Dead Milkman

Nerdy yet punk rock, scrawny but cool – these Dead Milkmen I had seen on Mtv were very unlike the boys I knew in Colorado Springs and I wanted to find them.. which I eventually did in abundance later at art school.

Lead singer Joe Jack Talcum, aka Butterfly Fairweather, aka Jasper Thread, aka Joseph Genaro and his brand of dork punk could explode on the scene today, fitting in easily with the hip young things. But these men were ahead of their times, making squares scratch their heads way back in 1988.

1988, I was ten, and the moment he giggled in the Punk Rock Girl video my life long love for arty nerds had begun.

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Posted on September 5, 2011

Celebrated Pianist

Glenn Gould was a rare talent and his life and unusual personality are fascinating (see 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould if you haven’t!) but I guess it just eluded me somehow that he was also such an incredibly stylish cutie.

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Posted on August 24, 2011

aka Heart

You have to give credit to any woman that breaks into the rock and rolls scene even if you may not like their music (thinking Sheryl Crow, etc).

But Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, whose music I adore (the first chords of Magic Man and Barracuda always give me chills) are particularly marvelous. Sure, they are beautiful, but they made their way as chicks who could really play and sing.

Style wise, they always stayed true to the deacde’s trends, yet remained always themselves: tough and scrappy while remaining feminine and just slightly vunerable. Satin jumpsuits, leather fitted jackets, blue eyeshadow, feather chokers, big hair and corsets – these girls could rock anything they wanted to.

Oh and those feathered bangs! Seriously, going through all these old photos of them, makes one want to book an appointment for that dated cut stat. (Honestly, I need you all to either tell me this is a great idea or talk me out of it before it’s too late.)

Plus, they win bonus awesome points for telling Sarah Palin to shove it when she tried to use Barracuda during her campaign :

“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”

Click here for the rest of Ann and Nancy Wilson

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Posted on July 30, 2011

Iconic Electronic Rocker

Half grumpy nerd, half stoic rock star, Gary Numan makes one unusual celebrity.

With double breasted suits, pleather jumpers, and later snow white hair he classifies as a style icon of the traditional sense, and hints of his style can be seen in The Talking Heads, Devo, and even Eddie Murphy (rent Delirious if you don’t believe me).

But he is most notably an inventive pioneer whose catchy electronica from another planet infinitely inspired the music landscape.

I am a big fan and in some strange moods only Telekon will do.

Nowadays, he looks better than some aging rock stars but seems to have thrown away the android Gary for a new Gary that screams like Trent Reznor by way of Leland Palmer.

He still tours (look out for dates this year) and a few years back performed the entire Replicas album live, which would have been super awesome to see.

Other awesome things about Numan? Well, he cameoed in the Mighty Boosh, he is openly atheist, he was diagnosed with Aspergers and proves that success is possible with the disorder, and he married a fan club member (giving hope to fans everywhere that the same could happen to them one day).

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Posted on June 9, 2011

Queen of Disco

Even today many celebrities are afraid to live out and proud. That Sylvester was dressing in drag and flaunting the title of Queen of Disco in a far less tolerant era is amazing and admirable.

He’s probably best known for his hit “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” but I found out more about him as a one time member of the off the wall fabulous performance group The Cockettes.

Beginning his career as a costume designer, he knew about style From head to toe and he made everything – from bangles to flapper dresses his own.

He sadly died of complications from AIDS during the early years of the epidemic. A documentary based on his life is in the works.

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Posted on May 31, 2011