I’m amazed at the number of musicians who take image and looks seriously. There are too many unsigned & indie bands trying to look pretty as possible. I never thought image was that important in music. To me, I never cared. When I go to the stage to perform or take photos, I never cared what I looked like, or what I wore. There are too many bands out there, that will play dress up for the stage or photo shoots. They would even go as far as doing make up or try to make their hair cool. This goes for both men and women who play in bands or just acoustic acts. I understand that musicians need to look their genre that they play, but… image should not be all that important.
There are even famous bands & artists in national music today, that don’t even care about image like Neil Young. Perfect example right there. I mean, you never see Neil wearing nothing but all black leather or other crazy band fashion. All Neil mostly wore over the years in his career were ripped up blue jeans and he wore mostly old t-shirts or flannels. He didn’t care what he wore on the stage. He just wears what ever he wore in everyday life, when he goes on stage.
That’s where I come from. As long as you have the talent and the music is good, who the fuck cares about the image, ya know?
Personally, I believe, that the only reason people support your music is because the band looks good. It doesn’t matter to them if the music is good or bad. If the members are good looking people, that’s when fans will support their music. Point being, it’s the image that what makes people like their music, and in my opinion, the looks is cheating to get popularity or fame.
If you want to prove that you’re talented, you don’t need to worry about the image or trying to look pretty. We’re not celebrities so get over yourselves. Let the music speak on it’s own. If I go on stage sometime in the future, I’ll just wear what I have on now. That’s how I always played my gigs in the past. I didn’t care how I looked. Fashion, and image just takes away the music. Just my opinion.
Kev
K'Brocking 
Every musician you’ve ever liked has been careful to promote an image they thought would help sell the most records. Are you telling them all they don’t need to?
Yep, that’s exactly right. Like I said, there have been plenty of bands & artists who never cared about image and were successful, anyways. It’s why I brought up, Neil Young.
The Ramones is another perfect example. They can be the ugliest guys on the planet, yet, they were one of the most successful punk bands of all time. Same with the Clash.
Kev
btw, this post is aimed at unsigned & local ones. Not the national bands. When you’re a local musician, you don’t need to worry about image.
Kev
The Ramones absolutely cared about image. Same jackets, same hair (mostly), same shoes, same pretend last names.
Read Johnny’s book, “Commando”. He’ll explain, he was always about the music. All he wore was blue jeans and Mickey Mouse shirts. They never had much of an image to begin with. They were pretty casual.
Kev
It’s understandable that the national acts in the major labels, have to focus on image but not all of them do.
It is possible to look normal, and casual, and become successful anyway. It’s the songs that should matter. Not the way you dress or how beautiful you look. It’s about the songs.
Maybe if I was a better looking guy or if I dress all snazzy like a celebrity, maybe people would take my music a little more seriously, then.
I just like to be normal. Be myself. You don’t need gimmicks, to become someone in music.
Kev
You know, it would be pretty nice if you guys would write positive thoughts on this blog for once. I’m getting real tired of you guys just coming here to be negative on almost everything. It doesn’t hurt to be kind and respectful for once? Maybe I’m better off turning the comments off for good.
Kev
LOL!!! The Ramones and The Clash both dressed in a way that would make them most popular with their audiences! The Ramones went out of their way to dress like each other and The Clash did not just stop at jeans and t-shirts.
If musicians just starting out locally want to get big, then yes they need to promote an image to help them. Have you heard the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have?”
But your reaction to everyones’ posts is my favorite. Kev it would be nice if your posts were actually insightful and positive. If everyone followed your advice they’d be settling for a demo and zero success in the music industry, like you have. If you want to wear a regular t-shirt and jeans on stage then go ahead. That may work for you and your goals. That doesn’t mean every band has to be like you, and if you could step outside yourself for one moment you would understand that. Turn comments off and no one will visit your site anymore.
Music “used” to never be about the image, like back in the 60’s and 70’s, early 80’s image didn’t really matter back then, but the way the industry is today, it seems the only way to make it is to look good to get a lot of fans. It’s why I believe that so many local bands around here get so popular and become established acts ’cause of their looks and image. Bands like Phantogram, TYV, Sirsy, and many others. There are local bands around here who don’t care about image, though. There are a handful that just want to play. Of course, local musicians today, the way it works, are pretty delusional people. They just want to fit along how the mainstream is doing it.
You can still get noticed with the music, regardless of the looks or image. Bands focus on image ’cause of their ego and self importance.
My posts are actually insightful and positive, thank you. I may swear a lot, but that’s how I talk, it’s just me.
Kev
Here’s an interesting blog doing a little google search, about how image is taking over the music industry. Kind of explains what I’m talking about…
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/27/showbiz/art-pop-music-image/index.html
Fuck, man.
If I want people to take me as a musician seriously maybe I should wear all black leather, put eye liner on my eyes and spike my hair. Or maybe I could be like Bowie and wear makeup, lol. Or, if I want to be a better looking guy for the ladies maybe I should get my photos airbrushed and make myself look like a pretty boy. If I do any of that, then maybe my music dreams could be more successful and my songs online could get a lot more plays.
Well, I have been working out at the gym and getting some muscles, so maybe that will help my image some, lmao!
Image really has overshadowed the music, and I kind of blame MTV for that.
Kev
Music “used” to never be about the image, like back in the 60′s and 70′s, early 80′s image didn’t really matter back then
What planet are you on!? 60’s mod, 70’s glam, punk, disco, early 80’s new romantic. You seriously need to brush up on your research.
Well, back in those days if I can explain it a little better, musicians were just themselves. They didn’t really see image as a big part of music back then. The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Led Zep, Bowie, Queen, The Doors, Sabbath, etc. Those guys didn’t fake their looks ’cause there was no such thing as plastic surgery, in those days, and they didn’t have the technology to brush up their photos. They were real musicians who stayed true to themselves.
Yes, Bowie wore all kinds of make up and women’s clothes back in the 70’s, but that’s when the glitter rock movement started, so he had no choice.
I’ll admit that the image thing actually started when Disco came around, and then came KISS, who started it too.
Neil Young however, as I explained several times, never took image seriously. He was never afraid to look like a dirty slob on stage which is part of why he gets my respect. Oh yeah, and AC/DC never took image seriously either, except for Angus Young with the schoolboy suit, though, but the other guys in the band had no problem looking like dirty slobs either.
Kev
Don’t get me wrong though, I love a lot of artists who focus on the image, but honestly, I never cared about image. Why do I like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry? It’s not because of their image. It’s because I love the songs. The same goes for a lot of bands and artists that I like…I never cared how musicians looked. It’s good music that I’m after.
but the whole point I’m trying to make that when you’re in a local band or solo artist, you don’t need to worry about image as a local musician. I’ve said that repeatedly. You don’t need to look special. As long as you have the good songs, people will support you, anyway.
Kev