If you’ve read enough of what I’ve written in this blog, you may have noticed that I like a lot of popular music.  New, old, slow, fast, mellow, bouncy, it’s still rock and roll to me.  I even host a yearly lyrics game on my message board which kicks off after the new year, and I always try to work in a game in which my artwork gives the clues.

However, today I want to focus on the collection of 440 (and growing!) little 200X200 avatars I’ve created over the past four years.  I’ve had numerous occasions to work in pop music references using my characters in that time, and since I have nothing to blabber about today, thought you all might like to see the musical side of ES and the gang….

We want the FUNK!

I’ll start off with the drawing that inspired this post, which I just made up this morning.  One of our new board members appeared on yesterday’s episode of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, and had issues with his first question regarding funk legend Bootsy Collins.  So I am currently showing off this work of Evil getting his funk on as the flashy bass player for Parliament.

Yeeee heeeee!!!

I’ve already shown off this older avatar of ES doing the moonwalk, which I drew shortly after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.  He doesn’t have Bubbles the chimp, but he does have Buster the possum…

Calling Dr. Love!

Here is ES portraying the famous frontman of KISS, Gene Simmons.  Watch out for that icky squirrel tongue…

Ain’t no law against it yet!

Here’s another recent avatar of mine, showing MBRS as Cyndi Lauper performing the final dance scene to her video for the song “She Bop”.  It’s not the first time I had my so unusual redheaded squirrel portray Ms. Lauper, but at least this one doesn’t have a terrible Captain Lou Albano portrayal by ES…

Leaving…. on that midnight train to Georgia!

Here’s MBRS again showing off her soulful side as Gladys Knight while ES and a couple of his buddies back her up as the Pips.

The Blues… Sisters?

MBRS teamed up with her friend Angel for this avatar of a female version of the characters Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi made popular, the Blues Brothers.  Angel doesn’t appear quite ready for a mission from God…

Word Up!!!

Fanny hasn’t found her place yet in my comic series, but she gets included in today’s Rock & Roll Avatar Hall of Fame thanks to this interesting portrayal as Cameo singer Larry Blackmon.  I’m pretty sure this is my only piece of artwork I have ever drawn that features a pink pleather codpiece.

Slam, slam, oh hot damn!

While I made no physical alterations to my character Lil for this avatar (Yes, you’ve seen her before!), I had to include this one in today’s collection since it was obviously inspired by well-known singer Alecia Moore, aka Pink.  I’ve been told I don’t find enough work for Lil in my drawings, and seeing this avatar that’s definitely true.  Gotta love a hedgehog with an attitude!

Bang your head!

For those who remember when heavy metal was actually cool, you may recognize this as a reference to Quiet Riot’s biggest album Mental Health.  This is a character inspired by a member of my board who goes by the alias vettech, who had taken a “mental health” day off from work which led me to draw this.

I want my MTV!

If you ever watched any MTV at all back in the 1980’s when they actually played music videos, you undoubtedly know the inspiration behind this image…. Dire Straits’ classic music video for their hit “Money for Nothing”, featuring the blocky animated figures.  Rafferbee, the giraffe character in this picture, celebrated her 30th birthday the same day as MTV did last year, and this was my tribute avatar for both.

Just take those old records off the shelf!

Who ever thought there’d come a time when Tom Cruise dancing around in his underwear by himself would actually seem like one of his saner moments?  Here’s ES recreating the famous scene from the movie “Risky Business” where Cruise’s character dances around the house to Bob Seger’s hit “Old Time Rock and Roll”.  Believe it or not, this picture was inspired by a flea infestation I had due to my cats.  Seriously!

White men can’t rap!

Here is ES showing off his best white rapper imitation.  Vanilla Ice, Snow, and the guys from 3rd Bass are no doubt extremely proud of Evil’s gangsta attitude, however Eminem called and told me I need to “F%#@ off!”

Rock me Amadeus!

Lastly, we go back to the days when pop musicians all wore white powdered wigs.  Here is ES serenading his lovely Sprotsie Baby by tickling the ivories Mozart style.  This stunt may not have worked for Biz Markie, but ES knows how to keep the chicks away from anyone who’s just a friend….