51 Male Singers With Long Hair

Ever since bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones decided to let their hair grow down to their collar, long hair has been a sign of rebellion and self-expression.

From “long-haired hippies” to the high maintenance hair-do’s of the 80s, and the mixed feelings towards personal grooming in the 90s, there have been many long hair trends in music.

Here is a list of male singers who have had long hair at some point in their careers.

#1 Jon Bon Jovi

We’ll start this list with one of the most iconic hairstyles of the 80s, Jon Bon Jovi, of the band Bon Jovi’s, trembling tower of golden hair. Bon Jovi’s hair seemed to be some blessed hybrid between mod hair architecture and the length and teasing of hair metal.

Even if you were not a Bon Jovi fan, you couldn’t deny the hair.

Jon Bon Jovi cut his hair and changed the style in the 90s.

#2 Axl Rose

Lead singer of Guns N’ Roses since it began in 1985, Axl Rose was well known for hair that hung down his shoulder. His trademark look included a bandana wrapped across his forehead and around his head.

#3 Steven Tyler

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith has rocked his wavy long brown hair for decades. Unlike other male singers who change up their hair or cut it shorter as they age, Tyler has kept his long locks.

Steven has also played with his hair for years, experimenting with adding streaks of color or rooster feather extensions.

#4 Billy Ray Cyrus

The country star, and father of Miley, Billy Ray Cyrus, has changed his hair many times throughout the years. While he’s had long hair for much of his career, Billy Ray Cyrus’s hair claim to fame is his exceptionally long, exceptionally mullet-y mullet from when he broke into fame with “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1992.

#5 Billy Corgan

You might be surprised that Smashing Pumpkin’s frontman, Billy Corgan, used to have long hair. Corgan was apparently tired of taking care of his hair, which was quite lustrous and shiny.

Corgan had it cut and wore it short during the Siamese Dream Days, later shaving it around the time of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

#6 Robert Plant

Robert Plant was the lead singer of Led Zeppelin from its beginning in 1968 until the band broke up in 1980. Although the band separated with the death of drummer John Bonham, Robert Plant has continued his music career.

Robert Plant is another male singer with long hair who kept it long as he aged. His blond curls have changed color throughout the years but have kept their bounce.

#7 Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz has made a long of changes to his hair throughout the decades, but when he hit it big in the 90s with “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” he was swinging a head full of long dreadlocks.

Kravitz’s mother was an actress who played Helen Willis on The Jeffersons. Kravitz has been known to act as well, as can be seen with short hair in The Hunger Games.

#8 Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain’s name is pretty much synonymous with grunge. Grunge was named after the heavy and dirty sound of the music being performed and recorded, but it was also a reference to the type of clothes these musicians would wear, such as ratty t-shirts, holey jeans, and flannel shirts.

While musicians in the 80s were spending hours teasing, curling, and spraying their hair into the right height and shape, grunge didn’t care. Male grunge singers often had long hair because it took no effort just to let the hair grow and hang there. Usually, they didn’t even bother brushing it.

During his time in Nirvana, Kurt Cobain’s dirty blond hair usually fell just above his shoulder and was often hanging over his face, which was another hallmark trait of 90s grunge hair.

#9 Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl had very long hair when he was the drummer for Nirvana, but after Kurt Cobain died in 1994, Grohl went on to form and be the long-haired singer of The Foo Fighters. At first, The Foo Fighters was a one-man project, but Grohl formed a band for touring, and the rest is history.

#10 Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell was born on July 20, 1964, and sadly took his own life on May 18, 2017. Chris Cornell was best known as the singer and guitarist for Soundgarden and Audioslave.

Soundgarden was one of the seminal rock bands of the Seattle sound during the late 80s, early 90s, and beyond. Chris Cornell did play with the length of his hair during his life and career, but even during the height of grunge, his thick, dark, curly waves gave more of the impression of a rocker or head-banger than a slacker.

#11 Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder was another male singer with long hair who came to fame in the 90s. The frontman for Pearl Jam, Vedder, had hair that fell down his back and was often flying around as he thrashed around onstage or swung from the rafters over the stage.

Vedder came up to Seattle from San Diego to audition for a new band Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were forming after their former band, Mother Love Bone, fell apart because of the death of frontman Andy Wood. The forming Pearl Jam banded together with Soundgarden to record and release the Temple of the Dog album as a tribute to Wood.

#12 Shannon Hoon

If you grew up in the ’90s, you might remember the video with “the bee girl.” If you were born later, though, chances are you’ve still heard Shannon Hoon’s band, Blind Melon, in a shopping mall, grocery store, or another public place with the song “No Rain.”

Blind Melon was formed in 1990 and released two albums before Shannon Hoon’s death from an overdose in 1995. Their 1993 hit “No Rain” is their biggest claim to fame. In the video, you can see Hoon’s long wavy brown hair as he walks through a very green field under a very blue sky.

#13 Anthony Kiedis

Another of the long-haired singers key to the alternative sound of the 90s is Anthony Kiedis from The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony kept his hair long through the 90s when it fell down his back, which was quite noticeable as he often performed or was photographed bare-chested.

#14 Trent Reznor

Trent Reznor brought a touch of industry to the alternative rock of the 1990s with his project Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor’s pale skin and black shoulder-length hair fit his music’s angsty, loner vibe.

As Reznor has gotten older, he’s cut his hair shorter. While he once looked like a vampire, he now looks like a dad, which is probably something that happens to all of us.

#15 Willie Nelson

Many of the male singers with long hair in this list have had a unique look. However, only a few of the long-haired singers listed here wear their hair in a way that could be considered iconic.

Willie Nelson has kept his hair long for years, but the two long silver braids are a look all his own and one that no one else could pull off the same.

#16 Iggy Pop

Now, some male singers with long hair actually kept shorter hair when they were younger but grew it out as they aged. Wildman Iggy Pop’s blond hair has seen many lengths during his time, but as he continues his career, he proves that long hair and bare chests are not just for the youngsters.

#17 Peter Steele

Every year when the summer takes that sudden chilly turn into fall, and you smell the first woodsmoke of the season, that is the time to put on some Type O Negative.

A goth metal band in the 1990s and the aughts, Type O Negative’s most famous song, “Black No. 1,” was about a goth woman and used the theme from The Addams Family. Lead singer Peter Steele was known for his height, deep, otherworldly voice, and long black hair.

#18 David Gilmour

With his blond waves, David Gilmour became the long-haired singer for Pink Floyd after former vocalist Syd Barrett was kicked out of the band.

#19 James Hetfield

Once upon a time, all members of the California-based thrash metal band Metallica had very long hair. The original members formed the band in 1981. Vocalist James Hetfield was often seen sweating and screaming into the mike through his curtain of long hair.

#20 Geddy Lee

Geddy Lee is the long-haired singer, keyboardist, and influential bassist for the Canadian rock band Rush. He joined the band in 1968.

#21 Roger Daltrey

Co-founder and long-time, long-haired singer for the British rock band, The Who, Roger Daltry, has also lent his long, curly blond talents to the screen as an actor.

#22 Bob Marley

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, and died on May 11, 1981. Marley was a Jamaican singer who was a pioneer of reggae and had a lot to do with popularizing reggae in the United States. Marly was known for his long dreadlocks.

#23 David Lee Roth

Male singer with long hair, David Lee Roth, was the on-again-off-again lead singer of Van Halen until the band broke up in 2020 after the death of Eddie Van Halen. Roth was known for his larger-than-life personality and stage presence.

#24 Neil Young

Canadian-American long-haired singer Neil Young has kept his long drape of hair throughout most of his career, though as he aged, he began wearing a hat. Neil Young has belonged to the bands Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young but has maintained an impressive career as a solo artist and with his band Crazy Horse.

#25 Dave Mustaine

Dave Mustaine was originally the lead guitarist of Metallica but was kicked out of the band before they recorded any albums. Mustaine got back at the band by forming his own metal band, Megadeth. Mustaine was known for his long blond hair and a tendency not to get along with others.

#26 Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels is known best as the lead singer of Poison, the band whose number-one single “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” is still played and covered today. Bret Michaels is also known for his long hair and way of wearing it with a bandana and cowboy hat.

#27 Chris Robinson

Chris Robinson is the long-haired lead singer and founder of the blues-rock band, The Black Crowes. Robinson is best known for his long dark hair and his slinky bluesy delivery and dancing style.

#28 Ozzy Osbourne

The long-haired “Prince of Darkness” Ozzy Osbourne was the lead singer of Black Sabbath until he was kicked out in 1979 due to addiction problems. He’s had a long and successful solo career since then and has worked on reality television shows with his family.

#29 Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is one of the male singers with long hair who have been incredibly influential in music. Cooper is credited as being the first singer to bring horror imagery to rock and metal.

#30 Tom Petty

The late Tom Petty was the frontman for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a member of The Traveling Wilburys, had much success as a solo artist and even ventured into acting. He was known for his mellow, emotional rock vocals and his angular curtain of blond hair.

#31 Sebastian Bach

Sebastian Bach was the long-haired lead singer of the rock band Skid Row from 1987 until he was fired in 1996. Sebastian Bach, a blond, pretty boy singer, went on to have a solo musical career and a career in acting.

#32 Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone was a founding member and lead singer of the punk band the Ramones. He was known for his fluffy black hair, bangs, leather jacket, and sunglasses. He was a counterculture icon and continues to be an influence on musicians.

#33 Jim Morrison

While some long-haired singers had hair that grew long, others with curly hair, like The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison had hair that grew long and wide. Jim Morrison’s long hair fit his poet rock star image and made him all the more intriguing.

#34 Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s singing career began with his family when he was only six years old. He had a long successful career, even earning the moniker “The King of Pop.” Michael Jackson had many hairstyles throughout the years but became known for the shoulder length and longer style that he would sometimes tie back.

#35 Joe Elliott

Joe Elliott is the long-haired singer of the hard rock band, Def Leppard. Elliott has a raspy singing voice with an extensive range. He is a founding member of the band and also plays guitar, drums, piano, and keyboard.

#36 Joe Cocker

In his younger days, Joe Cocker could easily be spotted by his frizzy, curly, long mop of hair. Cocker had an extraordinarily gritty and bluesy voice and is perhaps best known for his cover of “With a Little Help From My Friends,” which was used as the theme song for the television show The Wonder Years.

#37 Prince

Prince was known for his style and his unique flair. No one else was like Prince, and the way he would constantly re-invent himself through how he styled his long hair was one part of that.

#38 Wiz Khalifa

Rapper, singer, and actor Wiz Khalifa is known for his shoulder-length dreadlocks, which he sometimes ties up or back. His song “See You Again” hit number one on the Billboard Top 100 for twelve non-consecutive weeks in 2015.

#39 Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is a singer and the bassist of the hard rock band Kiss. The band was known for performing in make-up and through stage personas. Gene Simmons has had long black hair throughout his career. Another of Gene Simmons’s claims to fame is his very long tongue.

#40 Chad Kroeger

Nickelback seems to be a very divisive band. Love them or hate them, they are another band that featured a male singer with long hair. Chad Kroeger has worn his hair many ways throughout his career but was most popular with his long, wavy, golden blond bob.

#41 Vince Neil

Vince Neil was the lead singer of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe from 1981 until 1992. Since then, he has worked with the band off and on. This long-haired singer has also released three solo albums.

#42 Jack White

Jack White, an eclectic, enigmatic, long-haired singer of the White Stripes fame, is known for his pale complexion and long, shoulder-length jet-black hair.

#43 “Weird Al” Yankovic

“Weird Al,” the sweet and goody long-haired singer and writer of parody songs, is known for his trademark long, dark, curly hair and proficiency with the accordion.

#44 Little Richard

Little Richard had a long and storied music career. When he was younger, he wore suits and wonderfully coiffed hair. He grew his hair long as he grew older and changed his style and fashion to reflect his energy and flamboyant personality.

#45 Dave Pirner

Dave Pirner is one of the male singers with long hair who could be considered a one-hit-wonder. Singer for the alternative band Soul Asylum, the band hit it big with their single “Runaway Train” in 1993. They even played at the inauguration of Bill Clinton.

The band released its twelfth album in 2020 but has yet to see the level of success it had in the 90s.

#46 Mark Lanegan

Mark Lanegan was the lead singer for The Screaming Trees and also worked with Queens of the Stone Age and The Gutter Twins. While he didn’t have quite the commercial success of other grunge singers, he was well known and respected by other Seattle musicians, recording an unreleased album of Leadbelly covers with Kurt Cobain, and was part of the Pearl Jam/ Alice in Chains supergroup, Mad Season.

#47 George Harrison

The Beatles were given so much flack for their hair when they first came on the scene, but their hair would not really be considered long by today’s standards. Most of The Beatles did, however, grow their hair out quite long during their career. George Harrison wasn’t the only Beatle with a long curtain of dark brown hair, but with his beard and mustache, it suited him exceptionally well.

#48 Mick Jagger

Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger is probably known more for his giant mouth and strange dance moves than for being a long-haired singer. For most of Jagger’s career, however, he has kept his hair grown out.

#49 Jeff Tweedy

Singer Jeff Tweedy co-founded the alternative rock band Wilco out of the ashes of his former band Uncle Tupelo. He has also worked on collaborative albums and solo albums and has authored two books. While his hair was shorter in his younger days, as he’s aged, he’s grown it long and wears it under a cowboy hat.

#50 David Bowie

Constantly re-inventing himself, some of David Bowie’s incarnations included long hair. He is remembered most for the long red mullet as seen in the “Life on Mars?” video, but also for the long, blond, glam explosion of hair he sported in the 1986 movie Labyrinth.

#51 Meat Loaf

Late singer and actor, Meatloaf had a powerful voice and a dramatic performance style. His Bat Out of Hell series kept launching him back into musical success. He cut his long hair when he was older, but you can see him with it in the video for “I’d Do Anything For Love” or in the movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Popular Male Singers With Long Hair, Final Thoughts

Whether a political statement, a mark of fashion, laziness, or just personal preference, long-haired male singers have been fronting bands for decades and decades.

Even with all these people, this list is just a tiny handful of the long-haired male singers who have charmed us by the length of their tresses and who have moved us with the power of their voices.