a promo photo thread for '80s/'90s bands oozing sobriety and wisdom in the present day

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http://www.inspiretoronto.com/images/bio-raine.jpg

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 17:52 (ten years ago)

I'd like to commend the Butthole Surfers for still looking like some recently woken, distracted slobs in their last press shots i've found. when gibby makes a straight face, paul looks goofy, and vica versa

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 17:54 (ten years ago)

http://factmag-images.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Kwerk280115-616x372.jpg

passive-aggressive rageaholic (snoball), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:02 (ten years ago)

http://images1.musicfeeds.com.au/0932780a3eaad1521ad883b3027c946b-640x360.jpg

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:03 (ten years ago)

http://cypresshill.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/jamming-fest-ch.jpeg

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 18:09 (ten years ago)

https://consequenceofsound.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/screen-shot-2014-12-21-at-4-36-24-pm.png?w=794

Incubus

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:12 (ten years ago)

https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/6aa3LxdqPuuPkGpl5afApw--/YXBwaWQ9bWFnYXppbmVzO3c9NTAwO2ZpPWZpdA--/https://s.yimg.com/os/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/bad8a4a0735aa7066d0f6a70670026bb.jpg

tbf to the backstreet boys, they're usually smiling in press shots

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 18:12 (ten years ago)

awwwwwwwwwwwesome

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:14 (ten years ago)

Director Josh Trank Calls NKOTB Reboot A 'Dark Amblin' Tour

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 18:18 (ten years ago)

Wow, the guy on the left looks like Ron Perlman. And the guy on the right looks like he's auditioning for a telenovela.

the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:19 (ten years ago)

less interested in "which band did this start with" than "who is the stylist/photographer/label rep primarily responsible for making this such an entrenched thing?"

A Smedley Adoption (get bent), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:25 (ten years ago)

I blame Chapman Baehler.

the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Friday, 3 July 2015 18:27 (ten years ago)

Sleater Kinney
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-51Cr6K1rjsw/VL7h8OsM9vI/AAAAAAAACwI/xG-9Bjbblh4/s1600/sk2015.jpg

MarkoP, Friday, 3 July 2015 18:27 (ten years ago)

http://www.rushkorea.com/discography/img/presto_large-02.jpg

Pono For Pyros (zero of the signified), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:05 (ten years ago)

https://consequenceofsound.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/screen-shot-2015-03-24-at-5-25-57-pm.png

Pono For Pyros (zero of the signified), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:11 (ten years ago)

http://www.asburyrecords.com/public/cover/24050.jpg

Pono For Pyros (zero of the signified), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:12 (ten years ago)

http://www.soundpress.net/graphics-feature-articles/fa-2012-08-07-yes-oye-02.jpg

Pono For Pyros (zero of the signified), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:15 (ten years ago)

http://www.mightofstrings.com/sites/mightofstrings.com/files/Fun%20Factory.jpg

Fun Factory

jmm, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:16 (ten years ago)

https://fanart.tv/fanart/music/9d1ebcfe-4c15-4d18-95d3-d919898638a1/albumcover/songs-for-drella-51ea19a18b6e2.jpg

Pono For Pyros (zero of the signified), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:17 (ten years ago)

http://www.janes-addiction.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/janes-addiction-members.jpg
jane's addiction

drash, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:27 (ten years ago)

http://images.popmatters.com/music_cover_art/b/bauhaus-2006.jpg
bauhaus

drash, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:31 (ten years ago)

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/211854/Jesus+Jones.jpg

Jesus Jones (2004)

groovypanda, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:39 (ten years ago)

http://www.thepublicreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/Human-League-O2-Academy-Leeds-V2-620x330.jpg

The Human League

groovypanda, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:42 (ten years ago)

http://www.mudkiss.com/interviews/Neds%20-Present.jpg

groovypanda, Friday, 3 July 2015 19:45 (ten years ago)

not to be cap'n control-a-thread, but this is sort of devolving into "bands just wearing black in general"

A Smedley Adoption (get bent), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:51 (ten years ago)

http://image.excite.it/musica/news/duranduran-wild-boys-nuovo-album-default.jpg

Duran Duran

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:56 (ten years ago)

key variables imo are how sincere they wish to come off, versus how sincere you would reasonably expect the band in question to be

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:57 (ten years ago)

(sub "sober" and "wise" in there too obv)

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 19:57 (ten years ago)

was going to suggest this 2014 press shot of James

http://i1.cdnds.net/14/21/618x412/james-band-press-shot-2014.jpg

but then I realised that they are re-enacting this early 90s picture

http://991.com/newgallery/James-Sound-173285.jpg

soref, Friday, 3 July 2015 20:03 (ten years ago)

http://www.footballandmusic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/James1.jpg

soref, Friday, 3 July 2015 20:04 (ten years ago)

they actually look a bit more smirky in the 2014 version, I guess

soref, Friday, 3 July 2015 20:06 (ten years ago)

man, that a-ha elf looks spooky. don't even get me started on that one new kid. so frightening. i know it's not politically correct to say this, but all these people should retire.

scott seward, Friday, 3 July 2015 20:38 (ten years ago)

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2013/9/23/1379932081537/Bon-Jovi-011.jpg

admittedly not an earnest promo photo, but this still feels like a place to appreciate a photo of an unsmiling bon jovi where 3/4ths of the band is wearing scarves

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:04 (ten years ago)

and not like, steven tyler scarves

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:05 (ten years ago)

http://beardedgentlemenmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Cynic-band-2014-620x350.jpg
Cynic

July retires into a shrubbery. (Øystein), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:13 (ten years ago)

that’s good way to put it, dr c
another variable is ‘rebootier’
some pr-managed (or self-aware) image recasting, (re)intro considering how they look to two audiences: original fans (now sadly older themselves, if not wiser) & ‘youth of today’: aiming for dignity/cool
don’t want former to feel embarrassed (for the band or for themselves) or to elicit latter’s ridicule
alas sometimes reboot's effect (in particular pic) is what reboot was intended to avoid

(maybe missed mark with bauhaus)

drash, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:23 (ten years ago)

http://cegtalent.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/cmbbackstage02-e1400518650645.jpg

Color Me Badd

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:26 (ten years ago)

http://thelatest.co.uk/files/2013/04/House-of-Love1.jpg
The House of Love

everything, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:26 (ten years ago)

http://www.billboard.com/files/styles/promo_650/public/media/98-degrees-2013-650-430.jpg

98 Degrees

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:27 (ten years ago)

http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/02042/Spandau-Ballet_2042715a.jpg

spandau ballet

feargal czukay (NickB), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:31 (ten years ago)

reconstituted (or just long running) boybands and metal bands seem to be particularly prone to this?

soref, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:32 (ten years ago)

the crocodile looks like the happiest one there xp

feargal czukay (NickB), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:32 (ten years ago)

so much charcoal grey.

yeah, i suspect the intended message of so many of these is "weather-beaten. wiser. thoughtful and earnest. but still ready to rock!... in kind of a soulful, MTV unplugged, roots-rock kinda way. just like you, there in the audience. you're grown up but the music still matters. we've all been through some hard times. it's not just about the money."

a chamillionaire full of mallomars (Doctor Casino), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:34 (ten years ago)

omg, hadn't even noticed crocodile, I was trying to remember if one of spandau was nicknamed 'the crocodile' for a moment xp

soref, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:37 (ten years ago)

http://uptownmagazine.com/files/2013/12/uptown-swv-new-reality-series-2014.jpeg

SWV

da croupier, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:39 (ten years ago)

we're just as boring now as your life turned out to be. won't you join us this weekend at the casino. all you can eat buffet and opening act mr. mister.

so sad! what's wrong with color? old people can be colorful.

scott seward, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:41 (ten years ago)

https://blitzrockgyn.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/alpha.jpg

feargal czukay (NickB), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:46 (ten years ago)

"we are weather-beaten warriors in the populist-but-dark 2000s sci-fi action film of your choice, and we continue to fight for our mission with hard-won strength and clarity"

A Smedley Adoption (get bent), Friday, 3 July 2015 21:51 (ten years ago)

lol, yes

so sad! what's wrong with color? old people can be colorful.

always nice to see bands who don't succumb to this aesthetic; often, counterintuitively, they project more dignity

drash, Friday, 3 July 2015 21:55 (ten years ago)


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