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

def leppard shaking off their hair-band past:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/2012/08/def-leppard-publicity-2012-l.jpg

load-era metallica set the standard for this when they all cut their hair and started dressing like this right

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NALTARREVxQ/USZmlbCguGI/AAAAAAAAdqs/dTgqa6g7o2w/s1600/Metallica-Load-Trasera.jpg

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s593/HardHarry412/Miscellaneous%2012/METALLICA_Load_insert_R_zps18a902aa.jpg

that load photo is a combo of dark/gritty meets swingers bros; it's definitely of its era.

post reunion Wonder Stuff (not sure how many of these guys were in the original line up, tho)

http://www.addictmusic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/The-Wonder-Stuff.jpeg http://images.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/bio/511343_the-wonder-stuff_200x200.jpg

http://www.100xr.com/artists/C/Cult/The.Cult.jpg
the cult (2007)

http://redeglobo.globo.com/platb/files/2432/2012/03/Gene-loves-Jezebel_site.jpg

gene loves jezebel

Gary Numan

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/07/garynuman-diehard-07-13-2010.jpg

sorry, not a promo photo

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2010/06/03/1225874/899073-blondie.jpg

Blondie

http://www.metropolis-records.com/images/artists/206.jpg
The Rezillos

That's a good one, all the dayglo fun sucked right out of them.

http://i.imgur.com/Oj3LcMO.jpg

Rancid

It dawns on me I have accidentally based my adult look on "Load" era Lars and/or Kirk. Whoops.

Also that Rancid photo is legit darker/grittier, maybe too dark

i thought that rancid guy was the clown from prodigy for a second there...

tbh most of these people actually do look better post-makeover. Rik Savage is almost handsome in that Def Lep photo, and, Kirk's conspicuous labret piercing aside, that second Metallica photo could be almost any band on Hydra Head or something

Also, Gary Numan looks super cool and Ian Astbury much improved without the long hair imo

gene loves jezebel on the other hand have that distinct *sigh - yeah we're still a thing apparently* vibe.

Ian Astbury much improved without the long hair imo

a goth Will Ferrell

Also, Gary Numan looks super cool and Ian Astbury much improved without the long hair imo

― Wimmels, Tuesday, June 30, 2015 4:00 PM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

hmm

http://2014.campbestival.net/media/Pop_Will_Eat_Itself_pwei1396359237.jpg

Pop Will Eat Itself (still some long hair, but they've got the ~seriousface~ thing down)

http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/t_article_image/q7olswqgrrxx5nslclr7.jpg

Michael "007" Bolton

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RZ9k5%2BTYL._SX355_.jpg

urgh God..

https://poplifer.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/suede.jpg

http://www.vanyaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/cranberries.jpg

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60875000/jpg/_60875823_duran_wireimage.jpg

http://www.mojo4music.com/media/2015/03/Blur-cover-comp-shot-770.jpg

https://culturevultureexpress.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/the-pet-shop-boys_1376537c.jpg

got a tweet from @Liz4Leader the other day telling me that Dave Rowntree is backing Liz Kendall for Labour Party leader xp

Oh come on - the PSBs always essentially looked like that.

oozing sobriety and wisdom in the present day - possible Liz4Leader campaign slogan?

http://www.liketotally80s.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/wang-chung-2012.jpg

Wang Chung

I like when these guys relapse. The Cult in 2012:

http://www.powerlinemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/the_cult_2012.jpg

haha

lollll

http://i.imgur.com/dY2Geaql.jpg

Papa Roach

http://i.imgur.com/agE3VqQ.jpg

I recently expressed admiration in another thread for this Culture Club pic in which they avoid this trap by looking old yet comfortable and alive:

http://imgick.lehighvalleylive.com/home/lvlive-media/width620/img/musikfest/photo/17345234-mmmain.jpg

http://www.ticketline.co.uk/images/artist/level-42/level-42.jpg

Level 42

(Anton Corbijn's photos of rockers aging with dignity has a big influence on this whole style.)

That Level 42 photo should be captioned "Don't worry - my sister's kid plays bass; we'll teach him the songs in a day."

somewhat dated but

http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/artists/r-e-m.jpg

that's not a huge change for r.e.m. though! aside from stipe's hair, har har.

Suede starting to creep into Spitting Image territory like good Brit rockers should.

I get that this guy was always serious-faced, dark and gritty, but still I think this belongs here:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/quietus_production/images/articles/10654/michael_gira_1352805705_crop_550x366.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/FuVjlvel.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jI4o4pMm.jpg

http://odi-music.net/uploads/posts/2008-04/1209586356_goldenearring-35yearsscaninlay.jpg

And now 15 years after that, for the band's 50th anniversary:
http://www.griendpop.nl/img/golden-earring.png

It looks like a watch ad.

all time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIgF-9jl9M

gude laune!!

Cruello di Vil there on the right in the Offspring! If your bosses make you dress like that, you might as well start waiting tables at a theme restaurant.

uh show some respect, don't give silly names to respectable elders like *checks notes* Noodles.

on a similar note:

cannot get over how hard the Offspring are aging into MST3K villains pic.twitter.com/Iy74y2Zqe7

— quote tweet of 3rd reply screenshot (@bshoup) April 16, 2021

lol

Steps

https://celebmix.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/steps-premiere-super-fun-lyric-video-for-new-single-to-the-beat-of-my-heart-01.jpg

Foreigner: not sober!

Mexico City, let’s get ready to rock!
Tickets available now at https://t.co/XxQ2OfrGXj pic.twitter.com/QTTYNNImvm

— Foreigner (@ForeignerMusic) February 21, 2020

There’s seven people in Foreigner? And at least one of them doesn’t trust the other six not to steal his wallet.

steps have aged better than s club 7

Update: @SpinDoctorsBand will replace Natasha Bedingfield today at the @johnsoncontrols World Sound Stage with @RadioMilwaukee. pic.twitter.com/2TeFzzIFz1

— Summerfest (@Summerfest) September 16, 2021

The Boo Radleys:

https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Boo-Radleys-Promo-July-202166351-1-696x442.jpg

The Boo Radleys:

🖼

Sice Rogan?

heh

I can’t believe I was never aware of this thread before, this is great

the new Porcupine T(h)ree:

https://i.redd.it/1hzuf72kmlw71.jpg

It's tough for these bands. because they are going to be criticized either if they are trying to look young, or if they look too much like people their own age.

Xp Seems like that band have always looked more or less like that though.

if you're not gonna look cool dont take band pictures. like obviously porcupine tree is gonna look like the second shift at guitar center.

if you're not gonna look cool dont take band pictures

aka the My Bloody Valentine rule

"This rustic folk trio, known for their contemplative anthems about life in nature, return with uh hold on I'm getting a new signal here, apparently this is...Interpol?" pic.twitter.com/QsDgsPINL9

— Ned Raggett (@NedRaggett) January 26, 2022

Luv 2 go hiking in white Vans w/black socks

Just not the same without Carlos.

Turn Down that Loud Noise

https://scenestr.com.au/media/k2/items/cache/e5514d8bf6472607358a133db9c4c2ff_XL.jpg

It’s finally here. Season 6. Sorry it took 27 years. pic.twitter.com/GB9q3t16Zf

— Scott Thompson (@ScottThompson_) April 13, 2022

'Bell.. Biv.. Devoe!'

Dave Foley not involved(?)

holy shit that's a name I haven't heard in a long long time
also prompted me to remember Four On The Floor, which also aired in the late 80s in the UK

Dave Foley not involved(?)

xp i always get them mixed up with Four On The Floor! I wonder why; they were on Channel 4 around the same era maybe?

Kasabian dragging the thread up into the 2000s

https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/b4e3d2f4d333d1061142453d6cc737012c28d581/748_642_4196_2519/master/4196.jpg?width=465&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=45a23b93d3d10b3fd2e056bfbd235b14

The Black Crowes announce 2020 reunion tour dates https://t.co/tXmqQadttj pic.twitter.com/EA6TxRCU3v

— Stereogum (@stereogum) November 11, 2019

First time seeing this picture of King Crimson where they look like Sugar Ray pic.twitter.com/4OUhPfqiOC

— stú (@rinbcage) December 15, 2022

actually they look like everclear!

Lol

Not Another King Crimson Tour (2001)

I know this doesn't strictly meet the thread title's intent, but feels like the thread has evolved over time.

Welcome to today's game of "new Hold Steady promo photo" or "dads waiting in the pickup line at a Brooklyn elementary school"?

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/0030966724_10.jpg

Attack Attack! in 2023

https://images.discovery-prod.axs.com/2023/02/uploadedimage_63dd38c996963.jpg

(of 2008 Stick Stickly fame)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDzt6yI3Dw8

now it takes all five of them to look like one crab :( ;_;

lol

I cannot match the faces in the photo to the video

Stick Stickly in presaging 100gecs-style hyperpop by a good few years shocker

xp: just checked their wikipedia and only two of the original band members are still in it.

holy shit skrillex is oozin like a mofo

https://i.postimg.cc/zXmjj3Wd/mysteryman.jpg

Must admit I enjoyed a mooch through this thread, though many of the images are long gone.

I've some sympathy for those who have to be photographed despite being fatter, balder, less beautiful etc ... It must be weird.

(Not that I have to be photographed but I can feel the pain, nevertheless).