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In a way, the band had a slow death, gradually being removed from the public’s eye. Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson held guitar duties in Night Ranger, and both were stocked to the gills with skills. Both of these guitarists were frequently mentioned in many of the guitar magazines at the time.
Mötley Crüe, ‘Shout at the Devil’ (
The 20 greatest hair metal bands of all time - Yardbarker
The 20 greatest hair metal bands of all time.
Posted: Mon, 29 Apr 2024 19:03:14 GMT [source]
Nevertheless, Pretty Boy Floyd was a band frequently seen on MTV back in the glory days of the channel. The group’s 1989 song, Fly To The Angels, charted within the top 20 in the US. Unfortunately, the group never quite experienced the same success, despite being active throughout most of the 90s. Despite their age, KISS is still loved and enjoyed widely around the world. It’s hard to say whether they liked what they saw, but it's safe to say the group lacked their glamour. In a way, every member of Mötley Crüe essentially became a celebrity in their own right.
Def Leppard
Hair metal was influenced by glam rock from the late '70s and early '80s, inspiring the over the top looks hair bands adopted, including big hair and makeup. Hard rock bands like Slade and Aerosmith helped shape their musical sound. In the U.S., hair metal was popularized on the Sunset Strip of Los Angeles beginning in the early '80s. At the height of its popularity in the '80s, hair bands had huge radio and MTV hits and were one of the most popular genres in all of music. They’re one of the biggest hair bands to bridge the divide between rock and pop, amassing a huge following for their catchy songs with hard rock guitars and drums. The band’s debut album came out in 1984, and they released additional records in 1985, 1986, and 1988.
Poison, ‘Look What the Cat Dragged in’ (
The band released several successful albums throughout the decade, including Tooth and Nail, Under Lock and Key, and Back for the Attack. During the late 80s, Winger was one of the hair bands in the upper echelon of the industry. Their songs, Miles Away, and, Seventeen, are some of the biggest songs of the era. Just like Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard is another hair band that is known as one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Although they were formed in 1977, the rock band first started releasing albums in the 1980s, with their most notable work from that time being their first number one – “Hysteria” from August 1987. However, they didn’t have mainstream success until releasing their second album in 1984, which sold more than one million copies in the United States.
Their 1989 debut Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich was chockfull of power ballads (“Heaven,” “Sometimes She Cries”) and anthemic rockers (“Down Boys”). By the time Guns N’ Roses (GN’R) hit the scene with their epic 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction, they also fell into the hair metal trappings. An earlier iteration of GN’R featured guitarist Tracii Guns, who would later form L.A. Guns, another band that also filled the hair and glam metal quota of the time. Great White was one of the best hair bands of the 80s, known for their bluesy hard rock sound and energetic live performances.

Precious Metal, ‘Right Here Right Now’ (
They had a string of successful albums, including "Shout At The Devil", "Theatre Of Pain", "Girls Girls Girls" and "Dr. Feelgood". After turmoil and member changes in the '90 and early 2000s, the classic lineup got back together, touring and releasing new music. They soon recruited guitarist Mick Mars and eventually hired Vince Neil as their singer. The Crue quickly become of the most successful bands to emerge from the Sunset Strip. Their legendary partying drew almost as much as attention as their music.
Musical acts from the '80s who are still playing today - Yardbarker
Musical acts from the '80s who are still playing today.
Posted: Sun, 28 Apr 2024 04:38:03 GMT [source]
Any average person is likely familiar with at least one of the band members’ names. Of course, his involvement with Quiet Riot spanned most of the 1970s before leaving at the end of the decade. It was his playing that put the band on the map, setting the stage for the 1980s. But really, when the band was in its prime, they were truly an unstoppable force.
‘My Place Is Here’ Directors Talk Women’s Rights, Poverty in Post-War Italy as Trailer Debuts (EXCLUSIVE)
The list of the 30 best hair bands of the 80s is a testament to the impact that these bands had on the music scene. From the long hair to the spandex pants, the hair bands of the 80s left an indelible mark on the music industry and pop culture. The 80s was a decade defined by its music and fashion, and hair bands were a significant part of that era. The band’s raw, powerful vocals, guitar riffs, catchy melodies, and anthemic choruses made them popular with fans of rock and metal alike. The band’s original lineup consisted of Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Brad Gillis (guitar), Jeff Watson (guitar), Alan Fitzgerald (keyboards), and Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals).
It was also during that time when hair bands of the 80s really took center stage and made their presence felt all over the world. Quiet Riot was a hair band founded by Randy Rhoads, later known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. The band initially started in 1973 and had a rivalry with Van Halen before either group had a record deal. Quiet Riot’s biggest single, “Cum On Feel the Noize,” was actually a cover song.
In addition to their musical talents, Great White was also known for their dynamic live shows, which often included pyrotechnics, light shows, and other theatrical elements. In the 1980s, KISS continued to evolve its sound, incorporating more pop and synth elements into its music. The band’s sound was heavily influenced by bands such as Aerosmith, AC/DC, and The Rolling Stones.
Their single “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” hit number one, but they’ve had nine Top 40 singles in their career. The band started touring in 1986 to promote their debut album and stayed on the road consistently until 2012. The band later went through lineup changes, with Sammy Hagar taking over on lead vocals in the late 80s, changing the overall sound of the band but only boosting its popularity.
KISS was one of the most iconic hair bands of the 1980s, known for their unique look and high-energy live performances. Their debut album, Appetite for Destruction, was released in 1987 and became a massive commercial success, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. Their music style is often described as a blend of hard rock, glam, and hair metal. The album’s unique blend of hard rock, funk, and glam metal helped set Bang Tango apart from its contemporaries.
Their status as a true "hair band" is disputed by some, but there's no doubt they greatly influenced the genre and should be considered pioneers. Quiet Riot's reign of success only lasted a few years, and they had a lot of lineup changes and a couple of breakups. They still toured until recently, when vocalist Kevin DuBrow died of a drug overdose in 2007. Each band on the list had its unique sound and style, but they all shared a common bond of delivering high-energy music that spoke to the hearts and souls of their fans. Night Ranger has released over a dozen studio albums, their most recent being A.T.B.P.O. (And The Band Played On), released in 2021. W.A.S.P.’s music is characterized by its heavy use of guitar riffs, theatrical stage shows, and controversial lyrics that often deal with topics such as sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Van Halen released several successful albums throughout the 1980s, including 1984, 5150, and OU812. Throughout their career, Mötley Crüe has released several successful albums, including Shout at the Devil, Girls, Girls, Girls, and Dr. Feelgood. I’ve compiled a list of the best 80s hair bands, capturing the essence of an era defined by big hair, bold fashion, and even bolder music. Out of any of these bands, Poison ranks as one of the most popular, even to this day. The group released some of the biggest songs to ever grace the radio waves in the 1980s. The band would have another smash hit at the start of the 1990s with Cherry Pie.
Stryper’s music is characterized by its blend of heavy metal and Christian lyrics. Ratt has released several albums, most recently being Infestation in 2010. These bands epitomized the rock spirit of the 1980s, delivering anthems that have stood the test of time. Their second album would eventually become Platinum-certified 5 different times. KISS was also a little bit more of a different band than the previous era.
They formed in 1978 when singer David Coverdale left Deep Purple and signed with Geffen Records. Their self-titled album was their biggest success, though it was actually the band’s seventh release. The band’s first two albums were heavy metal, but by their third release in 1985, they had a glam sound to match their over-the-top teased hair and rock clothing style. They released five albums in the 80s and produced two in the 90s and two in the 2000s.