Using A Persona Onstage

It is my belief that, decades ago, guitar players and other musicians had a more dramatic sense of theatre about them. Many people in the rock and metal genres had a separate persona that they would have onstage. This is definitely not the same as people that are pretending to be something they are not whilst marketing it as their true self – I am referring to people playing characters to an otherworldly degree, an alternate version of themselves or simply creating a new character entirely. 

In this blog post I want to look at a few examples of three different levels of persona that you might see, and the reasons for doing so. You may find that this will help you in your musical journey, or give you an idea for a new creative avenue to explore.

Full on Character

There are so many themed bands where the musicians play the part of an alien being, a troop of Vikings or powerful wizards. This is an entirely legitimate path that people take if they want to move a step beyond themed bands such as Nile (Egyptian mythology) or Amon Amarth (Norse mythology) – in those examples, they are simply telling stories rather than acting them out. One of the most famous examples of a full-on character would be GWAR, who are portrayed as a collection of ancient, extraterrestrial, science fiction beings expressing themselves through heavy metal.

However, for this section I want to be a little more down to Earth and so we will look at guitar player extraordinaire Russ Parish – better known by his stage name of Satchel from satirical 1980s themed band Steel Panther. The character, and everyone else in the band, are the embodiment of every extreme moment taken from the 1980s, and acting out stereotypes to excess. This is evident from the way they dress and act, the lyrical content and it even extends to the merchandise/guitar effects pedals that they have released over the years. 

They are clearly acting out characters, whilst being highly skilled at their respective instruments but the main thing is that they are clearly having ridiculously good fun in the process!

Alternate Self/Realistic Persona

This one is a little different in the sense that it could still be a genuine person onstage, but they are affected by the music in such a way that they act a certain way – the music consumes them and they almost do become another person but somehow transformed. 

The person I want to use as an example here is previous Red Hot Chili Peppers guitar player Josh Klinghoffer. Whilst I have not met him personally, I know a few people that have met him, or at least worked with him in some kind of professional capacity. By all accounts he is very polite but very quiet, introverted and likes to keep to himself. However, as soon as he got up onstage it was almost like a different person. There was a movement and an energy that is not there usually. 

A band that I would class in this group would be Sabaton – in their music they tell historical anecdotes and describe real events whilst using a combination of engaging costumes and impressive set design. I have chosen to include them here because there is a sense of realism more so than Steel Panther, and more immersion than Nile or Amon Amarth. 

No Altered Persona

For most of my career, this is how I have tried to perform with the exception of my time with White Coast Rebels which was basically the same, just a little more extreme. I do not portray myself to be any larger than life when I am on stage compared to when I am just hanging out normally. Other, perhaps better fitting, examples would be artists like BB King, Mike Stern and Allan Holdsworth – all people known for being the same whether they are onstage or not. 

To some degree, this could be harder for people to manage than the other examples that I have listed above because it requires that you bare your soul and put your true self on the line – if you are criticized for something that it feels more like a personal attack than a fault of the character that you played; there is no protective layer. I also think it can possibly be the most rewarding in the sense that we would feel prouder of our achievements if we ourselves are complimented directly.

Why?

We all have to do something onstage and, as I have always said, people listen with their eyes. That means you should look like you know what you are doing, that you are enjoying yourself and everything is fine even if you are internally combusting! The level at which you choose to present yourself onstage can be determined by the music that you are playing, the level at which you are playing (high school party vs stadium or arena sized tour!). 

You might have strong feelings of anxiety or stress on stage, and having that extra barrier is what allows you to perform, think of it like wearing a mask. Another reason I can think of for acting at least somewhat differently onstage would be to fit the environment you are playing, regardless of the music you are performing. Let us consider this scenario. 

For example, imagine you are playing in a dive bar, drinks are flowing, people are dancing and the set is country and western tunes.

Conversely, you are playing the same set but instead you are in a steakhouse-style restaurant. There are families, people are sitting down enjoying their food. 

Would you present yourself in the same way? 

Final Thoughts

Out of the countless bands, groups and musical artists that exist you will find inflated egos, personas seemingly too big to fit in a room with another person and everything in between. Amongst that, just try to do what you should aim for in music anyway, and that is have fun. If you can do that and be yourself, great! If you need to pretend that you are a protoplasmic, supreme being from a distant galaxy then go for it!

Before I wrap this up, I should point out that sometimes people have an overinflated opinion of themselves, or an ego that is unjustified to the point that no-one else is deemed worthy of being in their presence. However, there are also some musicians that are lucky enough to be in a position that it is completely necessary; I am sure Taylor Swift is a lovely person but due to her fame she simply can’t go through everyday life like a normal person, and it would not be fair to blame her for that entirely!