Rock Stars Who Used to Be Super Hot
Time takes a toll on us all, and rock stars are no exception. Many rockers spent a lot of years taking full advantage of the party scene, which often involved drugs, smoking and excessive alcohol. Combine that with constant travel and dealing with the stress of living in the public eye, and there were bound to be some consequences down the road.
Just like the rest of us, the years have been kinder to some music legends than others. Let’s take a look at some former super hot rock stars who are showing some significant signs of wear and tear these days.
David Lee Roth
The lead singer of Van Halen probably danced, danced, danced the night away many times. In his prime, he was known for awesome hair and killer vocals. At the age of 65, the man has seen a lot, and it shows — but he certainly had a hell of a run.
Honestly, as far as rock stars go, he doesn’t look too bad for a 65-year-old man who traveled the world as the frontman for one of the most popular bands of all time. Still, in his day, he was considered super hot. It looks like time can take even more of a toll on rock stars.
Rick Springfield
In the ’80’s, almost every girl would have traded places with “Jessie’s Girl” if it meant she could win the attention of Rick Springfield. The star had a lot of hits and a lot of long nights, and he has stayed in the spotlight over the years. He has appeared on several television series in supporting roles. Nonetheless, it looks like the years of partying have left their mark.
At the age of 70, Springfield has a long list of accomplishments, including a memoir that made The New York Times’ Best Seller list. His looks may have faded, but his legacy will certainly live on.
Axl Rose
The Guns N’ Roses lead vocalist used to be one of the hottest rock stars on the planet. He was known for belting out incredible vocals for some of the greatest rock songs ever written. These days, his killer body and boyish good looks have been replaced by weight gain and a nearly unrecognizable face. (Anyone else think this pic looks like Dame Judi Dench?)
It seems like somebody may have partied too hard in “Paradise City.” Now, at 57, Rose has had a pretty amazing career, traveling the world and performing alongside other iconic bands. At least, he has a lot of crazy stories to tell!
George Michael
George Michael used to look like the guy on the front of paperback romance novels — but with a bit more edge. Before his untimely passing, he looked more like a college professor keen on rambling about the latest conspiracy theories. Either way, he was arrested for lewd behavior before his death, and the headlines really hurt his reputation.
He had a lot of hit singles with the band Wham! and some success on solo endeavors. Almost everybody knows the words to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” so let’s do our best to remember him fondly.
Richie Sambora
Richie Sambora was the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, who recorded a load of smash hits. He was insanely attractive and really knew how to work that guitar, which made most women swoon at the very sight of him. However, after “Living on a Prayer” for a little too long, the years caught up to the 60-year-old guitarist.
The party lifestyle that rock stars tend to live can make those lines on the face add up more quickly than for the average person. At least, the lines represent a lot of good times with his band and with the ladies.
Vince Neil
Any member of the band Motley Crue probably shouldn’t be expected to age gracefully. Vince Neil is no exception, and perhaps as the lead vocalist and face of the band, the years seem to have hit him a bit harder. He used to look like the epitome of a rock sex symbol with a rocking body and big blonde hair. The Vince Neil of today isn’t quite so appealing.
The years of partying hard caught up, and as harsh as it sounds, he generally appears bloated to an almost painful extent. The rocker is 58, but it looks like that could equate to a much larger number in rocker years.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock brought his own form of Southern rock to the masses, and he used to look pretty good doing it. These days, though, he looks more like Dr. Phil dressed up as Kid Rock. There was even a meme about it that went viral on Twitter.
In his day, he attracted many beautiful women, including Pamela Anderson, who certainly seems to have a type. Today, Kid Rock can still put on a show, but living a life filled with constant partying seems to have caught up with him. Even rock stars can feel the sting of aging.
Tommy Lee
Where do you even begin with the Motley Crue drummer? It’s certainly no surprise that this dude partied — hard. He has had his fair share of public romances — some more infamous than others. In his day, he attracted tons of people with his “bad boy of rock” swagger, and he made some pretty good music along the way.
These days, those years of hard partying and romantic stress show on his face. Still, Tommy Lee has never been the type to hide who he is from his fans, and it’s easy to appreciate that. Even if he won’t exactly be kickstarting our hearts any time soon.
Fred Durst
The Limp Bizkit singer brought an entirely new type of music to the masses and gained a lot of attention for it in the mid-1990s. He also earned attention for being hot in a punk-rock mash-up sort of way. Today, he looks like a less intense version of John Malkovich, who sometimes tries to a rock a hipster-style beard.
We will give him credit, as he does seem to know how to adapt to the style of the era — sort of. You can still hear lots of his angry music being played today, whether you like it or not.
Steven Tyler
You can’t help but love Steven Tyler! He has remained interesting for as long as he has been on the scene, even though his looks have faded. Tyler can play a shocking number of musical instruments and can hit some serious notes (yesterday and today). In our minds, he will always be an icon.
In the ’70’s, women lined up to get close to him. Today, he appears more like a hip granny with a mild drinking problem, but let’s not judge him for it. He has written and sung some of the most rocking songs ever recorded.
Trent Reznor
The lead singer of Nine Inch Nails used to be what we thought of when we thought of the hotties of “heavy rock.” With sexually explicit lyrics and the swagger to go along with them, he probably had his fair share of groupies attracted to the edgy good looks that everybody loved.
As with many others, time and partying took a toll, and the once-hot singer has really cooled down. He is 54 now and has a lot of accomplishments under his belt. After all, it’s not about being hot all the time.
John Lydon
John Lydon — known famously as “Johnny Rotten” — was right there at the beginning of the punk rock scene. He had a bad boy persona, good looks and the style to pull it all together. He was once the lead singer of the then-controversial Sex Pistols and had loads of fans who adored him.
Since those days, his looks have faded, but he has always managed to keep his signature style. Unfortunately, without his amazing looks, his style makes him appear more like a living cartoon character. Either way, it couldn’t be a bad thing to hang out with him.
John Cougar Mellencamp
John Cougar Mellencamp told us all about “Jack and Diane” and how love could “Hurt So Good.” While he used to be charmingly good looking, it now looks like he’s been through more hurt than good. Let’s not be too harsh, though, he can still rock out on a guitar and get the crowd going with his many hits.
Many of his songs are about people making their way in the world. He taught us a lot about that journey and has had a pretty amazing journey himself. He doesn’t look like the boy next door anymore, but talent has no age limit.
Eddie Vedder
Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder looks a lot different than he did when he first hit the stage a couple of decades ago. He has been ranked as one of the best lead singers of all time, so let’s not get too critical about how he has aged.
Vedder used to have that classic ’90’s grunge look that has inspired a ton of other trends over the years. His look now, at 54, gives off much more of a “dad-like” vibe, but he can still sing like he used to, so we are okay with it! His voice is one of a kind.
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney always had a vibe of his own. Unlike many other rockers, he had the type of good looks you could take home to meet your parents. He wrote some amazing music and still continues to do so. McCartney is too much of a legend to be super critical of his looks.
The man is 77 years old and still rocking out on stage! That is something to be commended, seriously! He may have a few more wrinkles than most, but he has lived a lot more than most. Good for him!
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison lit the fires of many girls in his day. As the lead singer of The Doors, he was considered to be one of the hottest rock stars that ever lived. Sadly, he passed away at the very young age of 27. The decline in his good looks leading up to his death was likely due to his deteriorating mental state.
Before his death, he grew out his beard and began acting very strangely. There was no autopsy performed. He died on the exact same day as Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones, two years later. Strange indeed.
Bono
Bono is known for leading U2 to international success and looking great doing it. If it can be believed, his resume keeps growing. He’s worked on scores for hit films and written songs for other rock stars. It’s easy to understand how working so hard — after years of playing so hard — can take a toll on your looks.
He has won too many awards to mention and has been recognized for his work as a philanthropist. While his looks may have faded, Bono’s work ethic certainly hasn’t. At the age of 59, he looks like somebody’s cool uncle.
Bryan Adams
You’ve undoubtedly heard versions of Bryan Adams music remixed many, many times over the years. He wrote classics like “Heaven” and “Cuts Like a Knife” and charmed millions with his smooth vocals and wholesome good looks. His charisma only added to his appeal.
Years of battling acne and an intense life of traveling are probably to blame for the fading of Adams’ looks. Today, he looks like your everyday, approachable guy, and we still dig his style. As far as rock stars go, he has aged pretty gracefully. Wonder if he can still remember the “Summer of 69?”
Iggy Pop
The transformation of Iggy Pop is almost startling. While he was once considered very good looking, the years have been incredibly unkind to the Stooges frontman. He was known for taking part in wild antics while on stage, and that may have contributed to the toll of the years on his body.
Either way, when it comes to rock stars who used to be hot, Iggy Pop definitely makes the cut. He is nearly unrecognizable from the toned heart throb he once was. Let this be a reminder to care for your body, for sure.
Robert Plant
The charismatic lead singer of Led Zeppelin is much more than just good looks, which is a good thing because his looks did not stick around. The evolution of his style has been very interesting to watch, however.
It has been said by many throughout the years that Robert Plant basically helped start the trope we know as “Rock God” today. The guy had style and really knew how to get a crowd going every single time he performed. Today, at 71, he seems like the type of guy who could tell you some crazy stories!
Keith Richards
You can’t use the term “Rock Gods” without The Rolling Stones coming to mind immediately. Richards, the lead guitarist of the band, used to be all about the rock aesthetic. His bad-boy good looks enchanted multitudes of people all over the world. Like the others, though, the years have been less than kind.
Years of cigarettes and hard partying have a tendency to add some wrinkles. It’s hard to say anything too negative about a living legend. You do have to appreciate that the guy just keeps going. Props to him!
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger had moves that were so famous a song was written about it — “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5 if you aren’t familiar with it. The Rolling Stones frontman has probably seen a lot throughout his illustrious career, so we can’t blame him for not looking quite as he once did. The man is 76, after all.
Looking at him now, he looks like a hip grandpa who would be there to bail you out if you ever landed in jail. His voice does have a way of getting people moving, so let’s be kind to an absolute legend.
Robert Smith
The lead singer of The Cure and new inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has seen better days. Even though he was always known for his slightly gothic look, we can all agree that the look definitely goes too far at his current age. A lot can be said of his commitment to crazy hair and smeared makeup, though!
Nobody can say that the man didn’t make his mark on pop culture. Much of his original style has been replicated in music and movies since he came on the scene. That is something we can all appreciate.
Billy Idol
Billy Idol was pure ’80’s rock. He was basically walking sexuality before it was cool, and we can all commend him for that. Most of his songs displayed his high opinion of himself, but nobody could tell the man he was wrong! He was super hot, and he had serious style.
Of course, partying a bit too hard can age your skin and make you appear a bit washed out years before your time. Idol is unique in one way compared to many other rockers: He did do his best to keep his well-toned physique.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart is well known for his fantastic voice that stands out. His raspy vocals perfectly complimented his edgy good looks and made many wish they could be close to him. Lots of his music was about seduction, and it certainly worked when he was in his prime.
These days, at 74, his vocals have aged a lot better than his looks. The word is he still continues to record music, so we will have to see what he has left up his sleeve! Either way, good looks or not, Stewart is iconic and will always be a cool guy.
David Coverdale
“Here I Go Again” is still one of the most recognizable rock songs of all time. People of nearly every generation know the words, so let’s be cool about David Coverdale. Sure, his look in the ’80’s screamed Rock God, but aging is inevitable for us all.
We have to admit that hair was probably pretty dang hard to maintain! The White Snake lead singer is in his late 60’s now, but by the look of it, he has done his best to hold on to his classic look, despite the passing of years. Good for him!
Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe is known as the lead singer of the band R.E.M. Fans already loved the sound of their music but fell even more in love with a shirtless Stipe. His good looks paired with a unique sounding voice left people everywhere wanting more of the R.E.M. singer.
Since those days, the years have taken their toll. His once gorgeous, full head of hair is gone, and the six-pack abs that enchanted an entire generation have long faded. He is 59 now and looks like a person who could give you some solid life advice.
Paul Stanley
Kiss singer Paul Stanley was known for face paint and great vocals. As he aged, he fell into a trap that many celebrities find themselves in: poor plastic surgery. While Stanley used to be genuinely handsome, the surgery lifted his skin a bit too high resulting in a look that seems almost startled at all times.
The look takes away from his natural bone structure, making him almost cartoon-like. Poor plastic surgery choices aside, at the age of 67, Stanley can still hit those vocals, and we love him for it. Looks fade, but great music is forever.
Billy Joel
Billy Joel has written a ton of hits that are still popular even today. The “Piano Man” is now 70 and hasn’t released anything new in quite some time. In his day, he was sought by models and everyday women alike. He has been married three times.
All that traveling, singing, songwriting and barrage of ladies took its toll on Joel, just like it would on anyone. Even though he is older, he still tours sometimes and can still play the piano like he was born to do nothing else. Grandpa or not, we still enjoy his sound.
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is known as the lead singer of Blur, and he had 90’s alternative boyish good looks back then. His face was basically what you pictured every time you heard an alternative love song. Not many guys after him have tried to imitate his style — for good reason!
These days, at the age of 51, he isn’t exactly the picture of boyish good looks anymore. However, as far as lead vocalists go, he has not aged too poorly. Still, the appeal of those yearning looks while singing ’90’s tunes is no longer present when he performs.
Bob Dylan
A prominent figure in popular culture is Bob Dylan. He has been in the game for more than 50 years. The famous star is also one of the best singer-songwriters of the 20th century. His lyrics are all about real-life events, especially social issues.
In his earlier years, Dylan was known for his messy, curly brown hair. His signature look included a Stetson hat too. At age 78, he hasn’t really changed his hairstyle or outfit. The star still has curly hair and often puts on headwear.
Ozzy Osbourne
During the 1970s, John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne achieved global recognition as the lead singer of Black Sabbath. He called himself the “Prince of Darkness,” but he also earned the unofficial title of the “Godfather of Heavy Metal.” The heavy metal pioneer has sold a whopping 100 million albums throughout his career.
Osbourne is more than just a rock VIP; he’s also an actor and television personality. Starring in his own reality show, Osbourne became a TV star in the early 2000s. Today, in his 70s, he continues to be in the spotlight and appears in a TV series with his children, Jack and Kelly.
Saul Hudson
Saul Hudson has shaken up the music industry since 1981. The guitarist is better known by his stage name Slash. His face often hides behind his long, curly hair, but that doesn’t stop him from performing epic guitar solos.
Frequently wearing leather pants and sunglasses, Slash also throws on a tophat when he plays live. At the age of 54, he continues to prove that he’s a riff god and executes high screeching guitar acts. Slash shows no signs of slowing down.
Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page was the guitarist of the rock band Led Zeppelin, but he was also the founder of the group. Many fans and critics describe him as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, and it’s clear to see why.
Known for power riffing, Page used a large variety of guitars. Sometimes, he even played the guitar with a violin bow. Sounds impressive, right? The talented musician was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Currently, Page is in his 70s.
Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts drums for the Rolling Stones, a.k.a. “The World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band.” Before joining the gang, he performed at clubs throughout London. The musician eventually met his future bandmates, Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Watts is recognized for his style of playing the drums, but some businesses have noticed his other talents. For instance, Vanity Fair elected him into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 2006. Currently, in his late 70s, Watts is still rocking with his crew.
