Stage wear

Uni777 · Post by **Uni777** » 17 May 2011, 13:04

When i go see a Death Metal band, i particularly like the bands who made an effort to look like a collective on stage. How they behave themselves and the look. A band playing superb can be boring as fuck to witness when the stage presentation is lame (all IMHO).

The way they dress is a impotant part of the visual impression. Some of them overdress bordering on silly. But on the other hand Behemoth looked awesome and it helped very much to bring the point across.

Thoughts, idea, comments?

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 17 May 2011, 14:09

Completely agreed. Wether you like it or not, metal is very theatrical. When Behemoth started the Demigod tour, they looked a little silly to me but eventually they grew into the stage act and got the message across really, really well. I think those guys are a perfect example for this.

I also think this depends on the genre. Bands such as Neurosis don't really need that (gimmick). They put on such a sonically-blowing-you-away show, and with the visuals as a circled backdrop, they don't need any goofy outfits. Neither would it positively enhance their performance.

Jackson · Post by **Jackson** » 17 May 2011, 18:11

Metal

Gay

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 17 May 2011, 18:16

[quote name="Jackson"]

[/quote]

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 17 May 2011, 18:20

[quote name="Void"]Completely agreed. Wether you like it or not, metal is very theatrical. When Behemoth started the Demigod tour, they looked a little silly to me but eventually they grew into the stage act and got the message across really, really well. I think those guys are a perfect example for this.

I also think this depends on the genre. Bands such as Neurosis don't really need that (gimmick). They put on such a sonically-blowing-you-away show, and with the visuals as a circled backdrop, they don't need any goofy outfits. Neither would it positively enhance their performance.[/quote]

Slimeys have always been about a presentation in the show, visually and as a unit. We've always had a matching uniform.

As Tom said, i think it's correct about the genre.

For grindcore, seeing a band dressed up would look a bit silly (can you imagine fruital Truth looking sharp?

)

I guess that's why with my new band we're all in street/day wear... and casual...

Uni777 · Post by **Uni777** » 17 May 2011, 18:45

For me personally, it helps me a lot when i change for a show. Even if it just to black army pants and boots.. Maybe it is a little ritual of getting in the mood.

I've always liked the way Possessed looked or Destroyer666 or Angel Corpse or MA during the Blessed shoots. Early VoivoD. Even the military look of Immolation looks cool and as a unit. I've seen autopsy on the first euro tours back in the day and they looked like hippies which looked a bit lame.

But what do you guys consider overdressing/silly for a death Metal band? What is too much?

Spirits of the Deep Waters · 17 May 2011, 21:25

[quote name="uni777"]For me personally, it helps me a lot when i change for a show. Even if it just to black army pants and boots.. Maybe it is a little ritual of getting in the mood.

I've always liked the way Possessed looked or Destroyer666 or Angel Corpse or MA during the Blessed shoots. Early VoivoD. Even the military look of Immolation looks cool and as a unit. I've seen autopsy on the first euro tours back in the day and they looked like hippies which looked a bit lame.

But what do you guys consider overdressing/silly for a death Metal band? What is too much?[/quote]

I like the way Morbid Angel looked in the Covenant era. I love those crazy black shirts they had.

Possessed looked really cool in the Seven Churches era, definatly.

This is a shot of my old band, I think we're looking pretty neat

Anjel · Post by **Anjel** » 17 May 2011, 22:47

The pink underwear.

RitesOfPossession · Post by **RitesOfPossession** » 18 May 2011, 00:34

[quote name="uni777"]What is too much?[/quote]

Anyone?

Spirits of the Deep Waters · 18 May 2011, 01:13

Uni777 · Post by **Uni777** » 18 May 2011, 02:20

Mad Max???

[quote name="Maze"]

[/quote]

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 18 May 2011, 02:22

Glen Benton in Vital Remains... fucking looks like a leather version of TMNT's Shredder

Uni777 · Post by **Uni777** » 18 May 2011, 02:22

Okay

But if he wore a black T with those leather pants and boots it would be cool?

[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]
[quote name="uni777"]What is too much?[/quote]

Anyone?[/quote]

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 18 May 2011, 02:35

[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]
[quote name="uni777"]What is too much?[/quote]

Anyone?[/quote]

The vinyl shirt look still makes me laugh each time I see it. Can't help it. That is cheesy fucking gay. I would expect that from them maybe back in 85, 86 but definitely not nowadays. I really hope that style of dress goes away because to me it does not enhance but actually takes away from the music. This debate we have hashed out previously though with the Evil-D look so I will not harp on it anymore.

[quote name="uni777"]Okay

But if he wore a black T with those leather pants and boots it would be cool?[/quote]

I think in this case definitely. The vinyl shirt is very much out of character and line with them as musicians and performers. If he had always played in clothes like that would be one thing, but no, I think it does not enhance at all.

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 18 May 2011, 02:46

[quote name="uni777"]When i go see a Death Metal band, i particularly like the bands who made an effort to look like a collective on stage. How they behave themselves and the look. A band playing superb can be boring as fuck to witness when the stage presentation is lame (all IMHO).

The way they dress is a impotant part of the visual impression. Some of them overdress bordering on silly. But on the other hand Behemoth looked awesome and it helped very much to bring the point across.

Thoughts, idea, comments?[/quote]

As a fan I think uniforms can be cool also. I got to see Hate on the Sepultura tour and they wore some outfits that almost looked like leather skirts. (I don't mean that to sound bad, I don't know what they are called) The production and playing it all fit very well. Some of the pictures I have seen lately of Behemoth just look like, fuck me, pure fucking evil incarnate and if not done over the top top will enhance their shows. And I believe that when seeing a band, especially a metal band, there is a certain story that is being played in front of you and a band using untraditional dress can be very very cool. But lets say Obituary came out in leather skirts and spikes, well, I think it would be very gay. Sound would be awesome but the look, not at all.

Some bands just rock without having any type of uniform. Slayer killed and hell they wore the same thing that you see any other hard-on bearer about town wearing. Granted anybody about town who is SLAYER of course. I think dressing up for the sake of dressing up is not a good approach, but complementing your music playing with certain attire can go a long way with leaving a very visceral image in a fan's head and can, to a degree, help shape the image a fan may have who had not heard you before. I had only heard couple of Hate songs prior to this show, but after that set, I was hooked and have an interest and now have purchased a couple of their albums. Another example, dare I say it here, is Slipknot. Their stage presence is greatly augmented with their uniforms. I don't think the intensity and back and forth spontaneity they have with their fans would be as great without the masks.

It is almost like donning the uniform allows the musician to truly enter the world they are about to perform and introduce the fans too. So yea, uniforms I think are a big plus. The uniform should enhance and complement but never distract from the music.

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 18 May 2011, 02:51

[quote name="Void"]Glen Benton in Vital Remains... fucking looks like a leather version of TMNT's Shredder

[/quote]

RitesOfPossession · Post by **RitesOfPossession** » 19 May 2011, 01:23

Another great example of a band who does the "uniform" thing well is Akercocke. The whole idea of an extreme metal band in suits is great!

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 19 May 2011, 01:28

bloodline by salyer has the suits

^_____________^ · Post by **^_____________^** » 20 May 2011, 04:29

[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]Another great example of a band who does the "uniform" thing well is Akercocke. The whole idea of an extreme metal band in suits is great!

[/quote]

This is indeed awesome.

The best corpse paint bands out today are Behemoth and Immortal, Immortal being the better of the two as far as their image is concerned.

Lavabug · Post by **Lavabug** » 22 May 2011, 04:28

I think Nile should dress in rags.

zim · Post by **zim** » 22 May 2011, 04:35

[quote name="Lavabug"]I think Nile should dress in rags.[/quote]

Drum Solo · Post by **Drum Solo** » 23 May 2011, 11:37

I've always admired Lemmy's stage attire. Custom boots, black jeans, a black button-up shirt, and some WWII military paraphernalia.

Morbid Angel looked great in the photo below, although I'm not sure if they ever took to the stage looking that way:

baron von blondle · Post by **baron von blondle** » 23 May 2011, 15:44

[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]Another great example of a band who does the "uniform" thing well is Akercocke. The whole idea of an extreme metal band in suits is great!

[/quote]

WAS - we had to stop wearing suits on stage when Paul Scanlan was fired because Matt refused to wear a suit onstage - which is fair enough, suits and ginger mohawks don't really gel stylewise, unless they re-make Mad Max set in Victorian England of course.

After that it was just 'anything black and kinda sorta smartish but a t-shirt will do'. Was a real shame for me cos I loved to dress up with the full waistcoat, tie and cufflinks. It was a real ritual getting ready for a show. besides I looked damn hot

RitesOfPossession · Post by **RitesOfPossession** » 23 May 2011, 16:44

[quote name="baron von blondle"]
[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]Another great example of a band who does the "uniform" thing well is Akercocke. The whole idea of an extreme metal band in suits is great!

[/quote]

WAS - we had to stop wearing suits on stage when Paul Scanlan was fired because Matt refused to wear a suit onstage - which is fair enough, suits and ginger mohawks don't really gel stylewise, unless they re-make Mad Max set in Victorian England of course.

After that it was just 'anything black and kinda sorta smartish but a t-shirt will do'. Was a real shame for me cos I loved to dress up with the full waistcoat, tie and cufflinks. It was a real ritual getting ready for a show. besides I looked damn hot

[/quote]

I think I read somewhere that, early on, you used to wear corpsepaint. Is this true? If so, was this with the suits or did they come later after corpsepaint? Got any pics?

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 23 May 2011, 16:48

which one is you, baron?

RitesOfPossession · Post by **RitesOfPossession** » 23 May 2011, 19:59

[quote name="Verbal"]which one is you, baron?[/quote]

If I'm not mistaken he's the one on the left on the top picture.

^_____________^ · Post by **^_____________^** » 24 May 2011, 00:31

Holy shit, Baron's actually from Akercocke?

Fucking

Anjel · Post by **Anjel** » 24 May 2011, 00:36

Even I knew that.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 24 May 2011, 00:37

[quote name="Anjel"]Even I knew that.

[/quote]

baron von blondle · Post by **baron von blondle** » 24 May 2011, 00:41

[quote name="DarkSurgeon"]

I think I read somewhere that, early on, you used to wear corpsepaint. Is this true? If so, was this with the suits or did they come later after corpsepaint? Got any pics?[/quote]

never, we dressed up and swapped instruments for a friends birthday once - I was the vocalist of Eternal Forest

[quote name="Verbal"]which one is you, baron?[/quote]

the good looking one of course!!!

^_____________^ · Post by **^_____________^** » 24 May 2011, 00:44

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 24 May 2011, 02:17

[quote name="themicrulah"]Holy shit, Baron's actually from Akercocke?

Fucking

[/quote]

This is why I started this thread. There are a LOT of band members here at the MABB

forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10681

And this is only scratching the surface.

Stepping back and looking at the big picture, well, MABB is

best place I have seen where fans can directly interact not just with bands whom they enjoy listening, but can actually get into some deep conversations. Hell just look over at the Domination thread. You had several amazing, kick ass fucking band members on there giving their input. Okay, off my soap-box of how cool the MABB is.

^_____________^ · Post by **^_____________^** » 24 May 2011, 02:21

I saw that, but my initial reflex was to suspend disbelief because of the general silliness of the MABB

It's very cool though, there are indeed some very awesome bands represented here.

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 24 May 2011, 02:23

It's all good.

It has been fucking humbling for me meeting people on here I would never have a unholy chance of meeting in person. Very cool indeed.

^_____________^ · Post by **^_____________^** » 24 May 2011, 02:27

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 24 May 2011, 03:06

You two should be nominated for best new members of 2011.

My stage attire has varied between bands. In the later years of Morpheus, we just wore whatever we were wearing that day, but in the early days we always put on whatever fucked up thing we could assemble before the show. I think in one I was wearing this weird, old style blue summer dress with a stuffed cat "modified" with circuit boards taped to my shoulder. That was probably the silliest.

Michita, The Morpheus Cat was a stage staple for many years but has since disappeared. In Psychotic Assault, it depended on the show. If it was something small like a party, we all just wore some band shirts and camo pants and splattered fake blood on our faces. Larger gigs ended up with corpsepaint.

When this new band of mine goes live, I would definitely like to coordinate some sort of stage wear -- dark but not extravagant... something subtle.

Spirits of the Deep Waters · 24 May 2011, 03:30

Theres been ALOT of new great members here 2011. People that don't only drop by and write something once in a while, but actually people that are willing to discuss and have a great point. MABB

Conservative_Heretic · Post by **Conservative_Heretic** » 24 May 2011, 03:39

[quote name="pulsar"]You two should be nominated for best new members of 2011.[/quote]

Thank you, that means a lot, seriously

[quote name="pulsar"]I think in one I was wearing this weird, old style blue summer dress with a stuffed cat "modified" with circuit boards taped to my shoulder.[/quote]

This must be shared. The vision in my mind is very much a KO'd winner!

[quote name="Maze"]Theres been ALOT of new great members here 2011. People that don't only drop by and write something once in a while, but actually people that are willing to discuss and have a great point. MABB

[/quote]

And THIS! MABB

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 24 May 2011, 05:55

[quote name="Conservative_Heretic"]
[quote name="pulsar"]I think in one I was wearing this weird, old style blue summer dress with a stuffed cat "modified" with circuit boards taped to my shoulder.[/quote]

This must be shared. The vision in my mind is very much a KO'd winner!

[/quote]

It was pretty fucking funny looking. Unfortunately (or fortunately

) there aren't any photos of that set. I'll see what I can dig up for old live pics though.

claudeofemptiness · Post by **claudeofemptiness** » 06 Jul 2011, 00:45

i was in a band for a while that focused more on presentation than music, cause it was mainly homemade electronic beeps and loops. we took hint from dead (mayhem) and bought us stuff (wedding dresses mainly) and buried them for a month or two and wore plain white masks for a while. it was kind of scary and really hard for me to drum in, but it was fun. especially since i was the only woman in the band.

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 06 Jul 2011, 00:51

[quote name="claudeofemptiness"]i was in a band for a while that focused more on presentation than music, cause it was mainly homemade electronic beeps and loops. we took hint from dead (mayhem) and bought us stuff (wedding dresses mainly) and buried them for a month or two and wore plain white masks for a while. it was kind of scary and really hard for me to drum in, but it was fun. especially since i was the only woman in the band.[/quote]

Dead's idea inspired me but I've yet to do it. Also, I did not know you are a woman. We need more wimmenz on the mabb.

Devy · Post by **Devy** » 06 Jul 2011, 01:22

our lord and master's day to day clothing inspired the stage wear of The Residents.

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 06 Jul 2011, 09:23

Me guitarist

I

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 06 Jul 2011, 09:35

[quote name="Skinoperable"]scalloped necks

[/quote]

None of those neck are scalloped though?

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 06 Jul 2011, 09:48

[quote name="Skinoperable"]you sure? your guitarist looks like he's rocking a scalloped neck. unless theres some weird lighting effect thing going on

[/quote]

I see what you're talking about now...It's just lightning I guess.

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 06 Jul 2011, 10:20

He was struck by lightning?

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 06 Jul 2011, 10:27

Yes, that's why he is wearing tweety bird pajamas.

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 06 Jul 2011, 10:34

Well that is quite logical.

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 06 Jul 2011, 18:13

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 06 Jul 2011, 20:16

Also: