Best *NON-MUSICAL GIMMICK* bands.....

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Kiss wore make-up and adopted super-hero'ish personas. The Ramones all adopted the same last name and dressed alike. Devo adopted a uniform aesthetic and a complex idealogy behind it. The Residents demanded complete anonymity. The Upper Crust dress and behave like 16th century aritocratic fops in white powdered wigs and pancake make-up. The White Stripes insist they're brother and sister and dress exclusively in red and white. The Hives all dress alike and insist they're a svengali-engineered garage boy-band. Gwar claim to be mutant warlords from the Antarctica, and dress in outrageously elaborate albeit cartoony armour.

Do any of these respective schticks and gimmicks have anything to do with the actual music? Rarely, but they've helped capture an audience.

What is your favorite extraneous, non-music-related gimmick that a band/artist has adopted? Visuals are welcome.

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

does poodle hair count - i like that

― born clippy, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Kiss and Devo will always be close to my heart, but I'll start with the absolutely over-the-top, cartoony visual shenanigans of the late, great Plasmatics....

http://www.modernatomic.com/plasmatics/images/plasmat.gif

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

i've always been partial to Paul Revere and The Raiders amazing get up. no one good ever match that concept and still know the success they did. i also think the mummies look pretty good

― ddd, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

oh yeah http://www.rainbowplanet.com-definitive-raiders.gif htt://www.rainbowplanet.com-definitive-raiders.gif http://www.angelfire.com-mi2-themummies-images-mumcar.JPG http://www.angelfire.com-mi2-themummies-images-mumcar.JPG

― ddd, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Among my favourites are Jourgensen's extroverted scatalogical bent, Reed's increasingly cartoonish heroin intake (mainlining into eyeballs anyone?) and Zimmerframe's sacking of his own fans (Self Portrait), though whether these have been successful in 'helping capture an audeince' is debatable.

― Roger Fascist, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

http://www.funkvibe.com/images/parliament3a.jpg

― Dave225, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

God help me, I still get a kick out of Gorillaz. I'm actually holding out for a half-hour cartoon series.

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

bez / cressa

― born clippy, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

this is where is was supposed to post my morrisseys hearing aid and flowers gimmick.

― Chris, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Danielson's stage outfits, dance moves and ridiculous concepts (e.g. Daniel Smith playing in a "tree").

― mike, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Pussy Galore releasing an album called Historia De La Musica Rock in the same sleeve as the fmaous Spnaish series of albums - which numbered hundreds and covered every major star of the 60's and 70's.

― Winkelmann, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

James Browns cape.

― Chris, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Los Straitjackets' lucha libre masks.

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The Village People's New Romantic Makeover. Turbonegro's Tom of Finland Old School Gay Clone Denim Demon Look.

― Arthur, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

http://www.the-monks.com/album/haircut1.jpg

― rw, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

The Mummies, who

1) Dressed as mummies and

2) were generally seen in press photographs drinking shitty beer from cans and/or flipping off the camera. Awesome.

― John Darnielle, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Sleater Kinney who *ahem* prefer the company of women.

― Leee, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Los Straightjackets' Mexican Wrestling Masks.

― Matt Riedl (veal), Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

my vote goes to t.i.s.m. (this is serious, mum), an australian band who by turns appear on stage in balaclavas, in raver's bodysuits (with the ubiquitous yellow and black smiley face covering their heads) or klan outfits made of aluminium foil (which unsettles me a little, admittedly). they've kept their identities secret since their inception in the early 90s. they're hilarious. they have album titles like 'great trucking songs of the renaissance' and 'machiavelli and the four seasons', song titles like 'i'm interested in apathy' and 'the ballad of john bonham's coke roadie'. musically, they started out as a lightweight indie-rock band but have mutated into a formidable dance-rock outfit without losing their lyrical bite. check 'em out if you get a chance. where have all the funny rock bands gone, btw?

― angelo, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Ahhh - reminds me of the Goblins. A Misfits tribute/lampoon band.

― Dave225, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

There was a punk band from Virginia a few years ago (can't think of their name) who came out onstage as a chain gang. Chained together. If anyone moved they would have to do it in unison. During a loud, pivotal moment of the set everyone would magically break off their shackles and start jumping around wildly. Get it? Oh, and even more ridiculous -- a guy I knew at Reprise was actually trying to sign them.

― Yancey, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Dunno if this is music or non-music, gimmick or non-gimmick:

Jad Fair - strums the guitar throughout the show, but only when you get to his guitar solo do you realize that he hasn't been plugged in the entire time. He plugs in only for the solo - which sounds a bit like a possum being strangled... (...and that's a good thing.)

Jad Fair is my guitar-hero, second only to David Fair.

― Dave225, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

where have all the funny rock bands gone

Slipknot? Korn?

― Siegbran Hetteson, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Magma

― brg, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

lets try this againMagma

― brg30, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Early Roxy Music: '50s teddy boy look + '70s glam = genius

― Mary, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

I'm with you, sister.

― Sean, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

slipknot and korn = funny? in a laughing-with-you or laughing-at-you kinda way? btw, you might have heard of half man half biscuit, a fully-as-all-shit english band who've been at it since the mid 80s. they have a song about slipknot called 'vatican broadside'. it's set to the tune of 'glory, glory, hallelujah' and the lyrics go like this : "the singer out of slipknot went to rome to see the pope (line sung three times)/and the pope said to his aide/who the fucking hell are slipknot (line sung three times)/in relation to me getting out of bed?!" too funny.

― angelo, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

George Clinton! George Clinton! The hair, the clothes, the spaceship.

― Martin Skidmore, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

Two words: CRIMSON GLORY!!!

Crappy Queensryche rip-off band whos gimmick was to wear splendid metal face-masks. One can only imagine the live show sweatiness.

Later in their careers, once the "magic" had worn off, they attempted to generate some much-needed publicity by TAKING OFF THE MASKS!! Nobody really cared very much.

― Nick, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

James Brown's cape was mentioned above, but how about the whole process of the collapse and resurrection and walking towards offstage and coming back... was that process meant to be implied by "james brown's cape"? It is a very good gimmick...

Constant hedging RE: sexual preference or sexual experience can be a good or bad gimmick depending on the artist...

― Aaron G!, Saturday, 3 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

OK, I seem to have heard from someone that the DC band Frodus had a side project called Mancake in which they all wore bear suits and threw breakfast food at the audience.
I have no idea who told me this, but I really hope I'm not just making it up.

― daria gray, Sunday, 4 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago) link

two years pass...

Any NYC types going to see the Upper Crust on Saturday? I'd go, but I've got to say home and grease Wheezer, I mean mind the nippers.

xpost:
It just made me a little sad to Roger watching Larry get his haircut.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 7 January 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago) link

Gwar.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 7 January 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago) link

The Cardiacs have this weird concept where the lead singer, Tim Smith supposedly abuses, assaults and controls the other band members through physical and mental torture. Their live video shows him shoving his wife in the face, insulting the band, brutally telling them to shut up etc. Backstage they are shown cowering while he rages at them. Obviously it's all an act although I heard that someone was once booted from the band for killing a fly.

― everything, Friday, 7 January 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago) link

The Beauticians, a Vancouver based kiddie folk/rock band led by Beez of the Smugglers, they all wear these dingy lamé jumpsuits and look like thriftstore astronauts. Also, one of their violinists is named Sexy Pierre!

― Huk-L, Friday, 7 January 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago) link

In the 80s, when I lived in Richmond, Virginia, GWAR was still a fairly local phenomenon. I'm glad to hear they are still known and talked about.

Not so much talked about are the Ululating Mummies, whose shows featured bubble guns pointed at the audience and a "show and tell" section, where audience members could come up and talk about an object like a stuffed animal or their car keys.

Last month, I saw The Bennies and TV on the Radio (opening for the Pixies). The Bennies lead singer/guitarist is a little person in a wheelchair.

The bass player from TV on the Radio had his back turned to the audience the whole time. Not quite sure whether it's an Aesthetic Statement of some sort or whether he's just shy.

― The Mad Puffin, Friday, 7 January 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago) link

Burzum.

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 7 January 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago) link

"Also, one of their violinists is named Sexy Pierre"

Sexy Pierre is a legend on his own. He's also connected with the Molestics who's chaotic gimmick, albeit compelling was not contrived (I'm talking about Mike Suarette).

― everything, Friday, 7 January 2005 18:40 (twenty years ago) link

Ween adopted new names, insisted to be brothers and did create their own demon god and an elaborate backstory in which the Boognish had appeared to Gene and caused the creation of the band. The Boognish apparently also won't allow them to break up.

Unfortunately they got pretty half assed about maintaining their gimmick, and the only part that really survives is the two of them being called Dean and Gene more frequently than their real names.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 7 January 2005 18:58 (twenty years ago) link

How about these guys?

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 7 January 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago) link

Man or Astroman! I was gonna mention them but forgot. I saw them opening for Dismemberment Plan some time ago, and they had this whole huge schtick involving vintage computers like UNIVAC and such. They quizzed the audience on our knowledge of computer history. Weird.

― The Mad Puffin, Friday, 7 January 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago) link

There was a brief but quite fun period in which I was particularly enamored of them, though to be honest I hadn't really thought of them in a while until they occurred to me as candidates for this thread. Will have to go dust of some LPs when I get home from work tonight...

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 7 January 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.lithuanian.net/music/sun-ra.jpg

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 7 January 2005 19:55 (twenty years ago) link

Beautiful.

So nobody's going to see the Upper Crust then?

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:00 (twenty years ago) link

The Upper Crust are still going? Cripes, how 1997 of them.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago) link

Sans Lord Rockingham, but he's been gone a long time. I think they just have a winning formula so they stick with it, like one of those long-running sitcoms, the good ones, the ones that we like. Or John Candy in Splash.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.geocities.com/lesrockets/A_r_79.jpg
Les Rockets

― jsk baby (jsk baby), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago) link

They've just been revived this year, so it's probably too early to tell how the backlash/anti-backlash forces will reach equilibrium for:
Zolar X.

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago) link

Blue Man Group.

― The Mad Puffin, Friday, 7 January 2005 20:12 (twenty years ago) link

The Moog Cookbook! Spacesuit wearing band covering classic rock songs on moogs. I saw their live show and was blown away, they wore the suits the whole time and had silly props and syncopated moves for most of the songs. Plus live they would dash classic moog riffs from other songs into their covers for double the fun.

I think they went and joined Air or something.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Friday, 7 January 2005 20:12 (twenty years ago) link

Sparks: Tall creepy brother with Hitler/Chaplain mustache and normal rock-star-looking brother, tied up together in bed, back of boat, back of car, etc.

Cheap Trick: Sparks X 2. Two rockstar guys and two geeky guys. In Color/In B&W cover art.

The Music Machine: Dressed all in black with one black glove. Played songs back-to-back with no gaps, hence the "machine".

Crazy World of Arthur Brown: Set his hair on fire among other stunts.

Screaming Lord Such: Apparently got trapped in a coffin in a stage-gimmick-gone-wrong. This scene is recreated in the awesome Slade movie "Slade In Flame."

Screaming Jay Hawkins: precursor to...

Dr. John: New Orleans, voodoo, night-tripper man.

Robert Johnson: Sold his soul to the devil.

Keiji Haino: Cool all-black attire and album covers plus menacing mystic vibe

the other Haino: Creepy teutonic, dualing german-shepards thing

Also: Hawkwind, Gong, others

― walter kranz (walterkranz), Friday, 7 January 2005 23:56 (twenty years ago) link

Robert Johnson: Sold his soul to the devil.

That's not a gimmick, man.

― martin m. (mushrush), Saturday, 8 January 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago) link

Daft Punk!

― manuel (manuel), Saturday, 8 January 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago) link

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/o9468.jpg

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:16 (twenty years ago) link

uh?

― martin m. (mushrush), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/c/images/clinic-walking.jpg

http://www.furious.com/perfect/graphics/clinic.jpg

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:26 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.juvalamu.com/crust/images/ucmain3.gif

the uppercrust http://www.juvalamu.com/crust/index.html

― Holly (an appletross), Saturday, 8 January 2005 02:30 (twenty years ago) link

Lee "Scratch" Perry, the dub reggae artist, was maybe crazy. It's unsure of whether it was an act or legit. At one point he burned down his own studio because of something relating to vampires.

Here's an article on him. http://www.sfbg.com/noise/31-01/lee.html

― Mickey, Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:28 (twenty years ago) link

Speaking of that, does Wesley Willis count?

― Mickey, Saturday, 8 January 2005 06:31 (twenty years ago) link

I think one or more of the guys from the Moog Cookbook wound up part of Beck's band.

― What's this place, Biblevania? (natepatrin), Saturday, 8 January 2005 07:02 (twenty years ago) link

re: Upper Crust

"Thank you all for coming to our little soiree... Love is never having to say 'soiree'."

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 8 January 2005 07:06 (twenty years ago) link

The Upper Crust were hilarious in their day (mid-to-late 90's). If you're a fan of their music (think: Bon Scott-era AC/DC), you might enjoy their pre-gimmick days as the Titanics (later the Satanics).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 8 January 2005 07:14 (twenty years ago) link

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