Glam_punk

Glam Punk (or glitter punk) is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock (and sometimes garage rock).

The most influential glam punk band has been the New York Dolls, whose androgynous image and raw, loose brand of rock n' roll provided a blueprint for the genre. Other notable glam punk bands include Jayne County, Eric Emerson and the Magic Tramps, Dorian Zero, The Dogs D'Amour, Manic Street Preachers, Hanoi Rocks and D Generation.^[1][2][3][4]

1970s: New York City and Detroit

Following the 1970s punk explosion in London, the New York Dolls were sometimes labelled glam-punk in comparison.^[5] Detroit proto-punk band The Stooges are also considered by some as glam punk; likely due to the androgynous image of singer Iggy Pop and the fact that glam rock pioneer David Bowie produced some of Iggy's solo material.^[6]

Alice Cooper, one of the first glam rock artists, influenced bands such as Hanoi Rocks and the Sex Pistols.^[7] Most of the original American New Wave bands, especially those in New York City, showed at least a certain amount of glam influence. Some of the more obscure glam punk bands from this period — such as Hollywood Brats,^[8] and Jet — can be heard on the compilation CD Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers.^[9]

1980s

The 1980s saw a re-emergence of the glam punk style with the Finnish band Hanoi Rocks.^[3] While playing in London, the group influenced several other bands who played in a similar style, such as Dogs D'Amour.^[10]

1990s: international revivals

In the very early 1990s, the glam punk image was very popular in the underground scene, a couple years before grunge rock came to prominence in 1992.

The Hollywood music scene was the breeding ground for this Glam Punk revival, with bands like Guns N' Roses, Faster Pussycat and The Joneses initially promoting the influence of Glam Punk pioneers The New York Dolls, and Hanoi Rocks. Guns N' Roses would quickly become superstars, and toned down their early Glam Punk image. But the bullet had been fired, and there was no stopping it. The late 80s/early 90's Hollywood scene was dominated by Glam Punk bands.

Some of the most popular bands of that scene were The Glamour Punks, Stars From Mars, The Babydolls, The (purple haired) Zeros and The Dum Dums. This influence would stretch nation wide, with Glam Punk bands popping up in most major U.S. cities. Las Vegas, NV had The Noize Boyz, Detroit, MI had The Trash Brats, and Boston, MA had Touch Me Hooker (former members of this band would reunite years later as Stars Underground).

Also bands such as New York City's D Generation became popular in the underground scene and received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone magazine.^[11] However, the critical acclaim did not result in high album sales. Around the same time, Welsh band Manic Street Preachers played a similar musical style.^[12] Their 1992 debut Generation Terrorists drew influences from The Clash and Hanoi Rocks, and, much like the work of D Generation, it received critical acclaim, but poor sales.^[13]

Backyard Babies, from Sweden, were a prominent example of glam punk during the 1990s, with their album Total 13. Guitarist Dregen once described the Backyard Babies in an interview as "The missing link between KISS and the Ramones."^[14] Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks was a guest performer on one of the band's albums, and guitarist Dregen has recorded a live acoustic album with Dogs D'Amour vocalist Tyla. Another band that started in 1995 that are classified under glam punk are Pure Rubbish who owe a huge debt to New York Dolls, Hanoi Rocks, and Dogs D'Amour even going so far as to record a tribute song for Tyla named "Hey Mr. Taylor".

Footnotes

External links

• D.I.Y. TV Rocks - A Glam Punk Message Board & Website
• GlamPunk.org
• Glitzine.net
• VeGlam.com
• Glam Punk band directory