Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Metal music has a reputation for being hard and aggressive, a celebration of the darker side of life. Something happened with the '80s styles, however, with a baffling infusion of glam that spawned a big-haired, face-painted look. This bizarre mix of makeup and macho macabre left an unforgettable mark on metal bands, with some attempts to nail the look coming up hilariously short.
We here at Bored Panda have decided to celebrate this strange period of 80s fashion in music history, with a selection of the funniest and most awkward photos from heavy metal band photoshoots. Scroll down below to check the album covers out for yourself and let us know what you think in the comments!
(h/t: Design You Trust)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Manowar
FanDaPanda 6 years ago
Oh but when britney or christina wore these same outfits you loved it. Not fair! ;)
Oathbraker 6 years ago
Ah good old Manowar. One of the bands that got me in metal. Too bad as I grew older I realized they are too full of themselves. Still, they have cool songs.
RELATED:
#2
Motley Crue
Eagle Girl 6 years ago
cause I'm hot & young runnin free, a lil bit better than I used to be..
Carol Emory 6 years ago
Keep in mind these guys were one of the worst drinkers and drug users in their early career. By the time Dr. Feelgood came out, they'd finally gotten themselves cleaned up. Love it when they appeared on Bones.
James Butler 5 years ago
"We saw some hookers...when we got closer to them...we realize they were Mötley Crüe" – James Hetfield 1985
#3
Manowar
pandaes 6 years ago
Notice Scott Columbus being slightly away like "i'm not really with these people" xD
#4
John Riggs 2 years ago
I love that someone was metal enough to "correct" your metal genre joke.
Load More Replies...
Aaron Kara 6 years ago
They said I couldn't be heavy metal and play the accordion...they were right
Tom Hardeveld 6 years ago (edited)
Life is an empty void... untill you POLKA!! getting weird al vibes from this one
Lara Smith 6 years ago
Nothing screams polka louder than a King Diamond outfit...
Load More Replies...
Stella Rose 6 years ago
This is what you see in the corner of your room during sleep paralysis
#5
Motörhead
Magnus Pettersson 10 months ago
Saw them live at Sweden Rock, I think it was in 1998 or 99. Lemmy screamed "show me your tits, or I'll show you mine!!!" I never was a fan of Motorhead on record, but as a liva act, they were totally awsome! And Lemmy was hilarious, what an entertainer!
Load More Replies... Oathbraker 6 years ago
You know, when I woke up today I didn't think I'd see a picture of Lemmy in swimming trunks and a rabbit hat... Life is strange.
Toujin C'Thlu 6 years ago
Motorhead always had a reputation for partying hard. This pic just proves it.
#6
Quinn Nix 6 years ago
"Sorry, dudes, my dad insists on being in the band. It's his garage. Besides, he's the only one with a truck to get our equipment to the gigs."
Toujin C'Thlu 6 years ago
That's pretty much what I was thinking when I saw this photo.
Load More Replies...
Alexey Lipatov 6 years ago
Sorry, but Vepri Suicida (Wild Boar's Suicide) is a hoax, that band never existed. But this photo is of a real band Udar (The Strike).
Oleg Kartsev 5 years ago
Quiet not correct. It is Belorussian (East Europe) metal band from Brest UDAR (eng. HIT)
#7
Stryper
pandaes 6 years ago
Well, actually they had a great career and released new albums recently. Still, they have Christian messages, some people appreciate that xD
Load More Replies...
Mama Panda 6 years ago
Wow I haven't thought about Stryper in a long time! Good band but I hate the fact that their hair was prettier than mine was lol
Janis Wise 6 years ago
This group was a Christian Rock Band, playing wholesome hard rock. Are they looking up waiting to see God or what?
Laura Catania 6 years ago
Memories of Junior High. Stryper was super edgy in Catholic School back in the late 80s
#8
Stovokor
Mama Panda 6 years ago
Omg this is too cool! Not really a trekkie fan here but my hubby is and he dresses up as a Klingon for special events and such. There is a whole group of them who dress up.
Nadja Lambacher 6 years ago
Are their lyrics in klingon? That would be really awesome. Stovokor is the Klingonian Valhalla if I remember correctly.
#9
Tunnel of love
FanDaPanda 6 years ago
Im picking up on some notes of w***y wonka with a hint of drugs and alcohol.
Amanda Ferraz 6 years ago
Also reminded me of Cheshire Cat... i know colors are off
Load More Replies...
#10
Manowar
Devon Daquelente 6 years ago (edited)
"Okay, on three we all flex. Ready? 1...2...3! Aw, dammit you guys. Now I'm the only one that's going to look stupid in this pic"
Janis Wise 6 years ago
How can these dudes do this with a straight face. Their mothers must be proud.
#11
Judas Priest
Stefano Aprea 6 years ago
This band, Judas Priest, one of the greatest classic metal bands, is actually the one that have "standardized" the use of black leather, metal spikes and chains as their stage costumes. All the others, just followed...
Carol Emory 6 years ago
Judas Priest!!! I went to their concert! Rob Halford has an awesome voice!!
Quinn Nix 6 years ago
We were so naive as teenagers, back in the late '70s, early '80s. We had no idea that the studded leather garb - so cool and awesome! - worn by Judas Priest, originated from gay culture.
Milena 6 years ago
Exactly, and we did not care nor judge artists by their sexual orientation, it was not an issue at that time; we just liked the music and a style, an attitude, an emotion ... think of Freddy Mercury, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Amanda Lear, Boy George, Blue Zoo, etc. ... we were happier before the labels were put to all human behavior.
Load More Replies... 
#12
Pretty Boy Floyd
Janis Wise 6 years ago
Dude in the red is hanging onto his package pretty tight. Maybe he had a wardrobe malfunction and didn’t want that Jack in the Box to get out again!
Molly Block 6 years ago
That blond girl on the right? She has a lot of split ends. And just what does that girl, ehh, guy, in red think he's holding? His last ounce of pride?
#14
Black Death
Christie Nohos 6 years ago
I think the safety pin is why he's making that particular face. OUCH! ;)
Load More Replies...
April Simnel 6 years ago
One of the best proto-punk/punk bands ever was a band from Detroit called just Death, and they were all black guys as well. There's just something about Michigan in the late 60s, I mean, Iggy and The Stooges, the MC5, Death...
Grazina Strolia 6 years ago
Jack Black, is that you??...And I love the bemused face on the man behind him. "It's a job, it's a job, it's a job..."
Ildiko Okido 6 years ago
He looks like he’s thinking “WTF am I doing here?”
Load More Replies...
#15
Venom
elfin 6 years ago
Definitely some sort of guy thing. For an odd sort of guys.
Load More Replies...
glowworm2 6 years ago
I don't know what sort of Power Rangers you've been watching, but if they have enemies like this, I would totally watch it!
Load More Replies...
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
Conan the Barbarian called and said he wants his ☠️ back and don't make him come looking for ya!
#17
Alexandra Preiner 6 years ago
Spat my coffee on my study notes... Thanks for that! 😋
Load More Replies...
#18
TWATT
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
At least they're grinning and not trying to look tough. Nice change of pace.
#19
Rhapsody Of Fire
Quinn Nix 6 years ago
A relatively recent metal band, here. These guys got Christopher Lee (Saruman the Wizard, from LotR) to voice story-telling interludes on one of their prog metal albums. How awesome is that?
Pretty Pangolin 6 years ago
Oh, I heard about that - cool! It looks like the same guy Photoshopped four times.
Load More Replies...
Mama Panda 6 years ago
These guys don't look bad at all! Still hate them for having prettier hair than me tho lol
April Simnel 6 years ago
When they find out that the guy had said the same thing to each of them: "But what if you're the TRUE King of England, and you passed it up over a measly hundred quid!?"
Laura Catania 6 years ago
Looks like they weren't needed for the Romance Novel cover shoots so they formed a band
#20
Rob Chapman 6 years ago
This is NOT a metal band. These are three female Japanese wrestlers. Condor Saito, Dump Matsumoto and Bull Nakano
Bryan Waggoner 5 years ago
Holy c**p.. I thought you were joking but I googled on the off chance your weren’t. Too funny!
Load More Replies...
Marylyle McCue 4 years ago
This is a photo of Japanese women wrestlers from the 1980's. Condor Saito on the left, Dump Matsumoto in the middle, and Bull Nakano on the right.
#21
Wynand 6 years ago
If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else!
glowworm2 6 years ago
It reminds me of that part of the animated Beauty and the Beast, where the Beast is getting this ridiculous hair style.
Load More Replies... 
eye_zay_uh 6 years ago
The hairstyle on the right reminds me the Renaissance period.... Rock me Amadeus?
#22
Cindy Crowell 6 years ago
nope, it's the Misfats. http://www.misfats.com/home.php
Load More Replies...
#23
Crimson Glory
Bored Bear 6 years ago
Baby: "I was told I could take a picture with the teletubbies. They lied."
FanDaPanda 6 years ago
This shits gonna be found in a couple hundred years and our great great grandchildren are gonna think this is the stuff we were about. Smh lol
tarebear 6 years ago
And in their scripture under this picture it will say something like: The 80's was a strange time for early man, they wore makeup and huge hair along with very scandalous clothing but this was all considered sexy. They also occasionally practiced the ancient art of baby eating. We still do not know what the reason was but we believe it has to do with words that were written across a denim notebook saying... "Detroit Rock City or Bust". There are also many statues and memorabilia to a certain possible Demi God but the name Gene Simmons and his "KISS Army" were these the leaders of ancient man? We may never have the whole story
Load More Replies...
Janis Wise 6 years ago
Those Teletubbies still creep me out, and I’m a grandma! That baby lucked out and got the least scary group. Teletubbies and those Chester the Molesters called the Wiggles. ~shiver~
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
Hey is that David Coverdale on the end. The lead singer of White Snake and I recognize the guy next to him.Was he in white snake too?
#24
ispeak catanese 6 years ago
2nd from the left! She just dropped the kids off at soccer...
Load More Replies...
Meghan Hibicke 6 years ago
The guy in the middle has the same hairdo as my landlady from 10 years ago.
Bianca Kinane-Ewart 6 years ago
They are every mother when you arrive home late and wasted......
#25
Detsorgsekalf
Kjorn 6 years ago
damn… his cat was Walking across his keyboard computer and that's how he gets his names
Jane Doe 6 years ago
OMG. from the Encyclopedia Metallum, the band name is Frosted Flakes backward but the F in Frosted is a G because, metal
Paweł Bożek 6 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPpsO9Vf5vo One person likes it and I'm pretty sure that's his mum.
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
Gene Simmons sued him for copyright infringement on the costume and the makeup design! .
#26
Madam X
Kristy P 6 years ago
Their logo reminds me of Al's men's support group "No M'am" on Married With Children
Hamm Dangler 2 years ago
the National Organization of Men Against Amazonian Masterhood
Load More Replies... 
#27
Kathryn Baylis 6 years ago
Yeah, you kinda can't, at least not in those outfits. It'd be pretty sad if you did.
Load More Replies...
Tomas Ericson 5 years ago
Maybe it's not a band, as is the case with many entries here.
Load More Replies...
Roselyn Park 6 years ago
Am I the only one who suspects that the guy on the right might just be Dave Grohl? o.O
Alan Sands 5 years ago
No, I scroll down specifically looking for somebody else to mention Grohl.
Load More Replies... #28
Bruce Freadrich 6 years ago
Damn you. . . laughed so hard. . .beer out my nose . . .all over the keyboard.
Load More Replies... 
B.b. Fultz 6 years ago
If this guy ever actually gained the power of flight, you get the feeling he would probably kill himself flying into a mirror on his first day"
Grazina Strolia 6 years ago
Ha ha, on a warm sunny summer day, hanging out with Lillian and John...
#29
Crimson Glory
Michael Suitt 6 years ago
Crimson Glory was great. Transcendence is an amazing album
Load More Replies... Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
They look good and they don't need A bunch of B******t and Gimmick. They just wanna play some Rock and Roll 🎼🎻🎤
#31
Night Jamming Band
Joe Senese 1 year ago
Oh there’s some Night Jamming going on. “not that there’s anything wrong with that”.
#32
Quincy Gow 3 years ago
Do you really think crack makes people overweight? Crack and Cheetos have two very different results.
Load More Replies... Bruce Freadrich 6 years ago
These two are a metal band? Looks like they are on their way to a comic con where GWAR is headlining.
#33
Michael Angelo Batio
Enrico Zabeo 6 years ago
no, he isn't Michael Angelo Batio, he is Randy Piper from W.A.S.P. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Piper
Mama Panda 6 years ago
Sheesh if you are gonna post, please at least get the right name! It's Randy Piper for s**t's sake!!! Btw, he rocks too!
Trevor James 10 months ago
I wonder what's up with the fake vacuum hose or whatever attachment that is on his shoulder hahaha Or maybe a fan system to cool down his fingers from the blistering fast shredding
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
Kinda reminds me of Gary Newman that sings Cars and I forget the other dudes name
Bernie Rourke 5 years ago
Uh HUH...get your metal guitarists straight ya numpties....WASP guitarist.
#34
Krank
Magnus Pettersson 10 months ago
Herpes rock? Apparently second left needs Vectavir for his lower lip.
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
I think I saw these guys at the Toy Tiger in Louisville Kentucky years ago! Talk about A good time and A Great Club!
Randy Roberts 6 years ago
I had an album by a band named Krank in the 80's. Not sure if its these guys but I've been tearing the internet up trying to find it again. It was good thrash/NWOBM
Lisadesign 6 years ago
I wonder if these guys all have children now, decent hair cuts, attending PTA meetings, praying no one ever sees this photo
#35
Janis Wise 6 years ago
“Hold those poses” says the photographer, “I want to get a bunch more just like that.” Second from the end looks in serious pain too.
Tomas Ericson 5 years ago
What band is this? By the looks of them, the music could be really awesome. Doesn't look later than -85 nor earlier than -83, so a good zone for it actually being classic heavy metal.
#36
CheeseOnToast 6 years ago
The despairing guy in the middle has just realised that no one remembered to bring a basketball.
Yuccababy 6 years ago
You're funny! I laughed waaaay too hard at this statement!!!
Load More Replies...
Justin Ramirez 5 years ago
The audition line at the local HS when J Mann left Mushroomhead the first time. I remember it fondly. It was 82 years ago...
Laura Metcalf 1 year ago
I don't know what they were thinking about but I wonder what they played in the High School Talent show
Matty Slabz 5 years ago
When you want to do a death metal band but you’re at an expensive all-boys private school that won’t let you grow your hair. The angst is real.
#37
hobbitly 6 years ago
They're wearing 3 different bands shirts, this is not a band, just some fans.
BusLady 6 years ago
My sister and I, with a couple of friends, used to dress up as Kiss every Halloween. We were all girls, and we called ourselves Smooch.
Load More Replies...
April Simnel 6 years ago
Maybe they just like "Helter Skelter" (aka "Paul Tries Out That 'Hard Rock' Thing He Was Working On Last Week"). J/K, I love The Beatles.
Load More Replies... CheeseOnToast 6 years ago (edited)
These guys are so evil, they've killed the smiley face helium balloon by their presence alone.
Randy Roberts 6 years ago
I think it might be an Oasis poster, even worse.
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Random Panda 6 years ago (edited)
Back when men could have long hair and make-up, and that didn't make them "feminine". Can we bring this concept back?
djinnjeannie 6 years ago
But how would the tumblr generation feel special if they were aware that people were gender non conforming long before they were born?
Load More Replies...
Devin Robinson 6 years ago
I just scrolled through a bunch of dudes having the absolute time of their lives. Rock on mates!
TJler 6 years ago
This is both astonishing and subliminal I love the message this sends to all the young cross dressers out there today. Thanks!
diane a 6 years ago
You are welcome - people can dress as they wish. Wether they look cool or ridiculous is entirely their choice
Load More Replies...
Random Panda 6 years ago (edited)
Back when men could have long hair and make-up, and that didn't make them "feminine". Can we bring this concept back?
djinnjeannie 6 years ago
But how would the tumblr generation feel special if they were aware that people were gender non conforming long before they were born?
Load More Replies... Devin Robinson 6 years ago
I just scrolled through a bunch of dudes having the absolute time of their lives. Rock on mates!
TJler 6 years ago
This is both astonishing and subliminal I love the message this sends to all the young cross dressers out there today. Thanks!
diane a 6 years ago
You are welcome - people can dress as they wish. Wether they look cool or ridiculous is entirely their choice
Load More Replies... You May Like 50 Of The Funniest Signs Ever Spotted In The Wild (New Pics) "This Roast Is Absolutely Eternal": 40 Of The Funniest Text Conversations That Made People Laugh (New Pics) 50 Funny Christmas Gifts For A Peal Of Merry Laughter
Mantas Kačerauskas
Mantas Kačerauskas
Linas Simonaitis
Related on Bored Panda
