Top Ten Greatest Glam Rock Artists of All Time

This list defines the music in the 1970s in the UK, mainly, that dominated the charts for the majority of the decade. Also, there might be other glam rock bands from other decades.

Glam rock was highly enjoyable party rock music, full of great, colorful, and glittery outfits. Prog rock and hard rock may have been the biggest genres of rock worldwide in the early to mid-70s, 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's the obvious gap from the 1980s. This is simply glam rock.

The Top Ten

David Bowie

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 sales promotion officer and a housewife.
He earned praise for his experimental and creative music, won numerous awards, and gained admiration from critics... 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

T. Rex was an English glam rock band formed in 1967 by singer-songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. Initially called Tyrannosaurus Rex, the band released four folk albums under that name. It transitioned to electric glam rock in the early 1970s and achieved major success with hits such as Get It On and... read more

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.
Queen

Queen is a British rock band formed in London in 1970. Its classic lineup consisted of Freddie Mercury on lead vocals and piano, Brian May on guitar and vocals, Roger Taylor on drums and vocals, and John Deacon on bass guitar. Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Mercury... read more

How can Queen be ninth? Watch any Queen video and you'll see glam rock at its finest.
The Sweet

The Sweet is a British glam rock band that gained international fame in the 1970s. The group's best-known lineup included lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker. Originally named the Sweetshop, the band is known for hit songs such as The Ballroom... read more

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.
Roxy Music

Roxy Music is an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry and bassist Graham Simpson. Ferry became the band's lead vocalist and primary songwriter. The band was influential in the development of glam rock and art rock, with hits such as Love Is the Drug and More Than This.
Slade

Slade are an English rock band formed in Wolverhampton in 1966. 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 British Hit Singles & Albums names them the most successful British group of the 1970s... read more

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.
New York Dolls

The New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1971. They are considered pioneers of punk rock and glam rock, with notable albums such as New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). Although the original band disbanded in 1976, some original members reunited in 2004... read more
Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople was an English rock band formed in Hereford, Herefordshire, in 1966. Originally known as the Doc Thomas Group, they adopted the name Mott the Hoople after signing with Island Records in 1969. Their early albums in the early 1970s failed to achieve commercial success, and the band came... read more
Sparks

Sparks is an American pop and rock band formed in Los Angeles by brothers Ron and Russell Mael. The duo originally began performing under the name Halfnelson before changing its name to Sparks in 1972. They have released 26 studio albums and are known for their theatrical performances and distinctive... read more
Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has collaborated 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.... read more

There is no more glamour than Sir Elton Hercules John!

The Newcomers

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Suede
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Def Leppard

Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in Sheffield in 1976 as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. The band rose to international fame with albums such as Pyromania in 1983 and Hysteria in 1987, the latter of which sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. They were inducted... read more

The Contenders

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and occasional actor whose career spans more than six decades. Known for his distinctive raspy voice and theatrical stage shows, Cooper is often referred to as the Godfather of Shock Rock. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in... read more

Should be right up there with David Bowie.
The Darkness
Mud
Wizzard
Kiss

Kiss (commonly styled in all caps as KISS) was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley (vocals, rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals, bass guitar), Ace Frehley (lead guitar, vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, vocals). Known for their face paint and stage outfits, the group... read more
Cockney Rebel
Suzi Quatro

Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American hard rock singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress. She was the first female bass guitar player to achieve major rock stardom, breaking barriers for women in rock music. Quatro gained popularity in the 1970s with chart-topping hits such as "Can the... read more
Ratt

Ratt is an American heavy metal band that found major commercial success in the 1980s. Several of their albums achieved gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certification from the RIAA. The band is best known for hits such as Round and Round and for being a prominent part of the glam metal scene.

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

Poison is an American glam metal and hard rock band. The group achieved major commercial success from the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s with hit singles such as Every Rose Has Its Thorn and Nothin' but a Good Time. Its best-known lineup consists of Bret Michaels, Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall, and C.C... read more
Gary Glitter

Gary Glitter, born Paul Francis Gadd, is an English former glam rock singer and convicted sex offender. He sold more than 20 million records during his music career. His criminal history began in 1999 with a conviction for possessing child sexual abuse material and continued with later convictions, including... read more
The Glitter Band
Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band formed in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based on Long Island, New York. The band was active during several periods beginning in 1972 and reunited again in 2025. It is best known for hits like We're Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock and achieved significant... read more
Dokken

Dokken is an American metal band whose roots trace back to Airborn, a Los Angeles band formed by Don Dokken in 1976. The group gained commercial success in the 1980s with hit songs such as Alone Again, In My Dreams, and Burning Like a Flame. They broke up in 1989 but reunited in 1993 and have continued... read more

They were a lot like Ratt. They ran under the radar while bands like Poison and Mötley Crüe got all the attention.
Cinderella

Cinderella was an American glam metal and hard rock band from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band rose to fame in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums. Its music videos received heavy rotation on MTV, contributing significantly to its popularity.
Europe

Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby, Sweden, in 1979 under the name Force. The founding members included vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum, bassist Peter Olsson, and drummer Tony Reno. They gained international fame in the 1980s with hits such as The Final Countdown.