They got hair cuts as part of "changing their look".
The times were changing - so they changed too. It wasn't only their look, but their music, too.
It didn't "go" all at once. They started it around "Jazz" and it got very short for "The Game".
Many artists have done the same thing. David Bowie and Madonna come to mind.
I remember a something saying that Freddie was glad to be rid of the long hair.
Brian probably liked his hair. If it's naturally curly like he says it is - it would have been a pain in the ass for him to keep it looking good short (he would have had and afro like Deacon's or he would have had to straighten it).
Freddie's hair started getting shorter around the Day at the Races sessions. It was longer for Hyde Park and cut when they filmed Somebody to Love. Roger started getting shorter after the American leg of the "Races" tour. John went much shorter after the Earls Court gigs and the Good Fashioned Lover Boy video shoot. He finally BUTCHERED it for the start of the Jazz tour. In fact, I saw them about two weeks after the tour started and didn't even recognize him on stage. I thought they got a new bassist and wondered why I din't read it in the press. But it was him alright. And as for Brian? Like an earlier poster said he cut it shorter for the "CLTCL" video. His hair looked best around the time of NOTW.
John looked cute with the long hair actually. I don't mind the afro. The early 80s haircut was ridiculous, didn't like it.
Roger looks hotter with long hair too, although I won't complain about his short hair in the 80s because he still looked sexy.
Brian suits the style and length he has, I couldn't imagine him with any other hairstyle.
Freddie I must say looked cuter for me with the long, bohemian 70s hair, but he looks good with it short aswell.
"Roger looks hotter with long hair too, although I won't complain about his short hair in the 80s because he still looked sexy."
Oh yeah...definitely...long hair..drop dead gorgeous, that's my favorite Rog, but still the 80s Rog too!