The reality of the alluring rockstar lifestyle is messy, dirty, and raw. Fans glamourize it; the sex and freedom that emulate from the music serve as inspiration for their own lives. These visceral feelings captured on stage become plastered posters on bedroom walls and next month’s magazine spreads.
But behind the curtain, hazy dressing rooms are littered with stale cigarettes and discarded beer cans, side tables shimmer with loose sequins and rock candy. The backstage is a grimy haven away from the roaring crowds, where show after show, the meticulously curated grungy facade can dissolve behind closed doors. Sweaty latex and leather are stripped off, harnesses are discarded in a pile, and heeled boots are flung into a corner.
But where does this fetish-laden closet come from? Well, according to international rock band Måneskin, sex shops are the best stylists. This statement is nothing unusual, as musicians have explored fetish culture and gender fluidity in rock since the 1980s. Joan Jett’s particularly androgynous look consists of black skinny jeans, studs, and a leather jacket. Tommy Lee regularly sported kinky leather-on-leather ensembles, and icons like Queen and David Bowie confidently performed in drag.
This style is a reflection of the rockstar persona, the scandalous life of legends, but when it’s all stripped bare…
…there’s nothing sweeter than rock candy.
Creative Direction by Charlotte Pinkerton.
Photography by Giancarlo Bustos.
Words by Miia Popovics and Charlotte Pinkerton.
Styling by Megan Acosta.
Makeup by Ari Young Sang.
Graphics by Eve Friday.
Talent by Isabelle Leaf, David Pouliotte, and Juan Cruz.