Rock Stars Who Look Least Like Rock Stars

I have a pretty set idea in my head when the words "rock star" comes up, and it's usually a guy with long hair, a thin build, a slightly effeminate handsomeness, and an affinity for bling. The kind of person who stands out in an airport. I have been thinking of who are some notable exceptions to the rule, folks who clearly go their own way look-wise in a decidedly buttoned-down fashion.

Ric Ocasek - The Cars
Sonny Bono
Bun E. Carlos - Cheap Trick
Rick Neilsen - Cheap Trick
Charlie Watts - Rolling Stones
Peter Cetera - Chicago
Joe Jackson
The Proclaimers
Bob Weir - Grateful Dead

 

I remember seeing a picture of Pink Floyd in the late 80's (without Roger Waters) and thinking they looked like the middle-aged lawyers I would see in the bank where I worked. After a certain age, some rock stars should never wear suits. They will certainly look the part.

 

Phil Collins immediately comes to mind.

 

Rivers Cuomo

 

David Byrne
Elton John
Any Nerdy Looking Guy with Glasses (Buddy Holly, Thomas Dobly, etc.)

 

Elvis Costello
Meat Loaf

 

Steve Miller

 

Kurt Cobain when he cut his hair and wore those thick glasses (Reading '92 interviews)

 

All of Genesis immediately comes to mind!

 

Billy Joel, and I give him credit for being a great performer who has accepted the aging process.

 

But Joel's self-destructive personal habits made him much older than he otherwise would have been at this point.

 

Bruce Dickinson!

 

You mean like these guys?

 

Except for Gabriel, they always qualified - Pete was the only one who ever looked like a rock star. Not anymore, of course.

Which begs the question: should we discuss people who don't look like rock stars NOW but who did back in the day? I think the thread's more interesting if we stick with guys who NEVER looked like rock stars. Gabriel and David Gilmour qualify now, but not in their prime.

I'd think Pete Townshend would qualify either way. He had great rock star swagger in the day, but a big, gawky guy with a huge schnozz didn't scream "rock star"!!!

 

I agree! And Townsend is a good choice, too. Not so much Pink Floyd in its prime, even if Waters has a big schnozz, too.

 

Eric Clapton and Meat Loaf as of the last fifteen or so years
Jimmy Buffett
The remaining guys of the the original Band
James Taylor
Bruce Springsteen
John Mellencamp
Paul Simon
Boz Scaggs
Van Morrison
All these guys look like someone that you could walk past in Lowes on a Saturday afternoon.

 

Any member in The Shins... strange looking band.

 

Robert Quine

 

Graham Bonnet - Rainbow.

 

Hilda Woodward - Lieutenant Pigeon.

 

See this thread.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=151117&highlight=rock+stars+part

 

I didn't see this thread, and it's very cool. Thanks!

 

Anyone with short hair, no tattoos or ear rings.

 

That can be open to discussion. He'll be 60 years old this coming May, and there are a lot of people his age who look a lot worse without "self-destructive personal habits."

 

Andy Newman from Thunderclap Newman