new thread
Hey Guys:
Just in case any of you didn't know Scott Stapp, lead singer of Creed, has cut his hair. It's quite sad as Mr.Stapp had a great head of hair and was one of my inspirations for becoming a longhair. This whole MTV image of what a rocker is supposed to look like in 2002 sickens me. I live in Canada, and only get Much Music, and the VJ's on the show crack jokes all the time telling longhaired musicians to cut their hair, it's out of style, etc, really quite sad.
--Carlos
Wow. I never heard about that. But very disappointing indeed. Same with Pearl Jam cutting their hair. I don't like this 2002 rocker image either, there's too much conformity. To me a rock band isn't a true rock band unless the frontman has long hair. Hopefully this trend doesn't continue
First you say there's too much conformity, then you say they should conform to the longhaired rock star image. Make up your mind.
I think a rock star should only grow his hair long if he truly has a desire for long hair.
Excellent point, Filb: Having to maintain long hair just to appease your fans and remain synonymous with like-minded artists IS conformity in itself.
... And regarding that comment that no band is a "real" band unless the singer has long hair, well, I'm not so sure about that. I'm not a very big fan of punk, but I respect real punk music (NOT anything that you'd hear on the radio or see on MTV except for established innovators like The Ramones and the Sex Pistols) for the political overtones which give meaning to the songs. From what I've seen, Long hair is not something punks generally put up with (Mohawks are about as long as they seem to get). Look at Henry Rollins: Do you mean to tell me that Black Flag is not real music? The Dead Kennedies?
But since I don't care much for punk, let me ask you about a couple of bands that I am familiar with: TOOL. Maynard James Keenan once had incredible long hair, but had it shaved off in time for the Laterus album. Tool is amazing, in spite of the fact that their singer is no longer a long hair (I think he still uses wigs as props, though). And although my saying that they are amazing is very much an opinion, I'm sure many would agree with me regardless of how much they actually enjoy the music simply because it is so complex, unique, and varried. But getting back to long hair (or the lack thereof) in Metal bands, what of PANTERA? If I recall correctly, Phil had a shaved head when the video to "Walk" was shot.
Many bands have coupled the exacerbation of their sound with the shedding of locks (Metallica, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam), but I doubt the two qualities are directly related. There is usually a third factor or series of factors that accompanies crappy music and the cutting of hair; I don't think its a case of Samson shedding his locks and losing all merit after the fact.
Ok, my comment was blown way out of proportion. You seem to be looking at it like I was stating it as a fact. It was merely my opinion. I'm not saying long hair makes a band good and if they don't have long hair they don't have (or lose) talent. I just happen to prefer bands with longhaired frontmen (may seem stupid, but to each their own). That's all I was trying to say.
Edgecution: Perhaps you're right... I was responding to the comment as if it were stated as fact, when in reality it was merely your opinion. I did not mean to tear down your opinion, but rather to comment on why I do not hold a similar opinion of my own.
Now that you've responded with another post, I understand and respect your words: that you just happen to prefer band with longhaired frontmen is a lot like my preference for American bands over Canadian bands (That's not to say that one is ultimately better than the other, but just that the bands I like happen to belong to one classification and not the other). Having said that, your post was just as valid as any, for all are entitled to their own opinion.
It's good we can see eye to eye :)
The cutting trend started in the early 90's as alternative music started taking over the scene. The longhairs from the 80's bands started cutting their long hair off to try and fit into the new shorter-haired alternative rock scene. I was suprised to see all the former longhairs turning up with short hair and playing music that sounded like the alternative stuff that everyone else was now playing. It's just people in the limelight trying to fit into the trends that come along in order to extract some measure of success from it. Can't really blame them, it's tough out there. Many of the 80's bands grew their hair for the same reason.
Which is why I've begun importing my music. Pretty much everything that the marketplace is dishing out here in the States sucks.
That said, I'd like to introduce you to my all time favorite metal band in the world:
i'm with you. but when i think of many people's ideas of metal, i would say that nightwish, which is often called "power metal" (as you, nyghtfall, probably already knew), isn't really "metal" as most people think of metal.
what do you think of sonata arctica?
oops. this is off topic. sorry, victor.
hmmm, it is odd. the mindset of the listeners has changed i guess, long hair is no longer considered "rebellious." but then noone seems to be concerned with rebellion anymore, only being the strongest/fastest/richest/most popular/most everything. i've said for a long time, the problem with the world today is there's no counter-culture.
Hey, there's still some counter-culture around,
and some really interesting stuff at that.
Take a look at
http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow.html
I went to the rainbow family national gathering this
year. That's about as counter as culture gets ^_^.
It would have been perfect if it weren't for all the,
shall we say, mind altering substances around which
I'm really not into, but the rainbows seem to be
a really wonderful group of people.
H ave seen or heard nothing about this.
yeah, i saw that last night on the billboard music awards as well...that new cut just looks awful....all flipped out in the back...yuck! i was definitley in his fan group...he had great hair...and he looked like he had even gained weight as well! what was with that?!?! is he having a hard time or something?
mjtoo
Hey guys lay off Scott okay?! Yeah he cut his hair! I just saw him less then a month in concert and was probably ten feet from where he was standing. Incredible live show but you know what, I wasn't there because I think he's hot like a gazillion other fans. I was there for the music. It has meaning in my heart. Just a lil info: most likely Scott is on steriod meds to ensure he can make the last 2 shows on the tour. I've done research on this and most meds that would treat his problem can cause rounding of the face and puffiness. He's trying to stick it out for those of us who really appreciate them!
THat guy from creed suckks that guy thinks hes jesus or something I boo that man...booooooo! and now with his hair cut he looks like jarit from subway that fat cracka.
Stop Putting down Scott Becuse of his change in his apranace its not right to steroytype His looks He is human you know and personally I beleive he is a great person So leave him alone about cutting his hair so what I think he looks great he always has he is beiutaful everything about him is so give the poor guy a break you people must have better things to do than bad mouth this poor man Dont worry scott Ive got your back your fan Popy
Scott Stapp is talented and physcially beautiful with or without longer hair. And it's not as if he buzzed it or anything. It still has some length to it. But that's not the point. His hair does not make his music. How shallow some of you are. Why would you even compare his musical talent to the length of his hair?