What about glam rock & glitterbands

I've always felt real talent should stand alone without image but I'm probably not living in the real world musically. I really lose respect for performers who'll do anything to get signed. A line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere and cross dressing should be beyond that line. I guess you never until you're faced with the choice. I'd like to think most of us would just say no to the whole tranvestite rock thing!!!! It is sad there are so many unsigned talented people out there (and even in here in Chordie land) and so many pieces of sh@% signed to labels. Image is worth way too much in todays music scene. I was encouraged by the Seattle think that was going on in the 90's with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sound Garden, etc. It really seemed as if the music industry was going to be about music again but then came Rap and then suddenly no one's pants fit right anymore!!

Point taken. I guess the point I was driving at is the first bands to break through; for them it wasn't an image but rather just the way they were. Then  the flood of copy cats but you're right, the flannel was just as bad (in a sense) as the baggy pants or cross dressing (admittedly I'd much rather wear flannel than pantyhose though!). I guess the overall point is in a perfect world bands would be judged on their music not a combination of image/marketing and music. And record sales and signings would reflect the most original music. When you looked at Billboard chart it wouldn't be filled with boy bands and rappers who grew up in the suburbs

Well I think its obvious from some of my other posts what I think about image and music...
I do think that the visual aspect, (videos, album art, etc.), can be a cool way for artists to connect more with fans,  express themselves. ZZ top's always been over the top, The WHite stripes were color cordinated, even little things like Johnny Cash wearing black or slash's top hat, can all add to the experience. The problem is when success is BASED on image instead of sound.
Hopefully the new will wear off the whole music video fad and artists will have to again step up the music to sell. Right now people are still wowed by visuals, living in the age we do (look how many crappy movies make it just because of the special effects scenes with no plot and terrible scripts), but when maybe when its old hat consumers will reqire quality again.

All You Need is Love

I think its just part of trying too put on a better show then your competors,sometimes its good and vice versa. There are some performers out there that dont  try too be something else and still do get alot of recignition,look at Keith Richards as a great example.    dino