Rock stars before they were famous
From Mick Jagger and Kurt Cobain to Madonna and Lady Gaga, we’ve unearthed photos of some of world’s biggest pop stars before they became famous. See if you can guess who they are before reading the captions below each picture. Leave a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter: @MusicSF
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Katy Perry: Then known as Christian rocker Katy Hudson, covering up her most valuable assets. (We're talking about her lungs, of course.) (Columbia Records)
Katy Perry: Then known as Christian rocker Katy Hudson, covering up her most valuable assets. (We're talking about her lungs, of course.) (Columbia Records)
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Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones: The teenager who would go on to corrupt all other teenagers. (National Portrait Gallery)
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones: The teenager who would go on to corrupt all other teenagers. (National Portrait Gallery)
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Coldplay: The 'Welcome Back, Kotter' years. (Fierce Panda)
Coldplay: The 'Welcome Back, Kotter' years. (Fierce Panda)
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Lady Gaga: When the sex didn't sell for Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta she moved on to bubble wrap dresses. (SGBand)
Lady Gaga: When the sex didn't sell for Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta she moved on to bubble wrap dresses. (SGBand)
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Kurt Cobain of Nirvana: Practicing the chords to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. (Cobain Estate )
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana: Practicing the chords to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. (Cobain Estate )
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Metallica: Hair by Bay Area Poodle Rescue. (Megaforce)
Metallica: Hair by Bay Area Poodle Rescue. (Megaforce)
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Neil Young: In school. Crosby, Stills and Nash get left out yet again. (Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
Neil Young: In school. Crosby, Stills and Nash get left out yet again. (Kelvin High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
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Gwen Stefani: Ah, so that's where that pesky 'ska influence' came from. (Beacon Street, Interscope)
Gwen Stefani: Ah, so that's where that pesky 'ska influence' came from. (Beacon Street, Interscope)
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Madonna: Even before she was famous she had trouble keeping her clothes on. (Taschen)
Madonna: Even before she was famous she had trouble keeping her clothes on. (Taschen)
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Alice Cooper: Much scarier without the snake wrapped around his neck. (Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona)
Alice Cooper: Much scarier without the snake wrapped around his neck. (Cortez High School, Phoenix, Arizona)
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Bruce Springsteen: So blue collar he couldn't even afford a barber. (Columbia Records)
Bruce Springsteen: So blue collar he couldn't even afford a barber. (Columbia Records)
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Whitney Houston: Ta-da!? (Arista Records)
Whitney Houston: Ta-da!? (Arista Records)
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Elton John: The duck suit was on back order at Amazon. (Uni Records)
Elton John: The duck suit was on back order at Amazon. (Uni Records)
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Eminem: You would hate your mom too if you had to wear that dumb sweater. (Osborne Junior High School, Detroit, Michigan)
Eminem: You would hate your mom too if you had to wear that dumb sweater. (Osborne Junior High School, Detroit, Michigan)
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Debbie Harry of Blondie: In her previous life as a Playboy bunny. (Playboy Archives)
Debbie Harry of Blondie: In her previous life as a Playboy bunny. (Playboy Archives)
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Jon Bon Jovi: Whooah-oh-oh-ah, we're half way there... No?... Quarter of the way?... 1/1000th? (St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, New Jersey)
Jon Bon Jovi: Whooah-oh-oh-ah, we're half way there... No?... Quarter of the way?... 1/1000th? (St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, New Jersey)
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Adele: Wondering if anyone has the number for a good stylist. (XL Recordings)
Adele: Wondering if anyone has the number for a good stylist. (XL Recordings)
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Frank Sinatra: Young blue eyes. (Howard Frank Archives)
Frank Sinatra: Young blue eyes. (Howard Frank Archives)
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Beyonce: With that smile how could she not conquer the world? (Alief Elsik High School, Houston, Texas)
Beyonce: With that smile how could she not conquer the world? (Alief Elsik High School, Houston, Texas)
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Kesha: Always the hardcore party girl she portrays in her songs. (Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tennessee))
Kesha: Always the hardcore party girl she portrays in her songs. (Brentwood High School, Brentwood, Tennessee))
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Bono: Looking dejected after blowing the A Flock of Seagulls audition. (Island Records)
Bono: Looking dejected after blowing the A Flock of Seagulls audition. (Island Records)
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Justin Bieber: I want your daughters. (Island Def Jam Music Group)
Justin Bieber: I want your daughters. (Island Def Jam Music Group)
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The Beatles: George Harrison, 14, John Lennon, 16, and Paul McCartney, 15, in 1957 when they were known as the Quarrymen. The only thing standing between them and world domination was a drummer with well-defined nostrils. (Apple Records) less
The Beatles: George Harrison, 14, John Lennon, 16, and Paul McCartney, 15, in 1957 when they were known as the Quarrymen. The only thing standing between them and world domination was a drummer with ... more
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Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: If you could hear this photo you would know why he switched to the bass. (Fairfax High School, Los Angeles, California)
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: If you could hear this photo you would know why he switched to the bass. (Fairfax High School, Los Angeles, California)
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John Mayer: You want to know what's really a wonderland? That part in his hair. (Fairfield High School, Fairfield, Connecticut)
John Mayer: You want to know what's really a wonderland? That part in his hair. (Fairfield High School, Fairfield, Connecticut)
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KISS: In the group's first incarnation as Wicked Lester You can see why they needed more makeup. (Epic Records)
KISS: In the group's first incarnation as Wicked Lester You can see why they needed more makeup. (Epic Records)
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Taylor Swift: Her new album, 'Red,' pays tribute in part to the pants worn in this early photo. If not, it really should. (Big Machine)
Taylor Swift: Her new album, 'Red,' pays tribute in part to the pants worn in this early photo. If not, it really should. (Big Machine)
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Mariah Carey: Um, we think? (Oldfield Junior High School, Greenlawn, New York)
Mariah Carey: Um, we think? (Oldfield Junior High School, Greenlawn, New York)
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Jay Z: He can afford much bigger chains now. (Roc-A-Fella)
Jay Z: He can afford much bigger chains now. (Roc-A-Fella)
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Steven Tyler of Aerosmith: Dude looks like a dude. (Walt Whitman Junior High School, Yonkers, New York)
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith: Dude looks like a dude. (Walt Whitman Junior High School, Yonkers, New York)
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Johnny Cash: This could very well be his first mug shot. (Johnny Cash Estate)
Johnny Cash: This could very well be his first mug shot. (Johnny Cash Estate)
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Courtney Love of Hole: Yeah, we don't know either.
Courtney Love of Hole: Yeah, we don't know either.
Photo: Jon Sievert
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Bob Dylan: Back when you could still understand what he was saying. (Hibbing High School, Hibbing, Minnesota)
Bob Dylan: Back when you could still understand what he was saying. (Hibbing High School, Hibbing, Minnesota)
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Lana Del Rey: Trying to get the sexy siren look down back when she went by the name Lizzy Grant. (5 Point Records)
Lana Del Rey: Trying to get the sexy siren look down back when she went by the name Lizzy Grant. (5 Point Records)
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David Bowie: It's a good thing the gig as the Prell spokesperson didn't work out. (Deram Records)
David Bowie: It's a good thing the gig as the Prell spokesperson didn't work out. (Deram Records)
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Thom Yorke of Radiohead: Teen angst not pictured. (Parlophone Records)
Thom Yorke of Radiohead: Teen angst not pictured. (Parlophone Records)
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Amy Winehouse: The tie was the only thing holding it all together. (Ashmole Academy, London, England)
Amy Winehouse: The tie was the only thing holding it all together. (Ashmole Academy, London, England)
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Scott Weiland: And he looked like such a nice young man... (Edison High School, Huntington Beach, California)
Scott Weiland: And he looked like such a nice young man... (Edison High School, Huntington Beach, California)
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Elvis Presley: A king without his crown (or bedazzled jumpsuit). (Elvis Presley Estate)
Elvis Presley: A king without his crown (or bedazzled jumpsuit). (Elvis Presley Estate)
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The Mickey Mouse Club in the early 1990s featuring Justin Timberlake (top right), Christina Aguilera (middle row right), Britney Spears (front right), actor Ryan Gosling (front left) and three complete losers. (Disney) less
The Mickey Mouse Club in the early 1990s featuring Justin Timberlake (top right), Christina Aguilera (middle row right), Britney Spears (front right), actor Ryan Gosling (front left) and three complete losers. ... more
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Jim Morrison of the Doors: The Lizard King in training. (Alameda High School, Alameda, California)
Jim Morrison of the Doors: The Lizard King in training. (Alameda High School, Alameda, California)
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Rihanna: Around the time she wrote the timeless lyrics, 'Ooh na na, what’s my name?' ( Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School, Saint Michael, Barbados)
Rihanna: Around the time she wrote the timeless lyrics, 'Ooh na na, what’s my name?' ( Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School, Saint Michael, Barbados)
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Drake: In full gangster mode. Math gangster. (Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, Toronto, Canada)
Drake: In full gangster mode. Math gangster. (Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, Toronto, Canada)
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Adam Lambert: The 'American Idol' star's life would change dramatically after he discovered home hair dye kits. (Seth Poppel / Yearbook Library)
Adam Lambert: The 'American Idol' star's life would change dramatically after he discovered home hair dye kits. (Seth Poppel / Yearbook Library)
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Willie Nelson: Picture taken sometime around 1853. (Abbott High School, Abbott, Texas)
Willie Nelson: Picture taken sometime around 1853. (Abbott High School, Abbott, Texas)
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Adam Levine of Maroon 5: In a band called Kara's Flowers, seated on the far right, looking for a cooler band. (Reprise)
Adam Levine of Maroon 5: In a band called Kara's Flowers, seated on the far right, looking for a cooler band. (Reprise)
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Phil Collins: We're pretty sure that's him under there. (Virgin Records)
Phil Collins: We're pretty sure that's him under there. (Virgin Records)
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Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine. Back then the only thing he was raging against was plaque. (University High School, Irvine, California)
Zack De La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine. Back then the only thing he was raging against was plaque. (University High School, Irvine, California)
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Smashing Pumpkins: The hair-growing competition would not end well. (Caroline Records)
Smashing Pumpkins: The hair-growing competition would not end well. (Caroline Records)
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Stevie Nicks: Now that you mention it, she does look a bit like Samantha from 'Bewitched.' (Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, California)
Stevie Nicks: Now that you mention it, she does look a bit like Samantha from 'Bewitched.' (Menlo-Atherton High School, Atherton, California)
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Rock stars before they were famous
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