Busybee
Norgdom
Perth MusicFormula Rock Trends
There seems to be a growing number of ‘rock’ bands that are following a formula of trends that they think makes them ‘rock’. As more and more bands follow these trends it causes rock bands to become almost as fake as engineered pop bands.
One trend that I’m getting sick of is the half mullet. The full mullet almost made a complete comeback but I think people got scared of 80’s memories so it seems that it has turned into the half-mullet. Rock bands have all got these now and I’m getting sick of it. But this isn’t quite as bad as the painted finernails. What once started as a goth and emo trend has come over to the rock bands and it’s catching on like a house on fire. Phil Jamieson, lead singer of Grinspoon and new band The Lost Gospel, was on JTV on Saturday morning and he had pink fingernails. Pink! Painted fingernails on guys just doesn’t shock people like it used to, it just looks stupid.
One final rock trend that I’m getting sick of seeing, I blame At The Drive In for. It’s the big afro on the white guitarist. Off the top of my head I can think of Gyroscope and Wolfmother in helping this trend and they need to stop. Yes rock bands had afros in the 70’s and yes 70’s rock music is making a comeback but that doesn’t mean new bands need to try and look like they have come from that era.
The formula for a rock bands image might as well be constructed from a reality show: Get 4 white guys, let three of them grow half mullets and a bit of stubble, one to grow an afro, paint their fingernails, wear op shop t-shirts (or a shirt with a skeleton on it) and ripped jeans. Record 2 songs about girls, 3 songs about drinking, 1 song about fighting, 2 really catchy songs about nothing, 1 slow song and 1 fast 2-minute song. Call them something that makes no sense but has a ring to it and something that they’ll hate having to explain for the next 5-10 years.
If you’re a rock band starting out, just be yourself because people admire individuality above all else.
