A History and Profile of 1980s Hair Metal
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It was also during that time when hair bands of the 80s really took center stage and made their presence felt all over the world. Quiet Riot was a hair band founded by Randy Rhoads, later known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. The band initially started in 1973 and had a rivalry with Van Halen before either group had a record deal. Quiet Riot’s biggest single, “Cum On Feel the Noize,” was actually a cover song.
Hanoi Rocks
Whitesnake is a British hair rock band formed in 1978 by David Coverdale, previously the lead vocalist for Deep Purple. Cinderella’s music style is often described as a blend of hard rock, blues, and heavy metal. Vixen is one of the standout hair bands in this list because all the band’s members were women. Additionally, The Cult’s music often featured heavy guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, hallmarks of the 80s hair band sound.
Great White
Stryper’s music is characterized by its blend of heavy metal and Christian lyrics. Ratt has released several albums, most recently being Infestation in 2010. These bands epitomized the rock spirit of the 1980s, delivering anthems that have stood the test of time. Their second album would eventually become Platinum-certified 5 different times. KISS was also a little bit more of a different band than the previous era.
Guns N' Roses
The band released several successful albums throughout the decade, including Tooth and Nail, Under Lock and Key, and Back for the Attack. During the late 80s, Winger was one of the hair bands in the upper echelon of the industry. Their songs, Miles Away, and, Seventeen, are some of the biggest songs of the era. Just like Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard is another hair band that is known as one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Although they were formed in 1977, the rock band first started releasing albums in the 1980s, with their most notable work from that time being their first number one – “Hysteria” from August 1987. However, they didn’t have mainstream success until releasing their second album in 1984, which sold more than one million copies in the United States.
Their status as a true "hair band" is disputed by some, but there's no doubt they greatly influenced the genre and should be considered pioneers. Quiet Riot's reign of success only lasted a few years, and they had a lot of lineup changes and a couple of breakups. They still toured until recently, when vocalist Kevin DuBrow died of a drug overdose in 2007. Each band on the list had its unique sound and style, but they all shared a common bond of delivering high-energy music that spoke to the hearts and souls of their fans. Night Ranger has released over a dozen studio albums, their most recent being A.T.B.P.O. (And The Band Played On), released in 2021. W.A.S.P.’s music is characterized by its heavy use of guitar riffs, theatrical stage shows, and controversial lyrics that often deal with topics such as sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
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This shred-heavy documentary finally focuses on the fringes of LA's hair metal scene – and it hits streaming next month - Yahoo Entertainment
This shred-heavy documentary finally focuses on the fringes of LA's hair metal scene – and it hits streaming next month.
Posted: Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
L.A. Guns is one of those original glam bands helping to plant the seed for what was to come. In fact, before the group officially formed, they had a band with members of various members of Guns N’ Roses. The band managed to hang on well into the 1990s, but the new era wasn’t exactly kind to them.
Recommended Hair Metal Albums
Known for their hit singles “Round and Round” and “Lay It Down”, this glamorous band also managed to release several platinum-certified studio albums. Mötley Crüe formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, the birthplace of many hair bands. Many critics credit their debut album for starting the hair band revolution. The four core members are singer Vince Neil, guitarist Mick Mars, bassist Nikki Sixx, and drummer Tommy Lee.
In addition to their musical talents, Great White was also known for their dynamic live shows, which often included pyrotechnics, light shows, and other theatrical elements. In the 1980s, KISS continued to evolve its sound, incorporating more pop and synth elements into its music. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by bands such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, and The Rolling Stones.
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KISS was one of the most iconic hair bands of the 1980s, known for their unique look and high-energy live performances. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, was released in 1987 and became a massive commercial success, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. Their music style is often described as a blend of hard rock, glam, and hair metal. The album’s unique blend of hard rock, funk, and glam metal helped set Bang Tango apart from its contemporaries.
Still fronted by Lawless with a new lineup from its original, which consisted of guitarists Chris Holmes and Randy Piper, and drummer Tony Richards, W.A.S.P. released a 15th album, Golgotha, in 2015. And completely bare by the time they entered the ’90s with their more soulful Flesh & Blood, there was a point when Poison basked in the lights of hair metal. On the east coast, the hair was also high in bands like Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Kix, and Twisted Sister by the mid-’80s, marking them all “hair metal” at one point or another. The album was certified platinum in the United States and helped to establish the band as a significant force in the rock music scene of the late 1980s.
Van Halen released several successful albums throughout the 1980s, including 1984, 5150, and OU812. Throughout their career, Mötley Crüe has released several successful albums, including Shout at the Devil, Girls, Girls, Girls, and Dr. Feelgood. I’ve compiled a list of the best 80s hair bands, capturing the essence of an era defined by big hair, bold fashion, and even bolder music. Out of any of these bands, Poison ranks as one of the most popular, even to this day. The group released some of the biggest songs to ever grace the radio waves in the 1980s. The band would have another smash hit at the start of the 1990s with Cherry Pie.
They formed in 1978 when singer David Coverdale left Deep Purple and signed with Geffen Records. Their self-titled album was their biggest success, though it was actually the band’s seventh release. The band’s first two albums were heavy metal, but by their third release in 1985, they had a glam sound to match their over-the-top teased hair and rock clothing style. They released five albums in the 80s and produced two in the 90s and two in the 2000s.
Nevertheless, Pretty Boy Floyd was a band frequently seen on MTV back in the glory days of the channel. The group’s 1989 song, Fly To The Angels, charted within the top 20 in the US. Unfortunately, the group never quite experienced the same success, despite being active throughout most of the 90s. Despite their age, KISS is still loved and enjoyed widely around the world. It’s hard to say whether they liked what they saw, but it's safe to say the group lacked their glamour. In a way, every member of Mötley Crüe essentially became a celebrity in their own right.
Plus, White Lion was touring with some of the biggest names in the industry at the time. Unless you’re a true fan of 80s hair bands, you might not be familiar with Enuff Z’Nuff. This group’s 1989 song, New Thing, was a regular music video on MTV’s rotation. Slaughter’s 1989 debut album, Stick It To Ya, was one of the last major hits of the decade. It also remains one of their best-selling albums out of their entire catalog.
These groups brought glam metal music to the mainstream and helped make it one of the most popular genres of the decade. Bon Jovi’s music is a mix of hard rock, pop, and arena rock, and their catchy melodies and anthemic choruses have helped make them one of the most successful hair bands of all time. One of the best-selling rock bands of all time, Bon Jovi was formed in 1983 and since their formation, this iconic hair band has released 16 highly successful studio albums. Their fame skyrocketed in the mid-1980s with the release of their best-selling albums “Slipper When Wet” and “New Jersey”. Despite their religious lyrics, the band had mainstream success, toured extensively, and enjoyed radio airplay.
They had a string of successful albums, including "Shout At The Devil", "Theatre Of Pain", "Girls Girls Girls" and "Dr. Feelgood". After turmoil and member changes in the '90 and early 2000s, the classic lineup got back together, touring and releasing new music. They soon recruited guitarist Mick Mars and eventually hired Vince Neil as their singer. The Crue quickly become of the most successful bands to emerge from the Sunset Strip. Their legendary partying drew almost as much as attention as their music.
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