(I didn't know whether to put this in the 80's or 90's section, but since it was the 90's when it got a REALLY bad rep, I'll put it in the 90's)

Though I think the machismo lyrics, the focus on image rather than music, the power ballads, and the whole 'dressing like transvestites' thing deserves the backlash it got, I always thought a lot of 'hairbands' made some pretty good music. Aside from Poison or Winger and all that garbage, there was good hair metal out there. I always thought Europe was a pretty good band, and no, not just because of the 'Final Countdown'. Whitesnake and Quiet Riot both put out some really good songs when they reached their respective peaks, and I thought that even Bon Jovi had a good album with 'Slippery When Wet'. Motley Crue was a GREAT band for a long time, Dokken was a really good band for a while too, and even Ratt had its moments. I know bands like Warrant and Slaughter drove the entire genre into the ground around 1990 and paved the way for the rise of grunge, but still, it seems like ALL hairmetal gets a bad rep. and not just those awful bands that deserve it. I guess it kinda had to die, but it still pisses me off that a few really awful bands (a la Firehouse) had to ruin it for all the good ones.

Nope.

hairband gets what hairband deserves.

I think it hasn't gotten ripped on enough.

I rip on hair metal all the time because it always gets praise as the greatest music in the 80s.  Other than rap, Hair metal was my 2nd least favourite genre in the 80s

I'm not the biggest fan, but I do like quite a few songs by bands that would be considered "hair metal". Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Tesla, Whitesnake, Mr. Big, and Giant among others, all have a song or two that I kind of like.

Not the best genre, but modern day rap is way worse. 8-P

I think it hasn't gotten ripped on enough.


hahaaha!! ;D :D

^ Yeah, that's definetly how I feel about it.  ;D

The 80s didn't give me many bands to like. Mainly just The Pretenders and Weird Al. Other than those two, it was just different songs from different bands.

I think both yes and no, and I see what you're saying though.

On one hand, the image was pretty over the top and ridiculous (huge hair, lipstick/makeup and totally ripped acid-washed jeans), and lots of times it was cliched, dumb lyrics about sex or partying. Especially the Warrants and Wingers from the end of the genre around 1989 and '90. I can see why people made fun of that and wanted it to die.

On the other hand though, there were some great SINGLES like "Here I Go Again" and several Def Leppard and Bon Jovi songs. They were the only band I knew of as it was actually popular too - my mom was a fan and "Living on a Prayer" is a classic song.

As with most genres there is some good. But hair metal had more bad than good.

Hair metal is pretty horrible. It isn't ALL bad though like anything, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Here I Go Again" are both very fun songs.

-Bob :)

Hair metal is pretty horrible. It isn't ALL bad though like anything, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and "Here I Go Again" are both very fun songs.

-Bob :)


I agree. Like any other genre, there is good and bad.  Early 80s Def Leppard is Good.  Late 80s Warrant - specifically She's My Cherry Pie, is extremely Bad!

I agree. Like any other genre, there is good and bad.  Early 80s Def Leppard is Good.  Late 80s Warrant - specifically She's My Cherry Pie, is extremely Bad!


I didn't need to remember that one. :D

I like most hair metal of the late 80s - early 90s; the ripped jeans look was pretty cool!  My faves in that genre were Motley Crue, Poison, and Def Leppard, in large part because of their sexy frontmen.  8)

As just about the only fan of this kind of music on these boards I get a little sad that as a genre it is so hated. The problem is that a lot of people just don't and didn't get that a lot those bands were joking with the whole image thing, it was meant to be about FUN. A lot of 'Hair' bands had great music and very, very talented musicians but that all gets overlooked.

As just about the only fan of this kind of music on these boards I get a little sad that as a genre it is so hated. The problem is that a lot of people just don't and didn't get that a lot those bands were joking with the whole image thing, it was meant to be about FUN. A lot of 'Hair' bands had great music and very, very talented musicians but that all gets overlooked.


For me, it just depends on the band. Some like Motley Crue, Whitesnake and Def Leppard are fine, since their music was good. Then there are  bands like Guns N Roses(I'm not sure if Guns N Roses counts as hair metal, but they started in the 80s) and Poison, which I cannot stand. Guns N Roses and Poison are really the only bands I despise from the 80s(But if push comes to shove I'd rather hear Poison than Guns N Roses).

For me, it just depends on the band. Some like Motley Crue, Whitesnake and Def Leppard are fine, since their music was good. Then there are  bands like Guns N Roses(I'm not sure if Guns N Roses counts as hair metal, but they started in the 80s) and Poison, which I cannot stand. Guns N Roses and Poison are really the only bands I despise from the 80s(But if push comes to shove I'd rather hear Poison than Guns N Roses).

I think Apetite for Destruction (Guns N Roses) is one of the best albums around,as a matter of fact it was a Guns N Roses & Aerosmith concert,that was the first one I ever went to..and I was 28

It all boils down to taste anyway. ;)

G'NR's music always tormented me, I think it was how their songs ended up sounding for one(Although that might have had something to do with Axl).

It all boils down to taste anyway. ;)

G'NR's music always tormented me, I think it was how their songs ended up sounding for one(Although that might have had something to do with Axl).

There's no denying there an egotistical jerk whose fame went to his head.

That's true in a way, about that music just being designed to be fun poppish metal. In fact that's the argument I've always used when people rip on pop music, so I agree with you there. On the other hand, it WAS pretty silly and not exactly versatile with what they sung about or even the styles of songs, so you can't blame people for laughing at it to a point.

Persoanlly I love quite a few hair metal singles, but more often than not the entire albums or bands in general were boring. Here's some favorites (a few are ballads, and some are hangover songs from 1990 and '91):

anything from Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet
Photograph - Def Leppard
Miles Away - Winger
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Cryin' - Vixen
To Be With You - Mr Big
Dude Looks Like a Lady - Aerosmith (they were sorta hair metal around then)
Round and Round - Ratt
The Warrior - Scandal
Secret of My Success - Night Ranger

^ The last two are probably more arena rock, but close enough

No.

There's no denying there an egotistical jerk whose fame went to his head.


I have no problems with the other members.