Rolling Stone - We are in the throes of a Hair Metal Renaissance

[FunkyMonkey]

Lately we?ve been getting the feeling that we are in the throes of a Hair Metal Renaissance (henceforth to be known as HMR). Perhaps it was this past summer?s monumental Def Leppard tour, or the recent reunions of such HM Heavyweights as Poison and Cinderella. Could be the ubiquitous presence of former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach. The impending return of a certian former HM adherent (they are referring to Axl, they link to a story that I cannot post the link to). Or the fact that books like this are getting published. In any case, damned if we aren?t seeing a trend here. We know some of you out there never stopped loving your White Snake and Ratt records, but we know its not particularly stylish to admit it. So let?s all put aside our pride, emerge from our HM closets (which house our old spandex pants, liquid eyeliner and Aqua Net), and share a special list of the best HM bands of all time. Here we go (again).

-- Lauren Gitlin

Story at Rollingstone.com

[JuicySwoos]

Thats cool.  Although I don't like it when GNR gets lumped in with the likes of Ratt and Poision, but one can make an arugument I guess that GNR was/is HM.

[T_Roxie]

They were...when they did live like a suicide...after that...nah.
just a rock n roll band.

[JuicySwoos]

They were...when they did live like a suicide...after that...nah.
just a rock n roll band.

Yep, they did wear makeup with the best of them in the early days.

Dude, the cult fucking rocks, my 2nd favorite band...most underrated rock band ever!

[ppbebe]

are they really referring to axl or just Sebastian Bach with the link?
I don't know about the past but Guns N Roses now look and sound nothing like hair metal.

[FunkyMonkey]

Where they say "certain former HM adherent" if you click on it, it takes you to the story about Axl/GNR that I cannot post.  So yes there are referring to Axl.

[ppbebe]

Ok so they're hinting that GNR is hair metal. but not in the text. I wonder why. <= this isn't aimed at you, funky. thanks for the report.
well good publicity.

[FunkyMonkey]

Yes, but they did say "former".

[Mikkamakka]

This GN'R is/was a hair metal band cracks me up. Can these guys imagine that a hairband writes songs like Welcome To The Jungle or Mr. Brownstone?    Yeah, they had some make-up during the early days, but their music wasn't hair metal at all.

[PeterCoffin]

Ugh, I hope hair metal doesn't come back. That would be very unfortunate.

[JuicySwoos]

This GN'R is/was a hair metal band cracks me up. Can these guys imagine that a hairband writes songs like Welcome To The Jungle or Mr. Brownstone?? ? Yeah, they had some make-up during the early days, but their music wasn't hair metal at all.

Good point.  What is hair metal?  The music?  Or how they dressed?  If its the music, then no way is/was GNR hair metal. If it is defined by dress, then GNR was.

I don't think GNR is hairmetal.

[T_Roxie]

Hairmetal is like motley crue, which they sound nothing like.

[guns_n_motley]

Hairmetal is like motley crue, which they sound nothing like.

but skid row sound nothing like motley crue, and ratt sound nothing like motley crue, and poison is pretty much a pop glam... the other bands are MUCH heavier...

Hair metal is defined by the LOOK, not necessicarily the music, which is why people lump bands like Poison who were poppy to say the least, with heavier bands like Motley Crue, Ratt, skid row. and lump them even further with bands like GNR, tesla etc....

hair metal is a term used to lump ALL 80s bands together...

Just like grunge lumps all early 90s bands together, but you wouldnt say soundgarden and AIC are really like nirvana etc..


ya know what I mean?? after the fact record companies make up these terms to bunch a ton of bands together... probably to sell to that demographic...

when theres a million different rock genres, its easy to lump a bunch of bands into one category

[T_Roxie]

True, it's all just rock n roll really.  No point trying to categorise it.

[The Dog]

Hair metal is a mis nomer, but its the easiest label to attach to the 80s rock scene - the average joe identifies all the rock music from that time as being hair metal (even though most of us here know not every band from that time was).  Its not worth getting all upset over.

I would love if that music came back.  It was fun, most of the guys could sing and you could tell people actually knew how to play their instruments - most of all you actually knew the names of the lead singers and guitarists and drummers of all those bands, even if you didn't like them.  Todays rock is just being mass produced.  If I hear one more nickelback/creed/three doors down sounding band I will scream.  I am convinced its one guy singing for all of those bands hahah

[BKinNYC]

Ugh, I hope hair metal doesn't come back. That would be very unfortunate.

Sorry, but I have to disagree.  Nothing can be worse than the shit hip-hop and rap that pollute today's "music" media and television. 

Someday, everyone's going to look back and say "wow, I can't believe that I used to like these guys talking over music.  That was stupid."

[oldgunsfan]

Other than GnR, Tesla was my favorite bands back then.....their music still holds up these days

[guns_n_motley]

Other than GnR, Tesla was my favorite bands back then.....their music still holds up these days

if you like tesla you might like Cinderella... contrary to their name(which is a horrible name for a band) their prett much a blues rock band...

"fallin apart at the seams" you might like htat song

[JuicySwoos]

Hairmetal is like motley crue, which they sound nothing like.

but skid row sound nothing like motley crue, and ratt sound nothing like motley crue, and poison is pretty much a pop glam... the other bands are MUCH heavier...

Hair metal is defined by the LOOK, not necessicarily the music, which is why people lump bands like Poison who were poppy to say the least, with heavier bands like Motley Crue, Ratt, skid row. and lump them even further with bands like GNR, tesla etc....

hair metal is a term used to lump ALL 80s bands together...

Just like grunge lumps all early 90s bands together, but you wouldnt say soundgarden and AIC are really like nirvana etc..


ya know what I mean?? after the fact record companies make up these terms to bunch a ton of bands together... probably to sell to that demographic...

when theres a million different rock genres, its easy to lump a bunch of bands into one category

Yuppers, if defined by the look, then GNR was hair metal. I would love for that type of rock to make a comeback. Frontmen which vocal range and ability, guitarists who can play a solo, and music that is fun and makes you feel good to listen to. Some of it may be cheesy, but it is a fun genre.

[oldgunsfan]

Other than GnR, Tesla was my favorite bands back then.....their music still holds up these days

if you like tesla you might like Cinderella... contrary to their name(which is a horrible name for a band) their prett much a blues rock band...

"fallin apart at the seams" you might like htat song

didn't like the singers voice