The Role Of Theatrics In British Music

[admin]

I think we can have a lot of fun with this topic. While the jury is still out, I often had the impression during my youth that British artists were more showy or theatrical at least in the late 1950s and 1960s than musicians from the North America. Over the years I have certainly come to learn that there were many showy artists from the US as well. But I will start with an example of a US artist that would achieve considerable fame in the UK after leaving the US under controversy. He was given a UK makeover, if you will.

This artist was Gene Vincent who would leave the US, in 1958 I believe, for the UK. A leg injury, which he had neglected and caused him considerable pain, was hidden in the US for fear that it would be a somewhat undesireable look on stage.

Vincent's promoter in the UK would highlight the disability and dressed him in black leather with a silver chain and medallion around his neck. Add some black leather gloves, and you have "weird and eccentric" for the day. This apparel caught on, however, and would be a trademark of his act.

It occurs to me that there were a fair number of acts that got the attention of music enthusiasts, sometimes due to their look and stage performance more than their musical skills. Who comes to mind for you?

[royclough]

Perhaps the best example in relation to this topic would be Screaming Lord Sutch who somehow managed to sustain a career spanning many years, he also stood for Parliament many times purely as a gimmick, forming The Monster Raving Loony Party.

Some say perhaps Alice Cooper took a leaf out of his book.

[j_gary]

The infamous toilet seat Lennon donned on stage. It was during a Hamburg appearance I believe.

With Lennon, it could have been political, or to aggravate McCartney.

Odds are you would not have seen that in a Beach Boy or Ventures performance.

[admin]

Excellent example with Screaming Lord Sutch, Roy. He has been said to have commanded quite a gig fee for a musician that has never hit the charts.

So how was it that he had any popularity at all? Perhaps the waist-length hair or the toilet seat around his neck, to which Gary refers that would inspire Lennon to use the same gag in later years. How did he continue to attract the fine musicians he did over the years, let alone the followers?

Who did you see playing at the gig? Oh it was "sutch and sutch."

In a word, theatrics.

[royclough]

Another one that springs to mind Peter is Wee Willie Harris, he never had any commercial success but was a real character in the early days of rock and roll in UK. he dyed his hair all sorts of colours and really embraced the Teddy Boy image that was so prominent in the UK in lat 50's, I have a great photo of my older brother who would deny it but he was one,in fact though the smallest he was a gang leader though never really getting into any serious trouble.

Harris certainly made a living out of his image for many years even into the 90's. In fact I just looked up some details about and discovered how the famous 2 'I's coffee bar, which was the breeding ground for many famous UK acts, Tommy Steele, Shadows, Cliff Richard, Adam Faith to name just a few, got it's name.

Apparently three Iranian guys originally owned it and it was called something else in the early 50's , one of these guys left and hence the change of name.

[sowhat]

Interesting. A lot to learn, since when i hear of stage "tricks", i have a "mill dance" by Freddie Garrity in my head, and then a couple of American garage bands (like Golden Catalinas who were dressed in gold and dyed their hair white, and the Moguls who were sporting ski clad on stage, and then the Golliwogs, later to become Creedence Clearwater Revival, who wore crazy clothes and silly wigs, in order to "be more like British"). Just like this:

Dig the pants! Didn't work, though.

[royclough]

Good example Sheena, certainly Freddie & The Dreamers in the beat era did use theatrics in the act, mainly the silly dance routines.

In the early days of course The Shadows had the dance routine to some degree though consisted mainly of what was referred to as The Shadows step.

Other US acts who donned costume gear were Paul Revere and The Raiders, who never achieved success in UK and of course Gary Puckett and Union Gap.

A great Swedish Instro group The Spotnicks initially wore space suits and space helmets to promote their image, didn't do them any harm, a version of The Spotnicks still perform today.

[sowhat]

Well, at least Freddie could sing. As well as Mark Lindsay (from the Raiders) - albeit, to be sincere, the first thing that attracted my attention to the latter, was their stage outfit, Lindsay's funny haircut and the clown act they did on "Just like me" video. I've seen Spotnicks in some film that was broadcasted on TV a coupla years ago, and the look was interesting, but Mousie said: "So, what if they take that stuff off - would they still attract attention?"
Anybody remembers the Monks? They were not British (Americans who ended up in Germany, IIRC), but interesting look and cool music as well.

[sowhat]

A nice example (IMHO) - lots of fun: Freddie Garrity and Peter Noone.

[royclough]

From 1966 too when really Freddie's chart career was over.

[sowhat]

Interesting. To me, it looks kinda "vice versa": like, Freddie is a star and Noone is just some guy who's assisting but cannot really play his role and falls on the couch laughing. Mean, Freddie's performance looks far more natural to me.

[sowhat]

One more: Gerry & the Pacemakers vs Everly bros - or vice versa? Wonder if there were many shows of that kind?

[shamustwin]

Anyone remember the Snobs? I saw them once on Ed Sullivan during the Heyday of the British Invasion. They wore powdered wigs and the whole 18th Century British getup. Affected a very "Snobbish" look, and sang the same way, too. Only heard/saw them that one time.

[sowhat]

Here they are. Funny guys. Never heard of them before.

[beatlefreak]

Let's not forget Elton John in the mid-seventies - The outlandish outfits and glasses.