Today in news that sounds like a punchline, Iggy Pop has just launched his own T-shirt line with Barneys Co-Op. As Rebecca Mead of The New Yorker points out, “his is the most celebrated bare torso in rock and roll, those of Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison notwithstanding.” Her brief list got us thinking about the most iconic bare chests in music, from classic rock and punk to R&B and hip-hop. A taxonomy of 10 varieties of shirtless star is after jump. You’re welcome.
Mick Jagger: The classic-rock torso
Identifying characteristics: Lithe, wiry, and seductive with little muscle definitionSee also:Jim Morrison, Robert Plant
Iggy Pop: The proto-punk torso
Identifying characteristics: More dangerous than sexualSee also:Wayne Kramer, New York Dolls
Sid Vicious: The punk-rock torso
Identifying characteristics: Self-mutilatedSee also:Darby Crash, G.G. Allin, Richard Hell
Henry Rollins: The hardcore torso
Identifying characteristics: Beefy, tough, tattooed, unkemptSee also:Jello Biafra, Pink Eyes of Fucked Up, Ian MacKaye
D’Angelo: The R&B torso
Identifying characteristics: Muscular, oiled up, lady-pleasingSee also:Usher, Trey Songz
Chris Cornell: The alt-rock torso
Identifying characteristics: Track marks, tattoosSee also:Anthony Kiedis, Scott Weiland
LL Cool J: The hip-hop torso
Identifying characteristics: Muscular, tough, tattooed, perhaps bullet-scarredSee also:Akon, Eminem, DMX, Lil Wayne
Prince: The sexually ambiguous torso
Identifying characteristics: Androgyny, glitter, tendency to make feline movementsSee also:Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Morrissey
Bon Scott: The hard rock torso
Identifying characteristics: Chest hairSee also:Axl Rose, David Lee Roth, Phil Anselmo
Wendy O. Williams: The lady torso
Identifying characteristics: Boobs, fearlessnessSee also:The Slits, Lynn Breedlove of Tribe 8 (NSFW)