Gimmicks: Compensating for Something?

I have noticed recently that there are very few bands that are strictly about the music. It seems like every other band I see has a gimmick - something to catch your attention that doesn’t have to do with the music. Whether it is the Spice Girls’ “Girl Power” or the infamous KISS costumes, it seems as if bands think that it is necessary to have something more than the music in order to hook fans.

While talking to various people and preparing to write this article, I heard the same thing over and over, “bands only have gimmicks if they don’t have any real talent”. I tend to disagree. Look at some of the great bands of our time– ACDC, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Green Day all seem to have some sort of gimmick. Many people would agree that these bands are definitely not lacking in the talent department.

So why bother with a gimmick? For some bands, these things happen by accident and end up becoming like a trademark. For others, they feel the need to try to be different and attempt individuality by wearing a costume or creating a catch phrase.

Here is a small list of some bands that use gimmicks to their advantage. Whether they use these to cover a lack of talent, or just to be individuals, I will let you decide.

• Insane Clown Posse (Clown costumes)
• Slipknot (Masks)
• KISS (Face paint and costumes)
• Alice Cooper (Eye make-up)
• Marilyn Manson (“Anti-Christ Superstar”)
• Ozzy Osbourne (Biting the heads off bats)
• Twisted Sister (Makeup and crazy outfits)
• ACDC (School Uniforms)
• ZZ Top (beards)
• The Spice Girls (“Girl Power!”)
• Elton John (large glasses)
• Red Hot Chili Peppers (The socks)
• David Bowie (Makeup, back in the day)
• Green Day (The black-suit red-tie outfits after American Idiot)

• Image Courtesy Of: http://www.heavyharmonies.com