Heavy metal fashion

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Judas Priest, in typical heavy metal stage attire, performing at the VH1 Rock Honors on May 25, 2006.

Heavy metal fashion is the style of dress,

t-shirts
with band names, and spiked wristbands.

Origins

The clothing associated with heavy metal has its roots in the

kutte vests, often adorned with badges, pins and patches. As with the bikers, there is a fascination with Germanic and German imagery, such as the Iron Cross.[2][3]

Distinct aspects of heavy metal fashion can be credited to various bands, but the band that takes the most credit for revolutionizing the look was

Hell Bent for Leather in the USA) album. In a 1998 interview, Halford described the leather subculture as the inspiration for this look.[4] Halford may have been the one to popularize leather but K.K. Downing wanted a look that suited the music they were creating. Downing started wearing studded leather outfits on stage. Soon, the rest of the band followed. An example of this can be seen from live concert recordings from 1978. Downing is the only one on stage appearing with black studded leather jacket.[citation needed
]

It was not long before other bands appropriated the leather look; Iron Maiden's original singer Paul Di'Anno began wearing leather jackets and studded bracelets,[5][6] Motörhead innovated with bullet belts, and Saxon introduced spandex. This fashion was particularly popular with followers of the New wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) movement in the early 1980s, and sparked a revival for metal in this era.

The studded leather look was extended in subsequent variations, to the wearing of combat boots, studded belts and bracelets, bullet belts, spiked gauntlets, etc. The codpiece, however, appears to have been less popular among the general public.[citation needed]

Other influences

The style and clothing of metal has absorbed elements from influences as diverse as the musical influences from which the genre has borrowed. It is from this linking of different sub-styles of clothing and music influences that one can sometimes determine a person's specific taste in music simply from overall appearance. However, such signs are not hard and fast rulings in the majority of cases. This uncertainty is what makes the first key aspect of the metalheads' identity below so important.

Spike "bands" or gauntlets are a common element among fans.

Some of the influences of modern military clothing and the

NWOBHM bands such as Motörhead, who have incorporated the bullet belt as part of their aesthetic since their inception, since many thrash metal bands in the 1980s were influenced by Motörhead.) This style is often connected to punk-metal and anti-fashion, as akin to the hardcore punk scene, as the formentioned style reflects similar attitudes. German Heavy Metal band Accept ex lead singer Udo Dirkschneider also contributed to the military clothing by wearing military pants from 1982, being considered as the first Heavy Metal musician to wear them.[citation needed
]

Fans of glam metal often have long or very long, teased hair, and are dressed in spandex pants and/or leather jackets.[citation needed] They also may use (though not necessarily) some makeup (lipsticks, eye-shadows, tonal creams, etc.). Bands who play in glam metal genre may have instruments with extravagant colour(s) and attributes, like guitars with pink, violet, dalmatian or pink rose colour(s); microphone stands with (often) a leopard or silk scarf (there may be some different attributes attached to the microphone stand, but mostly only leopard-colour scarfs have been seen); drumsets with some artwork (this kind of drum set is seen in other metal genres as well, not only in glam metal).[citation needed]

The imagery and values of historic

woad) and other Dark Ages themed battle gear.[citation needed
]

Corpse paint is another style of black-and-white makeup, used mainly by black metal bands to insinuate ones appearance as dead or not from this world. It is often composed of a white layer covering a person's face with black details on top, often in the shape of crosses or around the eyes. Bands such as Cradle of Filth and Kiss have stated that this has been born as a homage to early silent black-and-white horror movies. Black metal fans also sport goatees, all black outfits, leather jackets (sometimes with black and white band patches sewed on), spikes, jewelry, facial piercings and boots.[citation needed]

knights is a popular part of power metal fashion.[citation needed
]

Some

stoner metal bands and fans have incorporated "retro" looks- boot-cut or bell-bottom jeans, headbands, and tie-dye or other colorful shirts inspired by 1960s and 1970s psychedelic rock as well as cannabis culture.[citation needed
]

hip hop culture), spiked hair or dreadlocks, and an abundance of accessories.[citation needed
]

Also notable is that the dark business suit now relates to some metal bands, most often doom, gothic or stoner acts. Bands such as Akercocke (although the band is death metal), The Vision Bleak, Lacrimosa, Motionless In White, Fleshgod Apocalypse (although band is death metal), Northern Kings (although the band is symphonic metal) are known for use of formal clothing in music videos and stage performances, sometimes followed by fans.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9780786751037
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. ISBN 9781880559710
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. ISBN 9780415347709
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "FindArticles.com - CBSi". findarticles.com. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. ISBN 9780060722920
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  6. ISBN 9780062042989
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ISBN 9780060722920
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
  8. ISBN 9781845203993
    . Retrieved 18 March 2018 – via Google Books.
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