Top Ten Greatest Glam Rock Artists of All Time
This list defines the music in the 1970's in the UK, mainly, that dominated the chats between for the majority of the decade. Also, there might be other glam rock bands from other decadel. Glam rock was highly enjoyable party rock music, full of great colourful and glitter outfits. Prog rock and hard may have been the biggest genre of rock worldwide in the early to mid 70's, but glam rock was definitely the biggest and most fun in the UK. This list does not include glam metal artists, which is why there is the obvious gap from the 1980's, this is simply glam rock.
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016) was an English singer born in London, the son of a fundraiser and a waitress. He is credited for his experimental and creative musical discography which has won praise and accolades for many critics and fans... read more A genius artist but only glam while it suited his purposes, before his next stylistic change.
Diverse, that's for sure, and glam seems to be one of those genres.
Come on, everyone. This is the guy who pioneered glam rock.
T. Rex were an English glam rock band, formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band initially called Tyrannosaurus Rex, released four folk albums under this banner. THE pioneers of glam (it definitely wasn't Bowie). Bolan had the complete package: the looks, hair, swagger, poetry, voice, guitar riffs, tunes, style, moves, otherworldliness, and magic. He was pure energy, and his energy lives on through his incredible songs and image. There has been no one like him before or since. His self-belief was refreshing and invigorating. A true star.
Definitely my favorite glam rock artist. I love Bowie, but I don't see him as a dedicated glam rock musician.
The Sweet is a British glam rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s. Their best known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. The group was originally called Sweetshop. A tough choice between these guys and Slade for the best glam band, but Sweet just barely gets it for me.
At their best, much, much better than the competition. Boy, could they rock out!
The Ballroom Blitz is amazing, but it's not the only one.
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton. They rose to prominence during the glam rock era in the early 1970s, achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. The most successful band in the UK throughout the '70s, they sold more singles than anyone. This included six No. 1s in three years, three of which went directly to No. 1 in 1973, something unseen since The Beatles. They enjoyed a total of 12 top 4 hits between 1971 and 1974, and consecutively 17 from 1971 to 1976.
Their singles and albums were highly successful across Europe and Oceania, boasting three No. 1 albums and five total top tens. Their 1974 film "Flame" is often regarded as "the greatest rock film of all time," and the accompanying album is considered one of the best film albums ever. Their 1972 live album *Slade Alive* has been described as one of the most important live albums ever.
They are most remembered for their 1973 hits "Come On Feel the Noize" and "Merry Xmas Everybody," but all their music - whether their '60s beginnings, '70s peak, or the hits from 1980 to 1991 - is fantastic. Slade have been incredibly influential in popular music, with their albums *Beginnings*, *Slayed?*, *Slade Alive*, *Flame*, and *Whatever Happened to Slade?* having especially influenced punk rock, glam metal, grunge, and Britpop.
Queen are an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar, vocals). Before forming into Queen, Brian May and Roger Taylor had played together in a band... read more How can Queen be ninth? Watch any Queen video and you'll see glam rock at its finest.
Roxy Music were an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry, who became the band's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson.
Mott the Hoople are an English rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid-1970s.
Sparks are an American pop and rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1972 by brothers Ron and Russell Mael. The duo formed in 1968 under the name Halfnelson.
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, pianist and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has... read more There is no more glamour than Sir Elton Hercules John!
Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, musician and occasional actor whose career spans over five decades. Should be right up there with David Bowie.
Gary Glitter is a former glam rock singer and songwriter. He sold over 20 million records and regained media attention in 1999 when child pornography were found on his laptop and committed sex offences with children. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2015.
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
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American hard rock singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress. She was the first female bass player to become a major rock star, breaking a barrier to women's participation in rock music.
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 is the least respected band of the glam era! Maybe it was their ability to really rock when they wanted to. They only had one significant hit, but they had all sorts of gems packed away in their albums. Come on, give Ratt some love.
Poison is an American glam and hard rock band that achieved great commercial success in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based in Long Island, New York.
Dokken are an American metal band formed in 1979. They split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. They were a lot like Ratt. They ran under the radar while bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe got all the attention.
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.
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.