Though we may associate Madonna with bullet bras, Bono with little round shades and, of course, Alice Cooper with dark black eyeliner and a goth demeanor, these now-legndary stars took some time to craft their now-signature looks. Case in point? The old-school photos of these artists — and more — before their heyday.
From a pre-beehive Amy Winehouse to Jimi Hendrix with a little less experience, here are 10 new pics of iconic rockstars before they got their iconic looks.
1
Jimi Hendrix
Long before he gained experience rocking out before sold-out crowds, the iconic artist served in the U.S. Army — and looked the part, too.
2
Iggy Pop
The Stooges’ frontman wasn’t always associated with long blonde hair and a lack of a shirt — just take a look at his surprisingly clean-cut senior photo, snapped in 1965.
3
Amy Winehouse
This British icon didn’t always rock beehive and a thick winged eyeliner, as evident in this still from a 2004 performance.
4
Madonna
Before she was defined by bleach-blonde hair and bullet bras, she was a Michigan teen rocking what appears to be a flannel.
5
Kurt Cobain
Before he served as a grunge icon, Kurt Cobain wore a t-shirt and jeans as he played drums with what appears to be a school band.
6
Jim Morrison
The Doors legend looked a whole lot different in his younger years … including in this 1963 mugshot.
7
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton didn’t always rock big hair and tight top — just look at the country maven’s short locks in this 1965 billboard.
8
Alice Cooper
Though most best known for being “Godfather of Shock Rock,” per the Saturday Evening Post, the raspy-voiced icon — pictured here with his band in 1973 — once looked a whole lot more normal than his eyeliner-fueled gothic looks.
9
Bono Bono, as seen here in 1983, rocked teased hair and a bolo tie before adopting his signature shades. Courtesy of Helge Øverås
Bono, as seen here in 1983, rocked teased hair and a bolo tie before adopting his signature shades.
10
Slash
Before the guitar legend adopted his signature sunglasses and top hat, he was a little kid with some seriously iconic curls.
