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)

#1

Manowar

Manowar

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    #2

    Young And Broke Motley Crue 1980

    Motley Crue

    lovekillseveryone Report

    #3

    Manowar

    Manowar

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    #4

    Metal Band

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    #5

    Motörhead

    Motörhead

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    Wynand
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lemmy think about this for a second

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    #7

    Stryper

    Stryper

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    #8

    Stovokor

    Stovokor

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    Wynand
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I see some Klingons circling Uranus.

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    #9

    Tunnel Of Love

    Tunnel of love

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    FanDaPanda
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Im picking up on some notes of w***y wonka with a hint of drugs and alcohol.

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    #10

    Manowar

    Manowar

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    pandaes
    BoredPanda Staff
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    is this whole post a photoshoot of Manowar? xD

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    #11

    Judas Priest

     Judas Priest

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    #12

    Pretty Boy Floyd

    Pretty Boy Floyd

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    #13

    X Japan

    X Japan

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That eye makeup took some skill. And a steady hand.

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    #14

    Black Death

    Black Death

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    #15

    Venom

    Venom

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    Lotte
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this looks like it came out of some sort of medieval war movie

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    #16

    Shotgun Messiah

    Shotgun Messiah

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now, for the photo shoot, steal your sister's workout clothes.

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    #17

    Metal Band

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    #18

    TWATT

    TWATT

    Awkward band and musician photos Report

    Mama Panda
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gave them an upvote simply for the name of the band!!!

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    #19

    Rhapsody Of Fire

    Rhapsody Of Fire

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    Quinn Nix
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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?

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    #20

    Awkward Metal Band Photo

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    Mark
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Frankie goes to Hollywood, the later years.

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    #21

    Metal Band

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    Wynand
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else!

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    #22

    Funny Awkward Metal Bands Photos

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    Jason M
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please tell me their band name is Die-abetes.

    Cindy Crowell
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    nope, it's the Misfats. http://www.misfats.com/home.php

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    Devon Daquelente
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. Insane Clown Posse really let themselves go

    ADHORTATOR
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    some members of the Leningrad Cowboys took a shower :-)

    pandaes
    BoredPanda Staff
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Misfits tribute band xD

    Mama Panda
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OH...MY...F*****G...GODDESS.....!!!!!

    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wouldn't show my face, either.

    Teddy Baddstreet
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Mommy......can I go out and....EAT TONIIIIIGHT!!...."

    Aaron Kara
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are they in a men's public toilet?

    Mikä Eldritch
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was in the backstage room at The Living Room in Providence, RI

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    Molly Block
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OH, my eyes, MY EYES! I have seen enough for one night. Nightmares to come now. I guess they were all going for that Glen Danzig look. They FAILED. And they were so poor all they could afford was one Halloween glove and some clearance halloween clown makeup. Fat guys making fists. That would have been a good name for them.

    Sean Patrick
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They were an awesome Misfits tribute band from the Northwest called the Misfats.

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    trix
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This totally reminded me of my teenage/rocker years, I'd wear so much black eyeshadow that one day my dad printed out a picture of a panda and taped it on my vanity mirror. It was a clear message, though.

    Laura Metcalf
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Insane Clown Posse's Cousins and might have been some inbreeding going on.

    Jonathan Labelle
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they look like if the misfits realy let themself go

    Wayne Dorman
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anyone else thinking WWE's Paul Bearer wouldn't look out of place in this one?

    Drew Sauveur
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Woooow...wow. their show finisher is breaking their guitars using their moobs.

    Cliff Kafka
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, the Cure really have let themselves go.

    p. m
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hey! It's fat Misfits.

    Marco Gulino
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Misfits? No,The Mas-Fats!!!

    Melissa Hemphill Guajardo
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ummm,....Flock of Frustration? I really want to buy them blankets for Christmas...

    B.b. Fultz
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Hey, let's clone The Misfits and rewrite their genetic code using DNA from sumo wrestlers. What could possibly go wrong?"

    Lisadesign
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh my eyes! What have I done to my eyes? They didn't deserve this.

    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The guy in the back is their Jenny Craig consultant... he knows he's got a job for life.

    Barrie Mark
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The one on our right has obviously given birth hence the stretch marks and great boobs.

    Merlyn Emrys
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how about we make fun of people for their stupid fashion choices and not their bodies/health, hm?

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    #23

    Metal Band

    Crimson Glory 

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    Bored Bear
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Baby: "I was told I could take a picture with the teletubbies. They lied."

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    #24

    Metal Band

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    #25

    Detsorgsekalf

    Detsorgsekalf

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    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    damn… his cat was Walking across his keyboard computer and that's how he gets his names

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    #26

    Madam X

    Madam X

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    Kristy P
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Their logo reminds me of Al's men's support group "No M'am" on Married With Children

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    #27

    Metal Band

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    Hans
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These guys do not take themselves too serious. Chapeau!

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    #28

    Metal Band

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like Batman could use a new cape.

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    #29

    Crimson Glory

    Crimson Glory

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    #30

    Tunnel Of Love

    Tunnel Of Love

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    Mark
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Takes name of band wayyyy to literally!

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    #31

    Night Jamming Band

    Night Jamming Band

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    Kristy P
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like REO Speedwagon on Halloween

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    #32

    Metal Band

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    #33

    Metal Band

    Michael Angelo Batio

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    Enrico Zabeo
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no, he isn't Michael Angelo Batio, he is Randy Piper from W.A.S.P. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Piper

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    #34

    Krank

    Krank

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    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When you let your sister do your make up

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    #35

    Metal Band

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    BusLady
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bet some of those poses weren't easy to hold.

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    #36

    Metal Band

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    CheeseOnToast
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The despairing guy in the middle has just realised that no one remembered to bring a basketball.

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    #37

    Metal Band

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    hobbitly
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They're wearing 3 different bands shirts, this is not a band, just some fans.

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