Hair Metal

Hair metal, also referred to as glam metal or pop metal, is a subgenre of rock music that dominated the airwaves in the 1980s. The name “hair metal” originated from the distinctive hairstyles of the musicians, which were often teased, coiffured and sprayed with hairspray to create a voluminous and outrageous look. The roots of hair metal can be traced back to the late 1970s when bands such as Van Halen and Kiss first introduced the pyrotechnics and theatrics that would eventually define the genre. Hair metal bands also took inspiration from the glam rock bands of the 1970s such as David Bowie and T. Rex, whose flamboyant fashion sense and flashy stage performances influenced the visual style of later hair metal bands. The rise of MTV in the 1980s played a significant role in the success of hair metal. With the introduction of music videos, bands such as Bon Jovi, Poison, and Whitesnake became overnight sensations. The bands’ music videos often featured scantily dressed women, fast cars, and decadent lifestyles, which appealed to teenagers and young adults in suburban America. One of the most popular hair metal bands of the 1980s was Motley Crue. The band’s outrageous antics on and off stage made them notorious, and they became the faces of the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” lifestyle that was synonymous with hair metal. Motley Crue’s album “Dr. Feelgood” released in 1989, remains one of the best-selling hair metal albums of all time, with hits such as “Kickstart My Heart” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.” Another iconic hair metal band was Guns N’ Roses, who blended elements of punk and metal to create a distinct sound. Guns N’ Roses’ debut album “Appetite for Destruction” released in 1987, was a critical and commercial success, with songs such as “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle” becoming instant classics. The band’s frontman, Axl Rose, became known for his distinctive high-pitched vocals and stage presence. Hair metal reached the pinnacle of its popularity in the late 1980s, but by the early 1990s, it began to decline. The rise of grunge music, which had a more stripped-down and authentic sound, marked the end of the hair metal era. Bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam became the new face of rock music, and the excesses of hair metal were no longer in vogue. Despite its decline in popularity, hair metal has left a lasting legacy on the rock music landscape. Many of the bands and songs from the genre remain popular among fans, and the visual style of hair metal has influenced fashion and culture to this day.

Bon Jovi: One of the most successful Hair Metal bands, Bon Jovi achieved worldwide fame and fortune with their hit singles "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Wanted Dead or Alive". They were known for their catchy guitar riffs, sing-along choruses, and energetic stage presence. Guns N' Roses: With their iconic image and raw sound, Guns N' Roses took the world by storm in 1987 with their debut album "Appetite for Destruction". Led by frontman Axl Rose and guitarists Slash and Izzy Stradlin, they became one of the biggest bands of the late 80s and early 90s. Def Leppard: These British rockers gained a massive following thanks to their stadium-rock anthems, epic guitar solos, and distinctive vocal harmonies. The 1987 album "Hysteria" spawned seven hit singles, including "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Love Bites". Skid Row: Fronted by the charismatic Sebastian Bach, Skid Row burst onto the scene in 1989 with their self-titled debut album. Their powerful vocals, hard-hitting riffs, and raunchy lyrics made them a favorite of headbangers everywhere. Poison: With their flamboyant costumes and catchy, upbeat tunes, Poison embodied the Hair Metal aesthetic. Their hits "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" still get played on rock radio stations today. Motley Crue: These Hollywood bad boys were notorious for their wild parties and substance abuse, but they also made some of the most iconic Hair Metal music of the era. Their hits "Girls, Girls, Girls" and "Dr. Feelgood" are still staples of 80s rock. Whitesnake: Led by British singer David Coverdale, Whitesnake had a string of hits in the late 80s with their bluesy hard rock sound. Their song "Here I Go Again" became a sing-along anthem for fans of Hair Metal. Winger: Often dismissed as lightweight and cheesy, Winger actually had some serious musical chops, thanks in part to the virtuosic guitar work of frontman Kip Winger. Their hits "Seventeen" and "Headed for a Heartbreak" showcased their knack for catchy hooks and vocal harmonies. Cinderella: This Philadelphia band hit it big in 1986 with their debut album "Night Songs", which contained the hits "Shake Me" and "Nobody's Fool". Their blues-influenced sound and frontman Tom Kiefer's raspy vocals made them one of the standout acts of the Hair Metal era. Ratt: With their bouncy guitar riffs and catchy choruses, Ratt had a string of hits in the mid-80s, including "Round and Round" and "Lay It Down". Fronted by the charismatic Stephen Pearcy, they were a staple of MTV and rock radio in their heyday.

1. Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses 2. Skid Row - Skid Row 3. Pyromania - Def Leppard 4. Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi 5. Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe 6. Hysteria - Def Leppard 7. Theater of Pain - Mötley Crüe 8. Look What the Cat Dragged In - Poison 9. Girls, Girls, Girls - Mötley Crüe 10. Out of the Cellar - Ratt 11. Mechanical Resonance - Tesla 12. Cherry Pie - Warrant 13. Blow My Fuse - Kix 14. Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich - Warrant 15. Reach for the Sky - Ratt 16. Long Cold Winter - Cinderella 17. Open Up and Say... Ahh! - Poison 18. New Jersey - Bon Jovi 19. Monsters of Rock - Various Artists 20. Heartbreak Station - Cinderella 21. Flesh & Blood - Poison 22. Live Like a Suicide - Guns N' Roses 23. Dancing Undercover - Ratt 24. In Heat - Black 'n Blue 25. Mechanical Animals - Marilyn Manson

Several books have been written on the subject of hair metal, documenting its rise to fame and the impact that it has made on popular culture. One of the most notable books about hair metal is The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Mötley Crüe. The book is a tell-all account of the band's rise to fame, with shocking details about their wild antics on and off stage. The book has been praised for its raw and honest portrayal of the excesses of hair metal, while also highlighting the musical talents of the band. Another book that explores the hair metal era is Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal by David Konow. The book delves into the origins of heavy metal music, tracing its roots from the blues and psychedelic rock of the 1960s to the glam and hair metal of the 1980s. The book also offers insights into the social and cultural impact of hair metal, from its influence on fashion and style to its controversial lyrics and themes. One of the most notable quotes about hair metal comes from Gene Simmons, the bassist of the band KISS. In an interview with NPR, Simmons said, "Hair metal in the '80s was a reaction to what had gone before. Disco, punk rock, new wave, all that stuff. And so hair metal was really a backlash against all of those things, a way of saying 'we're going to have fun, we're going to party, we're going to take over the world.'" Another interesting quote about hair metal comes from the guitarist of Guns N' Roses, Slash. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Slash said, "There was something so innocent about that music. It was about having a good time, and it was a real escape for people. We were all kids, and we were just having fun. It wasn't about trying to be the coolest band in the world."

The social context of hair metal is characterized by the economic and political changes that were taking place in the United States. In the early 1980s, there was an economic recession in the country that was causing unemployment rates to rise, while the cost of living increased. Many people were struggling financially, and hair metal provided a way of escaping the grim realities of working-class life. Bands like Twisted Sister and Poison were known for their ribald lyrics and over-the-top performances, which were seen as rebellious counterculture. Culturally, hair metal was deeply rooted in the heavy metal and glam rock scenes. It borrowed heavily from the latter style, which was popular in the UK in the 1970s, with bands like T. Rex and David Bowie setting the tone. Hair metal bands like Mötley Crüe drew inspiration from punk rock bands such as The Ramones, as well as metal bands like AC/DC and Van Halen. The fusion of these influences led to a sound that was distinctly their own and catapulted them to fame. Hair metal’s emergence was also due to the advent of new technologies in the music industry. The iconic MTV channel was launched in 1981 and gave hair metal acts such as Poison and Bon Jovi a way to reach audiences across the country. The advent of compact discs also allowed for clearer sound quality, which benefited the genre. Audiences could now access and listen to music that was both visually and audibly pleasing. The record labels that helped bring hair metal to the forefront were Geffen Records and Warner Bros. Records. Geffen Records was founded in 1980 by music industry legend David Geffen and signed up some of the biggest hair metal acts, such as Guns N’ Roses and Whitesnake. Warner Bros. Records, on the other hand, brought hair metal to a mainstream audience with the signing of Bon Jovi in 1983. Journalists such as Jon Pareles of The New York Times and David Fricke of Rolling Stone were critical in elevating hair metal’s status within the music industry.