Definition Needed: "the Dreaded Bat Wing Syndrome"

By hrrundivbakshi on Jul 11, 2008

Folks, earlier today, a woman friend -- a married one, at that -- forwarded me this link, asking if she ought to feel bad for not knowing what the heck a "bat wing syndrome" was. I assured her that I, too, was clueless, despite the fact that I am in fact a man, with a scrotum. I turn to the Hall for answers. Note that I have no interest in understanding what it means as it pertains to itchy, smelly nut-satchels. I'm more curious to know what it may describe in the world of Rock. Does it describe, perhaps, the way a guitarist might hold his arms out at his sides after delivering a particularly crushing power chord? A bassist's penchant for pointy guitars? What?

Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
I don't know about this product. It seems pointless for those of us who use Mandom - liberally.

I think the Phil Lynott pose you've got there points to the rock meaning. I've seen Gene Simmons strike that pose a lot too. And the Mexican bassist in Metallica, you know, the one who holds his bass down by his ankles.
2008-07-11 @ 21:01
Comment from: hrrundivbakshi [Member] Email
No bat wings on Phil! Mind you, the leather pants may be doing a good job of hiding them.

Thanks for your thoughts, Mod -- and for indulging this extremely silly post.
2008-07-12 @ 00:18
Comment from: BigSteve [Member] Email
Is bat wing syndrome what's happening with Michael Stipe's pants on the cover of the current issue of the Big takeover?

http://www.bigtakeover.com/issue

Actually I think I finally figured out what the term originally meant, but this thread shows up as one of the first google hits.

In rock terms how about that move Keith Richards does ad nauseam, where he takes both hands off the guitar after playing a riff and thrusts his elbows out spasmodically? That's kind of an upper body batwing effect.
2008-07-12 @ 04:25
Comment from: hrrundivbakshi [Member] Email
Good call on Keef's Bat Wings, BigSteve!
2008-07-12 @ 08:22
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
I'm sensing a sensitve and artistic bat wings photo essay.
2008-07-12 @ 11:54
Comment from: hrrundivbakshi [Member] Email
Would it be assholish of me to laugh at that picture of REM -- taken in a dingy back alley, to which you *know* they were conveyed by limo, then escorted by their publicist(s)?

Haw!

HVB
2008-07-13 @ 13:42
Comment from: Mr. Moderator [Member]
Looking at that photo of Stipe, what happened, did his butt completely collapse? Oh, the humanity!
2008-07-13 @ 16:41
Comment from: general slocum [Member] Email
Big Steve, you're going to have to sell me on not calling the Keith Richard move a "scarecrow." It gets bearable, and even funny, if you picture him singing each time, to himself, "If I only had a brain..." (Then Jagger would add, "a heart..." and Charlie, "the nerve...")
2008-07-13 @ 21:21

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