Is it wrong for bands to strike a different pose in their publicity shots?

Submitted by harsh bloke on Mon, 2008-06-09 19:09

Is there a reason that every rawk band in the known universe uses publicity shots that show them in denims and black, hands in pockets (or other, similarly staunch pose), staring expressionless at the camera?

On-stage photos I can understand: you're busy playing your music at the time (or at least you should be). But what about those "band photos"? I mean, do you really think you're going to lose your mojo if you have a photo that shows you... I dunno, ummm... smiling or actually doing something instead of just standing there?

Every last band in the world claims to blend their influences into a unique sound, so why the hell can't they take a photo that doesn't render them indistinguishable from everyone else?

Just because a band's publicity shots don't show them scowling sullenly at the camera, that doesn't make them the Monkees.

Comments

Submitted by wainuiomata on Mon, 2008-06-09 19:52.

That's something my work mate and I have been trying to work out for sometime now, you could almost look at some any form of music and line the pictures up of all the artists in the scene and all their publicity shots are along the same lines, as you said I think the real shots of people accually playing their music are far more interesting and believable.
If they're going for a staged shot as you said, it's no crime to be seen smiling or doing something unrelated to the music, okay someone doing they're milk round or paper round maybe going a little far .. or maybe not, it's all subjective I guess.

Submitted by jet on Tue, 2008-06-10 11:14.

Yeah, I agree it's really lame. That said, trying to break out of it often looks pretty damn try hard. Here's [http://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/all a bunch of newish bands] and although there are plenty of standing staring at the camera shots, some of the not-like-that posed ones are a bit ... gah.

I quite like these ones of German band The Notwist where each member is spilling his coffee...

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/77249.jpg

Nerrrrds.

Submitted by harsh bloke on Tue, 2008-06-10 16:50.

Hahaha. Good one, jet.

Yeah, you're right. If you try to "do something" and get it wrong, you can look a bit... well, like the Monkees. But still, you'd think the person taking the pics would have an idea about what works and what doesn't, wouldn't you?

Those photos you've posted are quite good: not twee but not the ubiquitous "I'm too cool to bother with any of you losers" pose.

Submitted by wainuiomata on Tue, 2008-06-10 20:54.

Yes, not exactly rock & roll, but at least it's an attempt at something alittle different ... I like the Monkees, oddly enough Maria my work colleague has been going thro a retro period with her music, getting into all these underground / obscure garage bands of the 60's and 70's, she's dug up a few gems, but I digress, she in amoungst all of this plays the monkees sometimes, I know their image is more than alittle contrived :-) .. but the music's not bad is it.

Submitted by harsh bloke on Wed, 2008-06-11 02:20.

> I know their image is more than alittle contrived :-) .. but the music's not bad is it

Right. The image is what I was referring to. You know, the whole "Hey hey, we're the Monkees" thing. On the other hand, tunes like that Porpoise Song are pretty far out.

Incidentally, I Googled "band photos" and this came up: the 20 worst band photos (starts at no. 20).

Submitted by Prozaco on Wed, 2008-07-02 23:15.

i found another list here. some double-ups from the previous list though.

Submitted by White Rhino on Wed, 2008-06-11 00:15.

Hi dudes. So, I haven't been here for a LONG TIME apart from a brief spam about my bangin' new website business (findaband dot co dot nz for any homies out there). But the world is full of retards and NZMusic remains a bastion of informed opinion and eccentric crazies. The forums are a little scary to me right now with their complicated "not the same as it was before" format but I'm going to try and push through, and make this my online home once again.

....anyway sorry to bust into the conversation with this load of bollocks, just thought I'd you know, give y'all a heads up.

Submitted by wainuiomata on Wed, 2008-06-11 02:59.

Just checked out your site .. it's great !! it's so well thought out, and you seem to have a fine stable of artists, love the straight forward way it's laid out and the sample tracks help things along no end.

Submitted by wainuiomata on Wed, 2008-06-11 03:07.

I didn't see the link first off Harsh bloke, there's some serious mis-use of the camera going on there ! what ever, ever, ever were those people thinking of .. well quiet obviously I guess, they weren't !

Submitted by mindvandal on Thu, 2008-06-12 00:21.

That is absolute gold.

Go thebombband! ... the siren on their official site was .. well, stomach cramp inducing :))

http://www.thebombband.com