Encyclopedia of Theatrical Live Bands

[Ian Townsend]

Well not really an encyclopedia. More just a thread really. Bands unafraid of dressing up, slapping on the panstick and role-playing.
Kicked off with Leigh Bowery in Minty from the Roots of Easy thread.

Here's Fee Waybill as Quay Lewd from The Tubes in his 1977 prime performing the great White Punks On Dope. I saw them live at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1977 when I was 15. :) Great concert, just before he fell off his platforms and injured himself.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/3273047184_806bf85e9d_z.jpg

Here he is again reprising it in 2009
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/0907240927317341530_680068_v1.jpg

And of course, Peter Gabriel loved a bit of dressing up. Here he is as The Slipperman. Was too late to see him do this ('74) I only saw Genesis post Gabriel in 1978 (I think) when they re-opened the Rainbow Theatre on their Wind and Wuthering tour.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/slipperman.jpg

Feel free to add on or just suggest candidates and I'll have a dig around for some pics.:)

[LDJB]

Ziggy Stardust


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0XIiIlATE

Alladin Sane


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jIiQhUwdhk

Halloween Jack


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrjsvfaVS5w&feature=related

The Thin White Duke


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEWgIzm7F2U

etc :o

[LDJB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCTaxGhRC5M&feature=fvst

[LDJB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kGPhpvqtOc

[LDJB]

Couldn't bring myself to post any Kiss ;)

[LDJB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8vBDET3kbI

[Ian Townsend]

Music industry needs stuff like this again. Proper characters. Had completely forgotten about Screaming Jay but he was the absolute pioneer.

Heavy Metal kinda hijacked theatrical completely didn't it? With Alice Cooper being the gateway drag.

I'm off to find some photos of GWAR. :D

Now this is dressing up to perform. Gwar's Arungus

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/gwar_arungus.jpg

[LDJB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWM47SCZ_zM

[LDJB]

Heavy Metal kinda hijacked theatrical completely didn't it?


yes


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ZtHrWiSAk

[Ian Townsend]

The Residents first 78 release.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/elite_sleeve.jpg

[Ian Townsend]

I totally get what people like about the likes of Slipknot and Gwar. That Slipknot video is brilliant.

My VG+ Swap CD is not going to be very popular this year.... it will be called Mum's Dressing Up Box.

My fiancee, who can actually sing along word perfect to loads of songs by Panthera, Slipknot, Primus, Sabbath, Zeppelin and a whole bunch of other heavy bands, is schooling me in the more extreme ends of their canon.

And I'm going to try and mix it all up too. :)

[ironheadrat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=153d9tc3Oao

I like that one chap is playing a cuica on this clip.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GMSay6GWHI

Codpiece


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l78TpOMgq44

Cameo go for a more 'yacht' look.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFOlrcVcVA

Believe me, a little study of Cameo improves your dancing no end.

[ceemillar]

Believe me, a little study of Cameo improves your dancing no end.
haha it really didn't do me much good back in the day. An old friend of mine always used to refered to Cameo as the children of Earth Wind and Fire and it wasn't funny then either. Could see what he was getting at though because they did like to dress a bit as well.

[ironheadrat]

haha it really didn't do me much good back in the day. An old friend of mine always used to refered to Cameo as the children of Earth Wind and Fire and it wasn't funny then either. Could see what he was getting at though because they did like to dress a bit as well.

EWF were also very theatrical, but were too much into cosmic oneness pyramids to have any sense of humour. Cameo seem to be pissing themselves laughing in every clip.

[Ian Townsend]

haha it really didn't do me much good back in the day. An old friend of mine always used to refered to Cameo as the children of Earth Wind and Fire and it wasn't funny then either. Could see what he was getting at though because they did like to dress a bit as well.
He had a point.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/EarthWindFirehqpng1000x1128.png

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u177/Pattrick_104_2007/Earth-Wind-And-Fire-234.jpg

[treeboy]

Theatricality you say! 1964 vintage


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ZsWENob1s&playnext=1&list=PLFD51B26A055C37A5&feature=results_main

[treeboy]

This lot didn't mind the occassional rummage in the dressing up box either


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4avn34o2Ksw

[treeboy]

Great 70s band


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DsUoYk-V2U

[ironheadrat]

Not too sure about his music, but Brazilian camp/glam icon Ney Matogrosso certainly ticks the theatrical boxes.
This 1975 video is fantastic


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fguWvisR70&feature=relmfu

[Gingham Kitchen]

Leo Sayer, in his psychotic Joe Cocker clown years...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6UdgWrrlNY&feature=related

[Peter Sundae]

http://musiceyz.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/wombles1.jpg

[treeboy]

http://musiceyz.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/wombles1.jpg

But they're not even dressed up!

[Peter Sundae]

Hahaah good point !

What about the Wurzels ? Farmer theatre.

[Gingham Kitchen]

Hahaah good point !

What about the Wurzels ? Farmer theatre.

No way, they're from Somerset, so they obviously dress like that in real life. It's just occurred to me that, with the exception of the odd hat and scarf, The Wombles are naked. Madame Cholet used to cook the dinner with just an apron on. Still, she was French.

[ironheadrat]

No way, they're from Somerset, so they obviously dress like that in real life.

I used to think the same about the Rubettes and London.

http://rubettesfeaturingbillhurd.com/images/facts1.jpg

Can you imagine my disappointment on my day trip to HMS Belfast.

[Gingham Kitchen]

I used to think Gilbert O'Sullivan was from the North East.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/9/23/1253723463236/Gilbert-OSullivan-001.jpg

All the time, he should have been dressed like this --

http://smartassradio.com/wp-content/gallery/site-images/irish.gif

Blooming 70's pop stars, messing with our heads.

[einekleine]

Video quality is ace:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZboHBd2Vg