11 Iconic Guitarist Halloween Costume Ideas With Necessities Included (LIST)

With Halloween less than a week away and the long weekend of parties starting in days, most of us are probably still scrambling for the answer to that seasonal question – “what are you going to wear?”  In the spirit of Desert Trip (“Oldchella”) that took place a couple weekends ago and our 2013 list of Peter Gabriel costumes, we’re giving you a list of aging rocker costumes with all the needed necessities.

Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top

Naturally, ZZ Top are an easy band to parody. The self-styled “Little Ole Band from Texas” creates quite a visual impression due to two front men who sport extraordinarily lengthy beards and an impervious look that suggests they were simply born to boogie. No matter that drummer Frank Beard is the only member of the trio without hair growing from his chiny-chin-chin. That’s merely a part of the irony.

Costume Necessities: Lengthy chinstrap in the form of free-swinging follicles, spiky bathing cap for head attire, leather jacket, shades, Les Paul, Telecaster or Strat (your choice), and a look of bemused indifference

Angus Young, AC/DC

At age 61, Angus Young would seem a wee bit old to be prancing about in his traditional schoolboy garb, but that hasn’t stopped him from shedding his shirt on occasion and furthering the illusion that when you’re a rock ‘n‘ roller, age is a non-factor. Besides, given his band’s bombast and bluster, a duck-walking guitarist is perfectly appropriate. Sadly, the group’s two singers haven’t fared nearly as well, what with the early demise of Bon Scott, and, more recently, Brian Johnson’s departure due to health issues. Given those circumstances, a nondescript guitarist simply wouldn’t do, which is where Angus‘ role as the eternal imp comes into play. Give this schoolboy an A plus for his age-defying image.

Costume Necessities: School boy hat, devil horns, white socks, prep school uniform and the ability to duck walk.

Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick

As the mugging axman of Cheap Trick, Rick Nielsen oozes rock ‘n‘ roll wackiness and respectability. Clad in baseball cap and sweater, wielding a multi-fretted guitar and flicking a barrage of signature guitar picks to appreciative fans, Nielsen comes close to stealing the spotlight from the band’s chief poser, singer Robin Zander. Nevertheless, that’s clearly not his intention. Nielsen is more the comic foil, and with the band having successfully booted core drummer Bun E. Carlos, he has the parody department all too himself. His look was originally influenced by Huntz Hall of the Bowery Boys, but it’s also evolved over the years with bow ties, sunglasses and an occasional goatee as he’s evolved with his accoutrements.

Costume Necessities: Bowtie (most of the time), circa ‘50s era sweater, baseball cap with flipped up lid, checkered guitar, goofy facial expression, and a son eager to take advantage of dad’s senior status in order to claim the drum throne for the departure of an ousted founding member..

Johnny Ramone

Gone but not forgotten, the former John Cummings — the once and future Johnny Ramone — did as much as anyone to ensure punk rock’s indelible image will be forever enshrined in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. While Joey Ramone often got all the attention due to his tall, geeky, string bean visage, Johnny was all business — his guitar slung low, his riffs relentlessly raging and his gaze locked on his axe as if it was the only thing that ever mattered. And for a time, in those halcyon days of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, that seemed to be the case. Johnny and the Ramones invented the DIY ethic, suggesting that it was attitude and not ability that really mattered for anyone for due reverence to basic rock ‘n’ roll.

Costume Necessities: Ripped jeans (as in, really ripped), tee shirt, tennis shoes, pageboy haircut and sneer.

Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac and Solo

Did Lindsey Buckingham single-handedly save Fleetwood Mac from oblivion? Certainly Stevie Nicks played a part too, but she and Buckingham were more or less joined at the hip at the time, so as her boyfriend, Buckingham could be credited with bringing her onboard and giving the failing band a double shot of adrenaline. And let’s face it, Nicks’ spinning good witch and fairy like persona did, and still does, get a bit tiresome after awhile. Leave it to the cool, good looking dude on the front line to give the Mac their presence and precision. True, he’s no longer the young stud he once was, but he’s managed to age gracefully into a knowing elder statesman, the kind of guy rockers can still look up to for class and charisma.

Costume Necessities: For the younger Buckingham, a bushy bushy hairdo and, when posing for album covers with your girlfriend, little or nothing else. For the elder Lindsey, v-neck tee shirt, cool jacket — leather or otherwise — and a look of extreme cool and confidence.

Frank Zappa

When Frank Zappa debuted his Mothers of Invention in 1966 with the album Freak Out, his unruly shoulder length hair, Fu Manchu moustache and what looked liked an unruly caterpillar positioned below his lower lip provided him with an intimidating presence far removed from the pin up looks that most rockers of that era were known for. Aside from an image best described as the Wild Man of Borneo during an acid trip, Zappa further affected his crazed persona by tying his locks into school girl braids (for the cover of We’re Only In It For The Money) and posing naked on the toilet (for no particular reason at all). Nevertheless, the fact that he was a serious thinker and a prolific, inventive muso proves the point that oftentimes looks can be decieving.

Costume Necessities: Masses of unruly hair — on head, face and elsewhere — paisley shirt, mounds of yellow snow, the ability to take on Tipper Gore and the chutzpah to name your kid Dweezil.

Keith Richards, Rolling Stones

Ah, good ole’ Keef. Or shall we say, good ‘ole death-defying Keef. Of all the rock heroes who have emerged over the past 50 years or so, Keith Richards is clearly the number one survivor. Granted, he looks like Walking Death, what with his chiseled features and those little braids that seem to pop up from out of nowhere. Nevertheless, no guitarist singularly encapsulates the entire image or attitude of a true Rock God better than our beloved Mr. Richards.

Costume Necessities: Skull ring, dangly earring, pasty white complexion, fluffy shirt, tiny braids (lots of random tiny braids), bandana, facial creases (think the Grand Canyon variety), a wink, a nod and a certain swagger. PS — your old Skeletor costume will also do.

David Byrne, Talking Heads

Granted, David Byrne has veered to more serious concerns of late — among them, world music, film, arts, politics, cycling, and philosophy, but in the ‘80s, his chief role was that of front man for the Talking Heads. His robotic gestures and big boxy suits created a formidable impression, and along with his consistent croon, a crack rhythm section and songs about psycho killers, speaking in tongues and life during wartime, he made Talking Heads one of the most distinctive and enduring bands of the era. Thankfully, he’s now wearing clothes that fit a bit better.

Costume Necessities: Oversize jacket and trousers (several sizes too large) and the ability to rock back and forth with robotic precision.

Neil Young

What can one say about Neil Young? Always true to his own convictions, he’s cantankerous and cranky but still all too willing to rock the free world. We suspect that his ever present hat or cap is masking some hair deficit up above, but again, his consistent rocking swagger ensures the fact that he’s as energetic as ever. An iconic individual, Neil’s not about to fade away, or for that matter, burn out any time soon.

Costume Necessities: Hat, sneer, denim jacket, difficult disposition and an ability to affect a high pitched whine that sounds like your gonads are being gripped, Some resemblance to Jimmy Fallon in Neil imitation mode is also suggested.

Slash, Guns N’ Roses

Along with Keef, Slash encapsulates the look every true rocker ought to aspire to. With his top hat, pierced nose and mop of hair so totally out of control it hides any trace of his actual identity (if  rock stars dashed into telephone booths to assume a secret identity, Slash’s hair would have  him covered…literally), Slash makes it clear that he’s as devoted to his “look” as he is to his playing. So too, based on the number of times he changes his bands, he clearly puts image over fidelity as well.

Costume necessities: Shades, top hat, nose ring, sleeveless shirt and a mop of hair so totally out of control, an extra few days ought to be allowed for proper frizzing. 

Thanks to Marc Lacatell and Leslie Michele Derrough for photos