Top 10 Greatest Hair Metal Bands
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 How can people say Van Halen is heavy metal but this isn't? I think it's because people don't like them, because musically it's undeniable they're glam metal. I partially understand the hate because Axl Rose as a person is the worst, but come on, their songs are incredible. Great band to listen to.
Problems with hair metal lists, as always. You have to make up your mind if you want bands like Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, or Aerosmith on this list because they are all borderline. But if they are on the list, Guns and Van Halen are 1 and 2. Aerosmith influenced the bands who influenced hair metal. They came before.
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. They are one of the best glam metal bands of all time and the first hair metal bands ever and the most notorious rock band in the world. They have the best albums of the 80s, for example, Dr. Feelgood, Shout at the Devil, Girls, Girls, Girls, Too Fast for Love, and Theatre of Pain are some of the most successful albums of the 1980s, and nobody can beat Mötley Crüe in this list, so deal with it!
Easily the best hair metal band. Guns N' Roses and Van Halen don't count. They're hard rock/heavy metal, not hair metal.
This is more than simple glam metal. This is some kind of passage between glam and heavy metal.
Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. I love Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, and Van Halen, but they are NOT Hair Metal. They didn't even have a hair-metal phase (apart from Bon Jovi), and you could say Def Leppard is no different, but Hysteria definitely qualifies. Def Leppard has consistently good quality and never let me down with a song.
Oh yes, they have the best guitar duos ever. Phil Collen, Steve Clark, and Pete Willis made Def Leppard a strong band thanks to the guitar solos in each song. They became the best British hair metal band of all time and as new wave of British heavy metal of the decade.
Pyromania and Hysteria are the best albums of Def Leppard, and they became diamond, selling more than 10 million copies in the United States.
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 Besides having nice long hair, it's also about what's inside the band members. The band members in Motley Crue and Poison all act like psychopaths, but Bon Jovi is actually one of the only popular glam metal bands that act normally.
Statistically, Bon Jovi is actually the most popular Hair Metal band there was. They have made some really popular anthems like "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love A Bad Name."
What glam metal band is still producing and selling records to this day like Bon Jovi? Get them up the list pronto.
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 For all you people with the "KISS can't write songs" argument, explain how KISS made the Hall of Fame? There are a bunch of bands, supposedly better, who haven't even sniffed that honor yet!
Van Halen was an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony. Eddie's guitar solos, David's bravado, Alex's skill, Michael's cool factor minus Sammy's awfulness equals the best hair metal band ever.
Whitesnake are a rock band formed in England in 1978 by singer David Coverdale, after his departure from his previous band Deep Purple. Whitesnake and Iron Maiden are way better than Guns N' Roses.
They ruled the late '80s. Whitesnake was printing money.
Whitesnake '87 album is the best glam metal album!
Poison is an American glam and hard rock band that achieved great commercial success in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. While not my favorite, they are without question the most "Glam Metal" of any of these bands.
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. Totally my favorite. Even after Bach left the band, they were still good. With Bach, I have to say my favorites are Sweet Little Sister, 18 and Life, and Monkey Business. Without Bach, Ghost is probably my favorite, but old school Skid Row was the best.
This list is a little jacked up. Half of them aren't true glam bands. They just happened to be around during glam's heyday. Having said that, Skid Row is better than everyone on here except for Guns N' Roses and maybe Motley Crue.
Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based in Long Island, New York. Let's set the record straight: Guns N' Roses were good, but now it's just Axl and his band. And Bon Jovi? Overrated and terrible! He destroyed Skid Row. Twisted Sister kicks more ass than Bon Jovi ever could!
All with the knack get to run with the pack.
Great band, and better than Bon Jovi.
The Newcomers
Spinal Tap is a parody band spoofing the style of heavy metal groups. The band first appeared on a 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called The T.V. Show, starring Rob Reiner.
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 What the hell, come on guys, Aerosmith is the best rock band ever and you have them at No. 16? No way, bro. They must be number one, at least in my opinion. Joe Perry and Steven are one of my favorite members of the band. They look awesome. It's not fair to have this legendary hard rock band so low on this list. Put it at number one.
Their '70s and '90s-present music is awesome too! And why below Bon Jovi? Aerosmith is way better!
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
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. It's hard to really look at who the top hair bands are, but Cinderella can thank Bon Jovi. Cinderella kind of helped Poison. Jeff LaBar wore a torn-up tour shirt that had Poison's Look What The Cat Dragged In. You find that particular in Cinderella's feature, a cameo of Sambora and Bon Jovi. The song Somebody Save Me is a highlight.
I'd put them in the top 5. Great musicians, one of the best lead singers, amazing vocals, catchy lyrics, and the best bluesy sound in the genre. Much more than some hair and makeup, completely underrated.
Dokken are an American metal band formed in 1979. They split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The unique voices of Don Dokken, combined with the nifty guitar work of George Lynch, bring out a classic glam/hair metal lineup that works well, considering they were around during the roaring era of hair metal. Oh, and DragonForce, albeit a fantastic band, I mean the guitarists - come on - they are not a hair metal band. Guns N' Roses, on the other hand, is one of the bands that truly shaped the concept of hair metal, which went on to influence many other bands, including Dokken. So, many consider them to be awesome.
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. They should be top 3. I think their stuff holds up much better over time than Motley Crue. I can't even listen to Motley Crue anymore. So aged. Their music doesn't stand the test of time. But RATT? Still so wicked, and the intros to Way Cool Jr. and Lay It Down are just badass.
Was pretty big, but should have been bigger. Good songs and underrated vocals.
DragonForce are a British power metal band based in London, England. Formed in 1999, the group are known for their long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-themed lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound.
All I got to say is Hide had pink hair, and it was AMAZING! Enough said! Toshi's hair just stuck right up, haha! And Pata dyed it so much from red, pink, brown, yet he looked the most normal out of all of them, and Taiji, he had his hair like this one guy from Poison! Yoshiki had it spiked on one side, and the rest just hung down but still epic as hell. Love it, all of them are boss enough to do it!
Hide had the craziest hair over the years, but they all looked good.
Great band. Hide and the friends!
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.
Journey is an American arena rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch.
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. Maybe they were not glam metal at the beginning, but they definitely had a lot to do with the genre in the '80s. Most of their songs from that time were glam metal, and they should be higher. A sadly underrated band.
I'm telling you, the singer still sounds as good today as he did 40 years ago. Worth it.
Tusk's horsetail is so attractive!
I'm not sure that I agree these guys were a "hair band," but I like some of their music and will give them my vote. Pretty sure Guns N' Roses isn't hair either.
Warrant is an American glam metal band formed in 1984 in Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989 to 1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million.