Scary Monsters and Super Creeps: Celebrating (Some Of) Glam, Goth, Punk, and Rock's Outrageous Icons
By Granny Anarchy This spooky season, Granny wanted to pay tribute to at least a small selection of musical acts who - through their performance and personas/style - have stepped outside society's standards and shown us that it is okay to be other; delightful to be different!
Little Richard Without crossover (R&B, rock, soul, gospel) artist Richard Penniman's friendship with gay musician Billy Wright, we wouldn't have the music we have today. Little Richard grew up gay, struggling with his knowledge of himself versus his family's, religion's, and society's feelings about homosexuality and LGBTQ+ community/issues until his death. He performed in drag shows before becoming famous, later wearing pancake makeup onstage and encouraging his band, The Upsetters, to do so also.
David Bowie David Robert Jones may be most known for his glam-rock persona Ziggy Stardust and the ever-evolving rock chameleon visual and musical reinventions which maintained his cultural currency, yet never sacrificed his personal integrity or aesthetics. Bowie's androgyny, outlandishness, and outrageousness including his (now somewhat murky) early claim of bisexuality very likely led to Britain's - and America's - eventual support of gay rights and gender equality. He championed anti-fascism, anti-racism, reading/intellectualism, and spiritual exploration.
Alice Cooper Born Vincent Furnier, the front man for band/alter ego Alice appalled America with glam/hard/heavy metal “shock rock” and macabre, theatrical shows. His style would influence everyone from KISS to the Flaming Lips, John Lydon, and White Zombie.