Nu Glam. Is it real or fake?
If we look through the archives since 1971, Glam has survived continuously to this day. Sure there were the dizzy peaks of 1974 – 1978 and 1983 – 1989 and between those era’s, 80s Glam was being shaped with emergence of tight leather clad rockers including Queen, the Scorpions & Whitesnake. So what after 1989?
We know that in the late 80s and early 90s, many great Glam acts made their debut including Firehouse, Skid Row, Enuff Z’nuff, Trixter but they were denied reaching their full potential. Society was changing. After a run of 7 years, Glam was getting stale and it was a time for something new. 1990 was a year of massive change. The end of the Cold War, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall & the Persian Gulf War. It was more a dramatic shift than a large change, not unlike the Summer of Love in 1969 which incidentally, was were the foundations of Glam were laid but more on that later.
Seattle was the place where it would happen. Kids all over the world embraced a new form of rebellion called grunge. The shift was too great and Glam, as a mainstream genre, became uncool.
After 15 years of relative obscurity and living ‘underground’ Scandinavia played the unlikely host for a minor glam revival that still limps along today.
Bands like Vains of Jenna, Hardcore Superstar, Malice in Wonderland and Crashdiet are examples of modern day glam bands that have gained some traction in the market.
Having seen Poison & Vains of Jenna on the same bill, the question I had to ask myself is “are these nu glam bands in the same league as the original Glam Rockers?”. “Are they wannabes or the real deal?”. “Are they serious or a disgrace to Glam?”
For those that have lived through both of the glorious era’s, it’s possible that the original rockers aren’t as accepting of nu glam and the young audience are embracing them?
December 17th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Crashdiet is the pick for me they come across pretty authentic to me leaning more to the cock rock side of things, love em. Vains of Jenna are more sleezy. Well worth a listen, i get into them anyway. Hardcore Superstar already have alot of credibility having been around since 97 with several albums under their belt. They sit nicely between Crashdiet and Vains of Jenna with their mix of sleeze and cock rock. On the whole i’d say the future looks bright with bands like these. Beware though there are some awful “Nu Glam” bands out there, all show and no go!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:51 am
HHHHHHMMMMMMM !!!!! I think I have to check out some of these Nu Glam bands, I was just read the above thread it bought back some memories, The part about the 80s Glam taking over the world reminded me off how cool it was back then & the part about 90s grunge killing it all reminded me of the era where musically I had a broken heart & really bad depression FUCK KURT COBAIN !!!!!!!!!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:53 am
Hello I was really surprised that I didn’t see a KEEL bio on the list anyways KICK ASS SITE YOU HAVE HERE & GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA !!!!!!!!!
January 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
May I add…..”F*CK KURT COBAIN!!” as an echo? If he was alive id strangle him back to the grave with my fishnets.
-\m/
January 28th, 2009 at 11:18 am
New glam is as real as the old glam! Just better!!!
June 27th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Hm, I really love to see these Nu Glam bands, it makes me feel that glam rock still alive.
November 7th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Well, I asked my friend why there was an mp3 player in a Steel Panther video. He had no idea ^_-
I’m a younger Glam Rocker though, but I’ve never heard anyone complain about the genere. I cant see a difference between the style, anyway. Obviously they all sound different, though, since they are different bands, lol!
Although I havent yet listened to most of those on the list.
^_^
March 25th, 2010 at 4:44 am
Its very real! I actually like Dirty Penny the best!
April 6th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Meh. Im really strict on what I consider Glam. A lot of these new Glam bands just straight up suck in my opinion, but there are a few who are extremely good like Crashdiet. Most people listen to Glam Metal now, a lot of the original Glam Rock from the 70s is ignored, even amongst Glam ppl themselves. When you listen to Sweet, T.Rex, Slade etc, the bands that basically started Glam and compare them to these new bands its like wtf! Most of these new “Glam” bands, hell even a few of the 80s Glam bands sound so different than the original Glam from the 70s its crazy to even call it Glam. Im a younger Glam rocker and I used to listen to Glam Metal only back then, but now im listening to a bit more Glam Rock, kinda discovering our “roots” y’know? So yeah, thats just my opinion, people need to remember that the origins of Glam are the 70s Glam Rock bands, not the 80s Glam Metal bands. Most new Glam bands mimic the sound of the 80s Glam, some of it sounds good, some of it is just straight trash. I know genres change over time, but listen to Electric Warrior by T.Rex and then compare it to some new Glam band like Vanity Blvd, I don’t hear ANYTHING in common. It doesn’t even sound like Glam Metal OR Glam Rock.
May 19th, 2010 at 12:26 am
NU glam today does not really have the same feel as 80s glam, the band crashdiet felt a little wimpy and actually sounded a little emo, it is not really rock at all
June 1st, 2010 at 7:21 pm
@glammetalfan, admitedly the 80s glam metal bands were better, but they new stuff is still awesome and in no way does crashdiet sound emo…oliver twisted kinda sucked but dave lepard and simon cruiz are awesome!
June 12th, 2010 at 9:31 am
glams where its at in my opinion i think the 2010s will be the decade where rock/glam/metal (and not that crappy so called metal of now where they scream growl or just sound like an emo queer) will come baqck into popularity cause ive been listening to this stuff since i was born (1993)and i dress like people from 80s bands like steel panther and stuff and ive gotten friends into plus people are starting to get taste in music again it wont happen overnight but prob by 2012,2013 it will reemerge people already try and wear “retro cloths now” but as they say history repeats itself so lets keep hoping and band together
August 6th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Well, i must say i consider myself a very new age sleazehead. My favorite glam band EVER is Crashdiet. so yes, its very real, and i believe its gaining speed:)
August 12th, 2010 at 4:29 am
Jason, I really hope you’re right.
August 25th, 2010 at 5:43 am
I think this new wave of glam/sleeze metal is tremendous. I only wish their music was easier to access in the states. Imports can be pretty pricey. But I think bands like CrashDiet, Hardcore Superstar, and Crazy Lixx are as real as it gets. Hopefully the U.S. will eventually come around and start recognizing some of these great bands.