The 10 Best Signature Onstage Antics of These Rockstars
via chikenoza / YouTube
The biggest rock stars have always known how to make their performances memorable beyond just their music. Iconic moves on stage can capture an audience just as powerfully as a great song. Over the decades, certain artists have become almost as famous for these physical expressions as for their musical contributions, making them unforgettable in the world of rock and roll.
ZZ Top – 360 Guitar Spin
ZZ Top turned heads with more than their sharp-dressed style and blues-rock melodies. Their signature move, the 360° Guitar Spin, became an instant classic seen first in their music video for “Legs”. This act involves twirling a guitar all around, which not only showcases their musical prowess but also their flair for dramatic stagecraft. ZZ Top often incorporated this move into their performances, using custom Dean guitars that complemented their unique aesthetic—a blend of southern style and rock iconography.
Axl Rose – Dancing Like A Snake
View this post on Instagram
Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses brought a unique intensity to the stage with his slinky, almost serpentine dance moves. His iconic Snake Dance screamed rock ‘n’ roll swagger, matching the band’s no-holds-barred musical energy. This dance, characterized by undulating body movements, helped define the hard-edge persona of Guns N’ Roses, making their performances unforgettable spectacles of raw power and emotion.
Gene Simmons – Tongue Wag
View this post on Instagram
Gene Simmons of KISS is perhaps as well known for his outrageously long tongue as for the band’s stadium-sized rock anthems. His tongue wagging became a signature move that fans looked forward to during live performances, boosting the band’s fierce and wild persona. The rumor that Simmons had enhanced his tongue surgically only added to the mystique and appeal, making KISS concerts must-see events.
Jimi Hendrix – Guitar Teeth Picking
There’s playing guitar, and then there’s playing guitar with your teeth. Jimi Hendrix took guitar performances to legendary status not only with his unparalleled musical talent but also with his showmanship. Playing his guitar with his teeth was not only a display of raw skill but a declaration of his freedom and creativity as an artist. This move showed audiences that boundaries in rock music were meant to be pushed.
Angus Young – Guitar Playing While Lying Down
Angus Young of AC/DC turned his stage performances into a high-energy spectacle with his famous Guitar Spasms. More than just a musical performance, Young’s on-stage antics, which included duck-walking across the stage and lying down while feverishly playing solos, were a demonstration of his commitment to delivering electrifying live shows. These moments came to encapsulate the wild spirit of rock music itself.
Mick Jagger – Swaggering Walk
View this post on Instagram
Mick Jagger’s Rooster Strut is as iconic as the Rolling Stones’ music itself. Jagger’s ability to command the stage with his lively strut, coupled with his unique vocal style, has made him a quintessential figure in rock. This distinctive way of moving on stage not only complements the energy of their music but also highlights Jagger’s charismatic showmanship.
Eddie Van Halen – The Scissor Guitar Jump
View this post on Instagram
Eddie Van Halen was a maestro who not only reinvented guitar playing with his tapping technique but also brought athleticism to his stage performances with his V-Shaped Jump. The aerial maneuver involved Eddie launching himself into the air with his legs out in a spread-eagle, ‘V’ formation, often while ripping through a solo. This move, epitomizing Van Halen’s electrifying stage presence, became synonymous with the joy and exuberance of rock concerts, displaying not just skill but a sense of thrilling showmanship.
Pete Townshend – Iconic Guitar Windmill
View this post on Instagram
Pete Townshend’s Windmill Strum could almost be seen as a symbol of The Who’s explosive sound and rebellious vibe. This guitar-playing technique, involving a circular motion of his arm striking the strings in a windmill-like fashion, captured the dynamic, high-energy essence of the band. Townshend’s aggressive, no-holds-barred approach to guitar playing helped to set The Who apart from other bands of the era.
Chuck Berry – Duck Walk
View this post on Instagram
Chuck Berry’s Duck Walk is one of the most joyful and playful moves in rock history, reflecting his capability to blend showmanship with exceptional musical skills. This hopping move, where Berry would scoot across the stage with his guitar, squatting and kicking out his legs, became a vibrant symbol of rock and roll itself. It demonstrated Berry’s performance flair and became a signature move copied by many.
Elvis Presley – Hip Swivel
View this post on Instagram
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, brought a level of hip-swaying provocativeness to the stage that was revolutionary at the time. His Gyrating Hips not only sent shockwaves through the audiences but also helped to define the sexual charge of rock music in the 1950s. Elvis’s bold stage movements were so mesmerizing that television shows opted to film him from the waist up, fearing that his full performance was too risqué for viewers.
