Just like Eddie, I hate it. I think it describes a look NOT a sound, and also pigeon holed a lot of bands under oner large umbrella, where many did not belong. For example Tesla was considered a “hair band,” really??
Just like Eddie, I hate it. I think it describes a look NOT a sound, and also pigeon holed a lot of bands under oner large umbrella, where many did not belong. For example Tesla was considered a “hair band,” really??
27 Responses
Which generaly makes the term inconclusive at best.
I can’t stand it. I first heard the term in 1992. First of all, most of the bands that were actual hairspray mongers were more commercial in sound, not Metal. That’s another term that gets bandied about carelessly. Metal is Priest, Maiden, Celtic Frost, Metallica, etc. I blame certain 1989 to 1991 glam type bands for the term Hair Metal. The band to make fun of (very easy to do, because they are just terrible) for starting this was Pretty Boy Floyd. They were exactly what others were making fun of, but unfortunately, actual good bands were being called it along with them. PBF capped off an era of fun music with ripping off every song they’ve ever recorded, and couldn’t sing or play their way out of a urine sopped bag. They were the definition of Posers. That isn’t a good look, and so then everyone was phony and stupid according to critics. They ruined it for us all. To see Extreme, who are as talented as Queen in many ways, be put in the same sentence as Hair Metal, is disgusting. The term caught fire, and here we are.
My memory is so bad, but I actually thought the term existed pre grunge, perhaps in the mid 80s? But, I agree with everything you stated.
What’s weird, is amongst the Hair Metal label were sub genres: Sleaze Rock (which was applied to bands such as L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, Roxx Gang), Glam (Poison, Hanoi Rocks).
So this then begs the question where did Bon Jovi fall, Glam? Guns N’ Roses, Sleaze? Black Sabbath, Doom? Little Caesar, Biker Hard Rock? Tora Tora Bluesy Hard Rock? It’s all too confusing.
Just leave it at three categories: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal and Thrash. The amount of subgenres within even these three broader categories, is enough to make one’s head explode.
Who the f–k cares. I know Eddie hates this term and it seems kind of split between the artists. I guess it was derogatory at the time it was coined but does it not fit? If you can name some short hairs in the “Hair Metal” genera, you can name hundreds that had long hair. Did greasers in the 50’s not have greasy hair? Get over it Eddie. It may help you sleep better.
Sheesh, Donald,
Who peed in your cereal? I don’t like the term either, it’s NOT just Eddie.
Additionally, as I wrote, it describes a look not a sound. Comparing 50s Greasers, which describes a look, is not equivalent to classifying a genre of music.
Hair Band was just the natural evolution of the term Glam Bands from the 70’s. Bands like early Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Priest and GnR fit the term of what would be come Hair Metal. Although, I think they’d be defined as Hard Rock Glam initially. It could be said that Ozzy when he was in his Barbara Mandrell phase ( think Ultimate Sin era) could meet the very definition of Glam-Metal and/or Hair Band. I can only imagine how many metal bands he inspired just because of his look and sound in the mid 80’s.
I’m of the opinion that bands like Dokken, Cinderella, Poison, Ratt, Vixen, Lita Ford, Faster Pussycat, Slaughter, Bullet Boys, Warrant, Winger, and many others carried the torch of what would become Hair Metal or Butt Rock. It’s a pedantic term.
Hi Tasker,
Thanks, but I still prefer the general terms Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.
Also, I disagree with your assessment, of lumping Judas Priest in with Hair Metal, save for their glam, Turbo era, they are definitely a Heavy Metal band.
Ozzy is up for debate. I guess I would classify his early work as Hard Rock, since it was quite melodic, but some of his material also straddles the line of Heavy Metal. Black Sabbath, in my opinion, is definitely more of a metal band, than Hard Rock.
Just off the top of my head, this is how I would categorize bands.
Rock: Aerosmith, KISS, Montrose, etc.
Hard Rock: Van Halen, DLR, Ozzy, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Dokken, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, etc.
Heavy Metal: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath Motörhead, etc.
Thrash: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Exodus, etc.
Evening Dana, I’m with you and generally use those terms as well.
Enjoying the topic and everyone’s take.
Cheers
I love hard rock and heavy music as well I think it very cool and nice I think I would pick those two terms if I had a pick but I would never ever see those bands play and I love hair metal as well!