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

Report

RELATED:
    #2

    Young And Broke Motley Crue 1980

    Motley Crue

    lovekillseveryone Report

    #3

    Manowar

    Manowar

    Report

    #4

    Metal Band

    Report

    #5

    Motörhead

    Motörhead

    Report

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

    Lemmy think about this for a second

    View more comments
    #7

    Stryper

    Stryper

    Report

    #8

    Stovokor

    Stovokor

    Report

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

    I see some Klingons circling Uranus.

    View more comments
    #9

    Tunnel Of Love

    Tunnel of love

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #10

    Manowar

    Manowar

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #11

    Judas Priest

     Judas Priest

    Report

    #12

    Pretty Boy Floyd

    Pretty Boy Floyd

    Report

    #13

    X Japan

    X Japan

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #14

    Black Death

    Black Death

    Report

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

    I think the safety pin is why he's making that particular face. OUCH! ;)

    Load More Replies...
    April Simnel
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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...

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

    awesome tunes, death from detroit. love em...

    Load More Replies...
    Grazina Strolia
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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..."

    glowworm2
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The guy in the front is cracking me up! The guy in the back in the middle looks like Lamont from Sanford and Son. XD!

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

    the middle one looks too zen for the rest :-) he's likes: be cool boys

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

    He looks like he’s thinking “WTF am I doing here?”

    Load More Replies...
    Missy Finley
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look at those jeri curls!! Good lord!!

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

    Soul Glo... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4AiHmhJGzw

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

    The one in the middle looks like Robert Townsend. A rough, more metally version...

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

    Ah, I remember the Jheri Curls. It's making a comeback.

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

    This was Grandmaster Flash, Parliament and Maybe A dash of The Ohio Players , and The Daze Band Days!

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

    The guy in the back right corner looks very uncomfortable lol

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

    Ladies and gentleman, we found our black Jack Black

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

    They looked awesome and were really good. Check out the song "The Scream of the Iron Messiah".

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

    I think the one on the right went by the moniker Sikki Spacek. It was one of them. I remember seeing this pic in Hit Parader in the 1980s.

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

    Just let your soul glow as it goes to hell!

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

    Could this be the very first "black metal" band?

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

    Someone should have told them that Richard Pryor did a skit about death metal on the Richard Pryor show where he kills everyone in the audience, and his band name in the skit was Black Death.

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

    omg amazing, im printing this.

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

    It's the guy in the middle with the Jerry curls that makes me laugh.

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

    "We are for deste metal as enimem is for rap!"

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

    Lionel Richie, is that YOU in the back??

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

    The varying levels of enthusiasm make me rather confused. Guy on the right looks badass though.

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

    it looks like they're some sort of Cannibals

    View more comments
    #15

    Venom

    Venom

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #16

    Shotgun Messiah

    Shotgun Messiah

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #17

    Metal Band

    Report

    #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!!!

    View more comments
    #19

    Rhapsody Of Fire

    Rhapsody Of Fire

    Report

    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?

    View more comments
    #20

    Awkward Metal Band Photo

    Report

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

    Frankie goes to Hollywood, the later years.

    View more comments
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #21

    Metal Band

    Report

    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!

    View more comments
    #22

    Funny Awkward Metal Bands Photos

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #23

    Metal Band

    Crimson Glory 

    Report

    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."

    View more comments
    #24

    Metal Band

    Report

    #25

    Detsorgsekalf

    Detsorgsekalf

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #26

    Madam X

    Madam X

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #27

    Metal Band

    Report

    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!

    View more comments
    #28

    Metal Band

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #29

    Crimson Glory

    Crimson Glory

    Report

    #30

    Tunnel Of Love

    Tunnel Of Love

    Report

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

    Takes name of band wayyyy to literally!

    View more comments
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #31

    Night Jamming Band

    Night Jamming Band

    Report

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

    Looks like REO Speedwagon on Halloween

    View more comments
    #32

    Metal Band

    Report

    #33

    Metal Band

    Michael Angelo Batio

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #34

    Krank

    Krank

    Report

    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

    View more comments
    #35

    Metal Band

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #36

    Metal Band

    Report

    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.

    View more comments
    #37

    Metal Band

    Report

    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.

    View more comments