20 Rockers Before They Got Their Iconic Looks

Carly Tennes Published 10/03/2024 in wow

Though our favorite artists' music may be timeless, their signature styles were once a work in progress.

Before Stevie Nicks gained international fame as Fleetwood Mac's witchy frontwoman, she was an aspiring singer, sporting a '60s frock while performing with the Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band.

Before we came to adore Slash as an effortlessly cool guitar God, he was a hat-less Saul Hudson, perfecting his guitar chops in the early '80s.

Before Amy Winehouse became synonymous with big hair, big eyeliner, and even bigger vocals, she was an up-and-coming artist, letting her hair down in London.

Yet these music legends are far from alone when it comes to honing their sounds — and their looks. From a wide-eyed Whitney Houston to a clean-cut David Bowie, here are 21 rockers before they adopted their iconic images.

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1.
David Bowie looks over his shoulder in 1965.
2.
Prince, as seen in his 8th grade yearbook.
3.
“Alice Cooper, 1960s”
4.
Stevie Nicks performs some time during the 1960s.
5.
Elvis Presley around the time of his high school graduation, 1953.
6.
Jimmy Page at age 13 in 1957.
7.
Madonna, as seen in her high school yearbook.
8.
Cyndi Lauper poses with her band in the ‘70s.
9.
Whitney Houston listening to music in her bedroom, 1982.
10.
A young Gene Simmons without his signature KISS makeup.
11.
Paul McCartney plays guitar as a teenager
12.
“Young Jimi Hendrix in 1958.”
13.
“Janis Joplin, 1961.”
14.
“Young Bob Marley circa 1964-1965.”
15.
“Freddie Mercury with his first band, The Heretics, in 1958 - formed while all five were students at St. Peter’s Boys School, an English boarding school near Bombay (now Mumbai) in India.”
16.
Jim Morrison as depicted in his high school yearbook.
17.
A teenage Kurt Cobain practices guitar.
18.
 “A young 15 year old Joey Ramone, 1966.”
19.
“Debbie Harry, late 1960s.”
20.
Amy Winehouse, 2004.
21.
Slash practices guitar, 1983.

1.
David Bowie looks over his shoulder in 1965.
2.
Prince, as seen in his 8th grade yearbook.
3.
“Alice Cooper, 1960s”
4.
Stevie Nicks performs some time during the 1960s.
5.
Elvis Presley around the time of his high school graduation, 1953.
6.
Jimmy Page at age 13 in 1957.
7.
Madonna, as seen in her high school yearbook.
8.
Cyndi Lauper poses with her band in the ‘70s.
9.
Whitney Houston listening to music in her bedroom, 1982.
10.
A young Gene Simmons without his signature KISS makeup.
11.
Paul McCartney plays guitar as a teenager
12.
“Young Jimi Hendrix in 1958.”
13.
“Janis Joplin, 1961.”
14.
“Young Bob Marley circa 1964-1965.”
15.
“Freddie Mercury with his first band, The Heretics, in 1958 - formed while all five were students at St. Peter’s Boys School, an English boarding school near Bombay (now Mumbai) in India.”
16.
Jim Morrison as depicted in his high school yearbook.
17.
A teenage Kurt Cobain practices guitar.
18.
 “A young 15 year old Joey Ramone, 1966.”
19.
“Debbie Harry, late 1960s.”
20.
Amy Winehouse, 2004.
21.
Slash practices guitar, 1983.