WAS HAIR METAL ACTUALLY GREAT?

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

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[@Grimeyhoob]

There’s a few good songs in hair metal spanning across Motley Crue, Guns n roses, Cinderella, Winger, Skid Row and so on. But by and large it was devoid of substance or originality or creativity. It was extremely formulaic. You had the party chest thumping song followed by an emotional power ballad. There was a total playbook. And it championed rampant misogyny as well, even when considering the general atmosphere of misogyny in society at the time, glam and hair metal championed it to new heights. They literally treated women like objects. And some of the vestiges of that thinking is evident in shows like Rock of Love, which you covered before with Brett Michaels.

[@arthasmenethil5748]

how the fuck did you forget bon jovi? ...

[@HZepp]

@@arthasmenethil5748 I was going to say! Not the biggest Jovi fan, but aside from GNR they were easily the biggest band of this era. Plus they were more "hair metal" than GNR.

[@amberlinmchugh8115]

So right about APPITITE FOR DESTRUCTION, every single song on that album is great. Rare thing back then. Most had one or two good songs if they were lucky

[@amberlinmchugh8115]

Crazy how Johnny Thunders is a God but Brett Michael's is a joke

[@apachelogiano612]

Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, RATT, Guns N Roses, Skid Row, Poison, Warrant, Def Leppard; they were or are, great bands with excellent albums and an impressive catalog of hits.

[@andersistbesser]

And der leppard still has more streams than metallica and most other guitar bands

[@FrostedSeagull]

Gun'N'Roses wasn't really a hair band. The heavier Guns sound began the death knell for the hair bands. That period from very late 1988 -1991 the music was getting heavier which spilt over to the Alternative/Independent or 'Indie' in Australia and the UK. Also Metallica and Slayer were seen as 'more real.' Alternative morphed into grunge, which, in reality was basic rock and roll with all the ridiculous elements of 'hair metal' removed e,g, the hair, lycra/spandex/leather, the make-up & lipstick. The play as fast as you can solos, with a few guitarists who shamelessly ripped of Ritchie Blackmore and added arpeggios to their playing. The lyrics were inane and outright terrible. . . mostly.

[@titorr7263]

​@@FrostedSeagull sleaze metal mf XD

[@Skull7727]

@@FrostedSeagull Gun's n Roses definitely a 'hair metal', they're not too different than Skid Row and Motley Crue, they just added funk influenced in their music make it sound a bit different

[@kichigan1]

I'm with you brother.

[@SlimPlum691]

I always felt like Cinderella is a super underrated band from this era. Their lead singer/guitarist Tom Keifer is extremely talented and they made some great songs. Nobody’s Fool, Don’t know what you got til it’s gone, coming home…

[@metalbearuk]

Seen them live 3 times, twice in the 80's and again in 2011. Three of the best gigs I've ever been to. Makes me sad to know there'll never be a reunion due to Jeff's passing. RIP.

[@jeffcohnphoto]

I think Cinderella and Badlands were both just straight up classic blues rock bands with long hair and tight pants

[@kichigan1]

Their albums are all awesome

[@SlimPlum691]

@@jeffcohnphoto for sure! Bad seamstress blues is one of my favorites by Cinderella. Perfect example of a blues/hard rock song

[@alexyari6036]

Ultra underrated. The only song people ever mention is Don't Know What You've Got, but I actually enjoy Gypsy Road and others better.

[@Ataraxia462]

Dokken is the unsung hero of 80's metal. Incredible song writing and one of the best guitarists of that age. I could listen to "Tooth and Nail" forever.

[@kriticalitygaming1048]

Amazing album

[@coleycole2nite]

Nightmare on elm street! Dream warriors!

[@kichigan1]

I could, too. Well said.

[@gun_toting_lefty]

Damn! They were so oooo close. Tooth hooked me. Key reeled me in.

[@themadrapper101]

Nightmare on Elm Street : Dream Warriors is a good ass movie

[@Mirokuofnite]

The 80s was kind of a high water mark for popular music. There was something for everyone that was getting played.

[@spark300c]

good comment. I think that a lot people say music sucks today because there is few styles in mainstream.

[@UnderPressureLudwig]

90s was more well rounded

[@cindyjensen2185]

If you weren't there, you have no idea just how fun this era was. Long live HAIR BANDS......

[@ThundersMcCoy]

*IF* you were there you wouldn't be using that term. It was created after the fact to disparage the music, by using it yourself you're complicit in that.

[@devlinm5398]

💯agree. It was a blast 🤘🏼🔥

[@dloverland]

The most fun decade ever!! No internet, iPhones, or politics. Just great music, kegs of beer and Solo cups.

[@robertdouble559]

@@ThundersMcCoy Nah, it was created DURING the era by people who fucking HATED it at the time.

[@6li8storm40]

@@robertdouble559Maybe it was regional? I never heard the terms “hair metal” or “hair band” (except for ponytail elastics) until the late 90s. Around here, those of us who hated it called it glam or just called the bands poseurs. (No, I have no idea why we spelled it that way.)

[@jarredd7830]

I'm a 90's kid who grew up with this stuff. All my mom listened to was hair metal. Imagine me, a 3 year old having this stuff played during dinner until she remarried. I still find myself rocking out to this on hot summer nights.

[@robertbeecroft5570]

Same here! The aesthetic was ridiculous, but the music was fuckin great.

[@zachsmith1634]

Same here. Was born in 1992 and my mom loved the hair metal bands.

[@ghostcat8244]

Same 94 kid here i remember my mom would listen to it even nowadays she’ll have it on classic rock station. Only thing she can handle lol.

[@johnk6206]

I find myself rocking out to (Hot) Summer Nights.

[@beccaharrison8977]

My kids were born in '86 & '95 & I now have grandbabies & they all can identify music from George Strait to Metallica & everyone in between...as well as music from the '50's '60's & '70's...my oldest had my ringtone set as "18 & life" on her phone for a long time...& now when my 7yr old grandson gets in my truck he ask to listen to...as he calls them... "shock rockers"...LMAO...one of his fav songs at 3/4yrs was Thunderstruck by AC/DC...I LOVE IT!!!

[@M75248]

Till this day I think Mick Mars is an amazing guitar player who doesn't get the cred he deserves just for being in Motley Crue. Seriously, songs like Too young to fall in love and Kickstart my heart have some of the best riffs ever made. Also White Lion's Vito Bratta really elevated the band's sound with his talent.

[@erickabner5694]

totally agree with you!

[@sword-and-shield]

Absolutely, Mick was the only reason I could sit through a Crue song till the end back then.

[@wakeinfright5498]

Mick Mars in Motley Crüe = 2 guitarists in any other band!

[@skunx74]

Mick Mars is absolutely amazing

[@inz1]

You forgot wild side, shout at the devil and girls girls girls.

[@brucemichaelgrossman4913]

The hair metal scene gave us some incredibly technical musicianship, and very catchy songs. It's underrated.

[@Matt_Aero]

hair metal is far from "underrated" any one with more than 2 iq knows hair metal

[@brucemichaelgrossman4913]

@@Matt_Aero sounds like something a pompous douche would say.

[@rolandechosmith5526]

Van halen and kiss could have been mentioned as being pre-glammetal, i even think they are glammetal, the hair, the focus on looks, the hot girls, the combination and of songs with metal/hardrock.....

[@rigelb9025]

@@Matt_Aero But wait. Something being widely known doesn't mean it can't be underrated. Underrated means not given its due credit, or not appreciated to the extent it deserves to be. And personally, I do think it's underrated, especially since it's so widely known.

[@Matt_Aero]

@@rigelb9025 you have a solid point, I think I agree with you.

[@Daeis138]

Cinderella is by far my favorite band from the genre, followed closely by Bach era Skid Row. Tom's song writing and the bands musicianship were fantastic. Songs like Shelter Me, Heartbreak Station, and Gypsy Road really show their bluesy side.

[@ROCK_N_RO]

I love Cinderella... I can't get enough... I wish they kept going after Still Climbing

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

Hair Metal was a super fun genre, all about 80s excessiveness and parties, just hard rocking and fancy solos

[@amorpaz1]

Maybe it’s nostalgic and fun if you were there. But it’s boring as fuck if you weren’t.

[@mrflipperinvader7922]

@@amorpaz1 boring? How so

[@5150-for-music]

I lived through this. At the time it was so driven by image. Most of which was being pushed on MTV and the band's music videos. It was cheesy and over the top! I knew this at the time. Was I buying the albums and singles? HELL YEAH! All these decades later I look back on it and laugh. You were 100% on the money about the band's being able to play. What I love about having the perspective of time on my side is the ability to separate "hype" or "fashion" from the equation! Now when I hear a song, from back then, it is usually popping up on a playlist or on the radio. All that is left is the song. I am not watching MTV or being bombarded by the images anymore. The "hype" of the bands is dead. So the "good songs" win through. All the Z league hair bands or those who never really had talent have faded into the past. I can now appreciate the bands and their music for what they are.

[@troyevitt2437]

I found myself an agent before graduating high school and he was good at getting me auditions and gigs, but it was funny, every band I talked to said, "Hey, before you drive out here...do you have long hair?" Which I did. The color and texture of Dave Mustaine's. But I told them, "It's long but no girly bullshit, I've refused to cut it going all the way back to Christian private school when it got me kicked out.They forced my parents to accept a refund and I've been growing it in public school for 3 years"...still it was sad that you couldn't even get an audition without long hair.

[@kevindie]

*_The instrumental of “Photograph” by Def Leppard is such a beautiful piece of music. Chorus and solos, especially._*

[@andrewhudson7108]

I think the secret sauce is where a lot of two guitar bands has one guitarist chugging on power chords and another just play some fast scales/riffs on top of it, Clark and Collen would play two separate riffs and melodies that would intertwine and work together.

[@duglife2230]

Exactly! It is instantly recognizable! Even younger folks like myself will probably remember it from Grand Theft Auto V, which is actually the game that introduced me to the Leppard! And boy, am I glad it did. Such a great band!

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

I just wrote in another comment that def leppard changed the game in 83 with pyromania. What an album that was.

[@JustJoshLTRB]

@@andrewhudson7108 that's the brain child of Mutt Lange. Literally every thing he touched went platinum.

[@YBM2007]

Mutt Lange had a lot to do with that, still in the analogue era I heard the recording sessions on that album was brutal

[@jcarley99]

I was expecting this video to be Finn totally dunking on hair bands, and was pleasantly surprised by his insightful and nuanced take on the scene. Well done, nailed it!

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

I don't dunk on bands! But thank you!

[@darrenthetuber743]

@@ThePunkRockMBA ....yeah you're looking for The Punk Rock NBA, wrong channel

[@JustJoshLTRB]

White men can't jump....

[@Onewildandcrazyguy]

​@@ThePunkRockMBAdo you think the great hair metal musicians can compete with some of the top present day country musicians who are really good

[@guitaryildiz]

Thank you for giving credit to Winger. They're great musicians indeed and I still listen to anything Kip Winger makes to this day

[@StarchildSixx]

Kip and his band mates are all grossly underrated. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Kip a few years ago and he’s such a nice guy. I also got completely star struck by him too! I think Winger’s downfall was they came too late and they just stuck to the whole copy and paste hair metal band of the time. Truly talented guy though. I’ll never not love them or rock out to ‘em.

[@kichigan1]

I love Winger. Some awesome, dark, nostalgic sound, but super great.

[@y_s4021]

Kip and Reb are so great. All of their albums are good. Such great vocals and guitar.

[@kenbo1512]

Saw Winger again two weeks ago. They were great.

[@kevinkelley3906]

If I had the chance to grow up again I wouldn't change a thing about the music I listened to. Hair Metal was my life. Now it's all about who can be the angriest or most depressing.

[@jaimemillanir6397]

Exacto👍

[@apoloflores3871]

Grunge > Hair Metal🤣

[@Dfgdf91]

​@@apoloflores3871 grunge is garbage

[@spark300c]

as pop punk fan I feel the same way and feel like rock sucks now because they trying to be the angriest or most depressing.

[@lunadecay]

You are what you listen to

[@Ghostwolfdk]

Some of greatest guitarplayers are from that era...Warren DeMartini, Mick Mars, George Lynch, Snake , Scotti Hill, Reb Beach !

[@joshuascott3428]

Nuno Bettencourt,John Sykes ,Adrian vVndenberg,debatable if Eddie Van Halen as well.

[@jeffthejinjer]

Some were ok but if you listen to their albums it was different than the live performance guitar solos. Most of the solos were written by session guitarists and were very hard to play live!! And most of the bands partied hard and their live stuff was horrid lol That's why I liked bands like Slayer, Metallica, Mercyful Fate Judas Priest....those were the guys that could run circles around hair bands!

[@wwbuirkle]

Not really though

[@paulclark4071]

But if you had to choose one out of that list, who would it be? For me it's DeMartini.

[@metalmystery5369]

@@jeffthejinjer A few bands used session guitarists, but to say most used session guitarists is laughable as hell

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

You hit the nail on the head with this video. Perfectly. Yes, hair metal looked goofy and had some cringy lyrics, but those guys were quite literally the greatest rock musicians we've ever had. So many of the guitarists were classically trained, singers could hit some operatic notes, and so on. Plus they knew how to write songs that were catchy to the masses, and ultimately that's what made it work.

[@johnr6087]

On that note, I really don’t think Twisted Sister gets a ton of love despite being great rock musicians; they’re mentioned a lot less often than bands like AC/DC and Queen.

[@lovelife1867]

also the punk was the antithesis of what these people were trying to achieve but FmcFuck just loves that hair on the boys so he does not care. Also his morals are more in line with these industry puppets so it's no wonder he loves Bvb and the rest of the scenester babies - they were the natural continuation of this trend.

[@shewolfcub3]

@@johnr6087 AC/DC and Queen are fantastic too though. I prefer AC/DC with Bon though

[@johnr6087]

@@shewolfcub3 Love the song “ride on,” it’s so eerie the way Bon Scott sings “gonna change my evil ways… one of these days!”

[@shewolfcub3]

@@johnr6087 Bon was a genuine lyrical genius! Yeah thats one of my favorites. If I had to pick a #1 it'd most likely be either Down Payment Blues or Gone Shootin'

[@defhoez449]

I was in high school back in '87 when GnR's Appetite dropped...it was HUGE. Everyone had that album, cassette or even CD. You would go to a party and GnR was getting played at that party. It didn't matter if you were a punk, metalhead, jock, preppy boy or cheerleader, because everyone loved it and rocked out to it. They really did bring everyone together to agree on at least ONE band that everyone thought were cool. It is STILL a killer record with zero filler.

[@darlenegattus8190]

It really was

[@6li8storm40]

I’m a little bit (not much) older than you. I never understood the appeal. I absolutely love a song or two, but I was completely fed up with their existence a week after Sweet Child of Mine hit the radio.

[@emartinezr]

100%

[@amorpaz1]

I actually think it’s about half filler but I agree, definitely the best album/band from this LA glam scene

[@amorpaz1]

@@6li8storm40Sweet Child is pretty fucking cloying, true

[@patrickbateman7769]

The thing about glam metal that made it so great, similar to most 80s pop tunes were the underlying deep or dark messages over the pop upbeat melodies and songwriting. I think it was Vince Neil who said something along the lines of being aware that life sucks and is full of hardships, so music should be a driving force to keep up going, for that reason music should be smth that brings about happiness, rather than a constant reminder of all the pain and problems we get put through everyday.

[@spark300c]

that remind me of pop punk writing style for songs. sad thing encouraging songs are rare on pop radio. It either bubble gum pop or dark songs.

[@XxLIVRAxX]

Considering the success that Måneskin has had in recent years, there is something about fun light hearted rock that can still catch on to a young contemporary audience

[@princesskristan]

I love that band!

[@robdtoys]

I am the same age as Finn, born in the late 70s, a kid in the 80s, teen in the 90s and young adult in the 2000s. I remember hair metal well. My mom and step brother were into it which got me into it. Give me all those bands, they had great music! Sure I moved on when Nirvana came along and around 94 is when I got into punk. But dammit, I still listen to hair metal from time to time and it hits hard!

[@drewsta005]

To me the pinnacle of musicianship in this era was David Lee Roth’s solo band: Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, and Greg Bissonette. Along with DLR’s golden pipes it was the greatest collection for musicians in one band.

[@thesawwhisperer3384]

Eat 'em and smile was Dave's ultimate fuck you to VH

[@roberteltze4850]

They had the chops but lacked in songwriting. There was Yankee Rose not much else. There were a couple of blips on the charts that no one remembers anymore.

[@nic8577]

@@roberteltze4850 just like paradise ? Good times? I wouldn’t say no one remembers them.

[@troyevitt2437]

DLR's solo act was like V/H on steroids, especially the "Eat 'Em" tour which required more V/H material to fill out the set. Sheehan on V/H material sounded like Eddie and Alex and a brother on bass and Greg Bissonette's jazz background made for some tasty drumming that wasn't really Alex's thing.

[@drewsta005]

@@nic8577 I liked skyscraper, probably more than Eat ‘em and Smile.

[@richchappell]

Ratt is still my favorite band. I saw Guns 'n Roses in a packed 20k seat arena in 2021. Poison, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett had a successful stadium tour in 2022. People my age (early 50s) still love this stuff. I'm also a big emo fan, having seen Simple Plan, Sum 41, Bowling for Soup, and New Found Glory just about 3 months ago.

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

I'm seeing def leppard and motley crue next year, here in the uk. Sadly poison and Joan Jett won't be joining them.

[@RestrainingHollywood]

Yes, it was great. The 80s were a blast. I was just a child and I'd love to go back. The movies. The music. The fashion. The fun. All of it. ♡

[@brianb3779]

So I wasn't quite sure where you were going with this video at first, but it pretty much sums up everything I could say about why I think 80's rock is one of the greatest music genres of all time. It seems ridiculous on the surface, but the musicianship of these bands, as well as the strong pop and songwriting sensibilities they possessed, is what drew me to it 20+ years ago and keeps me coming back.

[@Leveer13]

I was a musician at that time and that was my biggest frustration with Grunge. I seriously TRIED to appreciate it, but I wrote my own music and realized it was just trash. It became clear that the record companies wanted to get rid of the talented musicians who can come back and ask for more money. The best evidence that Grunge was a corporate hype job fad is that nobody cares about it anymore, it was very short lived. People are still filling stadiums for GnR.

[@richardb2652]

I could listen to Finn's takes on music forever. Mr. Mckenty you are an extremely intelligent and very talented musical documentarian.

[@romancastro_]

Same here. I've learned about several genres I did not know existed, some of them may not be my cup of tea but I believe there is value in knowing what's out there.

[@timothylyon8175]

I feel his approach on music can be applied to so many industries. So not only does he entertain, he teaches, and leaves us with more.

[@PinHead-1337]

Did finn write this

[@richardb2652]

@@PinHead-1337 No he didn't.

[@andydufresne1602]

He is hilarious too

[@ultimatesin3544]

Hair metal took a really cool direction during grunge (92-94), it didn't all die at once, the music got darker and more experimental to compete with grunge. Checkout bands like Pariah (anything off of to mock a killingbird), Ice Cold July - City, Heavy Bones - the hand that feeds, Spread Eagle scratch like a cat, even the major bands picked up on this direction like Warrant's dog eat dog album, Poison's native tongue album with Richie Kotzen which is probably the best material they ever released, Winger's album Pull, Dee Sniders band the Widowmaker, etc. there was so much good stuff during those final years it was just more underground..

[@timbrown6629]

I'll secilond WIDOWMAKER. I saw them live and they killed.

[@JustJoshLTRB]

Slave to the Grind. Killer album.

[@krashkoursemetalshow]

Agreed 💯

[@MrSharko12]

@@JustJoshLTRB just wanted to say the exact same thing

[@Chris-Courage]

Ugly kid joe is a favorite of mine from this era.

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

Thing is: hair metal had a more serious side to it that most people forget about. Just like Grunge's more fun side that most people ignore. 18 and life was about a kid who literally shot his friend because he was too drunk to know what he was doing. Warrant had the song "Uncle Tom's Cabin", telling that dark story. There's Queensryche which is what happens when you're hair metal band writes songs about headier stuff instead of about getting laid. Their biggest hit is about a woman using Lucid Dreaming to remember her dead lover. The list goes on and on.

[@lockandloadlikehell]

*KNOCK EM DEAD KID* *You're all I need* *Rocket Queen*

[@MacanWigit]

The Crimson Idol from W. A. S. P. is one of the darkest hair metal album and it's honestly pretty realistic. Hell, Fallen Angel from Poison, of all band, has a pretty serious topic despite the cheery tune it has.

[@imjustsam1745]

I was unaware of any of that, seriously thanks for sharing.

[@austind6546]

Don't close your eyes by Kix is a song about talking a friend out of commiting suicide

[@selfan2005]

When The Children Cry by White Lion.

[@sccampbell]

Great point about the pop song writing influence. I think that's one of the things that had made Ghost so successful: Tobias is really good at both catchy hooks and heavy riffs.

[@Soldano999]

Ghost is litterally inspired by hair metal.

[@JohnVilla1960]

I just loved that every Hair Metal band had to have their signature power ballad hoping it would become their Stairway to Heaven.

[@mottmatt7844]

That and one "behind the scenes on tour" music video.

[@Xochiyolotl]

I got laid a lot because of the power ballads. Love them!

[@importantoldnews5414]

Guns and Roses was like a transition from glam to more traditional metal in my opinion. Yeah they had hair, but they had much more to offer than most other glam metal bands of the era.

[@lewhitey2544]

I’d say that’s more like Skid Row that did that.

[@metalmike6668]

there’s no such thing as glam metal. it’s rock. and gnr is just rock n roll

[@renatovillatoro4746]

They were more hard rock but ok

[@metalmike6668]

@@renatovillatoro4746 exactly

[@patrickxmoreno]

They r def not metal. Hard rock yes.

[@jmwasp]

I still love Skid Row. Slave to the Grind was a hard album

[@benjamingrant9100]

Pretty trash compared to their first

[@arejaycee5484]

​@@benjamingrant9100 Disagree always thought it was a step up from the debut A great metal album

[@CitizenSnips]

@@arejaycee5484 He may have meant to say "thrash"

[@arejaycee5484]

@@CitizenSnips Yeah get it now thanks for pointing that out 👍 In that case I'd agree 100 % with that .🤘

[@TelesPlayMetal]

I always considered Slave to the Grind as a real metal album. Monkey and Slave were hard ass songs.

[@waynetmusic9474]

Heartbreak station by Cinderella is very underrated, it’s really just a rock album not a glam one

[@Matt_Aero]

cinderella is THE only actually smart 80s hair metal band no one can say otherwise

[@teijaflink2226]

I have just discovered that band this week and they're awesome, specially that song but their name sounds very 80s hair metal lol.

[@davidcarter1157]

YES! My favorite album of theirs!

[@demonicsweaters]

I agree, they're a great band!

[@aimeedouglas1584]

Skid Row’s Slave to the Grind album was one of the very best as well, and was the first heavy metal album to debut at number one when Billboard started using their new “sound scan” system at record stores. That album is a gem, from start to finish.

[@ruready2rock856]

Hair metal scene was the greatest era of rock music that has ever been, in every way. I really appreciate the positive things you said about that era. Let's not forget that the term hair metal didn't even exist in the '80s. And other bands like ACDC and Van Halen were also part of it. And that was cool that you gave a shout out to Pretty Boy Floyd. They deserve more recognition. I think a great example of stereotypical hair metal if there ever was such a thing, would be Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Boys are Gonna Rock video.

[@croulantroulant3082]

greatest era of rock music ? To each their own I guess. I hated that stuff, and I was around back then. Much preferred the "fusion" era of the 90's.

[@markgueren9633]

As a teenager coming of age in the 80’s.. Glam was a HUGE part for me.. but I also listened to Slayer, Metallica, and a lot of other music! Those crazy Glam days will always hold a place in my heart!!

[@andressuarezp]

I feel the exact same way. I’m Also a huge thrash metal fan .

[@vinceruland9236]

Same here. I can go from Slayer to Poison at any time.

[@gothiccowboy95]

Being a 90’s baby I was raised heavy on 80’s Hair Metal through my Dad. And Growing up being a musician the more fascinated I am at just how insanely talented these bands were from the insane Vocal ranges, super difficult guitar solos, crazy lifestyles, and amazing song writing and that was normal for every band back then. Like even if people wanna make fun of a band like Poison not only would CC Deville out shred you but Brett Michaels would also steal you girl for the night and write a hit song while in bed with her lol.

[@jaimemillanir6397]

👍🎸🪡

[@RanterInShades]

This is one of my favorite genres of music largely because of the musicianship and songwriting craft. Another band that really deserves a mention for those two reasons is White Lion. Their guitarist Vito Bratta was basically Eddie Van Halen on steroids and probably the best in that whole scene.

[@chriswheatley3146]

I'd put Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme on that list as well with Vito. Both were really great, underrated guitarists.

[@RanterInShades]

@@chriswheatley3146 Yup, him too.

[@zdoggzero6595]

Same with Mr Big, they could nail pretty much any sound they wanted

[@jhiggins2782]

I'm 15, yet I totally agree that the '80s L.A. scene was metal at its peak. My favorite hair band's gotta be Warrant, Jani Lane's fast rocks and amazing beautiful ballads just make my ears happy. Too bad he died so young. Great video!

[@jessielakes8118]

You are an awesome 15 year old.

[@jhiggins2782]

@@jessielakes8118 Thanks!

[@christalfehlhafer9278]

I was a teen girl in the 80's. Janie was also very HOT!!!😊

[@brianc9374]

Warrant rocks. Heaven was thier best song, but Uncle Tom cabin is what I always think of when I hear thier name.

[@bonniemonaco2052]

I always thought Jani Lane was underrated. He had a beautiful tone to his voice. His story was tragic indeed. If he grew up in today's world where he could talk about his experiences and get the help he needed, he might still be around.

[@metalbearuk]

It was great, fun, life affirming music. Those gigs in the 80's were incredible, no phones and people having an amazing time. There's a reason a lot of the bands still survive. I will love the likes of Cinderella and Poison to my dying day.

[@peacexlove]

I grew up on hair metal so I’m a little biased but I’m glad you brought up the timelessness of the music. I’ve told people that it’s not surprising that Poison still tours and has new fans because they wrote good songs. I still really like Guns N’ Roses albums too. November Rain is really brilliant.

[@r.b.rozier9692]

Poison and GNR are the bottom of the heap

[@antijojo]

Thank you so much for breaking into different waves of hair metal. But growing up in that time, bands like Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Scorpions, were just considered Heavy Metal. Of course back then we also considered Van Halen and AC/DC as Heavy Metal as well. I would argue it became to be considered hair metal with Motley Crue's Theater of Pain, and the band Poison.

[@bloppysloppy2283]

Yeah I was around back then. I agree. I didn't really hear the terms "Hair Metal" or "Hair Band" until around the time Grunge came in. After Thrash entered the scene I called it Glam Metal or mainstream Metal.

[@bloppysloppy2283]

@Elkster Eidolon It was called Heavy Metal long before they came along by over a decade. The term has been redefined several times. If you don't believe me look at old copies of Circus, Creem, Hit Parader and Rolling Stone. Look at the Heavy Metal Special issue Creem did in 1979. Not one Thrash Metal band in it. That's because it didn't exist as a genre yet. I remember reading a review in RS in 1978 calling Aerosmith "a dumb Heavy Metal" and that there were "at least a half dozen bands that play Metal better than Aerosmith". I also remember Aerosmith's 1978 tour shirts that said "The Masters of Metal".

[@anthonyrowland9072]

@@bloppysloppy2283 nobody's fault was one of kurt's favorite songs. crazy hard for 1976... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJaZmWSqbL9qaZY

[@powermonger9090]

I also grew up in this era and back then we just labelled all these bands as Hard Rock, Hair or Glam Metal was never even mentioned. Metal back then was Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Accept, Iron Maiden etc. The Hard Rock bands always felt like they occupied a space between Rock and Metal. To this day my mates and I still refer to the bands we loved in this era as Hard Rock. Hair Metal seems like a term that came later to bring derogatory to the music.

[@voutsider190]

Def Leppard was one of my first favorite bands. Guns and Roses, Cinderella, Skid Row. They were all good

[@thecollector4332]

@ghost mall And their early albums were very much not in the same sphere as Hair metal. They were a NWOBHM band.

[@DrumdumsOfficial]

I was a teenager during this era, graduating in 91. I can’t tell you what a Time to be alive it was. And there were so many great deep cut hair metal bands as well that I still listen to today, like Lillian Axe. And this decade will never be repeated.

[@garybrigham9538]

80's rock lasted longer than Grunge and seems more loved today

[@garybrigham9538]

At least all the glam bands didn't kill themselves like most of the Grunge bands did. Going to a concert in the 80's was a blast. Better than listening to bands sing about how miserable they are

[@FrancisTheBerd]

@@garybrigham9538Grunge is deeply rooted in poor mental health while hair metal is rooted in partying and campy sex what did you expect?

[@robertdouble559]

Grunge as a term was another media invention. There's really no such thing as grunge, it's all just rock, a lot of it leaning towards classic heavy metal. Just like the term "alternative", one more example of music journalist invented horseshit terminology.

[@robwalsh9843]

Glam metal had over ten years of mainstream dominance of singing about girls and parties. It was inevitable people were going to get sick of that. Plus, most hair bands switched over to playing lame power ballads as singles by the time grunge blew up.

[@javi5810]

I think the guitar work has a lot to do with it. The amount of shredding in the 80s was insane and so sick

[@tristangruener9571]

Hysteria by Def Leppard is one of my all time favorite albums - just so catchy and consistent, it's awesome

[@anabolicamaranth7140]

The song Gods of War is up there with my all time favorites.

[@troyevitt2437]

The drummer's injury forced D/L to build a new sound around the Simmons electronic drumkit. I mean what can you do if you're gonna stick by your boy when he looses an ARM?! Okay, fellas, get ready for that Phil Colins gated-snare sound, 'cause your boy's doing it with one of his feet.

[@tristangruener9571]

@@troyevitt2437 that’s one of the most impressive parts of the album, the drums are minimal and awesome. The songs still feel huge too

[@GeeVanderplas]

There actually is a pretty thriving glam metal scene here in Europe (where else would hair metal still live?!) with great bands such as Crashdiet, Crazy Lixx, Hardcore Superstar, Reckless Love etc. There are dedicated glam festivals that are pretty successful and that don't rely on the old guard at all!

[@marcoantoniomarquezperez2652]

Those are exactly the bands I listen to today. ASdd to that Chez Kane, Devil's Train, Kissin' Dynmaite. and Grand Design

[@cptmoregn]

Skid Row's new album has Erik Grönwall from H.E.A.T on vocals and is a really good record, imo. If you enjoy this genre I think you'll like it.

[@jamesjohnston1935]

There is also the M3 festival that takes place in Columbia Maryland. Not the EU, but its a glam metal festival none the less.

[@ThundersMcCoy]

@@cptmoregn That record is insane. It's just as good as Slave To The Grind and I go back to the clubs with Skid Row.

[@Uncle_Ruckus_]

When it comes to metal, Europe knows what it's doing. I always tell aspiring metal bands in the US to just move to Europe. Metal is not only a joke of a scene in US but almost dead and takes itself way too seriously, too elitist.

[@ianbergman965]

Super happy to see Winger getting some love. I thought i was crazy for liking them so much.

[@danielhudson5186]

Kip Winger is a great great bass player

[@anabolicamaranth7140]

The album Pull was really good but the genre was buried and dead by then.

[@YBM2007]

@ghost mall I've had the exact same experience. Kip wasnt joking when he claimed they could outplay Metallica

[@TheBassTroll]

Dude! This was the most fair review of Glam Metal I've heard from someone who is too young to have lived it. We did the hair and makeup and clothing because it was fun. Living in Hollywood at that time was like being a hippie and living in Haight-Ashbury in the 60s.

[@cksmith007]

I graduated high school in 1982 - so I grew up with that stuff. It was such an amazing time to be young. It was all about fun and having a good time. Honestly I wish my kids could have experienced it b/c I think it was way more fun time than we have nowdays.

[@TriStarr]

The whole "scene" of 2006-2012 I always saw as a revival of 80s hair metal. It focused on fashion, had a large number of female fans, and had memorable choruses. The symmetry was always obvious to me.

[@onlychild5213]

Asking Alexandria was the Def Leppard of metalcore. Escape the Fate was the Van Halen.

[@ienjoyhoagies]

The haircuts were almost identical.

[@lethybridtheorygolucastheo2191]

@@onlychild5213 To be fair, Asking Alexandria was inspired by a lot of 80s Rock

[@lethybridtheorygolucastheo2191]

"TriStarr" The difference between Hair Metal and 00s Warped Tour Scene bands is that Hair Metal is more looked upon fondly by rock fans while Scene Warped Tour bands aren't (Despite the genre being nostalgically vindicated by Millennials) mostly because of the high pitch clean vocals (e.g., Kellin Quinn, Vic Fuentes) and problematic artists to come out of the scene (e.g., Ronnie Radke). Also add the fact that most scene bands from that era had diverse influences aside from Hair Metal such as Nu Metal, Post Grunge, 90s Boy Bands/Teen Pop, Pop Punk and Trance music. And honestly people can say what they will about the Late 00s Early 2010s scenecore bands, but if not for them we would have not likely had a Nu Metal revival as I think they are responsible for reviving it because they grew up on it when they were kids

[@onlychild5213]

@@lethybridtheorygolucastheo2191 so was a7x Slash was syn gates favorite guitarist

[@faiz7180]

No mention for Bon Jovi? They literally survived grunge and went through 90s and 00s with hits. Grunge was already way dead but they still kicking. Not to forget that Richie Sambora is a badass guitarist. Europe, Whitesnake, Scorpions , KISS, Van Halen and Aerosmith also deserved a mention.

[@faiz7180]

@JasonWilliamC I agree. Bon Jovi is known as a commercial band and they often being view as an "average musicians". A lot of people see Richie as an okay guitarist. Which is not wrong but that's only because the song that he play does not need much of a complex playstyle. But as a fan of Bon Jovi, I got to say they have some deep stuff as well if people care to explore more of their discographies. When Richie wants to go off, he definitely can. :)

[@Leveer13]

@@faiz7180 anyone who actually wants to know how good Richie Sambora was would have to listen to the songs that didn't get as much air play. His use of the Spanish/Mexican sound blended with Hard Rock Guitar was distinct.

[@Soldano999]

Finn says new york dolls and david bowie invented the genre but KISS and Van Halen IMO is the bands that really started it. Van Halen started the whole guitar hero thing and kiss the pyrotechnics and over the top costumes.

[@TutankhamaruCapac]

Aerosmith was an established band and objectively not hair metal. They were playing bluesy hard rock like Led Zeppelin and Hendrix. Then they came back in the 80s with a glam phase but that never made them into a hair band either just like Guns N' Rose's was hard rock and not hair metal

[@GNewcomb-q9v]

Bon Jovi was a rock band before transitioning into a pop rock band!

[@harveycooke9181]

my 3 favourite Glam bands are Extreme Winger & Mr. Big. Absolutely phenomenal musicians, technically as good as you can get, but at the same time with an incredible knack for songwriting.

[@anabolicamaranth7140]

Mr. Big, that was the one band my ex wife could take.

[@Aven_Andersen]

Winger is super underrated!

[@troyevitt2437]

Extreme and Mr. Big were incredible despite their jingly jangly acoustic chart-toppers.

[@00lukedavid]

Another great video Finn! Congrats on the baby too :). I got into heavy music with Warped Tour metalcore, and to this day I love that kind of music a lot. My dad was a huge metal head when he was growing up, but he didn't pass down his music to us so we formed our own interests. Over the past couple years, I started listening to a lot of the legendary bands from previous eras, especially glam rock and the likes because of how ubiquitous and influential those bands are. You're spot on with your view of why they were so successful and how modern rock has lost the plot. I think the big factor in anyone being an inspirational and amazing creator is to be loose and have fun. The people that change the game are people that aren't afraid to be crazy, but they work hard to be able to try big things. It would make me a happy fellow to see fun, talented, heavy bands start making waves again. Rock has a spirit that other genres do not have. It's contagious and powerful. Much love sir!

[@powermonger9090]

I feel like Hair Metal had two separate distinct periods. You had the earlier glam period and then by the late 80s the bands got more mature and ditched the glam. I think the bands that came about in the later half of the 80s offered far better songs then the first half of the 80s. I always think of this period as just the hard rock period with killer solos and songs.

[@Ob1tuber]

Basically it goes from Mötley Crüe, straight to Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe was not exactly poppy but brought rock (and metal) to the forefront, Bon Jovi was poppy and radio friendly and really had some of the best musicians of the era

[@robwalsh9843]

I respectfully disagree. I think like most other genres, hair/glam was stronger when it started. Van Halen, early Motley Crue and Hanoi Rocks sounded a lot better than later bands.

[@RoryLynott]

​@@robwalsh9843I can't agree more

[@roquetinsixtysix]

Agreed. In the 80s I drifted from new wave to hardcore. A lot of us were also into a sort of purist scene that worshiped the psychedelic rock of the 60s. (Hendrix, The Beatles, The Doors, Cream and so on.) We all thought of hair metal as a big joke. But it was impossible to ignore. It was definitely one of the things that made the 80s the 80s. Now, it's almost impossible to not look upon it with at least something resembling nostalgia. Yes, there was something great about it and here Finn gets to the heart of what made the genre so enduring at least in terms of memory. Thanks again, Punk Rock MBA.

[@chasing_dragons]

Ay 48 years old, I still can't get enough of this music. Thank God this music exists.

[@inappropriatecontent2589]

Some of those glam metal guitar riffs are all time greats. Dr. Feelgood alone has like half a dozen riffs that are instantly recognizable

[@Lowerclergy]

Motley crues first album Too Fast For Love is actually an incredible album. The songs are great, and its imo as far as detail, song writing, the perfect mix of metal/punk/70s glam, and that's what makes it the best motley album hands down. Shout at the Devil was really good too but the songwriting was a little more watered down, yes it was a little heavier, but TFFL had some damn good deep cuts like "Piece Of Your Action" "Come On and Dance" "On with The Show" "Starry Eyes" "Merry Go Round" "Public Enemy #1" and of course "Stick To Your Guns" (which only appeared on the Leathur Records release which the entire leathur records mix is superior to the Elektra mix as far as being able to hear the bass, its less polished, and it's how it's supposed to sound) then TFFL also had its timeless classics like "Live Wire" "Too Fast for love" and "Take Me To the Top"... the 3rd motley album Theatre of Pain was their last album that had some good metal songs that still had their early feel of the first 3 albums but it was definitely starting to go more poppy and by "Girls girls girls" the band totally had lost its heart and roots

[@eugenemonfourny6119]

C'mon, the self titled is the heaviest

[@Lowerclergy]

@@eugenemonfourny6119 yeah but it was absolutely nothing like the first 3 albums, it's not from the 80s, and it's got a different singer so it sounds like a grunge album. This video was about 80s metal bands so their 1994 grunge sounding album didn't really apply in this context. Yes it's a good album but I still say the Leathur records mix of Too Fast for love is their best album for sure.

[@jasondorst13]

Born in ‘75. “Hair Metal” was great. Yes, there were throw always, but their were absolutely some great bands and classic albums. And…it was fun! There were some really great songwriters in that era too. I also miss the guitar solos that had feel to them, and were so memorable.

[@Not_Sal]

Guns n Roses are by far the best of this era. My dad loved them and I grew up listening with him.

[@Vinion51]

Yeah… nah.

[@arejaycee5484]

Always thought they were a hard rock band definitely not 'hair'.

[@LordBackuro]

@ghost mall Yeah they were more pure hard rock without the Van Halen influence and more Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin influenced with a little glam influence but also kinda foreshadowing the grunge era a little bit. But they definitely carried Mainstream Rock (not Metal) through the whole 90’s until they disbanded Them disbanding kinda was the nail in the coffin for Rocks Mainstream presence only thing still there still was, was Pop Punk, Emo and Alternative and Metal which all is more their own thing and also became less mainstream in the 2000’s and early 2010’s.

[@The_Republic_of_Ireland]

Motley Crue!?!

[@DragonboltBlastter]

@ghost mall GNR has an Hair/Glam sound RIGHT!?!?! so yeah the are a Hair/Glam band!

[@rikkidee]

I'm still stuck in the '80's. Best era of my life. The fashion, the music the fun. So yeah Hair Metal rocked my world, and still does to this day.

[@HZepp]

How does Van Halen not get a mention? Soundwise, they were the blueprint for all this stuff

[@Starburst514]

VH is in a weird position. Always bums me out lol, I think because they were so early and set such a blueprint they got copied so quickly they get kinda trampled. '78 with thier debut album hard rock and metal music was being predicted to get eradicated by punk and disco, and they paved the way to make room for the future of the scene again. But it's like they were so hot, that I think everyone was quick to follow them in some shade. From sound to the look, like they never went full glam or did the makeup, but they inspired a whole lot on the scene, to the point that even we'll established bands older than them ended up having shades of their sound after they got off I think too because they never went full glam or flash that they don't count in as "hair metal" exactly if you're going more by look and feel, because they focused on the music much more

[@MikeyJProductions]

Yes!! VH, Kiss and AC/DC were HUGE influences on Hair metal. Far more than the New York Dolls.

[@tomgo2852]

everybody forgets about Sweet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hl61hXaIhbKil7M

[@jeffcohnphoto]

Skipped Aerosmith too somehow. No one's perfect lol

[@coleycole2nite]

And scorpions lol

[@Kylor80sMetalFan]

My favorite era for metal. Some of my best memories are watching VH1 Classic as a kid and seeing videos from bands like Mötley Crüe, Quiet Riot, Warrant, Guns N Roses, Cinderella and Poison.

[@jbcoker]

The musicality of the 80's musicians was incredible. True virtuosity. Thanks for this video.

[@Ragrocks]

Great Video. I lived thru this era, bought the albums and went to the shows. Yes the image was absurd many times, but many songs still hold up today & bottom line, it’s about the song. And I agree, GNR was in a whole other league, that’s why when Nirvana & grunge hit GNR was still playing stadiums then and still do in 2022. I really enjoy this channel, I watch it all the time.

[@yodanwhatsthejam4398]

You killed it. These guys were musicians first, and second understood the packaged presentation of music for marketing and appeal. That’s a lethal understanding on how to perform and present your act.

[@solearesoul]

This is one of my favorite musical topics, I’m so glad you’re covering this! (Yes I was a fan of hair metal when I was a 12 year old boy.)

[@davidturner2974]

We all definitely referred to it as "Pop metal" by the late 80s. And you nailed it with the pop sensibilities and sneaky-good songwriting. The glam stuff was just an amplification of everything about the 80s when it come to pop culture. I loved it all, though I don't listen to much of it at all anymore.

[@jaysick6551]

Agree 100%. Hair metal bands were super talented and most of them just wanted to entertain and have fun. Metal/Rock could use some more of that these days. Great vid!

[@dekapitatorr]

they are using it. there are bunch of newer clowns all over the scene.

[@metalrockstarizer89]

That’s the problem with rock and metal music nowadays. The fun is gone, the machismo is gone, and the women were gone. All this seriousness bs is plaguing the genre

[@duderino5]

You have done an excellent job of highlighting both the tremendous talent by the players and the reasons for the longevity of the genre. One point I think is missed is although Hair Metal gets dragged for the Party Hardy attitude, what people miss is the reason for the play hard antics. Most young people accepted the fact that entry level jobs sucked but realized that was how life worked: you started at the bottom and worked your way up. After a tough week of work, you wanted to bust loose, drink, chase girls, crank the tunes with your buddies, while you slogged through early life. There was no introspection or angsty whining. The over-the-top look and sound represented a respite from the weekly drudgery. Fantastic episode!

[@stewartdowouis9218]

Loved this stuff. I was born in rural America in ‘76 so this stuff was custom made for me. It all seemed like a dream world or fantasy to me. I had no idea where these band bought their clothes, their guitars, their girls… but it was absolutely somewhere I aspired to be.

[@MailOrderGamers]

Awesome video... I saw Poison and Ratt play a live show and they both were shredding, Brett Michaels had to leave the show early because he was Poisoned (with rat Poison) and CC stepped in to sing the rest of the songs. I think about that every time a performer cancels a show for some reason. Poison was Hardcore for that in my mind.

[@6li8storm40]

I hated Poison in their heyday, but my sister somehow got me into them in the late 90s. I’ve seen them live twice since then, and they’re honestly a really good live act.

[@poultonboys3108]

WAIT WAIT WAIT. So Poison and Ratt played a show together and Bret had to leave because he was poisoned with… RATT POISON??

[@MailOrderGamers]

@poultonboys3108 Yes, it happened in San Diego like 10 years ago or so.

[@geneterror]

I'm 47 and was in High School during the peak of Hair Metal, some of these bands were amazing. W.A.S.P - Last Command, Guns 'n Roses - Appetite for Destruction, Motley Crue - Too fast for love are all great albums. In terms of Rock/Metal I spent my High School years listening to W.A.S.P just as much as the first Autopsy and Terrorizer albums.

[@joacoballarati5943]

WASP is a monster on a different league. The lyrics Blackie wrote will forever echoe in me

[@maikgerrard]

I didn't like Twisted Sister but I saw them live 4 years ago and their music sounded so great, they got so much energy and fun. Since then I'm a fan of their music.

[@GymnasticsCoach83]

I love TS!! Amazing back then and still now ^_^. Great performances live!!!

[@krypticcoil9540]

Hair metal is my favorite music genre ever! I’ve been listening to the heavier stuff for the last few years but I just recently started getting back into hair metal. I really think that some of my favorite artists that make heavier music than what hair metal had to offer were highly influenced by it though.

[@levisarenpa5100]

Same bro! It’s awesome! Greatest genre ever🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@dtklamf7457]

If it was REALLY your favorite music you would call it what it is. Hard Rock. and not use a term created after the fact to disparage it. "Hair Metal" was never a thing.

[@levisarenpa5100]

Hater

[@grungil7570]

I only started listening to rock music around 91,92 so the hair metal was already dead, so Grunge, britpop and Nu-metal became the soundtrack to my teenage years. But i never had any problems digging the grave from 80s metal, and when i do it, i kinda feel nostalgic even if i wasnt there to live that decade. There´s a lot of underrated musicians and the best ballads came from that era, thats for sure. Like that Cinderella song: Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone).

[@Onewildandcrazyguy]

I graduated from high school in 92. It was really big freshman sophomore year. Junior year it started taking the decline and Senior year it was on life support. It was still around in 91-92 it was 93-94 that it was completely dead

[@Jp-yn6te]

A lot of these bands such as Def leppard, Europe, Bon jovi, whitesnake ect have amazing talent producing catchy riffs,chorus and so much energy on stage. Yeah lots of hair and leather but that was the era and at least most are still producing new material now.

[@vanceshepherd1618]

I'm an eighties kid. I was a total nerd into country music and had just moved to a new high school. A couple of girls befriended me (probably out of pity), and introduced me to Scorpions' Savage Amusement & Def Leppard's Hysteria. I was hooked... by the hooks. Been my favorite genre ever since. The musicianship and songwriting are unjustifiably maligned or outright ignored. You're right, these are some of the most perfect pop songs ever written, reinforced by fantastic performers. Just attended the most successful tour of the year, featuring Def Leppard & Motley Crue, with Poison and Joan Jett. 40k people in the stadium proves this music is still important to a lot of people.

[@catrinag.9262]

I went as well in San Antonio and it was so good! I had a blast. One of the highlights of my life for sure. Def Leppard and Poison killed it❤️

[@skunx74]

I was kinda the opposite.... I was in high school in the late 80s/ early 90s and i was into metal and hair bands big time, and in my opinion country music was Satan.... swore i would never ever listen to country. I had that stupid mindset that listening to other genres was a betrayal to metal. Then i grew up and realized that all genres are great in their own ways. Got into country in my 30s. Now i really do enjoy a lot of country music. And of course i still enjoy metal and punk, always will. Once i realized that you can enjoy many different styles of music, i was much happier

[@Rcbme2011]

Hell yeah. Those were my teenage years. Nothing like putting on the parachute pants, getting that hair right and going to a concert. So many girls at the shows back then. Excellent times! You touched on a good fact. Hair Metal was good time music. Party music. That's probably why I like Pop Punk so much these days. Fun, energetic music.

[@ericswires8534]

Well said !! 🤟🏻.

[@ziggyplay]

"parachute pants, getting that hair straight"... that sounds like mid-90s more than 80s hair metal. You made me think about The Cranberries or Garbage...

[@Rcbme2011]

@@ziggyplay Class of 86 here. California. It was definitely 80’s Hair Metal 🤘🏼

[@yogidemis8513]

I was never a huge fan of glam era style but enjoyed the music but it seems they had more going for them in those days then how things are going today in the music world. The 80s were definitely a magical time in human history. I'm glad that I witnessed the era.

[@hanksung]

I didn't know about the term "Hair Mental", I think, until I watched this video. (But I DEFINITELY can recognize the look though! I mean, I've seen those kinda look in the movies or TV series or something.) And I actually was expecting it to sound like SOOOOOO FUCKING ANGRY that they wanna eat/bite you or something like A LOT of the Rock music in my impression of the Rock music, (which made me DIDN'T wanna click the video to watch it. Because… I don't wanna feel scared by the sound of it) But it's actually SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I mean, I could imagine myself listening to it if the production is upgraded!!! The heaviness is just kind of on (or around) the sweet spot for me!!! From some of the songs that you played!!! And you mentioned about Pop influences, I guess that that's why I like it? I REALLY have a specific music taste though. I have a style that I like to listen to, a person who used to be my friend would point things out if she thinks that the music that I sent her is NOT the style that she thinks that I would usually listen to.

[@anothersettlementneedsyour9628]

Also there was a whole new breed of this in Japan. Wchich eventually evolved to kawaii metal. The whole thing started a bit late, first glam rock bands being in late 70s, glam metal at the early 80s, and towards the end of 80s, almost every band, regardless of subgenre rocked the glam look. The actual glam metal there reached its peak in the mid 90s, but continued into the late 90s. The most notable glam bands were X Japan, EZO (originally Flatbacker), Bow Wow (the first one), Saber Tiger (female frontman), and various nazi chic heavier bands. There is also really good band Ningen Isu (Human Chair). They’re most known for Black Sabbathesque Sludge/doom/stoner metal. But they had many phases, including hardcore punk (Dynamite), grunge, prog metal (Kaijin Nijuu Menso) and yes, even glam metal (the album with drawn bunny on its cover) Even heavier bands, thrash, black or death metalheads in Japan rocked this look. And lots of times better than their western counterparts. There was this thing, that satanism wasn’t controversial, and the satanic panic never happened in Japan. But japanese bands still needed to shock their audiences with something, right? And nothing did better job at this than nazi chic. Yes, there were bands in Japan, played by japanese dudes who looked like Whitesnake, with swastika armbands, and played heavier music than most western thrash metal bands. They had cute names, like Rosenfeld, Rommel, Mein Kampf or Hakenkreuz. And before you judge, keep in mind, that this pissed of two kinds of people the most, conservatives, and actual nazis, who were repulsed by this. Not all extreme bands did the nazi chic thing, and those mentioned are the most extreme and obvious examples (Rosenfeld were actually really great). There were more subtle ones, like Gyorai (means “torpedo” in japanese). It was ironic, inaccurate parody intended for shock factor. Then there was band called Seikima II, who were inspired by kabuki, wore heavy makeup and crazy costumes. Sounds familiar? Yes, these guys used the same formula as Kiss. And they weren’t copying Kiss, they were even more influenced by the kabuki tradition, blending that with glam metal looks. Evolved completely independent from Kiss. Also, they played a bit heavier and more progressive music. Seikima II (read “Seikima Tsu”) means “the end of century”. And they planned since their founding in 1982 to disband on the last day of 1999. And they did. At the end, the style evolved into Kawaii metal, early example is Atlernative rock band Malice Mizer.

[@Ikiya69]

Kawaii metal is a reference to Babymetal, I think you're meant to say "visual kei". Visual kei, just like hair metal, focus both on image and music. Thus the name "visual", except visual bands has more freedom in making music. You can have a techno, pop, metal or alternative track in the same album. X Japan was the godfather of this scene. And what makes it more interesting is almost 90% of the bands in this scene is actually good!! I used to be so obsessed with the scene.

[@spaceriot23]

There's no Kawaii Metal, it's Visual Kei scene. Hair/glam metal are just straight pop rock/hard rock, meanwhile Visual Kei are just the style band used (hence Visual). Like you mentioned above, Visual Kei band are diverse, from pop to metal to obscure/ avant garde music

[@PedroHenrique-mj1mn]

This is visual kei lol.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

This is an exhibit A example of classic Finn. Based and unbiased take on literally anything heavy. Even though I'm a huge metalcore guy lately, I love this entire era even more and it needs to come back! That's what pop is doing and it works incredible (Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, and many more), now it's rock's turn :)

[@kristofevarsson6903]

Due Lipa totally ripped off INXS with her one song "Break My Heart" and I heard it instantly. I was like wtf, that's INXS.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@kristofevarsson6903 the chorus and bassline definitely sound like a cleaner kinda RnB version of Suicide Blond! Never realized that before! As a zoomer whose dad was a DJ back in the 80s and grew up around all sorts of music from this decade from Post Disco to AOR to Post Punk to Thrash, I appreciate it so much whenever a popular artist takes influence from 80s acts that have been lost to time (saying this about INXS is a bit of a stretch but you get my point). Same about The Weeknd's Dawn FM and especially the opening track Gasoline, definitely sounds inspired by Pet Shop Boys or The Human League :)

[@kristofevarsson6903]

@@Mr.Goldbar Listen to the way she sings the opening lines of her chorus, and then listen to the guitar riff to INXS "Need You Tonight". They sound completely alike to me.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@kristofevarsson6903 wow they literally sound alike! 1:1 interpolation. I know she did the same with Olivia Neuton John's Physical too. I'm not sure why I thought of Suicide Blond first though...

[@BourbonHawk69]

80’s rock was so much fun. The entire vibe and feel won’t be duplicated ever again

[@y_s4021]

I know hard rock bands had a terrible time when 90s came, but I also love how many of them transitioned to different styles and how they evolved. Winger sounds good to this day, in a heavier style. Extreme's last album was awesome too.

[@ethompson9107]

I grew up listening to all this classic stuff when I was a kid in the 80s. As the 90s came, like many others, I started getting into bands like Mother Love Bone, Jane's Addiction, Faith No More and Alice In Chains to name a few. Even though I still respect alot of the 90s grunge/ alternative, I will always be a true fan of the 80s hard rock.

[@andreajohnson8652]

Surprised there was no mention of Randy Rhoads. He was amazing as a guitarist.

[@bloppysloppy2283]

They didn't mention Malmsteen either.

[@firebirdlover4460]

Probably because he wasn't famous for his hair metal days in Quiet Riot. He was famous for his time with Ozzy and the music he created there was nothing like hair metal.

[@probablylarsulrich5654]

The takeaway is: rock has to be fun and not take itself too seriously if it ever wants to be anywhere as big as it was in the 80s.

[@gun_toting_lefty]

Great review! It was a great time to be alive! But yeah, around that 2nd wave of Poison, Cinderella etc. (except for G&R) I started checking out and gearing up for Thrash. I still stuck with The Main 3 - Dokken, Ratt, and Motley. Thanks for doing it justice.

[@tonyeckman4822]

Glam still rules to me. I was born in 1969 and am currently in a black metal band (Post Mortem Superstar) and a deathrock band (Black Heroin Gallery) and I was raised on this style. I still wear heavy makeup, leather, chains, big boots, dye my hair black, nail polish, etc. The glam bands looked cool and normal people are still fascinated because they have an inner secret desire to look and be that rebellious and awesome looking themselves. In fact there are many bands worldwide still holding the flame aloft. For instance- Salems Lott, Lipz, Crash Diet, Sister, The Midnight Devils, Mangusta, Cobraspell, Sleazy Cheetah, Santa Cruz, etc. as well as some of the old guard still going strong like- Pretty Boy Floyd, The Zeros, L.A Guns, Stryper, etc.

[@AnnFromDetroit]

Thank you!!! I’m glad that someone gave credit to the musicianship that these guys have.

[@TheMidwestPatriot]

I 1000% agree with this! I was born in the mid 80’s so it’s fair to say this a little before my time. My father, who was quite an accomplished rock drummer, introduced me to hair metal. He was a huge metal/rock fan appreciating all rock and metal. It was pretty cool to be the kid that’s dad would have a mix cd with Cinderella, bullet for my valentine, rob zombie, slipknot and the offspring on it. That being said, I like this music because it was all about having a good time. This same reason I really like pop punk. Don’t get me wrong I like almost all rock and metal, but some times you just want something a little more playful and upbeat.

[@Xochiyolotl]

I grew up during this time. For me, metal is about having a great time or listening to an awesome emotional ballad. I never could get behind all the dark stuff. And, besides, if you’re feeling dark and moody, nothing beats the blues.

[@jameydunne3920]

The rise and fall of hair rock, especially as you're describing it, reminded me of the the rise and fall of disco. Deep musical talent to create a sound and scene, scene explodes and takes over mainstream pop music, pop marketing floods the interest with overproduced schlock, the rest of the industry apes the shiny sound, and then a new counter sound kills the fake over top parody it has become.

[@bloppysloppy2283]

I think Disco fueled the early 80's Metal revival. It was a backlash against Disco. "Disco Sucks" was a common saying back then.

[@jameydunne3920]

@@bloppysloppy2283 probably. A lot of the early hair metal bands struggled in obscurity during the disco era, honing their craft and improving their skill. That's what there was so much good music done "out of nowhere". The alternative scene killed hair metal in a similar way. That is why there is so many great alternative rock bands and albums in the early '90's.

[@eandatoo]

Dude, you have explained it so thoroughly and accurately about the appeal of hair metal. It all boils down to who decides what is culturally exciting and relevant: teenage girls. Period. Hair metal bands have brilliantly tapped into that and cemented themselves into the subconscious of females all through to their adult lives even to this day. And yes there was a lot of jealousy and flack they received from all sides. Metal has always had its critics and detractors. That’s what made it METAL.

[@shimbas]

I didn't know this channel and I must confess that I was skeptical of what a channel called The Punk Rock MBA had to say about Hair Metal, which is a genre that I love, but it's pretty good video. Great job.

[@benkendall5562]

The production on Dr Feelgood is still crazy good to this day! Great tracks to work out to

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Yes! Still sounds great

[@futuristic.handgun]

The opening drums and guitar riff on that song go hard as a motherfucker. 🤘

[@vicp.5086]

A lot of forgotten gems to be found in this genre. Tesla's "Modern Day Cowboys" is a great example in my opinion.

[@breewalker6902]

Yes! So underrated of a song but I love it!

[@lowenbad]

That song is my favorite of that era/ genre! The guitar solo is fuggin ridiculous!

[@thesawwhisperer3384]

Mechanical Resonance was a criminally underrated album for the time. I remember in junior high I was all about it. Everyone would say "Tesla sucks!" until their video for Love Song hit MTV.

[@Aven_Andersen]

That whole album's fucking amazing! 🤘🤘

[@junkkyrocks]

I wanted to ask you to do this video, but you did it :) So the thing is, I am a hair metal fan and I can say that as always you did a great job. This is why I watch all your videos no matter if I like or don't like the artists or genres that you are covering. This channel is a pure gold and you are doing a fantastic job :)