Why Do So Many Rock Bands Scowl When They Have Their Picture Taken?
Here’s an interesting theory that has been advanced by some students of rock history. Ever notice that whenever bands pose for pictures, they tend to scowl? At the very least, they try to assume a facial expression that expresses indifference.
Conventional wisdom says that musicians are just trying to pose as rebellious and angry and jaded–and if you’re rebellious and angry and jaded, you don’t smile, right?
About ten years ago, I recall reading something from David Segal, a writer for the Washington Post, who said that we have it all wrong.
He says that the serious stare can be traced back to some big British acts of the 1960s–bands like the Stones and Led Zeppelin. They didn’t smile because they had bad British teeth and were self-conscious about smiling.
In other words, the standard rock star stare can be blamed on bad British dental hygiene. Anyone wanna buy this?
My theory is that how they project themselves in photos is usually an extension of the feel/spirit of their music. The wackier, more lighthearted the tunes, the more they'll show their pearly whites.
Likely bands are just plain tired of posing for photos and can't be bothered to smile. Can you really blame them? That's my theory anyway.
My theory is that they don't wanna look like KEN:
http://www.coverbrowser.com/covers/worst-album-covers
@weebsurfer Ken looks better smiling. It's the serious one that's scary!
Maybe they just want to contrast against cheery poppy bands. Although bad British teeth is a good reason, I believe it.
I’ve often wondered about this, and in fact, I searched the topic because I saw a lineup of scowling band photos one after another. Makes me think that they are told to fit the model when setting up for a shoot. So, IMO, the model was set and now we all have to live with it. I’ll buy the genesis theory of bad teeth–that is indeed how things get srarted, and now it comes down to “We’ve always done it that way.”