Rock’s Unfulfilled Fashion Ideas: The Cape

 Posted by
Oct 132010
 

In the above clip, one of Prog-Rock’s Sexiest Men, Chris Squire, and Yes bandmates Steve Howe and Alan White, humorously discuss the halcyon days of rock cape-wear. It’s fitting that they should have the first word on the matter because, along with their bandmate Rick Wakeman, they took The Cape about as far as it has gone in rock ‘n roll history to date. The Cape is our latest subject in an ongoing series assessing of Rock’s Unfulfilled Fashion Ideas. Maybe you can help us better understand the cape’s appeal and possible resurgence in rock ‘n roll style.

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Making the Case for the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock: Will it Be John Wetton, Chris Squire, Carl Palmer, or David Gilmour?

 Posted by
Sep 232010
 

Chicks dig odd time signatures!

Our ongoing poll to determine the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock has garnered interest across the globe. Out of the gates it looked to be a showdown between the the Zelig of the Prog/Art Rock world, stylishly tressed bassist John Wetton, and former model and Pink Floyd hunk David Gilmour. Then, without warning, cape-wearing Yes bassist Chris Squire and ELP’s boyishly macho drummer Carl Palmer jumped ahead of Gilmour and put some heat on Wetton. With a record number of votes pouring in, Wetton and Squire are neck and neck! Before more votes are posted, let’s consider the leaders in this heretofore-inconceivable showdown.

I know this discussion will make some of you manly men uncomfortable, but these prog-rock legends aren’t as smooth as Ken dolls down there, nor are their fans a collection of plastic Ken and Barbie dolls. For the rock ‘n roll record, I suggest you man up and give these gents the once-over they deserve. It’s clear that only Rock Town Hall is fit to determine, once and for all, the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock. In-depth analyses of our leading vote-getters appear on page 2!

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They Don’t Make ’em Like That Anymore: King Crimson, 1974

 Posted by
Sep 182010
 


This is a follow-up to a previous piece on some of the admirable-if-best-forgotten qualities of King Crimson.

As he did in our original clip from 1973, bassist/singer John Wetton, with his flowing man and polyester silkscreened shirt, lays claim to the heretofore inconceivable title of Sexiest Man in Prog. Can you imagine the D&D tail lining up to get backstage after a show?

Can Townsman Northvancoveman or other hockey fans of the Hall confirm if that is actually some form of a Boston Bruins logo on drummer Bill Bruford‘s overalls? It turns out he was wearing that thing in the earlier clip, but I didn’t notice the logo. Bruford must have been sweet on that outfit.

And thinking of a recent thread, is that a xylophone or a marimba I see behind Bruford?

Violinist David Cross seems to be wearing the same suit as in our original feature, but his haircut suggests a coming client meeting for his day gig. The guy cleans up nicely!

Robert Fripp is still the brains of the operation, making no effort to get in step with the latest styles. It’s cool, though: he usually stays in his office, wrapped up in his latest designs and out of our hair. Bruford and Wetton will pitch any new capability Fripp cooks up.

See also: Making the Case for the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock.

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Rock’s Best Blonde Guitarists

 Posted by
Sep 082010
 

Great guitarist, natural blonde.

Blondes may have more fun, but brunettes play more guitar solos. Beside Duane Allman and Johnny Winter how many blonde guitar greats come to mind?

Let’s not confuse this thread with a future thread on rock’s hottest blonde guitarists. And let’s rule out rock’s obvious bottle blonde guitarists. Some guitarists’ natural hair color may be open to debate. Clearly Billy Zoom bleached his hair, but is it possible his natural hair color was a shade of blonde? Does his bleached collar more or less match his cuffs?

Most likely I’m overlooking a dozen obvious blonde guitar greats, but 10 minutes of research and reflection tell me I’m onto something.

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The Listen But Don’t Look Principle

 Posted by
Aug 202010
 

Close your eyes.

Following some recent comments regarding a couple of Townspeople’s distaste for Cheap Trick, BigSteve suggested the following advice:

It’s too late for y’all to get Cheap Trick, but, as with Herman’s Hermits, they’re a great example of the ‘listen but don’t look’ principle.

The listen but don’t look principle should be of assistance for Townspeople who can’t get past a variety of visual beefs: from silly stage wear and goofy antics to the vagaries of aging and genetics. Think of all the artists whose music might benefit from the application of this principle in your own listening life. Certainly this principle has its limits, but BigSteve may be onto something. This may be why some of us find rock ‘n roll most enjoyable when holed up in a dark room, alone and listening to recorded music.

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Musicians Who Somehow Managed to Have a Bad Look in the 1960s

 Posted by
Jul 162010
 

Even Chas Chandler managed to look cool in the ’60s!

In this morning’s wee hours, while driving back from a show in Hoboken, NJ, my close personal friend, Townsman andyr, posed an interesting question from the passenger’s seat: Did any musician beside Bill Wyman manage to have a bad Look during the 1960s? I think a number of you would agree with us that the decade offered a variety of sound rock fashions, covering all body types, hair textures, and ethnic and racial groups. Even hulking, pasty, butterscotch-toned Animals’ bassist Chas Chandler managed to develop a good Look in the ’60s. Wyman, however, never came close to finding a style that worked for him, or should I say us (he and his 10,000 jailbait road conquests managed to cope with that bad Look). (andyr went on to lament that Wyman carried his bad Look into the ’70s, like a sexually transmitted disease, eventually infecting his once super-cool bandmates, but that may be for another discussion.)
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