Your persona here.
June 30, 2012 1:48 PM Subscribe
Examples of musicians with alter egos?
I'm looking for musicians who have fully realized alter egos with backstories. Not just people releasing music under pseudonyms. There's Ziggy Stardust, of course. Beyonce has Sasha Fierce. But I'm hoping Mefites can dig up more obscure examples too.
Any genre of music. Even better if they release a concept album built around their alter ego.
I'm looking for musicians who have fully realized alter egos with backstories. Not just people releasing music under pseudonyms. There's Ziggy Stardust, of course. Beyonce has Sasha Fierce. But I'm hoping Mefites can dig up more obscure examples too.
Any genre of music. Even better if they release a concept album built around their alter ego.
Best answer: OH God, why do I remember that Garth Brooks got emo hair and called himself Chris Gaines?
posted by maudlin at 1:51 PM on June 30, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by maudlin at 1:51 PM on June 30, 2012 [11 favorites]
Buckethead. See the video (with Les Claypool) The Ballad Of Buckethead, the old(ish) album Bucketheadland. The mythos has evolved over time, but there's a whole universe, with friends, enemies and locales.
posted by Gorgik at 1:53 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Gorgik at 1:53 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Jem! Truly, outrageous.
posted by Madamina at 1:53 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Madamina at 1:53 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
I swear to god I'm not making this up: In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Pat Boone.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:55 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:55 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Gorrilaz. The virtual band created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. Each member has their own biography / personality.
posted by afx237vi at 1:56 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by afx237vi at 1:56 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Actually, Buckethead might not be a good example for your question, since there is no musician other than the character...
posted by Gorgik at 1:57 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Gorgik at 1:57 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
XTC had The Dukes of Stratosphear (sic). Redd Kross had Tater Totz.
posted by carrienation at 1:57 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by carrienation at 1:57 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, from the Cramps, played music under different names before they came up with the Cramps.
David Johannson from the New York Dolls became Buster Poindexter, of "Hot Hot Hot" fame.
G-Shock, from Digital Underground, is also Humpty. He has his own alternate persona within the band. That's why he's explaining who Humpty is all the time.
Lana Del Rey did a bunch of stuff as Lizzy Grant, her real name; I'd argue that her current thing is a full persona.
"You could argue that the whole White Stripes thing fits this category," says my husband.
Jihad Jerry was Jerry what's-his-face from Devo.
posted by Madamina at 2:03 PM on June 30, 2012
David Johannson from the New York Dolls became Buster Poindexter, of "Hot Hot Hot" fame.
G-Shock, from Digital Underground, is also Humpty. He has his own alternate persona within the band. That's why he's explaining who Humpty is all the time.
Lana Del Rey did a bunch of stuff as Lizzy Grant, her real name; I'd argue that her current thing is a full persona.
"You could argue that the whole White Stripes thing fits this category," says my husband.
Jihad Jerry was Jerry what's-his-face from Devo.
posted by Madamina at 2:03 PM on June 30, 2012
Del tha Funky Homosapien has Deltron 3030. The various members of Gorillaz sort of fit the bill. There are a few more here.
posted by yerfatma at 2:17 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by yerfatma at 2:17 PM on June 30, 2012
There was that time when Garth Brooks decided to become Chris Gaines. Hilarity ensued.
posted by spilon at 2:18 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by spilon at 2:18 PM on June 30, 2012
How about Dr. Octagon?
That's just the tip of the iceberg, friend.
posted by mintcake! at 2:20 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
That's just the tip of the iceberg, friend.
posted by mintcake! at 2:20 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
I was about to become the third person to reference Chris Gaines in this thread. Anyway..
Beyonce as "Sasha Fierce".
T.I. as... "T.I.P." (info here), to some degree.
posted by raihan_ at 2:23 PM on June 30, 2012
Beyonce as "Sasha Fierce".
T.I. as... "T.I.P." (info here), to some degree.
posted by raihan_ at 2:23 PM on June 30, 2012
Lord Buckley
Prince has used a few pseudonyms (Camille, Christopher, Joey Coco, etc.).
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Prince has used a few pseudonyms (Camille, Christopher, Joey Coco, etc.).
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:34 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nicki Minaj has a number of alter egos, notably Roman Zolanski.
posted by sea change at 2:36 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by sea change at 2:36 PM on June 30, 2012
Best answer: Jim Thirwell / Foetus / Clint Ruin
posted by davebush at 2:40 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by davebush at 2:40 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Paul McCartney as "the Fireman" ?
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
posted by raihan_ at 2:43 PM on June 30, 2012
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
posted by raihan_ at 2:43 PM on June 30, 2012
Best answer: Janelle Monáe as Cindi Mayweather
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:48 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:48 PM on June 30, 2012 [3 favorites]
Oh right, also Tomoko Kawase of The Brilliant Green and Tommy february6/Tommy heavenly6.
posted by limeonaire at 3:21 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by limeonaire at 3:21 PM on June 30, 2012
The members of the Traveling Wilburys took on pseudonyms identifying them as members of the Wilbury family for their recordings, though they weren't consistent between albums.
posted by dizziest at 3:23 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by dizziest at 3:23 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Gene and Dean Ween of Ween (RIP) might be an example, if you count being brothers and huffing Scotchgard as a backstory.
posted by contraption at 3:23 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by contraption at 3:23 PM on June 30, 2012
The Traveling Wilburys --- with "brothers" Lucky Wilbury, Nelson Wilbury, Otis Wilbury, Lefty Wilbury and Charlie T. Wilbury Jr. (aka in order: Bob dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty)
posted by easily confused at 3:25 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by easily confused at 3:25 PM on June 30, 2012
Stuart Price/Jacques Lu Cont/Les Rhythmes Digitales/Thin White Duke/Paper Faces/Zoot Woman
posted by elizardbits at 3:37 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by elizardbits at 3:37 PM on June 30, 2012
Will Oldham as Bonny 'Prince' William.
Jane Siberry as Issa.
posted by vers at 3:52 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Jane Siberry as Issa.
posted by vers at 3:52 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
MF DOOM has recorded albums as several characters (Zev Love X, King Geedora, Viktor Vaughn). Notably, "Fancy Clown" is a diss track as Viktor Vaugh aimed at MF DOOM.
Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes has used the character of Georgie Fruit on several of his most recent albums.
Several of the tracks on Prince's Sign o the Times (the ones with the sped-up vocals) were originally recorded for an unreleased character-based album called Camille.
posted by chairmanroflmao at 4:43 PM on June 30, 2012
Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes has used the character of Georgie Fruit on several of his most recent albums.
Several of the tracks on Prince's Sign o the Times (the ones with the sped-up vocals) were originally recorded for an unreleased character-based album called Camille.
posted by chairmanroflmao at 4:43 PM on June 30, 2012
G-Shock, from Digital Underground, is also Humpty.
Shock G.
posted by box at 5:11 PM on June 30, 2012
Shock G.
posted by box at 5:11 PM on June 30, 2012
Marilyn Manson as Alpha and Omega for the Mechanical Animals album, the Worm/Little Horn for Antichrist Superstar, and Adam Kadmon for Holy Wood, all of which are supposed to be a sort of trilogy.
posted by Su at 5:17 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by Su at 5:17 PM on June 30, 2012
Don't forget Mr Bowie's other personas Aladdin Sane (Ziggy + America) and The Thin White Duke.
posted by merocet at 6:20 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by merocet at 6:20 PM on June 30, 2012
Paul McCartney as Percy "Thrills" Thrillington.
The album is better than you can possibly imagine.
posted by Aquaman at 6:27 PM on June 30, 2012
The album is better than you can possibly imagine.
posted by Aquaman at 6:27 PM on June 30, 2012
Best answer: This is right on the edge of the question, but...
Michael McKean + Harry Shearer + Christopher Guest play the characters that comprise (and write & performs the songs for) both Spinal Tap AND The Folksmen. In additon to portraying those bands in This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, respectively, they have also recorded albums as Spinal Tap and toured as both bands.
My favorite part: In an interview with Wired, Guest said, "One time, we had The Folksmen open for Spinal Tap because we always wanted to do a culmination of our entirely different personas. So there we were in caps playing folk music, opening for Spinal Tap, and the audience looked completely bewildered, like 'What the fuck is going on here?'"
posted by D.Billy at 7:43 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Michael McKean + Harry Shearer + Christopher Guest play the characters that comprise (and write & performs the songs for) both Spinal Tap AND The Folksmen. In additon to portraying those bands in This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind, respectively, they have also recorded albums as Spinal Tap and toured as both bands.
My favorite part: In an interview with Wired, Guest said, "One time, we had The Folksmen open for Spinal Tap because we always wanted to do a culmination of our entirely different personas. So there we were in caps playing folk music, opening for Spinal Tap, and the audience looked completely bewildered, like 'What the fuck is going on here?'"
posted by D.Billy at 7:43 PM on June 30, 2012 [6 favorites]
Fictional (and based on Ziggy Stardust, of course), but Brian Slade's alter ego Maxwell Demon in Velvet Goldmine, whom Brian has to fake his own death in order to kill.
posted by lysimache at 8:00 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by lysimache at 8:00 PM on June 30, 2012
DEVO used to play as their own opening act as "Dove (the Band of Love)", a Christian soft-rock band.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:48 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:48 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
Musicologist Peter Schickele writes satirical compositions under the pen name P. D. Q. Bach.
posted by Naiad at 8:58 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Naiad at 8:58 PM on June 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Gerald Casale of Devo was Jihad Jerry a couple years back.
And Mark Mothersbaugh as Booji Boy!
Roger Manning had an alter ego as Malibu. He was also a part of The Moog Cookbook with Brian Kehew.
posted by luckynerd at 9:13 PM on June 30, 2012
And Mark Mothersbaugh as Booji Boy!
Roger Manning had an alter ego as Malibu. He was also a part of The Moog Cookbook with Brian Kehew.
posted by luckynerd at 9:13 PM on June 30, 2012
Green Day became Foxboro Hot Tubs.
Weezer called themselves Goat Punishment and played Nirvana songs.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 9:49 PM on June 30, 2012
Weezer called themselves Goat Punishment and played Nirvana songs.
posted by XhaustedProphet at 9:49 PM on June 30, 2012
Stewart Copeland (of the Police) was Klark Kent.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:52 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 10:52 PM on June 30, 2012 [2 favorites]
A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys performed solo as Johnny No Name.
posted by keep it under cover at 11:05 PM on June 30, 2012
posted by keep it under cover at 11:05 PM on June 30, 2012
Response by poster: Oh man, I love coming home after work to this thread. Thank you all so much!
I also remembered that Alex Ebert conceived of Edward Sharpe (of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros) as a sort of Christ-like figure. But he and the band never really did anything with that. Oh well.
posted by book 'em dano at 11:06 PM on June 30, 2012
I also remembered that Alex Ebert conceived of Edward Sharpe (of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros) as a sort of Christ-like figure. But he and the band never really did anything with that. Oh well.
posted by book 'em dano at 11:06 PM on June 30, 2012
Not sure if it would fit your criteria for "persona," but '70s folk-rocker Cat Stevens became Yusuf Islam after converting and has recently been re-recording some of his earlier classics as well as writing devotional music.
posted by 5Q7 at 3:45 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by 5Q7 at 3:45 AM on July 1, 2012
Slim Shady is allegedly not the real Eminem.
posted by flabdablet at 5:38 AM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by flabdablet at 5:38 AM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Joe West often performs as Xoë Fitzgerald: Time Traveling Transvestite
posted by mon-ma-tron at 10:46 AM on July 1, 2012
posted by mon-ma-tron at 10:46 AM on July 1, 2012
I think this falls more with the Sasha Fierce example, but Lupe Fiasco briefly passed himself off as Percival Fats, a British rocker and lead singer of Japanese Cartoon
posted by ChipT at 12:51 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by ChipT at 12:51 PM on July 1, 2012
Peter Schickele performs the compositions of P.D.Q. Bach, a fictional character he created.
posted by illenion at 2:20 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by illenion at 2:20 PM on July 1, 2012
Maybe Bill Callahan/ Smog qualifies? I believe every Smog album is built around a newly invented character.
posted by stagewhisper at 4:12 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by stagewhisper at 4:12 PM on July 1, 2012
Also how about Relaxed Muscle's "Darren Spooner" (Pulp's Jarvis Cocker) and "Wayne Marsden" (Jason Buckle) ?
posted by stagewhisper at 4:23 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by stagewhisper at 4:23 PM on July 1, 2012
U2 had a brief stint as The Dalton Brothers during the Joshua Tree tour.
posted by bondcliff at 6:18 AM on July 2, 2012
posted by bondcliff at 6:18 AM on July 2, 2012
I'm resisting this answer, but I can't see how Miley Cyrus doesn't fit.
posted by NotPayingAttention at 7:12 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by NotPayingAttention at 7:12 AM on July 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
Apollo C. Vermouth
posted by monkey closet at 8:40 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by monkey closet at 8:40 AM on September 27, 2012
« Older Can't remember the name of a certain game. Care to... | Investing in art on a budget. Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by c'mon sea legs at 1:51 PM on June 30, 2012