# Poll: Is it ok for rock musicians to wear shorts onstage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2014, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002 "2014-08-07T02:54:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/21 "2014-08-07T12:03:12Z")
> [@Archeonomist](#): > > Aaaargh! My eyes! Who would do business (or go to a rock concert) with someone like that? Everyone in Bermuda. When we travel to Bermuda we see tons of business professionals dressed like that walking in town, at business lunches, taking meetings in hotels etc. It’s the standard business dress for men. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/22 "2014-08-07T12:10:04Z")
While I am not a professional musician, I wear baggy shorts when I play in shows. I play drums and shorts give me better movement and lessen the chance of snagging a pants cuff on a pedal. Also the chicks like my legs. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/23 "2014-08-07T12:43:39Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Everyone in Bermuda. When we travel to Bermuda we see tons of business professionals dressed like that walking in town, at business lunches, taking meetings in hotels etc. It’s the standard business dress for men. It seems totally pointless. You have socks that go up high enough to make up for the pants you aren’t wearing. And your jacket is still fully long sleeved. Surely there’s a way to design a suit for hot weather that actually looks dressy in some fashion, instead of that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/24 "2014-08-07T13:28:32Z")
OP, did any of these people say _why_ shorts would be verboten? I mean, if you’re playing jazz it’s probably kind of weird but I cannot conceive of any situation where I would look at a band and think, “hmmm, their pants are too short.” Maybe if your junk is hanging out. > [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > If the music is good enough, it doesn’t matter what you wear. “These magic clothes don’t play music. We do.” -Vinnie Paul Abbott ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/25 "2014-08-07T13:58:40Z")
Isn’t “anything goes” part of rock culture? There are no rules other than what is or isn’t legal, and occasionally not even that. ---
**Author:** ![Lemmytheseal2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lemmytheseal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemmytheseal2)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/26 "2014-08-07T14:50:37Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Lemmytheseal2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lemmytheseal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemmytheseal2)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/27 "2014-08-07T14:52:30Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > It’s fine, and this is a bizarre question. > > That aside, I do think shirts look silly on grown men. > [@Archeonomist](#): > > No. In fact, it’s not OK for any adult male to wear short trousers in public (apart from beaches). What if it’s hot outside? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/28 "2014-08-07T15:02:45Z")
> [@Lemmytheseal2](#): > > What if it’s hot outside? **even sven** is under the impression that hot areas of the US are exactly the same as arid areas of the Middle East & Africa. She thinks that people in hot \*humid \*climates would be more comfortable wearing long robes. Don’t bother convincing her otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/29 "2014-08-07T15:06:36Z")
[Bob Weir’s short shorts](https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/418160_366385540059393_1815606517_n.jpg) have their own facebook page. As an audience member my feeling is that it’s perfectly okay for rock musicians to wear shorts in any venue/circumstance where where audience members are also likely to be wearing shorts. If Bob W. were asked to play at some Kennedy Center Honors type thing, with the audience in black tie I wouldn’t expect him to wear a tux necessarily, but hope he’s rustle up some long pants for the event. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/30 "2014-08-07T15:09:33Z")
No Bob, it was not okay when you were a teenager to wear shorts on stage, and it is not okay today now that you are 70ish. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/31 "2014-08-07T15:48:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It seems totally pointless. You have socks that go up high enough to make up for the pants you aren’t wearing. And your jacket is still fully long sleeved. > > Surely there’s a way to design a suit for hot weather that actually looks dressy in some fashion, instead of that thing. It’s cultural and historical to Bermuda. I find it absolutely charming. The whole world doesn’t have to be the same, for goodness sakes. A little variety is a wonderful thing. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/32 "2014-08-07T15:57:40Z")
Pluck naked. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/33 "2014-08-07T17:05:07Z")
Generally, yes. The only reason I would ever say no is if a band has either established a particular look that their fans expect or are otherwise in a subgenre where it might be unacceptable. As an example of the former–not rock per se but I know metal better–a band like GWAR or Ghost BC have theatrics as a very important part of their live performances, and generally, shorts don’t fit with that, I would consider it poor form if they wore shorts. Or for an example of the latter, if I were at a Goth, Black, or Folk metal show, it would seem out of place since those genres tend to have more constraints about how they present themselves. However, it pretty much any other genre, it’s fair game, and in fact not unlikely. Considering that rock seems to generally have less of the costume theatrics, and less of the constraints on themes, I can’t think of any mainstream rock band I’d think it would be out of place in, except for perhaps something like KISS. Regardless, I’m a big proponent of the idea that a band can and should wear whatever they want, it’s the music that matters, and I always seem to have the most fun when the band dresses up just like the fans, because they ARE fans too. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/34 "2014-08-07T17:40:42Z")
When it comes to rock and roll musicians, I am just glad their genitals are covered, so yeah, shorts should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/35 "2014-08-07T21:19:12Z")
As a topic tangentially related to music (however short), I’m moving this to Cafe. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/36 "2014-08-07T21:41:08Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > **even sven** is under the impression that hot areas of the US are exactly the same as arid areas of the Middle East & Africa. She thinks that people in hot \*humid \*climates would be more comfortable wearing long robes. Don’t bother convincing her otherwise. Well, either that, or I think shorts look silly on grow ups. FWIW I’m not sure exposing a few inches of calf provides much cooling, especially on the heavy denim or twill jean-style shorts that are the norm. But that’s beside the point. There are plenty of cool and comfortable options out there that we generally don’t wear around because they look funny. I know that I’ve left my bra top and loincloth at home. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/37 "2014-08-07T22:08:03Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Hell, Flea has worn much less. > > Extremely NSFW: > > [http://4.bp.blogspot.com/\_shzp-xeuBHg/SfIRhEJPzpI/AAAAAAAAB2g/dKmPOeW8\_78/s400/flea+2.jpg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_shzp-xeuBHg/SfIRhEJPzpI/AAAAAAAAB2g/dKmPOeW8_78/s400/flea+2.jpg) Thank you. 😃 > [@ZPG Zealot](#): > > When it comes to rock and roll musicians, I am just glad their genitals are covered, so yeah, shorts should be fine. The Red Hot Chili Peppers often performed in just their socks. 😉 Blink-182 unused used their guitars and drum set for cover-up. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > No. They should wear jock straps and nothing else. I second this motion, all in favour? ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/38 "2014-08-07T22:11:00Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > … > FWIW I’m not sure exposing a few inches of calf provides much cooling… Well, I guess you could try asking somebody who has worn shorts. I have, and it does. > [@even\_sven](#): > > …especially on the heavy denim or twill jean-style shorts that are the norm… Huh? Where is that the norm? All the shorts I have are a fairly light cotton. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/39 "2014-08-07T22:25:54Z")
I have shorts made of Metallica. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002/40 "2014-08-07T23:52:55Z")
It’s… okay. I don’t really LIKE it, but I’d never demand a refund or anything. It would be a minor detraction at best. But it looks kinda silly, and if you are charging money to watch you perform, you should put some effort into your stage presence. It doesn’t have to be nice; if you are a sloppy punk band, I don’t expect you to look nice, but you are just going to look goofy up there in shorts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-is-it-ok-for-rock-musicians-to-wear-shorts-onstage/695002.md?page=3)