Where's my 2 dollars?

April 13, 2005 9:53 AM

80's nostalgism: I need a bearded 80's pop culture figure to imitate for a party tonight. Bonus points for long hair.

All's I can think of is Hacksaw Jim Duggan, but I don't think that my nerdbanite friends will get the reference. (It's cool, I'm a nerdbanite too now.) Thanks.

posted by Corpus Callosum to clothing, beauty, & fashion (31 comments total)

In Rehab! Jerry Garcia?
posted by headspace at 9:55 AM on April 13, 2005

Any member of ZZ Top?
posted by tristeza at 9:57 AM on April 13, 2005

I'd say Bob Segar, but while everyone knows who he is, how many people actually remember what he looks like?

Oh hey, there's also Kenny Rogers.
posted by Clay201 at 10:00 AM on April 13, 2005

And dangit, forgot about Willie Nelson and Kris Kristoferson.
posted by Clay201 at 10:01 AM on April 13, 2005

Hulk Hogan.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:01 AM on April 13, 2005

Rollen Stewart aka the Rainbow Man

Bonus: immediately recognizable and easy to prepare costume.
posted by googly at 10:02 AM on April 13, 2005

Iceman
posted by bondcliff at 10:05 AM on April 13, 2005

That dude from the "IF you like Pina Coladas, and takin' walks in the rain" song. Alternatively, he represents every douchebag that SHOULD have been in the 70s, but somehow didn't break until the 80s. You could just be that stereotype and give a different answer every time...

on preview Escape (the Pina Colada song) by Rupert Holmes
posted by indiebass at 10:08 AM on April 13, 2005

Dude--Kenny Loggins.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:12 AM on April 13, 2005

Captain Lou Albano!
posted by fandango_matt at 10:13 AM on April 13, 2005

On the wrestling tip -- but more immediately recognizable -- there's always Captain Lou Albano. And even if it's not immediately recognizable, it's always fun to wear rubber bands in your beard anyway.
posted by eschatfische at 10:13 AM on April 13, 2005

Gah! That didn't even come up in preview. I defer to fandango.
posted by eschatfische at 10:13 AM on April 13, 2005

James Hetfield, before he chopped off his hair.
posted by C17H19NO3 at 10:15 AM on April 13, 2005

Chewie!
posted by Quartermass at 10:20 AM on April 13, 2005

C. Everett Koop (the Surgeon General) ?

I know that he's not quite "pop culture," but he might fit the bill.
posted by curtm at 10:25 AM on April 13, 2005

Bjorn Borg?

That way you get the killer 80's headband action in there as well.
posted by nyterrant at 10:26 AM on April 13, 2005

It's such a shame that Grizzly Adams ran at the end of the 70s.

Votes for Bearded Above that could be instantly recognizable: Captain Lou Albano and the ZZ top guys.

Your title made me think of this: If you're just scruff and can pull off the attitude/impression, then the actor that plays Booger in Revenge of the Nerds as well as Lane Meyer/Cusak's pal in Better Off Dead, Curtis Armstrong is pretty recognizable since he basically played the same character in most of those 80s films. "Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, turn!"
posted by safetyfork at 10:26 AM on April 13, 2005

Kent Hrbek?

OK, no one would get that, but I had to throw it out there.

You really could do no better than Captain Lou Albano.
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:28 AM on April 13, 2005

Papa Smurf? Ogre from Revenge of the Nerds? Mr. T?
posted by hilker at 10:34 AM on April 13, 2005

Yasser Arafat?
posted by box at 10:35 AM on April 13, 2005

Did Hetfield ever have a beard? I thought he was always a mustache guy.

Chuck Norris!
posted by jjg at 10:53 AM on April 13, 2005

Alan Moore was probably at his peak of popularity mass media-wise following his 1987 masterpiece, Watchmen. He fits your profile, but I don't know if anyone whould know who the hell you are supposed to be.
posted by Scoo at 11:05 AM on April 13, 2005

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson.
posted by ericb at 11:06 AM on April 13, 2005

I second zz top for immediate recognition.
posted by jeremias at 11:23 AM on April 13, 2005

Richard Stallman.

Ayatollah Khomeini.
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 11:44 AM on April 13, 2005

Mick Fleetwood
posted by CJB at 11:50 AM on April 13, 2005

If you wanted to be hard hard hardcore, you'd go as Eddie Wilson at the end of Eddie and the Cruisers, only staying in character and pretending that the sequel didn't happen.
posted by mkultra at 12:10 PM on April 13, 2005

ZZ Top's the way to go (unless you're worried that everybody else will think the same), but remember that only two members had beards. The third guy's last name *is* Beard, and he only sports/sported a moustache.
posted by kimota at 12:34 PM on April 13, 2005

Metafilter, you guys can be my wingman anytime.
Great suggestions.
Now I gotta find some some white short-shorts and a tennis racket or a hawaiian shirt and some rubber bands.
Anyone know where to pick up a spinning furry guitar?
posted by Corpus Callosum at 12:56 PM on April 13, 2005

I could be too late. How about (Eurythmics) Dave Stewart?
posted by Dean_Paxton at 10:46 PM on April 13, 2005

Bhagwan Rajneesh
posted by Rash at 10:59 AM on April 14, 2005