Hair Metal Era
tagStarted 1983Peak 1986-1990Last big hit 1992From Los Angeles, United States
Located in 1 route
Sunset Strip glam metal: big choruses, screaming twin-guitar harmonies, flashy tapping solos, gang vocals and obligatory power ballads, all dressed in spandex, teased hair and makeup. Glossy, compressed FM-radio production built for MTV — hedonistic party anthems and lighters-up ballads aimed squarely at arena singalongs.
History
Mötley Crüe and Quiet Riot lit the fuse in 1983, and by the mid-80s Bon Jovi's 'Slippery When Wet' and the MTV-driven Sunset Strip scene made glam metal the dominant hard-rock format. Poison, Def Leppard and Warrant ruled until grunge's 1991-92 arrival rendered it commercially passé almost overnight.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glam_metal
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/hair-metal-ma0000004458
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-hair-metal-songs/