# Rockstar/Popstar signature stage moves and sayings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 28, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046 "2017-10-28T04:08:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/21 "2017-10-29T00:33:50Z")
Speaking of hair on fire, a classic era KISS concert would never be complete without Gene breathing fire and spitting up blood! ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/22 "2017-10-29T01:53:53Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Mick Jagger’s chicken strut. Not sure if that’s the right term, but you can picture it. It’s like a rooster on acid. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/23 "2017-10-29T01:59:14Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Elvis the pelvis! Later (Vegas) Elvis had that “pose.” And then he left the building. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/24 "2017-10-29T02:57:39Z")
Keith Emerson [stabbing his Hammond organ with daggers.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjkD39dCvBI) Carl Palmer would take off his shirt halfway through his drum solo. The first time was only because he felt hot & sweaty; but it got such a huge cheer from the audience, it became his signature move. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/25 "2017-10-29T03:08:40Z")
Neil Peart throwing sticks 20 feet in the air and catching them. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/26 "2017-10-29T04:52:46Z")
Freddie Mercury holding the [top half of a microphone stand](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub-VQEE6K10/WDhkgpCHqdI/AAAAAAACdf8/7NNUFqG9t1gR62-vEmHqOYwkvdf9cX2uwCLcB/s1600/freddie-mercury-facts-3.jpg), and using it as a baton / staff / prop. (This apparently came from an on-stage equipment malfunction early in his career, when the mic stand came apart, and he decided he liked it.) And, Mercury [donning a crown and cape](http://www.queenlive.ca/queen/live%20pics/86-06-14_Paris_04.jpg) as Queen’s rendition of “God Save the Queen” played at the end of their concerts. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/27 "2017-10-29T11:07:26Z")
If you want to stretch it to Liberace, he had a routine about getting a nasty review and crying to the bank. In later years he amended it to “remember that bank I went to? I now own it”. Sha Na Na had a bit where they would say “we have one thing to say to you f\*\*\*\*\*\*g hippies: Rock and Roll is here to stay!” and break into “Rock and Roll is here to stay”. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/28 "2017-10-29T13:41:48Z")
**Rob Halford** of Heavy Metal band **Judas Priest** riding a motorcycle on stage. \*\*Paul Quinn \*\*of British Heavy Metal band **Saxon** used to mount his guitar strap centrally so he could spin it like a propellor. I’ve seen **ZZ Top** do the same. **Wilco Johnson** of **Dr Feelgood** raising his guitar to his shoulder like a rifle. I’ve seen **Lemmy** of **Motörhead** do the same. **Wilco** also had his own, jerky, version of the ‘duck walk’. Heavy Metal band **Iron Maiden** always have some variation on the horrific mascot Eddie. British Eurovision winners and pop band **Bucks Fizz** had a dance routine where the two male members would dance with the two female members and while the girls did a twirl their skirts would be ripped off… It was a different time. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/29 "2017-10-29T14:02:10Z")
Billy Joel closes each concert with “don’t take any shit from anyone” ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/30 "2017-10-29T18:08:31Z")
“1-2-3-4” -The Ramones ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/31 "2017-10-29T20:47:39Z")
Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson - “Scream for me…(insert town name here)” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/32 "2017-10-29T22:57:16Z")
Pete’s windmill has been mentioned, but not his birdman, powerslide, or guitar demolition. The guitar players in Gene Vincent’s band would all get down on their knees and flail around on the stage as seen here: [Long Tall Sally, Brussels 1963](https://youtu.be/Jpzs-N2LWrU?t=1m35s) ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/33 "2017-10-30T15:28:57Z")
David Lee Roth’ s mid-air split off the drum riser back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/34 "2017-10-30T16:03:51Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Billy Joel closes each concert with “don’t take any shit from anyone” That’s a little ironic, and a couple hours too late. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/35 "2017-10-31T17:14:13Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > That’s a little ironic, and a couple hours too late. I don’t get your reference. Would you please elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/36 "2017-10-31T18:16:42Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Miles was known for turning his back to the audience and I saw him do it once. Maynard James Keenan is notorious for this as well, when he’s playing with Tool. He either stays in the shadows, in line with the band rather than in front of the band, or sings the entire show with his back to the audience. The alleged reason is because his eyes are light-sensitive. I think he wants the audience to focus on the music, not on his “antics.” Or it’s to piss off Tool fans, who are insufferable (and I’m one of them!). I’ve seen him play with A Perfect Circle and Puscifer and he doesn’t really do that with either band. Only with Tool. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/37 "2017-10-31T19:08:12Z")
Natalie Merchant, twirling, twirling, twirling toward freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/38 "2017-10-31T19:27:12Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > Natalie Merchant, twirling, twirling, twirling toward freedom. Natalie Merchant or Stevie Nicks…Who is the better twirler? How about Tom Jones collecting panties thrown onstage by his adoring (mostly) female fans? (To be fair, that’s more of an audience thing, but it did tend to happen at all his shows.) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/39 "2017-10-31T19:52:05Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I don’t get your reference. Would you please elaborate? Billy Joel getting done with a concert: “Don’t take any shit!” Audience member “Too late!” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046/40 "2017-10-31T20:32:41Z")
Morrison had his “one leg hop and twirl” which Val Kilmer perfected for “The Doors” movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rockstar-popstar-signature-stage-moves-and-sayings/800046.md?page=3)