4 Hair Metal Albums That Still Sound Fresh Today
In honor of the Sunset Strip genre, Audio Ink Radio is highlighting four hair metal albums that have stood the test of time. – Author: Anne Erickson, Photo courtesy of Def Leppard
Every genre of music has its own place in musical history. For hair metal, while the genre was famously popular during the 1980s, when grunge was introduced in the 1990s, it quickly became, well, a guilty pleasure style of music. After Nirvana broke out with “Nevermind” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in 1991, rockers rashly turned their glam-rock look in for flannel and long, messy hair. Grunge really changed music in the 1990s, but that doesn’t take away the glory of the hair metal era and genre of music.
For those who love the fun and allure of hair metal, the genre has certainly been rekindled since the 1990s. Bands such as Motley Crue, Def Leppard and Poison continue to tour the globe and play to crowds of thousands. Plus, the era’s music still sounds fresh and great today. In honor of the Sunset Strip genre, Audio Ink Radio is highlighting four hair metal albums that have stood the test of time.
Hair Metal Albums That Have Stood the Test of Time
Def Leppard, “Pyromania”
Def Leppard released “Pyromania” in 1983, and even though these guys didn’t hail from the Sunset Strip, their sound sure fit in with hair metal. What made Def Leppard stand out is that their songs were more mainstream and commercial-friendly than many of their contemporaries. Today, songs such as “Too Late for Love,” “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” are still staples in their live set.
Dokken, “Under Lock and Key”
Dokken’s “Under Lock and Key”, released in 1985, is probably one of the most underrated hair metal albums ever. Sure, it received plenty of attention and fanfare back in the day, but it didn’t make Dokken as big a name as contemporaries such as Motley Crue and Poison. But, with the incredible performances of Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown, the songs on “Under Lock and Key” are still strong today. It’s a shame this album isn’t bigger, actually.
Motley Crue, “Too Fast for Love”
If there is one band in the world that really defines what is means to be hair metal, it’s Motley Crue. These guys really lived and breathed the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, maybe too much. Nikki Sixx, after all, famously died at one point due to a drug overdose, after an evening of partying way too hard with Slash, Robbin Crosby and Steven Adler, but it was only for a short time, and medics were able to bring him back to life. Motley Crue released “Too Fast for Love,” their debut album, in 1981, and it really kickstarted the glam rock movement.
Poison, “Look What the Cat Dragged In”
Another band that really had the look and feel of hair metal down pat, not just the music, is Poison. Bret Michaels and company totally looked the part of hair metal icons, and they sounded like it, too. Poison released “Look What the Cat Dragged In” in 1986, at the pinnacle of the popularity of hair metal. Every song on here still sounds fresh today, and this album really never gets too dated. Michaels, lead guitarist C.C. DeVille, bass player Bobby Dall and drummer Rikki Rockett have a gem in this one.
So, there are four fantastic hair metal albums from the 1980s that have truly stood the test of time and still sound fresh and contemporary today. Switching gears to grunge, find three bands that changed music in the 1990s in this Audio Ink Radio feature.
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