Glam Metal
tagStarted 1981Peak 1983-1988Last big hit 1991From Los Angeles, United States
Located in 3 routes
Sleazy, hook-laden hard metal dressed in teased hair, spandex, and makeup, born on LA's Sunset Strip. Big crunchy riffs, sing-along gang-vocal choruses, flashy shred solos, and lyrics of partying, rebellion, and lust. Theatrical, glittery, and swaggering, balancing genuine metal heft with glam-rock visual excess and arena-sized hooks.
History
Sparked in the early 80s as Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., and Ratt fused New York Dolls glam theatrics with metal aggression on the Sunset Strip, while Twisted Sister brought the look east. Quiet Riot's 1983 chart-topping Metal Health proved its commercial muscle. It ruled MTV through the mid-80s before its glossier pop-metal offshoot took over the airwaves.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- AllMusic (Glam Metal style)
- Wikipedia (Glam metal)
- Rolling Stone
- Louder