PopHair Metal of the 80 s Were gonna

Pop/Hair Metal of the 80 s (We’re gonna need more Aqua-Net)

Second Wave of Heavy Metal • New British groups emerge in the late-1970 s to replace Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, who stop touring and/or eventually break up • Disparate groups united stylistically through certain musical characteristics: shorter, catchier songs and more sophisticated production techniques • MTV offers a mass media outlet in the early-1980 s to metal that it was denied on radio and in the recording industry, but resistance comes from PMRC and Christian groups • Metal is fractured into various subgenres starting in the mid 1980 s that reflect certain notions of style, aesthetic, thematic material, and geographic center

Glam Metal (Hair Bands) • Flamboyant style of metal • Borrowed from Glam Rock centered around Los Angeles in the late 70 s and early-80 s • Known for image of long teased hair, accessories, metal studs and leather, and makeup for live performances/videos • LA scene credited to bands like Mötley Crüe and reaches a national stage when Quiet Riot’s Metal Health reached # 1 in 1983 • High-water mark of scene is the release of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet (1986) ("You Give Love A Bad Name”) • The “power ballad” emerges as the method for bands to receive heavy radio/MTV airplay • Popular alternative to other pop styles on TV because of polished look and neutral lyrical themes such as love – although there is still a misogynistic undercurrent to many songs in this genre

So…great music, or just poodle hair? Pros/Cons • The 1980 s, and glam/pop metal in particular, often get a bad rap in contemporary pop culture • Pros: – High level of proficiency on instruments – Songwriting appealed to a wide audience • Cons: – Overly concerned with image over substance in some cases – Formulaic songwriting (can be said about most genres) – Overt sexist themes – Ozone depletion…cause of all the hairspray.

Quiet Riot

Cum On Feel the Noize Quiet Riot • Founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads & bassist Kelly Garni. • Originally recorded by Slade in 1973 • Released on Metal Health (album) in 1983 on Pasha records • QR said they disliked the song tried to sabotage the recording by playing badly • The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts, the album went to #1

Cum On Feel the Noize continued • QR’s version helped draw attention to the growing “Glam Metal” scene in LA • It also helped Slade garner attention in the US, as well • This was QR’s only Top 40 hit • Kevin Dubrow (vocals) died of an accidental cocaine overdose in 2007 (don’t do drugs, kids…) • Video

Motley Crüe

Shout at the Devil Motley Crüe • 2 nd album released 1983 on Elektra Records – Shout at the Devil (album) • Written by bassist Nikki Sixx • Upon release, PMRC & Right Wing Christian groups protested the group’s “message” of Satanism • The Crüe is credited with helping to establish the 1980 s LA Glam Metal scene

Shout at the Devil continued • Known for outrageous behavior on/off stage • Vince Neil (vocals) was charged with vehicular manslaughter (Razzle) in 1984 • Mick Mars suffers from ankylosing spondylitis & is actually shorter now than he was 20 years ago • Tommy Lee has a sex tape or two… • Nikki Sixx is a celebrated writer, musician, photographer, and radio host • Video (live 1983)

Poison

Talk Dirty To Me Poison • Released in 1987 on Enigma Records – Look What the Cat Dragged In (album) • Written by guitarist C. C. De. Ville (lawsuit) • Known for their heavy makeup, sexed-up lyrics, and party atmosphere stage performances/videos • Originally formed in Pennsylvania in 1983 by Brett Michaels (vocals), Bobby Dall (bass), & Rikki Rockett (drums, hairstylist) • C. C. De. Ville (guitar) joined in 1984 after the band relocated in Los Angeles

Talk Dirty to Me continued • The band dropped their glam image at the beginning of the 1990 s, but were unsuccessful at maintaining their success • De. Ville was fired after a fistfight with Michaels in 1991 at the MTV VMAs • The band reunited in the late 90 s & has toured frequently since • Video

Bon Jovi

Living On a Prayer Bon Jovi • Released 1986 on Mercury Records – Slippery When Wet • Formed by Jon Bongiovi in 1983 in New Jersey • The band incorporates influences from glam, pop, and East Coast “Springsteen” rock • This song was co-written with songwriter Desmond Child • This was the band’s first #1 hit

Living On a Prayer continued • The album spawned 3 huge hits for the band • Jon & Ritchie’s acoustic performance of Living on a Prayer/Wanted Dead or Alive is credited with inspiring MTV’s Unplugged program • The lyrics tell the story of a couple who are struggling to make ends meet – which Jon has attributed to the political/fiscal climate of the 1980 s • Video

Def Leppard

Pour Some Sugar On Me Def Leppard • Originally part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970 s/early 1980 s • By the late 1980 s, the band had re-forged their image in line with the US glam metal scene • Released in 1987 on Mercury Records – Hysteria (album)

Pour Some Sugar On Me continued • The album was delayed due to drummer Rick Allen’s car accident & subsequent surgery to amputate his left arm • Produced by Mutt Lange, this album is a stunning example of the polished production standards that helped define 80 s glam/pop metal • Founding guitarist Steve Clark died in 1991 after a long battle with drugs/alcohol • Video

Europe

The Final Countdown Europe • Formed in Sweden in 1979 • This song was a #1 hit in over 20 countries! • Released 1986 on Epic Records – The Final Countdown (album) • This song has found new life through sports entertainment & high school marching band performances

The Final Countdown continued • Inspired in part by David Bowie’s Space Oddity • The band never intended this to be a single, but when released it reached #8 on the US Top 40 charts • The band continues to tour, but never reached the same level of success in the US • Video

Warrant

Cherry Pie Warrant • Their 2 nd album, released in 1990 (recorded in 1989) on Columbia Records – Cherry Pie (album) • Warrant is among some of the late-80 s bands that gets blamed for the decline of pop metal • Jani Lane (vocals) was the primary songwriter for the band • This song featured a guitar solo played by C. C. De. Ville of Poison

Cherry Pie continued • The song is, basically, one long metaphor for sex • Highly criticized for it’s lyrical vapidity • The album, however, did contain more thought-provoking songs like Uncle Tom’s Cabin & the power ballad (about a cheating girlfriend? ) I Saw Red • The video features model (and Jani Lane’s future wife) Bobbi Brown

Cinderella

Don’t Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone) Cinderella • Released 1988 on Mercury Records – Long Cold Winter (album) • Written by vocalist Tom Keifer • This power ballad was their highest charting song (#12 Billboard Top 100) • Formed in 1983 in Pennsylvania • The glam image/sound was augmented by Keifer’s love of blues & hard rock

Don’t Know What You Got (Til It’s Gone) continued • Toured as a support act for Bon Jovi, Motley Crüe, Ozzy, and others • In the 1990 s, Keifer suffered vocal chord cysts and hemorrhaging (due in part to his vocal style), which led to the band’s hiatus • The band currently records/tours frequently • Video

Van Halen

Van Halen • Formed by Alex and Eddie Van Halen in Pasadena, CA in 1974 • Debut album Van Halen (1978) produced by Gene Simmons of KISS ("Runnin With The Devil”) • Virtuosity of EVH put together with on-stage antics of David Lee Roth • Group most notable for the guitar style of Eddie Van Halen, which employs “new” techniques like fretboard tapping and use of overdriven “pinch” harmonics (“Eruption”) • Later albums like 5150 (1986) reflect movement away from heavier-sounding early work, especially after Sammy Hagar replaced DLR as lead vocalist

Jump Van Halen • Released 1983 on Warner Bros. Records – 1984 (album) • This album heavily features EVH on keys as well as guitar • Last album with DLR • Highest charting album & single • DLR re-joined the group in 2006 • Video (and for fun: Hot for Teacher, too)

G n’ R

Welcome to the Jungle Guns N’ Roses • Often lumped in the glam/hair genre • GN’R was a dirtier, harder, more reckless version of original 70 s glam/hard rock acts (Aerosmith, Hanoi Rocks), & acts like The Rolling Stones • Formed by Axl Rose (vocals) & Izzy Stradlin (guitars) in 1985 • Bassist Duff Mc. Kagan, guitarist Slash, and drummer Steven Adler completed the “classic lineup” • The album is 18 x platinum & one of the highest selling debut albums of all time

Welcome to the Jungle continued • Released 1987 on Geffen Records – Appetite for Destruction (album) • Many of the songs on the album are said to be autobiographical • Lyrical content has been described as violent, misogynist, and racist (and anti-gay) • The video for “Jungle” was meant to portray Axl’s loss of innocence after moving to Hollywood • The band continues to record/tour, but Rose is the only original member remaining