Hair Metal
tagStarted 1986Peak 1987-1991Last big hit 1992From Los Angeles, United States
Located in 3 routes
The pop-radio-polished wave of glam-era metal: gleaming production, soaring melodic vocals, anthemic stadium choruses, and the obligatory tender power ballad. Riffs stay crunchy but hooks come first, aimed squarely at MTV and Top 40. Big hair, brighter sheen, and lighters-aloft romance balance the party-rock swagger.
History
By the mid-80s the Sunset Strip sound was sanded smooth for mass radio: Bon Jovi's 1986 Slippery When Wet and Def Leppard's Hysteria turned metal hooks into chart juggernauts. Poison, Cinderella, Warrant, and Whitesnake followed with platinum ballads and party anthems. It dominated late-80s pop-rock until grunge abruptly ended its commercial reign in 1992.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- AllMusic (Hair Metal/Pop-Metal)
- Wikipedia (Glam metal)
- Rolling Stone
- Billboard