In Defense of the Term "Hair Metal" 

I dont mind the term Hair Metal and I also like Glam Metal. Hair Metal was created to put down that genre of music. After a few years of grunge and nu-metal everyone was gagging for Hair/Glam metal to return.

It’s awesome that the guy with no hair loves and defends hair metal! Love your channel man! Keep rocking dude

I love Hair Metal. Rock & Roll and Heavy Metal is not about rules. I don’t need the fun police telling me I cannot call my favorite genre of music. 🎼 Thanks for doing this video.

I'm glad someone else digs this type of music as much as I do. Took a lot of crap as a teenager in the late 90s. Everyone else was into Korn or rap, and I was into 80s metal. I don't give a shit what you call it. Pop metal, hair metal. It's great music and the performance was entertaining

Proud to be a Hair Metal fan!!! And will be 'til the day I die🤘🏼

Here, in Brazil, we call hair metal "Rock Farofa". The term is pejorative, but I love it. Hair metal, glam metal, rock farofa...I don't care, it's the best rock of all time.

Hair Metal brings back great times and great memories.

I think because Eddie Trunk hates that term, and some folks see him as an authority, they have latched on to that being a negative term…However, i get why people think it’s negative, just because so many marginal bands were pushed by record labels that “looked the part” of “hair metal,” so that’s what so many people think of when they think of hair metal. Nonetheless, there were so many bands that transcended any label because they were good. Call them what you want, it doesn’t take away from the fact they were great. Period!

ACDC may not technically be hair metal, but they sure did take a lot of hair metal bands on the road with them. So they are definitely hair metal adjacent

I have always disliked the term “hair metal” - however after watching your video, I can now accept the term. Makes sense, good job guys.

Great idea for a discussion. Like you said, it's no longer used as a negative term by most people. I use the term all the time on my channel. Some people don't like it but I think most people appreciate it because they know when a show is going to be specifically about hair metal bands.

When you say “hair metal” people know exactly what bands you’re talking about. If you have an issue with the term, get over it. It’s here to stay. Plus I ain’t changing my name for shit!!

People that don’t like the term always bring up Tesla. “They didn’t wear make up they wore t-shirts and jeans!” Every hair/glam mental show plays ‘‘em with Poison. So, deal with it. Same with Badlands

The critics used that term to low ball those bands. I refer those bands as Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. I know Eddie Trunk hates that term.

I think it would be great to have an interview with me to see how glam metal was seen over here in England. I actually lived the life and saw the gigs. I remember going to the Donington Monsters of Rock as a 15yr old and the line up was Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Poison (that was my band. I made my mate put me on his shoulders when Poison came on.) Quireboys and Thunder. I will never forget when Poison played ‘every rose’ and the sun came out. I will never forget that moment

I grew up on hair metal bands (also called glam and cock rock) and it was one of the best parts of the 80s culture/music. To this day i still jam out to hair metal bands like RATT..CRUE..DOKKEN among a ton of others. I.dont hate the term "hair metal"..i.think thats what most of us called it anyway

In France we call it "Hard FM" (frequency modulation) because at this time that was the only hard rock we can have on radio..

People need to relax. Upon hearing the term "hair metal" probably decades ago I found it funny, instinctively knowing exactly what it referred to. It was probably made up by miserable grunge hipsters anyway, wallowing in the rainy suffering of Seattle´s shortlived wave of monochrome depression that somehow passed for a musical movement. Grunge only lasted a handful of years, due to its glamorisation of heroin and self-destruction, much like New York hipsters of the early 1970s - Lou Reed, etc. Grunge also promoted the idea of the beta male, the flaccid male feminist, whiny weaklings with PC (pl)attitudes, ugly guitars and little to no ability on their instruments. While hair metal had enough in the tank from the outset to last at least a full decade or more, it also managed to make a comeback in the 21st century. Hair metal thrives on a big stage, with smoke and lasers accentuating the energetic beat of music written in a major key and singing the praises of youthful vigour, fast cars and hot babes. Even in spite of shocking decline in terms of performing ability, Motley Crue continues to fill up stadiums, playing (or miming) songs from the Reagan era. There´s a reason why people aren´t flocking to Pearl Jam gigs in a similar manner and size.

I call it hair metal because most of these guys from that scene and era go on stage today with wigs or dyed hair and not their real hair. You wont see a band thats considered to be hair metal take the stage where everyone is bald or has short grey hair. Maybe one of the guys is bald but that's it. All this tells me is that the term hair metal is appropriate and fits. These guys were obsessed with their hair and image and dont wanna go on stage looking old and like their actual ages.

There was a commercial that briefly used the term hair bands to sell a CD set of the music of that era where I'm pretty sure it came from. it's on RU-vid somewhere. The term hair metal is used as an insult by fans of heavier styles of metal and at some point fans decided to try to take the name as our own but I'd prefer it just be Heavy Metal or Glam Metal.

Hair Metal is certainly a better name than Butt Rock. That's what a local radio station referred to it as in the late 90s. They had a show called The Butt Rock Basement that basically just played 3 straight 80s Glam Metal songs at the same time everyday. Funny thing was it was really popular and they even sold T-shirts.

I always preferred the term glam metal as all metal bands mostly had long hair in the day

I personally wished it had been termed LA Metal or Sunset Strip Metal. Even though several came from other places it's where it originated.

I wear my hair metal badge proudly. Yah hm raise them flags high.

I don't love either term Hair or Glam, they're both more about the look rather than the music, but I can live with them. To me term Hair Metal is too broad because from what I remember all metal bands had long hair no matter the style, with the exception of Rob Halford and Graham Bonnet.

Oh god. I lived that time and we called it Glam Metal. There is nothing wrong with the ‘hair metal’ term. Anybody upset I would say get over it. This is a great channel and the term ‘Hair metal’ does not discredit the music.

As a kid in the 90s i was a little late for hair metal in its prime i was fifteen in 98 .But i never got the unabashed hating on 80s glam metal /hair metal by the grunge and stuff era guys . Now ill be honest since i was more known for listening to bands like Obituary,Malevolant Creation and Morbid Angel I did have a kind of view that hair metal was metal for not scaring people . So as long as i didnt show too much my mom was less likely to lose her cool and break my cds if i played a skid row song or something like that . So hair metal was my way of just playing metal around people without alienating them . Playing Chapel of Ghouls is likely to send a midwestern bible belt person like i was around into a terrified fit of rage . But Into the Fire by Dokken wasnt likely at that point in time to scare them .

This is James Anthony ever since the 80s I've never had the problem with the term hair metal I love all kinds of Bands from Metallica all the way down Motley Crue to Lillian Axe and Dokken my list gose on and on I never had a problem with the term hair metal

I've called it hair metal since I can remember. It's a very apt description of the genre.

Never bothered me. Music speaks for itself. Good argument for the term. Also I cannot stand Eddie Trunk. Puke

It's the term I mostly use. I love the look and the music, I teased my hair, did the makeup and wore some ridiculous stuff....in the 00's, im 37 so I didnt live in the heyday. I have nothing but respect for glam, I had a blast getting a rise outta people with that shit! I like the term simply because it immediately defines the kind of rock/metal I love in conversation. No explanation needed....I LOVE Hair Metal!

From the age of 11 to 16 over here in England I was die hard into it.

Awesome! 🔥🎸🤘🏻

if it was 1994-2001, id have an issue, as it was more of an insult during that time. now a days. its a fucking badge of honor. if u like drinking, getting laid, and having epic parties, then hair metal is a pretty awesome thing!

lets go!!

I'm fine with the term Hair Metal, I agree it started off as a negative term but over time I find it mow to actually be endearing....am curious if Party Metal was ever used in the past? Enjoyed the episode as I have with all of them...u and Metal Mike do us Hair Metal fans proud the way u promote the genre! Looking forward to more crossover episodes with the 2 of u...hopefully u get Ryan on again too...take care man.

When talking about hair metal we understand that it ranges from Bon Jovi to W.A.S.P.

Glam Metal is the correct term, people who made fun of it and wanted to stereotype it called it hair metal

The Swedish variant is silly, though: pudelrock (poodle rock.) But even that term has lived on, and I often see it used to describe 80s sounding bands, and there's really no doubt of what it sounds like.

My problem with "hair metal" was that it seemed too broad - I've heard bands as diverse as Scorpions, Dokken, Iron Maiden, and even Queensryche referred to with the term. Back in the day, we called Sunset Strip bands "glam," and everything else thrash, speed metal, or just plain old heavy metal. But I guess it's time to reclaim the term and own it!

You know, Krautrock began as a derrogatory term and it's acceptable now, punk also was a derrogatorry term and punk is the shit now, trap means a drug deal gone wrong and everyone uses it. Trash means garbage you know, grunge is something unclean or dirty and funk is something thst smells. So if you are offended by the term hair metal something is wrong with you.

Journey/Foreigner types are considered "Classic Rock" today .In the 80's it was called "Glam" so when someone said "Glam" you knew it was a more commercial Poison/Bon Jovi Type. For some reason it evolved into being called Hair Metal in the 90's and it was a sarcastic negative term. In your guys' case maybe it was "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"? I'm about at that point! I'm 57!

I may have a discovery here I was looking at a 1990 concert bootleg by Slave Raider and i realize they went grunge 1990 pre grunge... They were wearing ripped shirts.. they had cut their hair and took the makeup off. This is very bizarre to discover

That title is fine by me

I will never like the term and will always use Glam Metal because I think it’s way cooler. It seems like VH1 made up the term a decade later

I haven't watched the video yet (but I absolutely will) however my stance will remain as it has been since the day that term first surfaced. I was there (Started my first glam band in '84 and I still have my long, teased out, dyed black hair ;). "Hair metal" was *NEVER* used. It was hard rock. "Hair Metal" was created after the fact (mid 90's) to disparage hard rock (If you read the I Want My MTV you'll get a taste of how much people in power HATED our music) relegating it to just style. It would be the same as someone calling someone else a slur and them just accepting it. I'll give another angle. If Guru and Mike put a band together that sounded like Poison would it be "hair metal" despite neither one them having hair?

More like Ree Snider these days

What about modern glam bands like crazy lixx or crash diet they are pretty good bands

Iam a huge fan of most bands of the genre and really who cares about the title if you like it fine if not who cares

Always preferred glam, people that don’t understand our music always use “ hair “ and mean it as a negative.

I have to ask are bands like Dio, Iron Maiden, Krokus, Yngwie Malmsteen and others like them considered Hair Metal? Me personally i would say No but I've seen them on Hair Metal streams and playlists. Judas Priest and Scorpions too.

Never been a fan of the term hair metal. Mostly because it sounds like something that some individuals who don't consider glam or hair metal worth anything , would say ...

Check out a band called dirty rhythm listen to feel the fire for a good idea of there sound

You guys need to get over your jealousy for Eddie Trunk.

I think you're both missing the point. Yes, the insiders have learned to have 'embrace' the term. It's just easier to throw your hands up and accept it. But you're both hard core glam / 80's hard rock fans. The greater population does use the term negatively. They do reduce it to hair and makeup.

Van Halen Is Not Hair Metal

Where would zodiac mind warp and pretty maids fit in?

If anyone wants to get me on Guru’s show please message him. It’s only because I love this music that I want to discuss this amazing music and give it the exposure it deserves.

Hair Metal, Glam Metal... its all together and great! Name what you want... its all metal.