Musicians and alter egos go together like guitars and rock stars! From adding depth to storytelling to helping shy performers come alive on stage, these invented personas let artists explore identity in fascinating ways. Get ready to discover ten famous (and sometimes strange) musical alter egos!
Kiss
What really makes an alter ego? Is it a stage name, a character, or just saying, “I’m different on stage?” Some might say Kiss’s makeup is just a costume, but their onstage personas—The Demon, The Starchild, The Catman, and more—have become bigger than the band members themselves.
Back in 2005, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley even considered continuing Kiss with none of the original members! The idea is that these characters are stable, with a rotating cast like a theater company. Add in comic books, movies, and even a Scooby-Doo team-up, and it’s clear we’re talking about something much bigger than just four guys in makeup.[1]
Chick (Mariah Carey)
In 1995, Mariah Carey secretly recorded an alternative rock album, Someone’s Ugly Daughter, inspired by bands like Hole and Garbage. She planned to release it under a pseudonym, but Sony Music replaced her vocals, hid her connection to it, and released it under the name Chick. It sold only 550 copies.
The album remained forgotten until Carey revealed its existence in her 2020 memoir. Fans tracked it down, and copies went for $800 on Amazon! With its goofy, loving parody of ’90s alt-rock, it’s a fun piece of music history. Eagle-eyed fans even spotted hidden Mariah Carey references in the videos, like butterfly tattoos.[2]
Chris Gaines (Garth Brooks)
Speaking of unexpected ’90s alt-rock alter egos, who could forget Chris Gaines? Garth Brooks, the king of country music, transformed into an Australian emo alt-rocker. The plan was for Gaines to star in a movie called The Lamb, but it never happened.
Instead, Gaines was the subject of a mockumentary that featured a comically tragic backstory. With his Johnny Rzeznik-inspired look, Chris Gaines released an album called The Life of Chris Gaines (sometimes called Chris Gaines’ Greatest Hits). It remains one of music’s most bizarre and confusing experiments.[3]
Ruben and the Jets (Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention)
Frank Zappa’s music is notoriously hard to get into, but Cruising with Ruben and the Jets stands out. It was a tribute to ’50s rock ‘n roll and Chicano doo-wop. It even achieved some radio success before people realized it was Zappa!
Zappa even wanted to launch Ruben and the Jets as a real band, searching for a Chicano doo-wop singer named Ruben. He found Rubén Guevara Jr., who led the band and made two more albums, with Zappa producing the first. Guevara later created his own alter ego: Funkahuatl, the neo-Chicano Aztec god of funk.[4]
Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé)
Like David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, Beyoncé created Sasha Fierce to perform songs with a different kind of energy. Beyoncé, who considered herself shy, needed Sasha Fierce as her free and sexy stage presence. Her album I Am…Sasha Fierce showcased the two sides of her artistry.
In 2013, Beyoncé declared she had “killed” Sasha Fierce because she had grown and merged with her. By reclaiming her sexuality without an alter ego, Beyoncé challenged societal expectations and sparked conversations about race and gender in pop music.[5]
David Bowie (More Than Just Ziggy)
Ziggy Stardust is Bowie’s most famous alter ego, but there were many more! In 1995, Bowie released the concept album Outside, featuring characters like Nathan Adler, Baby Grace Blue, and Ramona A. Stone. Bowie played them all in spoken-word interludes throughout the album.
Bowie’s final alter ego was the Blind Prophet. In his last two music videos, Bowie appeared blindfolded with buttons over his eyes. What did the Blind Prophet see? We’ll never know, as Bowie took that knowledge with him.[6]
Roman Zolandski (Nicki Minaj)
Nicki Minaj’s verse on Kanye West’s “Monster” introduced the world to Roman Zolandski, a gay man from London. Nicki describes Roman as living inside her, saying the things she doesn’t want to say. While Nicki isn’t shy without him, Roman represents a part of her that is uninhibited.
Nicki doesn’t change her appearance to play Roman, but uses color themes and gestures to signify his presence. Over time, his story has evolved, from a violently angry id to a playful mischief-maker. He’s now part of an ever-expanding cast of alter egos, including his mother, Martha.[7]
Orville Peck (Daniel Pitout)
Orville Peck is the alter ego of Daniel Pitout from the punk band Nü Sensae. Peck is a constructed persona that brings the artist and the music closer, revealing truth through artifice. Peck’s songs are earnest and conventional, avoiding debates about what is “real” country music.
Orville Peck exposed the authenticity debates as personal attacks. By depriving the naysayers of a target, Orville Peck can be more or less himself. His second album was more slick and impersonal than his debut, released when his identity was still a mystery.[8]
Billy Shears (Ringo Starr)
The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band introduced Billy Shears, the enigmatic lead singer introduced by Paul McCartney. Ringo Starr took up vocal duties on “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
Despite the album’s fame, the story of Billy Shears and his band remains mysterious. Some even theorize that it’s a confession that Paul McCartney died and was replaced with a lookalike named William Shears Campbell.[9]
Slim Shady (Eminem)
It’s often said that Slim Shady is Eminem’s violent id, but it’s hard to imagine Eminem holding anything back without him. Slim Shady was born from necessity, a Hail Mary from a young man in a desperate situation.
Eminem’s debut album sold poorly, and he was fired from his job. The Slim Shady EP begins with Slim shaking Eminem awake and forcing him to confront himself. The Slim Shady persona may be evil, but he was a force for good in Eminem’s life, leading to overnight celebrity and controversy.[10]
Bonus Track: @onionringsworldwide (Lorde)
Though not a musical alter ego, @onionringsworldwide allowed Lorde to act with freedom and anonymity, reviewing onion rings with ridiculously complex opinions. The account was discovered in 2017 by an anonymous fan, who noticed that it followed no one and was followed only by Lorde and her associates.
Lorde was forced to confirm that she was behind the account. The account returned in 2021, allowing Lorde the freedom to enjoy and review her favorite snack.[11]
Ready to Create Your Own Persona?
From Ziggy Stardust to Slim Shady, musical alter egos allow artists to explore different sides of themselves and their music. These personas can be powerful tools for storytelling, performance, and self-expression. Which alter ego surprised you the most? Share your thoughts below!
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