Unskinny Bopping Back in Time: Revisiting Glam Metal Music
The Glam Metal genre, synonymous with “hair metal,” emerged as a glamorous and energetic force that left an unforgettable mark on the music scene of the late 1980s and early 90s.
Glam bands were typically made up of men dressed in skin tight leather and women’s fashions. Band members wore make up and had big hair. Throw on some bandanas, vests with no shirts underneath, some tats and a cigarette dangling from your lips and blam-o, you were a Glam Rock God.
Glam Metal’s origins were rooted in the Sunset Strip of Los Angeles. Glam wasn’t just about the music; it was a visual and cultural spectacle that captured the hearts and hairspray cans of a generation.
While researching this article (and falling into a rabbit hole of Hair Metal melodies), I was surprised at the number of songs and albums I thought were from the 80s, that were actually released in 1990 and 91.
That’s the trouble with slapping arbitrary labels on things based on the decades that they occurred. There’s countless examples of things that span 2 decades and don’t really belong to one more than the other. Sometimes there isn’t really a very clear differentiation between 80s and 90s nostalgia.
Glam Metal Origins
The birth of Glam Metal can be traced back to the late 1970s, where Glam Rock bands like New York Dolls and T. Rex laid the foundation for a genre that would explode onto the scene in the subsequent decade.
However, it was the bands that emerged from the Sunset Strip, such as Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, and Ratt, that catapulted Glam Metal into the limelight.
Hearing Hair Metal for the First Time
Do you remember when you first got into Glam, Metal? I sure do.
I was born in 1980, far from the city lights of LA, in a small rural Canadian town North of Toronto. My introduction to glam metal came by way of my older cousins sharing their opinions on who wailed and who didn’t wail in the early 80s. They were generous enough to even lend me some of their cassettes to back up their claims.
Glam Metal Bands that Rule
Good ole Guns N’ Roses (or GNF’nR as was later much cooler to say), was the first band my cousin Jeff showed me. As Axl, Slash and the boys welcomed me to the Jungle, I was instantly hooked on the genre.
The first glam metal album that I purchased with my own money was Bon Jovi – “Slippery When Wet.“ I still listen to it every now and then and it always takes me right back to the era of glam metal.
However, my most memorable purchase; the album I remember circling its release date on a calendar, and then purchasing it on the day of release is: Def Leppard’s “Hysteria.” Anyone within earshot could hear me singing “pour some sugar on me,” me even though I have no idea why anyone would want to be dosed with the sweet substance?
With teased hair, skin-tight spandex, and an unabashed love for excess, Glam Metal musicians became the poster children for a lifestyle that celebrated self-indulgence and rebellion. The scene was a full-fledged sensory experience that resonated with the MTV generation.
My cousin Dan introduced me to Skid Row and explained how iconic it was that “I remember You” was played at his Grade 8 graduation ceremony. I was so jealous.
When I was able to catch rare glimpses of music videos at friends’ houses, I remember not wanting to even blink, for fear of missing a single second of the music video for Poison’s “Talk Dirty To Me.”
This would’ve been around the time “Look What the Cat Dragged In” hit the shelves in 1987. Eight year-old me thought these guys were the coolest dudes that I’d ever seen.
MTV and Glam Music – A Perfect Combination
The rise of MTV in the early 1980s proved to be a perfect vehicle for Glam Metal to ride to the top of Pop Rock Music Charts.
On its own, the music may not have been enough to entrench the genre so deeply into mainstream popularity. Don’t get me wrong, the music is great; but the music videos are what most people remember when you mention Glam Metal.
As MTV embraced a visually engaging and youthful aesthetic, Glam Metal found its home. Bands like Poison, Bon Jovi, and Def Leppard capitalized on the visual nature of the genre, creating music videos that were as captivating as their anthemic tunes.
Hair metal was flashy, and the quick cuts between each music video scene, made it all the more exciting.
MTV’s Reach and Influence Outside of the US
Living in rural Canada in the 80s, we had “country cable.” This meant we only got the 3-4 channels our TV Antenna could pick up; none of which were dedicated music channels. I would’ve missed out on some of the Glam Metal scene (or “fad,” as the haters would call it), save for my friend Jake’s space-age Satellite dish.
I knew some people that lived in town and had cable and access to the all music channel: Much Music (Canada’s version of MTV). However, watching the real MTV on Jake’s satellite was so much cooler.
MTV Culture
MTV’s “Headbangers Ball” became a haven for Glam Metal enthusiasts, providing a platform for bands to showcase their elaborate stage presence and charismatic personas.
The relationship between Glam Metal and MTV fuelled the genre’s popularity, creating an image-centric culture that extended beyond the music into fashion and lifestyle.
Whether that was a good thing or not, can be debated. Nonetheless, bandanas, lots of them, ripped jeans, big hair, lipstick and eyeliner for all and shiny tight leather pants dominated the glam metal community.
It was the only time that I can remember seeing celebrity icons rocking neckties with no shirt. It was weird and wonderful, at the same time.
Living the Glam Metal Lifestyle
Glam Metal wasn’t just about the music and the music videos; it was a lifestyle. Fans embraced the over-the-top fashion, adopting the teased hair, leather, and studs donned by their musical idols.
The rebellious spirit of Glam Metal spoke to a generation eager to break free from convention. The genre became a form of escapism during a somewhat tumultuous period.
The Historical Context of the Glam Metal Era
Remember, this era was the height of the Cold War, marked by the fall of the Berlin Wall. The AIDS epidemic, economic recessions, the rapid advancements in technology and computing all made the world seem to be a turbulent and unpredictable place.
Glam gave the middle finger to all of that and gave a big F-you to anyone or anything that stood in the way of living for the moment and partying hard. And that got people’s attention and for a lot of people was something that we could behind.
Glam metal made it cool to be anti-authority and inspired a generation of youth to try their darnedest to push the limits of “go big, or go home.”
Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll
The more people and institutions tried to place limits, set and enforce laws, and crack down on the social ills of smoking, drinking, drugging, partying and having risky sex, the more our Hair Metal heroes went even harder.
They flaunted their excessive drinking, drugging, partying, wild sexcapades and all kinds of high-risk behaviour in their music videos. Promiscuity was celebrated. So was wearing little to know clothing and moving and shaking in suggestive and overtly sexual ways.
For some of us more moderate types (and/or underage) Glam Metal fans, we could live vicariously through or idols as we listened to them sing about an extreme version of the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” mantra.
Glam’s Effect on Views on Homosexuality
I am no scholar on the subject, but I imagine that Glam Metal helped foster more progressive attitudes regarding the acceptance of homosexuality.
Very heterosexual “babe-magnet” men were wearing pink and strutting their stuff, playing with notions of gender stereotypes and sexuality.
An unfortunate byproduct of Hair Metal culture came in the form of bullying Glam fans. Homophobic slurs were hurled by some neanderthals, at those of us who embraced Glam Metal in all of its glory.
During the 80s and into the 90s it was commonplace to hear inappropriate and derogatory name calling on the playground. It also wasn’t all that uncommon to hear homophobic jokes and slurs on TV too. Sadly, it was somewhat socially acceptable to be openly homophobic.
Some people hated on Hair Metal because they thought the men of Glam Rock were too flamboyant. It offended some people who felt Glam bands weren’t masculine and macho.
As a father of a teenager, I am pleased that there seems to be a bit less of this now. There seems to be a more open and accepting mindset amongst the majority of my daughters generation.
Growing up while being able to experiment with different fashion styles and blur gender divides, made the era exciting. For me, it made the world seem a little more open-minded and less rigid. Challenging societal norms of behaviour, based solely on outdated notions of gender rules, was exciting and rebellious.
Glam Metal as Escapism
The larger-than-life personas of Glam Metal bands provided a stark contrast to the tumultuousness of the 1980s. In an era marked by economic uncertainty and sociopolitical tensions, Glam Metal offered an escape into a world of excess, glamour, and unapologetic decadence.
Criticism of the Effect of Glam Metal on the Treatment of Women
According to my recollection, the objectification of women was problematic during Hair Metal’s heyday. Music videos depicted women in hyper-sexualized ways. While women were being objectified, the male rockstars, and male record company executives, were getting rich.
If I’m being totally honest, this was part of the reason that my adolescent self was drawn to the genre. I’m a little ashamed of this now. The benefit of hindsight affords me a more objective view of the way women were being objectified and exploited during the Glam Metal era.
The Decline of Glam Metal
As the 1980s drew to a close, Glam Metal’s dominance began to wane. Several factors contributed to its decline.
The excessive lifestyles that once defined the genre started to feel tired and outdated. A shifting musical landscape saw the rise of Alternative Rock and Grunge. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam brought a raw and authentic sound that resonated with a new generation.
The new sound was as rebellious but in a less flashy and less decadent way. It appears there is a limit to how much over-the-top flashy, glamorous and self-indulgent spectacle, society can endure.
The very image-centric nature that propelled Glam Metal to stardom became a double-edged sword. The genre’s association with superficiality and extreme excess, led to a backlash as audiences started to crave music with more substance and authenticity.
The Lasting Effects of Hair Metal
While the pinnacle of Glam Metal may now be a distant memory, its impact lingers. The genre’s influence is evident in the theatricality of modern pop and the nostalgia-driven resurgence of 80s aesthetics in fashion and entertainment.
Glam Metal’s flashy guitars, anthemic choruses, and larger-than-life stage presence continue to inspire new generations of musicians.
Blending Genre’s to Create New Sounds and Music Scenes
Glam metal’s influence is also evident in the evolution of musical genres. Elements of glam like its blending of pop stylings with heavy metal sounds, can be traced in later musical styles.
In the mid-late 90s Pop-Punk blended Punk and Pop/Power Pop, and Emo blended Hardcore Punk and Post-Hardcore. Both Pop-Punk and Emo genres took the Glam Metal formula of blending multiple genres together to make a new and unique sound and aesthetic.
The Rock of Ages – Glam Rockers Still Kicking it Old School
Some hair metal bands with enough remaining living members that can stand to be in the same venue as each other to play a couple sets, are still on the road. Hair Metal superstars and their anthems have experienced recent success on reunion stadium tours. A lot of People who grew up Glam, are excited to revisit the nostalgia of the genre, its sounds, and its sights.
The spectacle has certainly lost its youthful aesthetic. The nostalgia-fuelled fashions can make some of the performers look somewhat caricaturist now. However, you have to give credit to the artists that still rep the retro Glam aesthetic.
Looking for “Nothin’ But a Good Time? A visit to “Dr Feelgood” just might be the right kinda “Bad Medicine” you need. You might be surprised at the number of Hair Metal bands who still tour (and still have their big hair). You might want to check them out live while you still can.
Remembering The Cultural Phenomenon that was Glam Metal
Glam Metal was a cultural phenomenon that transcended music. Fuelled by the relationship between MTV and a generation hungry for spectacle, it carved its niche in rock history.
Though its decline was inevitable, the legacy of Glam Metal still endures. Proving that a little excess, and a lot of hairspray, can leave a permanent mark on the cultural landscape.
If you couldn’t tell, I was (and still am) a huge fan of Hair Metal. This is somewhat ironic for a person who started shaving their head at age 16 due to early male pattern baldness. Consider me, living proof that you don’t need big hair to rock out to Glam Metal.
What about you? Were you into Glam Metal music? Are you still? Drop a comment below to share your memories of the era of Hair Metal.
If you haven’t had enough Glam Metal nostalgia, check out the following link to see which 10 bands I consider to be the best Hair Metal has to offer: Retro Relevance’s Totally Unobjective Top 10 List of the Best Hair Metal Bands. I’m curious to hear whether you agree with my Top 10 picks or not?
For my personal curated list of the 10 best Glam Metal songs, click this link: Retro Relevance’s List of the Top10 Raddest Glam Metal Songs.
Thanks for stopping by.
Have a rad rest of your day!
Information for this article was taken from the following page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glam_metal
Wikipedia contributors. “Glam metal.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Dec. 2023. Web. 5 Jan. 2024.
Craig is a partner, and proud father of a teenage daughter, and two dogs. He's an avid blogger who loves researching and discussing 80s and 90s nostalgia. When not working on his website or hanging with his fam, Craig enjoys playing guitar, watching lacrosse, and being near water.