Best '80s Hair Metal Bands
Bon Jovi is a hard rock/pop rock band formed in 1983, which had a streak of successful albums in the late 1980s. The band originally consisted of lead vocalist Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Ritchie Sambora (left in 2013), bassist Alec John Such (left in 1994), keyboard David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres... read more I love Bon Jovi! I love their music! What's not to love about these guys? They created good and fine music all throughout the '80s. Like Runaway, Livin' on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive - ultimate classics. I know some people who hate them, and I tell them to get a life! They are way beyond number 1.
These guys should be number one. Songs like Livin' On A Prayer, You Give Love A Bad Name, Bad Medicine, Born To Be My Baby, Runaway, It's My Life, Lay Your Hands On Me, and In And Out Of Love (man, I could continue this for days) are reason enough.
X Japan is a Japanese heavy metal band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. This legendary metal band from the '80s is totally awesome from the music, the dramas, the stage performance to their appearance. Their makeup rocks! (especially the hair).
In the '80s, their name was X, though. And oh yeah, they did have the best hair. Look at Hide's peacock tail hair, Yoshiki's half-spiked hedgehog hair, Pata's pink mohawk... I'm running out of words to describe Toshi's and Taiji's hair.
They've got cool hairstyles for sure.
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1985. The classic lineup, as signed to Geffen Records in 1986, consisted of vocalist Axl Rose, lead guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler. Apart from hard rock they are also... read more Best hair metal band ever. Axl's voice, Slash's guitar playing, and the rest of the band are doing their best. One of the best bands ever.
Axl, at the time of Appetite for Destruction, is the most sexy teen! Let me say these people wanted to show that they didn't care about anything, and they were gorgeous teens with some talent! And they showed it! ROCK N ROLL baby!
Good god, do you people know nothing? Putting Motley Crue and X Japan in front of Guns N' Roses!
Mötley Crüe is an American metal band formed in Los Angeles, California on January 17, 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, lead vocalist Vince Neil and lead guitarist Mick Mars. Mötley Crüe all the way! This band has been together for thirty-something years?! They have definitely earned the number one spot! In my opinion, Mötley Crüe is the best band on the planet, but then again no one asked for my opinion. I'm just saying that the Crüe has had multiple albums and number-one hits. They have been an inspiration for so many bands today, and I'm surprised they aren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's such a shame that a Japanese band is at #1...
"Too Fast for Love" has been certified platinum and Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" 12 times platinum. Well, my friends, "Too Fast for Love" has so many superior and much better songs than the so overrated "Slippery When Wet". People have no taste. They buy anything that is crap. "Theatre of Pain" was a bit disappointing compared to the first two albums but was even better than "Slippery When Wet". No question.
Skid Row is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. They were very successful in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their first two albums certified multi-platinum. Skid Row, considering energy, charisma, and the spirit of real hair metal, has it. They should be on the top 10.
Skid Row is highly underrated. They have wonderful songs. Go listen to I Remember You.
Bas is the boss. If you don't agree, this party is over so get the...
Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. Ahh, definitely Leppard. These English guys put the metal in glam. Though if they "Pour Some Sugar On Me" or create a "Rock of Ages" they kick ass.
Agreed, they kick ass, way more than X Japan. Long live Def Leppard.
Def Leppard should be number one for sure! Long live the Leppards!
Cinderella was an American glam metal and hard rock band from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. Cinderella is the second-best hair band of all time behind Bon Jovi. Unlike most of the other lead vocalists from the hair band era, Tom Keifer's voice doesn't sound dated. Along with Jon Bon Jovi, his songwriting was excellent. Cinderella had a bluesy Black Crowes feel to them with better vocals.
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s, with their albums having been certified as gold, platinum, and multi-platinum by the RIAA. Ratt should be in the top 10 for sure. These guys had the coolest songs and Stephen Pearcy's voice is ultimately unique. It's raw and a bit gravelly in a truly good way. I agree with the other poster who said they have awesome riffs and great lyrics.
The songs stick in your head because of their distinctive style and their lyrics have a brutal sexiness to them (I'm a girl, so I am more in tune to this, haha). Ratt has a gritty lyric style, but they are romantic in a sense, and they made you feel as if the singer really had some exceptional insight into the workings of the female mind. Even if that's not so, they made you believe it and wrapped it up in songs that kick ass and stay with you. I rocked out to their music this morning while getting ready for work and blow-drying my hair! Love them!
Scorpions are a German rock band formed in 1965 in Hanover by Rudolf Schenker. Since the band's inception, its musical style has ranged from hard rock to heavy metal.
Dokken are an American metal band formed in 1979. They split up in 1989 and reformed four years later.
The Newcomers
W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 by Blackie Lawless, who is the only remaining original member of the band. Just listen to their first two albums. You'll see. They put the metal in Hair Metal.
Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian hard rock/glam metal band formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls. The band's name was a nod to the fact that Niagara Falls is the unofficial honeymoon capital.
Kiss, often styled as KISS, was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. The original members were Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals)... read more
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby, Stockholm in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson and drummer Tony Reno. Should definitely be higher. This band is still putting out albums today.
Whitesnake are a rock band formed in England in 1978 by singer David Coverdale, after his departure from his previous band Deep Purple. Is This Love is a fantastic song and one of my favorite love songs.
Van Halen was an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band's lineup consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony... read more Are you kidding me? Van Halen basically invented '80s hair bands. They started the whole '80s Sunset Strip movement. They would have Eddie play with his back to the crowd so up-and-comers wouldn't steal his style.
Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based in Long Island, New York.
Aerosmith is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums), and Brad Whitford (guitar)... read more
Poison is an American glam and hard rock band that achieved great commercial success in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Poison should really be #1 because they were the band that received the most commercial success in the '80s when hair/glam bands really were popular. Most of their songs are known by almost every person, like Every Rose Has Its Thorn and Nothing But a Good Time. They also really stood out more than every other band too.
I voted for Poison because they're one of the two bands on this list that are really hair metal.
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian... read more Best British band ever. Nothing beats watching a zombie apocalypse and Iron Maiden playing in the background.
Black Sabbath invented metal... Iron Maiden perfected it!
Up the irons!... Keeping it real!
Tesla is an American rock band formed in Sacramento, California in late 1981 by bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Frank Hannon as Earthshaker, and later City Kidd. Lead vocalist Jeff Keith, drummer Troy Luccketta, and guitarist Tommy Skeoch joined them by 1984.
Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”... read more
Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band. The band was founded in 1973, by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni under the name Mach 1. They then changed the name to Little Women, before settling on Quiet Riot in May 1975. The band's name was inspired by a conversation with Rick Parfitt of... read more Metal Health forever! Did you see their cover, "Come On Feel the Noise"?
Opened the door for all of these other '80s hair bands in the metal music industry. Should be higher.
Stryper is an American Christian metal band from Orange County, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Perry Richardson, and Robert Sweet.