Select Instances of Gratuitous Makeup Use
THE HELLO PEOPLE (Consistent use, 1967 - 1975)
The Hello People bring their ridiculous mimery to Teen Time
The Hello People bring their ridiculous mimery to Teen Time
The Hello People, to my knowledge, were one of the first bands (if not the first) to don full makeup for their performances. Originating in New York's Greenwich Village, the band was the brainchild of producer Lou Futterman and French mime artist Etienne De Crux. The concept (I shit you not): mime/rock fusion. The band played its shows as French street performers, performing mime routines between songs and making sure never to speak to the audience. Their music itself was fairly forgettable, never making the charts. Despite this, the band somehow managed to land a couple of television appearances (among them: a gig on The Tonight Show).
Later, The Hello People backed none other than Todd Rundgren on tour in the 70s (no doubt a result of Rundgren's own affinity for makeup... not to mention his gratuitous use of drugs).
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
The Hello People's music was nothing special, yet they managed to get on The Tonight Show. We can safely assume that the makeup gimmick probably fueled this appearance - not to mention any other success that the band experienced.
DAVID BOWIE (Consistent use, 1972 - 1975. Sporadic use thereafter)
Bowie done up for the Aladdin Sane cover
This was the primary wrench in the gears when I made my original list. How could I criticize "makeup bands" and still unapologetically listen to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust with a clear conscience? Bowie very conspicuously donned makeup for his public appearances during the glam period, evoking both the ire of conservative Brits and the admiration of young music fans. Bowie's use of makeup eventually faded away as his career evolved. However, he did resurrect it from time to time - most notably on the video for "Ashes to Ashes" and his appearance with a young Jennifer Connelly in The Labyrinth.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
While Bowie most certainly received an extraordinary amount of attention for his use of makeup, one could make the argument that he would have achieved comparable fame based on the strength of his "makeup period" albums (all of which are uniformly considered classics by both critics and casual listeners alike). However, the makeup most certainly did further Bowie's popularity and public image.
Alice Cooper's use of makeup is, like his music itself, very much tied into the desire to playfully shock audiences. His campy stage shows are known for resembling cheap horror flicks, and often involve excessive use of props such as guillotines and boa constrictors. His makeup seems to be a nod to his B-lot horror movie aesthetic.
Alice Cooper's stage show - not specifically his makeup - is what propelled him to success (along with a couple of legitimate radio hits along the way). However, the makeup was most certainly a large part of the package. We can assume that Cooper is more recognizable to the public because of his consistent application of the face paint. Could Alice Cooper have succeeded without the makeup? Perhaps - his stage show was bizarre enough without it. But it certainly ties the whole thing together nicely.
ALICE COOPER (Consistent use, 1969 - present)
"School's Out" in the early 70s
"School's Out" in the early 70s
Alice Cooper's use of makeup is, like his music itself, very much tied into the desire to playfully shock audiences. His campy stage shows are known for resembling cheap horror flicks, and often involve excessive use of props such as guillotines and boa constrictors. His makeup seems to be a nod to his B-lot horror movie aesthetic.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
Alice Cooper's stage show - not specifically his makeup - is what propelled him to success (along with a couple of legitimate radio hits along the way). However, the makeup was most certainly a large part of the package. We can assume that Cooper is more recognizable to the public because of his consistent application of the face paint. Could Alice Cooper have succeeded without the makeup? Perhaps - his stage show was bizarre enough without it. But it certainly ties the whole thing together nicely.
KISS (Consistent use, 1973 - present)
KISS puts on a show...
KISS puts on a show...There are legions of people out there who adore KISS. I'm not one of them, so I can't comment from experience. However, I have a theory about KISS fans. I don't think I've ever caught somebody actually listening to a KISS record, and due to this, I've always assumed that fans of the band were attracted more to the stage show gimmicks than the music itself. And what a stage show it is - leather suits, face paint, blood and fire spitting, etc...
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
The identity of KISS is fundamentally tied into its use of makeup - one cannot divorce the band from the face paint. Furthermore, none of the band's albums are considered "classics," nor did any of them sell particularly well. Still, the band has a devoted following. We can only assume this is because of their ridiculous stage show - something that is made possible by the makeup. Does KISS achieve any of its success without the face paint? Absolutely not.
Much like Alice Cooper, seminal punk band The Misfits often wore makeup to further their campy horror-film aesthetic. Unlike Cooper, however, the Misfits did not rely on an overly elaborate stage show to entertain people - they were content to let their music do that. Furthermore, the makeup was not consistently employed.
THE MISFITS (Sporadic use, 1977 - 1983)
All decked out.
All decked out.
Much like Alice Cooper, seminal punk band The Misfits often wore makeup to further their campy horror-film aesthetic. Unlike Cooper, however, the Misfits did not rely on an overly elaborate stage show to entertain people - they were content to let their music do that. Furthermore, the makeup was not consistently employed.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
One could argue that the Misfits' devilocks were more recognizable and distinct than their makeup use. However, the makeup certainly did further the band's horror-punk aesthetic. This said, the band's early records are influential and well-loved. Would the Misfits have succeeded without the makeup? Absolutely - but they may not have become as iconic as they are now.
SLIPKNOT (No use)
They're a MASK band, not a makeup band. How I was mistaken.
They're a MASK band, not a makeup band. How I was mistaken.
I was under the impression that Slipknot employed the makeup gimmick. What else could explain the band's popularity? The music isn't exactly memorable, that's for damned sure. But I was wrong about the makeup use. Apparently, two-dimensional makeup is not enough to salvage this pathetic excuse for a metal band. No - they opt for masks, makeup's three-dimensional cousin. That third dimension really puts them over the edge, I guess.
THE EFFECT OF MASKS
Would this band have received any publicity if it weren't for its use of the mask gimmick? The answer is a resounding "no."
MARILYN MANSON (Consistent use, 1994 - present)
Love the whole "Willy Wonka meets the Joker" aesthetic.
Love the whole "Willy Wonka meets the Joker" aesthetic.
Unlike the Misfits or Alice Cooper (both used "shock tactics" as elements of their respective aesthetics), Marilyn Manson's aesthetic is shock. As a result, his makeup is employed in a half-horror, half-gender-confused manner. Manson's makeup and stage show have been freaking out Christian fundamentalists for years now. I assume that if the fundamentalists actually bothered to listen to the music, that would freak them out as well.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
Marilyn Manson did have a couple of chart-toppers at his peak. But was his exposure to the masses a result of his great songwriting? No. It was undoubtedly a result of his "unique" stage persona, which has always been far more marketable than any song he could possibly write. Without the makeup, there is no Marilyn Manson.
INSANE CLOWN POSSE (Consistent use, 1988 - present)
Violent J sheds some light on the origin of ICP's makeup in a 1995 interview.
According to the video interview above, the "insane clown" makeup is an artistic statement that likens the posse and its fans to a group of carnival freaks. Point taken, Violent J. But your music still treads "water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry" (to borrow from This is Spinal Tap).
These guys have garnered a huge cult following (comprised of fans known as "juggalos"), and I would be willing to bet that it has little to do with their music. What is the Insane Clown Posse without the makeup? Two white guys from Detroit, that's what.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
These guys have garnered a huge cult following (comprised of fans known as "juggalos"), and I would be willing to bet that it has little to do with their music. What is the Insane Clown Posse without the makeup? Two white guys from Detroit, that's what.
GOOD CHARLOTTE (Sporadic use, 1996 - present)
Note that the non-makeup-wearing members are relegated to the far corners of the photo.
Note that the non-makeup-wearing members are relegated to the far corners of the photo.As if it weren't already bad enough that these guys are polluting our airwaves, they also have the audacity to claim a punk rock lineage. Good Charlotte have made their fortune convincing 14 year-old girls that they're really punk rock. The makeup surely proves it, right? A little anecdote about the band from a friend: a number of years ago, Benji Madden (guitar/vocals in Good Charlotte) goes to CBGB after a show - he's all decked out in his makeup. While there, he meets up with Toby Morse, the frontman for New York hardcore mainstays H2O - a band that Benji idolizes. Morse and his friends (including NYC hardcore godfathers Freddy "Madball", Jimmy Gestapo, etc.) proceed to spend the evening lacing into Benji for his makeup-wearing, saying such things as "Ohhh, don't cry, little emo boy! Are you sad? Awww, poor emo boy's going to cry!" He stands there and takes it as Toby and Co. spend the entire night ripping him a new asshole. The next day, Benji appears on TRL with his band - sans makeup and wearing an H2O tee shirt. Talk about lack of a backbone...
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
Good Charlotte's ability to make music for a living is directly linked to their ability to convince teenagers (many of which don't know any better) that they're really edgy punk rockers. Obviously, the makeup is a part of this - as are the piercings and tattoos.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA (Consistent use, 1999 - present)
Somewhere behind several layers of powder is a human being.
Somewhere behind several layers of powder is a human being.Perhaps this is a bit unfair of me. Christina is, after all, a pop diva. She is expected to wear makeup all the time. But have you seen the extent of it? It's as if she's trying to look like a Nicaraguan prostitute.
This is actually a tough one. Obviously, the makeup increases Christina's visibility - it's hard not to notice her. But at the same time, she possesses perhaps the best voice of anyone in her "pop diva" genre - running circles around the likes of Britney Spears. In all likelihood, Aguilera would be fine (dare I say, better off?) without the makeup. Her voice is unique enough that it would probably have propelled her to success regardless.
Boy George began his career with Culture Club in the early 80s, becoming the first artist since the Beatles to have three Billboard #1 singles from a debut record. George was the focal point of the group, enchanting the public with his voice and confusing people with his manner of dress. Clearly, George himself was not confused - he was sleeping with his drummer, Jon Moss, after all - and he dressed the part. As such, Boy George's use of makeup has always struck me as a genuine expression of his sexuality as opposed to a showbiz gimmick.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
This is actually a tough one. Obviously, the makeup increases Christina's visibility - it's hard not to notice her. But at the same time, she possesses perhaps the best voice of anyone in her "pop diva" genre - running circles around the likes of Britney Spears. In all likelihood, Aguilera would be fine (dare I say, better off?) without the makeup. Her voice is unique enough that it would probably have propelled her to success regardless.
BOY GEORGE (Consistent use, 1981 - present)
Brazenly homosexual. I think that was the point, though.
Boy George began his career with Culture Club in the early 80s, becoming the first artist since the Beatles to have three Billboard #1 singles from a debut record. George was the focal point of the group, enchanting the public with his voice and confusing people with his manner of dress. Clearly, George himself was not confused - he was sleeping with his drummer, Jon Moss, after all - and he dressed the part. As such, Boy George's use of makeup has always struck me as a genuine expression of his sexuality as opposed to a showbiz gimmick.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
It's difficult to say how much of an effect the makeup had on Boy George's career. Obviously, his music was tremendously successful - one doesn't score three #1 hits solely based on image alone. Nonetheless, Culture Club most certainly did benefit from the controversy stirred up by George's gender-bending. Would the band have been as successful without George's makeup? Given the band's sound and the era in which they debuted, probably.
ROBERT SMITH (Semi-consistent use, 1976 - present)
It's the Crow! No, wait. It's the frontman from the Cure.
It's the Crow! No, wait. It's the frontman from the Cure.During his time with the Cure, Robert Smith often dressed in a fashion that could only be identified as "goth." To complement this style of dress, he also donned makeup on stage. Certainly this made sense, given that much of the band's recorded output could be considered "goth rock." Regardless of the genre, the Cure's first albums are considered classics in some circles.
THE EFFECT OF MAKEUP
One can safely say that Robert Smith's makeup was not integral to the success of the Cure. Certainly, it led the band to be identified with "goth rock" (though their music is on the fringes of the genre). However, the Cure's music - not Smith's image - was what drove the band to its success.
Conclusions on Makeup Use in Music
While I had hoped to find a constant thread between the various "makeup artists" on the list, it was impossible - David Bowie has about as much in common with Good Charlotte as I do with Ted Nugent. There are bands that use makeup, and then there are "makeup bands." While the former can be good, examples of the latter are rarely good.
Makeup is the anabolic steroid of the music world - it has the capacity to turn untalented fringe artists into household names. It also does a hell of a job covering up musical inadequacies, since most people seem not to care about songwriting when a rock and roll clown is nancing around in front of them.
Final conclusion: bands who rely on makeup as a crutch are not worth your time.
Makeup is the anabolic steroid of the music world - it has the capacity to turn untalented fringe artists into household names. It also does a hell of a job covering up musical inadequacies, since most people seem not to care about songwriting when a rock and roll clown is nancing around in front of them.
Final conclusion: bands who rely on makeup as a crutch are not worth your time.
No comments:
Post a Comment