Unique Styles and Trademarks of Famous Musicians

Singers or musicians performing on stage, fit to their specific appearance with unique styles, costume, stage make-up or any stagecraft to make their “trademark” noted by their audience. By this unique trademarks, they are always remembered by their fans or followers. Here are some “noted unique trademarks and styles” by famous artists of the music industry. This is random list of musical artists performing with their unique trademarks on stage.

1)  George Clinton

The American singer, songwriter, music producer, band leader and the founder of the P-Funk, George Clinton (born July 22, 1941), and the bands Parliament and Funkadelic mastermind during the 1970′s to early 1980s launching his solo career in 1981. Along with James Brown and Sly Stone, Clinton has been cited as one of the foremost innovators of funk music.

Cee Lo Green

Thomas DeCarlo Callaway born May 30, 1974, famously known by his stage name Cee Lo Green, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, rapper and actor and currently a vocal coach on reality talent show NBC The Voice along with other coaches Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Cee Lo Green was an original member of the southern hip hop Goodie Mob, later launching a critically acclaimed solo career, Cee Lo is best known for his soul work, and his unique hip hop style and trademarks.

2) Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier on February 4, 1948) is an American musician, rock singer, and songwriter whose career spans more than four decades. He is best known for his unique stage show featuring, electric chairs, fake blood, baby dolls, guillotines, and boa constrictors. Alice Cooper has drawn equally from vaudeville, garage rock and horror movies pioneering violent brand and theatrical of heavy metal and theatrical designing shock.

3)  Marilyn Manson

Brian Hugh Warner (born January 5, 1969), popularly known as Marilyn Manson, is an American former music journalist, rock musician and known for his controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous  or name giver band. Manson’s stage name was formed from juxtaposing the two American cultural icons names of two American, namely actress Marilyn Monroe and serial killer Charles Manson, as a critical, laudatory appraisal of unique  and peculiar American culture.

4)   Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler (born Steven Victor Tallarico born on March 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, lead singer and frontman of the Aerosmith band and multi-instrumentalist, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. Steven Tyler is known for his unique style and trademark as the “Demon of Screamin’, due to his high screams and his wide vocal range. During his high-energy performances, he usually unique style of dress in bright, colorful outfits with his scarves trademarks hanging from his microphone stand.

Gene Simmons (Kiss)

Gene Simmons (born Chaim Weitz August 25, 1949) is an Israeli American rock singer-songwriter, rock bassist, producer, entrepreneur, and actor. Simmons is best known by his stage persona “The Demon,” and the co-vocalist and basis of hard rock band, Kiss, and the co-founder in the early 1970s. Simmons has sold more than 100 million Kiss albums worldwide.Simmons was significance of his unique trademark  Kiss’ stage makeup and personas. The Kiss performed a part of their career “without makeup” due to an executive decision involving Kiss manager and A&R Polygram head, Jerry Jaffe and other important people in the music business, however this drastic decision did turn out as a failure, and put back on their “personality” to gain back their success as “Kiss with their unique make up and trademark.

5)   Boy George

Boy George (born George Alan O’Dowd on June 14, 1961) is an English singer-songwriter, and a member of the English New Romanticism movement which emerged in the early 1980s. Boy George music is classified often as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by reggae and rhythm and blues. His kind of music has a glam influences by artists David Bowie and Iggy Pop in the 1990s and 2000s-era solo music. During Boy George’s era he was with Culture Club, much was made of his androgynous (his unique style in fashion, sexual identity or sexual lifestyle, or referred to as biologically inter-sexed  physicality) regarding his unique trademark and appearance, and there was speculation about his sexuality. George revealed on camera he was “militantly gay”, and talks about his first realization he was gay, and when he first told his parents. Boy George discloses that he understands why men fall in love with one another as well as with women.

Prince

Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson, June 7, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince has a wide vocal range and is known for his flamboyant stage presence and costumes. Prince’s music has been influenced by rock, R&B, rap, funk, blues, electronica, New Wave, electronica, disco, psychedelia, folk, pop and jazz. According to some reports, in 2005, Prince needed double-hip-replacement surgery but won’t undergo the operation unless it is a bloodless surgery because the Jehovah’s Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions. However, his condition is rumored to become worst by repeated onstage dancing in high-heeled boots. In 2010, when Prince was interviewed, journalist Peter Willis said he believed the rumors regarding Prince’s need to double hip surgery was found untrue because Prince appeared to have quickness, lightness, and ease of movement. Prince is a vegetarian and perform on stage in unique fashion and style.

Madonna

Madonna (born Madonna Louise Ciccone August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, director, dancer, and entrepreneur. Madonna is known for reinventing continuously both her music and unique styles image, and for retaining a standard of autonomy within the recording industry. Some critics have praised her diverse musical productions which have also been known to induce controversy. The gay community embraced Madonna’s pop culture and they considered   Madonna as  a gay icon. During her younger days, she attempted to broaden her love in literature, art, and music, and during this time, Madonna became interested in classical music. She revealed that her favorite style was baroque (music forms a major portion of the classical music canon, being widely studied, performed, and listened to), and loved Mozart classical music and Chopin, because of their “feminine equality” which she liked best.

Christina Aguilera

Christina María Aguilera, born December 18, 1980, is an American recording artist and actress, and first appeared in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search show on television, and went on to star in Disney Channel’s television series “The Mickey Mouse Club” from 1993 to 1994. In 1998, after recording the theme song, Reflection of the movie Mulan, Aguilera signed with RCA Records. Christina Aguilera is best known for her vocal ability, music videos and unique style and image, musically, she includes themes of dealing with public scrutiny, her childhood, and female empowerment in her music. Aguilera signed as a coach-judge on NBC The Voice in April 2011, alongside other musicians Adam Levine (Maroon Five lead singer), country singer Blake Sheldon and the hip hop singer Cee Lo Green, serve as judges and coaches, with Carson Daly as the show’s host. The show’s first episode was well-received, and delivered the strongest ratings for a series premiere on a major network .

Britney Spears

The American entertainer and recording artist Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981), became a prominent figure in popular music and culture, following her much publicized life (public and personal) during her first decade in the music industry. Her first two albums established her as a pop icon and broke sales records, and Spears’ record tracks Oops!…I Did It Again and …Baby One More Time, became international number-one hits. Spears was credited with influencing the teen pop revival during the late 1990s, and became the ‘best-selling teenaged artist of all time’ before she turned 20. Spears unique style and trademarks, sometimes became a controversial figure.

Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty born February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados, best known as Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist and actress. Rihanna began her career when she met record producer Evan Rogers in late 2003,at age 16, and migrate to the United States  to pursue a recording career. The early look of Rihanna’s a cookie-cutter teen queen while stating that she has the ability to shift looks with ease dramatically. Several critics felt that Rihanna’s style, sound and musical material were too similar to those of Beyonce. In 2007, Rihanna’s third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad, served as a “announcement” of her new image,with her haircut into a bob cut which was inspired by Charlize Theron’s. Rihanna has a wide collection of small tattoos around her body, a musical note on her ankle, Pisces zodiac sign behind her right ear, Sanskrit prayer on her hip, a star in her left ear, the word “Love” on her left middle finger, an Arabic phrase on her ribcage area, meaning “Freedom in God”,  a trail of stars descending at the back of her neck, a skull with pink hair bow on the back of her foot, and the phrase “shhh…” on her right index finger, and lots of weird other trademarks and styles.

Beyonce Knowles

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born September 4, 1981), best known for a single name,as Beyoncé is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. In the late 1990′s, Beyonce Knowles rose to fame as the Destiny’s Child  lead singer, one of the world’s best-selling female groups of all time. Aside from her work in music, Knowles has also ventured into acting and designing clothes and various perfumes. In 2005, Knowles introduced House of Dereon, her family’s fashion line. The media often use the term “Bootylicious” (a word is a combination of two (or more) words or morphemes into one new word of the words booty and delicious), to describe Knowles because of her curves. The Animal Rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), criticized Beyonce for wearing and using fur coats in her House of Dereon clothing line  in 2006.

Lady Gaga

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta born March 28, 1986, known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Recording artist Akon’s attention was caught by Lady Gaga’s abilities, during her employment as a songwriter for the record company, and signed her to his label Kon Live Distribution. Aside her musical career, Lady gaga is involve with humanitarian causes and LGBT activism. Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Madonna and Queen was Lady Gaga biggest influence. Lady Gaga is noted for her flamboyant, diverse and bizarre contributions to the music industry through her fashion, performances and music videos. Lady Gaga, recognized as American pop singer wore a dress made of raw beef, which was commonly referred to by the media as the meat dress.

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982 or December 8, 1984) born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, known by her stage name Nicki Minaj is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer-songwriter, voice actress and television personality.  At the age of five, she moved to the New York City, borough of Queens. Minaj’s artistry features fast-paced rapping, alter egos and accents, which is notably British cockney. Minaj’s outlandish and colorful costumes, wigs and clothing have given her recognition as a fashion icon.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE, born May 28, 1968), simply known as Kylie, is an Australian singer, recording artist, showgirl songwriter, and actress. Her progression from the wholesome girl next door to a more sophisticated performer with a flirtatious and playful persona attracted new fans to her. Minogue was described as a fashion “trend-setter” and a “style icon who constantly reinvents herself” after 20 years as a performing artist, also named as a drag queen (a man who dresses, and often acting like a caricature woman to entertain other people), Minogue is named as a gay icon, which she commented such as “I am not a traditional gay icon”. On May 17, 2005, Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36, and upon her return to Australia for her concert tour she revealed about her illness, and said that her chemotherapy treatment had been like “nuclear bomb experience”.

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) or best known for his MJ initials, and referred to as the King of Pop , an American entertainer, recording artist and businessman. The Guinness World Records recognized Michael Jackson as the most successful entertainer of all time. MJ’s unparalleled contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The music videos for his songs, Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller,were credited with breaking down racial barriers and transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. Jackson’s aspects on his  personal life, includes his changing of appearance, peronal relationships and behavior that gained controversies. Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, but was settled out of court with no formal charges filed. In 2005, MJ was “tried and acquitted” moreover of child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found MJ not guilty on all counts. In June 25, 2009, the world was in shock when Michael Jackson’s sudden death from cardiac arrest of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication while preparing for his This Is It  concert. 

Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American recording artist and actress, prominent figure in popular culure in the early 1970′s,  Michael Jackson’s younger sister, best known for her series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles. Janet Jackson, is the youngest child of the Jackson family, she began her career appearing on the variety television series, 1976′s The Jacksons.   In February 2004, the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, Janet Jackson performed a medley of her singles “All for You” and “Rhythm Nation”, performing alongside Justin Timberlake. As Timberlake sang the lyric “gonna have you naked by the end of this song” from his single “Rock Your Body”, Timberlake tore open her top, exposing her right breast. After the performance, Jackson apologized, calling it an accident. Janet Jackson’s art of fashion, is her great passions where she personally made her own designs. According to Janet Jackson, she has credited her older brothers Michael and Jermaine as her primary musical influences.

Cyndi Lauper

  The American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as Cyndi Lauper, she was born Cynthia Ann Stephanie “Cyndi” Lauper (born June 22, 1953). During the mid of 1980s, Lauper achieved her success, after the release of the debut solo album She’s So Unusual in 1983.

Tina Turner

Anna Mae Bullock, famously known by her stage name as Tina Turner,  (November 26, 1939), is an American singer  whose career has spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards. Turner was named most popular entertainer in the world, also recognized the most successful female rock artist, and was named “one of the greatest singers of all time” by Rolling Stone. Tina Turner’s Private Dance Tour along with Bryan Adams, he praised Turner’s live performances, saying, “I never saw Tina walk through a performance, she always put on a great show, and was gracious and grateful to her audience.”Her legs were noted, as one of her assets and trademark wearing high heel shoes during performance, as she was honored by President George W. Bush.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor, a cultural icon known by his single name as Elvis. Elvis Presley is one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century, he is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll” or simply “the King”. He was first recognized with his trademarks of wearing leather jackets and leather pants and his guitar. But later changed his style of wearing jumpsuit with synthetic stones on it that makes him unique in style.

Cher

Cher born Cherilyn Sarkisian, was born on May 20, 1946,  is an American singer, actress, television personality, director, record producer and entrepreneur, and former wife of singer Sonny Bono. Cher was better known for having worked extensively across media, referring to as the Goddess of Pop for being a popular culture influential figure, continuously reinventing both her unique style in music and image, her distinctive contralto, the considerable draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject of her work and her image, inducing controversy. Cher became famous for her several tattoos long before, they became fashionable or trend among female celebrities. Sher was regarded as “the first hippies “, and became a phenomenon similar to the Beatlemania popularity and eventually named “Sonny and Cher mania”.

Spice Girls

The British all female pop group known as the Spice Girls was created and formed in 1991. The group comprised five members, who each later adopted nicknames initially assigned to them based on their lifestyles: Victoria Adams-Beckham was named Posh Spice because of her more upper-middle-class background, her choppy brunette bob hairstyle, refined attitude, form-fitting designer outfits and her love of high-heeled footwear.  Melanie Brown, the only black member of the group (also called Mel B) was given the nickname Scary Spice because of her outrageous, “in-your-face” attitude, “loud” Leeds accent, throaty laugh, pierced tongue, manner of dress consisting of leopard-print outfits, and her voluminously curly Afro hair. Emma Bunton was called Baby Spice because she was the youngest of the group, wearing her long blonde hair in pigtails, wore unique  dresses, had an innocent smile, with girly girl personality. Melanie Chisholm (also called Mel C) was called Sporty Spice because she often seen wearing tracksuits with her dark hair in a ponytail and sported a tough girl attitude as well as sported tattoos on both of her arms, possessing true athletic abilities, with her signature  ability to perform back handsprings. Geri Halliwell was named Ginger Spice because of her “liveliness, zest, and unique flaming red hair, wearing outrageous stage outfits, the iconic Union Jack dress. Geri was noted by some as de facto leader of the group, due to her articulate conversational style and relevant and perceptive business nature.

Village People

 In 1977, a disco group was formed and best known as the Village People in the United States, became famous for their on-stage unique costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics. They formed the group to target disco’s gay audiences, featuring popular gay fantasy personas thus made the band’s quick popularity that brought them into the mainstream. The Village People scored a number of dance and disco hits that includes their trademark  and unique songs Macho Man, Go West, San Francisco (You’ve Got Me), In Hollywood (Everybody is a Star), In The Navy, Can’t Stop The Music and the most biggest hit Y.M.C.A. They have sold upwards of 100 million records world-wide. The group consisting of the following; Felipe Rose (as The Native American/Indian), Alexander “Alex” Briley (as the G.I. persona of the Village People), Mark Mussler (as the Construction worker) but later replaced by David Hodo after Mussler’s death from AIDS, Dave Forrest (as the Cowboy) also replaced by Glenn M. Hughes ( as the original biker and Leatherman) who died from lung cancer in March 2001 at the age of 50, and subsequently interred wearing his “Leatherman outfit”. He was replaced by Randy Jones.