Rock music might get blown around by the whims of fashion but take a trip through the decades and you find that although the song might not remain the same, the moustache does.
Rock mos of the 50s
Chuck Berry
John Lennon said: “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.” Chuck Berry’s first release was “Maybelline” in 1955, which reached No.5 in the U.S. He’s now 83 still selling records and still sporting his legendary pencil mustache.
Little Richard
Little Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman, has been credited by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “laying the foundation for rock and roll”. In 1955 he smashed the charts with “Tutti Frutti” and in 1957 he gave up stardom for religion. Still wearing his pencil moustache with style, Reverend Richard now divides his time between performing and preaching.
Ike Turner
Probably more famous for his rocky relationship with Tina Turner than his music and mo. Ike first had a hit in 1951 under the name of “Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats” with “Rocket 88″. A tune that many consider to be the first ever rock and roll song. Ike’s chevron mo stayed with him throughout his long musical career until his death in 2007.
Ted Nugent
Since 1958 Ted Nugent has released 34 albums and sold over 30 million records. Ted started his music career in the Amboy Dukes and has since had successful solo spells. His chevron (nearly fu manchu) moustache faded away in the eighties when he formed the Damn Yankees.
Rock mos of the 60s
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa started his musical career drumming for a band at school, but soon developed in to a legendary composer, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. Some say he wore an imperial with a soul patch, others a horseshoe with a royale. We think his moustache is distinctive enough to be called “The Zappa”. Sadly he died of prostate cancer in 1993 aged 53.
The Beatles
The Beatles started out as fresh faced lads from Liverpool and became one of the “20th century’s 100 most important and influential people” according to Time magazine. It was during the Sgt Pepper years that The Beatles earnt their place amongst the Rock Mo Legends. During their career, the band have defined hair fashions changing styles with every album, only Ringo Starr had the dedication to keep his mo whilst riding the Yellow Submarine.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is often labelled the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock music. His mo never quite fulfilled it’s potential, which is a sad reflection of his life. Hendrix’s career defining moment was headlining the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival, but his career, mo and life was short lived. Jimi Hendrix died 18 September 1970, asphyxiated by his own vomit.
Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana formed his group “Santana” in 1966 and released his 2 x Multi-Platinum album “Santana” in 1969. Whilst his album and band names were uninventive, his walrus moustache and music has endured. Featuring mo wearers Eagle Eye Cherry and Wyclef Jean, Santana’s collaborative album “Supernatural” was a massive commercial success in 1999.
Black Sabbath
Formed in 1968, Black Sabbath have had twenty two former band members, so it’s hard to pick out a favourite mo. Particularly as Ozzy Osbourne the most famous of all members, never wore a mo and was fired in 1979 for drinking too much. However due to their legendary rock status and the great moustaches demonstrated in this photo we had to include them.
Rock mos of the 70s
Supertramp
Originally named “Daddy”, Supertramp were formed in 1970 and their first two albums were a commercial failure. However after the first of many reshuffles they found fame in 1979 with the album “Breakfast in America”. Supertramp band members generally have a preference of beards over going it alone with a mo, but their love of facial hair we thought deserved recognition.
Eagles
Eagles need no introduction, their album Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Their quality moustaches are held in equally high esteem. It’s just a shame Don Henley had to spoil the band’s look by growing a beard. Despite that Eagles continue to tour and sell out massive stadiums across the world.
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead
Ian Fraser Kilmister allegedly gets his name from his regular request as a kid “Lemmy a quid till Friday”. Lemmy was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and played with Hawkwind before forming Motorhead. His mutton chop and imperial moustache combo, along with a successful rock career has lead to a film being made of his legendary life called “Lemmy” and due for release in 2010.
Freddy Mercury of Queen
Freddy Mercury has been referred to as “Britain’s first Asian rock star”, as he was a Parsi and grew up in India. Rolling Stone ranked him number 18 on their list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. As singer and songwriter with “Queen” he has sold more than 300 million albums. His painters brush moustache was as distinctive as his career and life which sadly came to an end in 1991.
Rock mos of the 80s
James Hetfield of Metallica
James Hetfield’s mother was an opera singer and encouraged him to play the piano, but by the age of fourteen he found the guitar. Since 1981 James has played rhythm guitar and sung for Metallica. His fu manchu has on occasion formed a goatee, but he learnt his lesson when this unnecessary growth was badly burnt in a onstage pyrotechnic accident in 1992.
Derek Smalls of Spinal Tap
Derek Smalls and Spinal Tap are fictional, but Harry Shearer and his mighty mo were very real. Spinal Tap and Derek Smalls became the fictional subject of the 1984 rockumentary/​mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. Derek Smalls is said to still be enjoying his burl-wood pipe on occasion and continues to enhance the fit of his trousers with a strategically placed foil-wrapped zucchini.
Faith No More
Originally formed as “Faith No Man” in 1981, “Faith No More” was born a year later. Whilst being commercially successful, they’ve had a troubled life with a mixture of mos, goatees and musicians until they spilt up in 1998. However in June 2009 they picked up their guitars, tidied their facial hair and performed again at the Brixton Academy for the first of many more gigs.
Nick Cave
Nick Cave is best known as the frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band “Nick Cave and the Badseeds” formed in 1984. He has also fronted “The Birthday Party” and “Grinderman” as well as having a successful solo career. In addition to his ecclectic range of rock music, Nick Cave is widely admired for sporting a fine Zapata moustache (named after the mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata).
Pantera
Pantera were labelled as the fifth best “heavy metal band of all time” by MTV. Formed in 1981 they enjoyed 20 years of rock stardom, until they officially split in 2003. All members were keen on heavy facial hair, but Dimebag Darrell had the best moustache. Unfortunately his fatal shooting whilst on stage in 2004 sealed the fate of Pantera.
Rock mos of the 90s
Jack White of The White Stripes
Jack White (born John Gillis) was an upholsterer before forming The White Stripes in 1997. The band consists just of Jack and his ex-wife Meg White (often confused as his sister), and has since sold approximately 12 million albums. Since then Jack has formed The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather and various facial hair arrangements including this chevron moustache with chin fluff.
Jesse Hughes – Eagles of Death Metal
Jesse “The Devil” Hughes spent several of his post-graduate years as manager of a Video Depot in the Palm Desert. Life started when he and Josh Homme formed the band Eagles of Death Metal in 1998. You may not have their album but if you watch TV in America or play video games you’ve probably heard their music (Budweiser ad, Gran Turismo 4 and many more). If none of these achievements are remembered then his mighty horseshoe mo should.
Kings Of Leon
The Kings of Leon was formed in 1999 and consists of three brothers and a cousin. The band was named after the three brother’s father and grandfather “Leon”. The song “Sex on Fire” won the band a Grammy earlier this year. These southern American boys all started out as long haired hippies, but as they have become more successful their hair has become shorter and face cleaner. Shame on you.
