I know this probably the most fucking stupid question to be asking on this site because I know the answer. I just wanted to discuss why it seems its bigger over the lake than here. I know the whole thing started over there in the 70's and in the 80's in LA when the whole glam metal thing exploded. Sure I know its still underground even over in Europe but here in America its way underground with only a handful of bands I can think of that play this awesome music. Any thoughts why its bigger over in Europe? I have alot of European friends on this site I know that can enlighten me.
GlamRock.com Forum » GLAM Music Forum
Is Glam bigger in Europe than in America?
(7 posts)-
RockLibertyWarrior
offlineMemberPostCount: 715
Posted 2 years ago # -
Retroman
offlineModeratorPostCount: 778
I cannot comment on the glam movement at this moment in time but I can say that in the UK, glam metal was massive back in the second half of the 80s with new wave being popular in the first half. This was helped by the fact that Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Europe, Guns N'Roses, KISS, Van Halen and Whitesnake all charted in the UK top40. These mainstream bands opened up the door to what we now class as the second wave of glam metal.
Radio play plus TV and magazine media coverage was excellent. Britain only had four channels back then but music videos were played on many TV shows. Glam metal promo videos from what we now class as 'B Bands' were getting regular airplay on our main popular TV channels.
Many overseas bands toured in the UK to help promote album releases of which we had no trouble purchasing from our vast empire of music shops.
During the 80s long hair was popular with many men. The 'Mullet' was also widespread. Long hair was also normal if you were into motorbikes. It was easy to blend in as 80s fashion was mainly based on big hair, lots of makeup and jewellery with many people wearing denim or leather by default. It was an easy transition to copy the look of our favourite glam metal bands. The items needed were available to buy from local market stalls, London Carnaby Street and mail order suppliers such as HM gear. Band T-shirts and eyeliner generally gave it away that you were a metalhead and what part of the scene you liked...
It's only now that we look back and class band 'X' as glam this, glam that, back then the media in the UK mainly used the labels 'Rock', 'Metal' or 'Thrash'. At the time it was not obvious to many of us teenagers that we were 'Glam' and L.A. was the birth place of this style of music. The majority of us classed the whole scene as 'Metal'. I only remember the term 'Glam' being used when referring to 70s acts such as Slade, T.Rex and Gary Glitter etc...
To conclude, glam was very popular in the UK during the 80s but we will probably have to wait several years before we can look back to decide the status of the current glam scene.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Stokes
offlineMemberPostCount: 240
it seems like it is from all the Sweden bands. I dont remember who said it, might have been Blackie but one of the bigger bands was talking about Europe is more open to new music and not as harsh as the US.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Dash
offlineMemberPostCount: 610
yes.yes it is rite now...the key to that,is rite now.cuz real soon,the American glam scene will be bigger.way bigger.the NWOAGM is coming.the New Wave Of American Glam Metal!!!!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
SugarPinkGoGoBaby
offlineMemberPostCount: 58
Your word in Gods ear,Dan.Because my country LOVES to copy everything American.I'll keep my fingers crossed.
There is a little glam revival in Germany right now,it started about 2 years ago,but it's pretty much underground.I want my MTV!I want my MTV with music on it!Posted 2 years ago # -
Toodles213
offlineMemberPostCount: 66
Over here in the US people listen to crappy music. Most people over here listen to mainstream Rap and Pop, and if they listen to Rock or Metal, they're only interested in the heavy, more agressive stuff, not the softer stuff like Glam. America and Europe have always been different in musical tastes. Same thing with Glam Rock and Power Metal, Glam Rock was big in England, but nobody listened to it in America. Power Metals big all over Europe, S. America, Japan, but in America nobody seems to get it. I honestly have no clue why this happens.
Posted 2 years ago # -
RockLibertyWarrior
offlineMemberPostCount: 715
Yeah it seems doing research that glam metal is way big over in Sweden they got Crashdiet, Crazy Lixx, Vains of Jenna, Heat etc. Seems though Vains of Jenna's guitarist Nicki Kin said something about coming over here first because there was more places to tour since the US is so big. I know Power Metal is huge over in Europe because most of the Power Metal albums I buy are imports. It seems right now mainstream (more like lamestream) rock and metal is a mixture of Nirvana and Creed wannabes. I know Metal is way bigger over in Europe period. However I hope this changes, people can blame the corporations all day for dominating the airwaves, having a strangle hold on the industry and what records are promoted but things are changing. The internet has put more choice in people's hands, I heard that less people are actually watching their favorite shows on TV and just watching them on their computer, same thing goes for radio. People can create and pick their own stations. Bands can easily make a video put it up on youtube and have their music heard more wide spread. The record companies, Mtv and the radio companies are like big lumbering dinosaurs, they will soon be extinct or evolve into a different form.
Posted 2 years ago #
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