Top Bands With Makeup and Masks

10/31/2011
. (Gibson) Halloween is here, and when it comes to frightening music and chilling stage theatrics, rock and metal have it covered. From the originators to those whom they inspired, these performers share a sense of rebellion, drama and the desire to craft something new. Gibson have named 10 killer makeup-ed and masked rock and metal greats who bring together shock, thrills and, of course, rock and roll. Here are a few highlights:

8. GWAR: If GWAR didn't originate rock music rooted in theatrical stance, they certainly did it bigger than any before them. When the members of GWAR hit the stage, they look nothing like human beings, enclosed in full-bodied latex costumes and taking on alien-inspired characters. They're onstage presentation mixes dark humor, taboo subject matter and the most gory of showings, as audience members often leave covered in "blood."

6. Slipknot: Known for pulsating percussion, chunky riffs and intense theatrics a la nightmare-inducing masks, Slipknot quickly rose to the top of the alt-metal landscape in the late '90s, and soon after broke into the mainstream. While the future of Slipknot is currently in question, with lead singer Corey Taylor's new book and work Stone Sour, there's little point at denying Slipknot's influence in the masked metal world, especially for the next generation of metallers.

5. Misfits: Misfits are often championed as the forgers of the horror punk subgenre, mixing punk rock, metal and pop into a musical blender and adding a dash of horror film motifs. Originated in 1977 in New Jersey by now-legendary singer and songwriter Glenn Danzig, Misfits defined campy fun, with a fondness for catchy, big melodies, many times spit out at lightning-fast speed. Add to that creepy punk rock-meets-horror flick costumes, and Misfits certainly deserve a spot in this catalog. See who else made the list

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