Glam Rock: Part I
A Lifestyle of Outrageous Music and Mayhem
A
sound burst out of speakers in the 1970’s that helped broaden
our beliefs, free our sexuality, and allowed us to discover a
bridge between youth and artistic expression. Glam Rock was a
musical explosion that developed into a cultural phenomenon and
many of us wanted to look, live, and experience the lifestyle
of a Rock Star. It was time to explore all emotions and question
common accepted perceptions, a time to show that we are proud
individuals and we would not simply follow the rules of the popular
collective consciousnesses. A highly focused light of media attention
illuminated profound diversification in new music and displayed
a wild side of life that many youthful listeners were unaware
of. This musical excess and outrageousness was necessary to transcend
a formulaic 1960’s sound by incorporating the roots of Psychedelic,
Garage, Pop and Hard Rock.
The
1950’s Greaser attitude was also a major impetus on the formation
of Glam Rock. While much more flamboyant, the visceral gritty
street level tough boy attitude shone through the fashionable
look of leather pushed through a kaleidoscope.
The music also borrowed the retro sounds of Rhythm and
Blues, a little Doo-Wop, and even Skiffle.
This creative exploration utilized new technologies, developed
modern themes with visual appeal and electric live performances
to become the future of popular music.
Look deep into the heart of Glam and you will find that
some bands were searching for the brass ring of fame while others
wallowed in debauchery and bacchanalia. Shock and awe was the preferred reaction on
an unsuspecting crowd. So
enigmatic was Glam Rock that the music rears up forty years later
in popular television shows, like the SyFy Channel’s new program
Alphas, and in commercials to sell rum and promote cruise
lines.
Alice
Cooper (1968 to today) An American Theatrical Rock outfit
on the dark side of Glam with youth culture lyrics and full on makeup
and wild costumes that they wore 24 hours a day just to freak the
scene. Alice Cooper started with Hard Rock and then moved onto a
heavily produced sound that added Broadway musical panache to the
arrangements and performance. Band members came and went but eventually
they became a radio-friendly Heavy Metal band with continued success.
Alice Cooper started as a band; the singer became the name and made
it a legend.
Bay
City Rollers (1971to 1978) This Bubblegum Pop version
of Scottish Glam had the right look with bare-chested performances
full of pelvic thrust. Fun and silly, they gave the impression
of being disposable but were massively popular and successful
during their time. Bill Martin and Phil Coulter wrote many of
the hits as well as successful songs for Slik, a Midge Ure-fronted
band. Their music is so damn happy -not just for S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y
NIGHT.
David
Bowie (1969 to today) David Bowie studied under Lindsay
Kemp, an avant-garde dancer and performance artist, who exerted
a huge influence on Bowie’s musical interpretations and
the wide range of characters he developed and embodied over his
massively diverse and successful career. Bowie combined new expressions
of visual style and the work of brilliant musicians in an explosion
of creativity. The waves of material still stand head and shoulders
above the rest in quality and quantity and his songs have become
bona fide classics of Rock history.
Mick
Ronson (1970 to 1992) Known primarily for his guitar
work with David Bowie during the Spiders from Mars period, Ronson
was much more than a pretty face in makeup. He worked his magic
for Ian Hunter, Roger Daltrey, John Mellencamp (arranging the
song “Jack & Diane”), Slaughter & The Dogs,
Payolas, Morrissey, and many others. His most famous solo song
is “Only After Dark,” which The Human League covered
soon after the original release.
Jayne
County (1972 to today) The first male-to-female transsexual
Rock singer and innovator should have ruled and become a superstar!
While influencing such artists as David Bowie, Lou Reed and Patti
Smith, County was that dirty and intoxicating back alley where
things not spoken were performed with glee and wild abandon. Jayne
County brought her unmentionables out into the light with wonderfully
bawdy songs. Cycling through many bands, musicians and styles
over the years, she helped create the foundation of what would
become Glam and Punk Rock. Listen to “Fuck Off” or
“Max’s Kansas City” for a history lesson by
one who was there living it. An icon of the scene, Jayne County
has appeared in many films including “The Blank Generation,”
“The Punk Rock Movie” and “Wigstock, The Movie.”
Elton
John (1970 to present) First working as a session pianist,
Elton John quickly started writing songs with Bernie Taupin and
had near immediate success with the release of their second single
“Your Song.” There is neither the time, the space,
nor the need to reiterate the long strange career that Elton has
gone through as he is one of the most popular and well known of
all the Glam Rock stars. Today his persona is toned down to vapid
shell of his former self and he’s become little more than
a bitchy queen with too much to say. Goodbye yellow brick road.
Gary
Glitter (1971
to present) Gary Glitter’s long and illicit career began
by playing around London and then shot to notoriety in 1972 with
the classic “Rock and Roll (Parts 1 & 2).” With
more than three dozen singles and two dozen albums of material
released over the years, Gary Glitter has brought a full load
of charisma to the show. Unfortunately he has used the glint in
his eye to bad-touch under-the-legal-limit members of his audience.
Many of his songs still get airplay on the radio and at sporting
arenas while he is beloved by such great artists as Joan Jett,
Mark E. Smith and Oasis.
Iggy
& The Stooges (1967 to present) The Stooges pushed
the envelope when it came to bad taste by performing brutally
heavy live shows that could come to a bloody conclusion. While
the music rides a rusty razor’s edge, The Stooges were able
to put on electric live performance as the band slammed out raw,
aggressive Rock and Roll, deep-throated dirges or beautiful tunes.
His flamboyant personality and rampant drug use led the singer
through atmospheric highs and crushing and debauched lows, though
he never surrendered and always seemed to find new outlets for
his talent. Though The Stooges were done by 1975, Iggy Pop trudged
on and worked with a diverse group of artists such as David Bowie,
Deborah Harry, Peaches, and Slash. There are the rest and then
there is the man who helped bring about Glam Rock, Hard Rock,
Punk Rock, and Noise Rock.
KISS
(1973 to present) This iconic American institution is at the heart
of Rock and Roll and influenced Glam Rock, Hard Rock, and Heavy
Metal. Selling more than 100 million pieces of music and God-and-Gene-only-know
how many merchandising products worldwide, KISS is a behemoth
not to be messed with. Just ask anyone on the wrong side of the
band that has transformed into a corporate entity as big as any
of the giants the music industry. Love ‘em or hate ’em,
in their full regalia or unmasked, the KISS machine continues
to record, release and tour everywhere their army is willing to
experience the band that needs no introduction…here’s
KISS.
Mott
The Hoople (1969-1974) Not to muddy the waters, but this
Rhythm and Blues styled Glam Rock band had their big hit “All
The Young Dudes” with vocal assistance by David Bowie who
is credited with writing the song, producing the album and playing
saxes. So it’s as much Bowie’s tune as Mott The Hoople’s
but who cares when it comes down to a soothing good song like
this. The album of the same name has a nice cover of Lou Reed’s
“Sweet Jane” and the song “Jerkin’ Crocus”
which the Melvins covered brilliantly. Mott The Hoople, like many
of the bands on this list, had many other songs in the UK top
100, but they are all but forgotten today. Ian Hunter went onto
a solo career in 1975 and has released nineteen more albums with
great musicians like Mick Ronson, Jaco Pastorius, John Cale, and
Mick Jones. Also of note, the original band went on as Mott and
produced two slabs of wax, “Drive On” 1975 and “Shouting
And Pointing” 1976 that rock with that oh so wonderful Glam
attitude. Give ‘em a listen.
New
York Dolls (1971 to present) This Glam Rock band dressed
in ladies clothes and smeared on makeup to reflect the visuals
of their New York experience while amplifying their tongue-in-cheek
Rhythm and Blues sound. The New York Dolls talent was exhibited
in writing songs about the life and times of old nasty New York
City long before it became a corporate shill and cleansed itself
for visiting out-of-towners. Abandoned by the current music and
visual scene in NYC, their love for that old time Rock and Roll
led them down the path to history. Todd Rundgren helped shape
their first record into a gem that required time to shine so bright.
The Dolls’ image and stage show shoved a middle finger all
the way up your arse and the expression was not lost on growing
numbers of Glam Rock, Punk Rock, and New Wave converts. They have
had about 21 members over the years and many incarnations of the
band, but they still find the time and energy to give it to us
one more time. Three cheers for the filthiest band in all of the
land! Let’s hear it for the New York Dolls!
