Adam Lambert Reveals He Was Forced To Tone Down ‘Gender Fluid’ Look On Debut Album Cover

Music execs forced Lambert to tone down his ‘For Your Entertainment’ album cover so retailers would be comfortable selling it…
 
On the eight anniversary of his debut album, For Your Entertainment, Adambert Lambert hit Instagram to reveal that his androgynous style wasn’t always accepted by the music industry. The former American Idol contest recalled how he was told by music executives to strip back his glam rock look to appeal to a wider audience.
 
The original For Your Entertainment album cover featured Lambert’s then-trademark androgynous look, including smoky eye makeup and blue hair, but apparently some retailers refused to stock the CD as it was deemed too controversial. According to Lambert music execs tried to tone down his signature style by releasing a second cover for the debut album with black hair and his hand covering up most of his face.
 

“I was feeling my gender fluid (and fully photoshopped) glam rock fantasy,” he wrote on Instagram.
 
“The powers that be released a second cover for retailers who felt ‘uncomfortable’ with the original (even though I was still fully painted).”
 
He added: “Seems so funny now… but just 8 years ago it was a much different climate.”
 
Despite industry concerns over his flamboyant appearance, Lambert went on to become the first openly gay recording artist to have a number one album on the US charts with his sophomore release Trespassing.
 
“Look at all the gender fluidity stuff that’s become the conservation right now. The kids coming up right now are less hung up on stereotypical gender roles,” he recently told the Express & Star on the same topic.
 
“It’s funny, because I look at kids rocking some nail polish or a little glitter and I’m like, ‘Do you guys think this is new? I’ve been doing this for years’.”