Let’s get deeper than answers like “Andrew Ridgely in Wham!” Think of musicians who don’t seem to display any particular, irreplaceable musical identity to their bands yet whose Look fuctions as their key value to their band.
I’ve long thought this was Pete Quaife‘s main value to The Kinks. That’s not to diminish his playing, which is always solid, supportive, and energetic, but visually I thought he was the fulcrum for the ambivalent, explosive dynamic of Ray and Dave Davies as well as the squarely “working-class mug” aspect anchored by Mick Avory. His replacement, John Gosling, couldn’t pull together the visual aspects of the band, allowing Ray’s Dandy side to run rampant and leaving Dave without the necessary guiding hand that Quaife’s semi-tough/semi-sensitive Look provided.
Maybe the best example of a band member whose Look was his key value to his band is Dennis Wilson. His Look embodied much of what The Beach Boys sang about. Without his Look they likely would have been a footnote in rock history, or a well-regarded band of dorky hit-makers, like The Turtles. Brian Wilson could be replaced, but no one could replace Dennis, not even John Stamos.
Let’s start with the obvious: Sid Vicious.
Paul Simonon too.
Bez may have played the maracas and supplied loads of “therapeutic substances” but I do believe that the Happy Mondays could have played on without him.
BTW, I’m curious to learn whether this thread in any way ties into alexmagic’s theory of the Rhythm Beard.
Michael Clarke of the Byrds was literally recruited into the band because of his Look. He had never played drums before, and he never really played them all that well.
Weren’t the Monkees a band of “the look”?
Certainly Ringo.
Ouch!
“Bez may have played the maracas and supplied loads of “therapeutic substances””
Same with that guy Joel from Brian Jonestown Massacre.
I have read that Billy Corgan will only consider female bassists because he wants that onstage look for his bands.
My favorite Pistols quote: Rotten calls Sid nothing but a “a coat-hanger to fill an empty space on stage”.
The original bassist for Jellyfish was said to have been hired for this reason, I think. That and he was, uh, Roger Manning’s brother, I think. But mainly he looked cool in weird vintage clothes and was a nice guy.
Absolutely Stu Sutcliffe in the nascent Beatles.
BTW, I’m curious to learn whether this thread in any way ties into alexmagic’s theory of the Rhythm Beard.
Interesting question. It could be argued that a band who brings in a good-looking ringer who can’t really play is actually asking that member to be the Lead Look. Davey Jones was certainly brought in for those purposes and was clearly looking Lead for the Monkees, even while Dolenz gradually took control of Lead Singing duties. Nesmith, meanwhile, wore a Rhythm Hat and later Rhythm Shades, each chosen to subtly round out the Monkees’ looks, the hat backing up Davey’s Beatle-esque cut in the early going, and the shades and Nez’ mutton chops later playing rhythm to Dolenz’ Lead Perm after the band restructured their look.
The Beach Boys are a very interesting scenario. Since they all dressed the same, nobody was wearing any rhythm clothes until Love entered his Lead Hat phase. You would think Dennis, as the best looking guy, was looking lead, but I think the Beach Boys were running some weird Reverse Flying V, with Brian and Mike going for Dual Lead looks, and Carl and Al looking rhythm for them respectively. Dennis was the back end of the Flying V, balancing their disparate looks.
As we’ve discussed previously, once the band hit their ’70s bearded phase, it was Carl who graciously took the role of one of rock’s finest Rhythm Beards. I suppose Al’s Rhythm Baldness went to waste as Mike’s hats continued to hog the stage.