I knew someone would nominate the VU....but i just think that "black leather and dark sunglasses" was done 15 years before they did it. Plus I have an allergic reaction to Lou Reed.

― PB, Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:19 (twenty years ago)

http://www.dadooronronclub.com/bobg.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

^ country-western camel-toe?

― PB, Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:27 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://www.pitek.jpe.com.pl/muzyka/kraftwerk/kraftwerk_2.jpg

― Mark (MarkR), Sunday, 13 March 2005 22:29 (twenty years ago)

Alex in NYC OTM re: VU.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

How can you NOT want to try heroin after seeing this?

http://www.peterfetterman.com/images/artists/rockandroll/KeithRichards.jpg

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

I say:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/75/Rickjames4.jpg

― Affectian (Affectian), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.punk77.co.uk/graphics/garagemc5fuzzy.JPG

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:23 (twenty years ago)

http://www.herbgreenefoto.com/gallery/blue_cheer/blue_cheer.jpg

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

http://www.manzanera.com/RoxyArchive/Images/eno/enoducks.jpg

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)

http://freespace.virgin.net/graham.butterworth/sjh.jpg

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:31 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=7426085/PictureID=142439495/t_=4873255

(thumb 'o-blow, a pool and you...shorts optional...)

― edd s hurt (ddduncan), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/keith.dumble/hopper/sputnik.jpg

The nadir of cool, praps.

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:38 (twenty years ago)

Arf.....

http://www.sputnikworld.com/images/gallery/current1.jpg

― Si Carter (Si Carter), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

That was an xpost. Bloody spooky!

― Si Carter (Si Carter), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

http://www.thismoment.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/blog/kraftwerk.jpg

way cooler than the robot stuff.

and, of course:

http://www.blindyouth.freeuk.com/Philip2.jpg

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

Slash, Duff and to a lesser extent axl

― Seuss, Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

if we're talking strictly the looks, mid 80s era Billy Idol kinda rules this thread.

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 13 March 2005 23:55 (twenty years ago)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/jedas/0670000.jpg

Alien chic.But any Bowie would do just as well.

― A pair of brown eyes, Monday, 14 March 2005 00:44 (twenty years ago)

http://members.tripod.com/~FACF/RollingStone.jpg

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:02 (twenty years ago)

http://undo-bu.hp.infoseek.co.jp/fela.jpg

― tipustiger, Monday, 14 March 2005 01:34 (twenty years ago)

http://www.tangento.net/band83lag.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:41 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JGAB.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

― Peter Macia (l, p), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:42 (twenty years ago)

http://www.sxe.ru/Bad%20Brains.jpg

― L, P (l, p), Monday, 14 March 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

Ladies and genitalmen, I give you Mister Gene Laverne.

― Curious George Finds the Ether Bottle (Rock Hardy), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:40 (twenty years ago)

[img]http://www.fromthearchives.com/bp/BP_Photo82.jpg[/img]
tracey pew is the humpa-humpa king

― chris andrews (fraew), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:43 (twenty years ago)

can somebody pls explain why this thread continued after alex posted the vu pic?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 March 2005 02:56 (twenty years ago)

'cause everyone here dresses like VU everyday anyway and we're all looking for a new look.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:00 (twenty years ago)

Also where do we draw the line between a rock star "look" as per the thread title and a "rock star" look? VU has the greatest "rock star" look but the greatest rock star "look"? I think not.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:02 (twenty years ago)

(x-post)

fair enough. (but are you sure it's not fred durst that we all actually dress like?)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:03 (twenty years ago)

Hey! Are you spying on me?

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:10 (twenty years ago)

...or, possibly, not everyone thinks the VU are the coolest thing that ever was.

― Austin (Austin), Monday, 14 March 2005 03:59 (twenty years ago)

http://www.alien8recordings.com/images/fush2.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:10 (twenty years ago)

http://www.halana.com/images/haino1.jpg
http://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/haino_sweden_23a.jpg
http://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/HainoIto_051504_06.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:11 (twenty years ago)

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:12 (twenty years ago)

http://www.317x.com/albums/h/heino2/enlargement.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:13 (twenty years ago)

haha jon wins

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:14 (twenty years ago)

http://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/2_4e.gif

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:16 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002ZB0.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004OCPA.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/hk_flyer_0103_01a.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/hk_flyer_0103_02a.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

haha j blount, i just nearly xposted you with a very similar pix of Roxy Music.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/hkflyer_aihiyo2.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

aargh i'm trying to remember who had a gatefold very similar to it, i think maybe the b-52's?

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:20 (twenty years ago)

o man - does classic bruce have the seagram's theme?

― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:21 (twenty years ago)

http://users.planetc.com/keffer/haino/images/ptanim.gif

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:21 (twenty years ago)

Marc Bolan

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:43 (twenty years ago)

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/5991/cover3.jpg http://www.zonicweb.net/badalbmcvrs/heino.jpg http://www.fiese-scheitel.de/fiese-scheitel3.data/Komponenten/Bilder/Promis2/Heino%20Seite.jpg

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 04:52 (twenty years ago)

http://clashphotorockers.free.fr/images/pose/01posesimonon01.jpg
http://clashphotorockers.free.fr/images/pose/10posestrummer14.jpg

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 14 March 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

Not in this photo, but Ghost are a damn cool looking group.

― Leeeter van den Hoogenband (Leee), Monday, 14 March 2005 06:28 (twenty years ago)

http://www.elviscostello.info/pic/78/roberta/rb0135.jpg

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Monday, 14 March 2005 07:07 (twenty years ago)

Also:

http://www.elviscostello.info/pic/78/roberta/rb0134.jpg

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Monday, 14 March 2005 07:08 (twenty years ago)

It's all in their boots.

― Fa Fa fa FA, Fa fa Fa fa FA Fa (poop), Monday, 14 March 2005 07:08 (twenty years ago)

Weird Al, hands down.

― cdwill, Monday, 14 March 2005 07:15 (twenty years ago)

http://www.brittleheaven.com/gallery/data/media/2/1-6sound1.jpg

late-era sound, i don't know what's going on. but i like it

― corey c., Monday, 14 March 2005 08:14 (twenty years ago)

That's a fantastic pic, you're right.

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Monday, 14 March 2005 08:38 (twenty years ago)

Another vote for this Bowie.
http://davidbowie.wz.cz/galerie/thinwhiteduke/big/40.jpg

http://zeio.nexenservices.com/images/joydivision/joy_division1.jpg
Well, I've always wanted to dress like them anyway.

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 14 March 2005 09:50 (twenty years ago)

http://www.aurorabitzine.com/aurora11/photos/kraftwerk.jpg

― hmmm (hmmm), Monday, 14 March 2005 10:22 (twenty years ago)

http://www.fromthearchives.com/bp/BPLiving_LinkLP_f.jpg

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 14 March 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

http://www.blaskan.nu/Bilder/Bilder3/p_j_harvey.jpg

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 14 March 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

http://www.boweryballroom.com/images/photos/courtney_love.JPG

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 14 March 2005 10:39 (twenty years ago)

http://fperfect.club.fr/fperfect/motorhead.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 March 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

http://www.kultura-extra.de/musik/cd/pic/firewater2.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

I wanted to post a picture of Francoise Hardy with shades and boots but couldn't find the photo I wanted anywhere.

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

http://www.cameronswartz.com/images/portraits/Jucifer.jpg

― Will(iam), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd600/d618/d61800y96j9.jpg

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000025HK.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

[img]http://www.ladyfest.org/LadiesWeLike/Smith_Patti.gif[/img]

― monia.l (monia.l), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

The Romantics generally own this category.

http://www.gocontinental.com/photos2/romantics2a.jpg

― The Mad Puffin (The Mad Puffin), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:59 (twenty years ago)

http://overkill.superhost.pl/galeria/cliff/cliff5.jpg
http://www.sugarpants.net/archives/whitetrashbritney2_thumb.jpg

― Pickled Pickslide, Monday, 14 March 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

http://www.ladyfest.org/LadiesWeLike/Smith_Patti.gif oops

― monia.l (monia.l), Monday, 14 March 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

http://www.b92.net/galerija/doc/tav/img/01.jpg
http://www.birdmansound.com/bandphots/tav1.jpg

― Will(iam), Monday, 14 March 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

http://www.kolumbus.fi/juha.luoto/who/4xKeithPieni.jpg

― darin (darin), Monday, 14 March 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

That JAMC pic seals it for me: I'm old and ossified, I'll always for the late-80s English indie band "bored in stripey shirts" and "bored with black button-downs and big hair" looks.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 14 March 2005 22:44 (twenty years ago)

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