What's the difference between "Glam Rock" and "Hair Rock" ?

Question

Okay. Anybody remember Nelson?
How about Poison?
So I have heard those guys referred to a "Glam Rock" But... What does that make Ian Hunter or Mott The Hoople and David Bowie of.. you know.. David Bowie?

Answer 1

Glam Rock started up in the 70's and had talented artists(ex.the godly David Bowie, T.Rex, Mott The Hoople)

Hair 'rock' ... well.. the less said about that the better

Teslagirl: correction... glam rock does not refer to hair bands... it usualy refers to the glam rock bands of the 70s( T.Rex)

Answer 2

For the most part they are the same thing. I mean you could get real technical and say Poison is glam rock because they focused on their appearance more so then a band such as Ratt, which could be hair rock but people classify both under either definition. I've been on sites that called Motley Crue, Cinderella, Def Leppard and Whitesnake glam rock and then others that called these same exact bands hair rock. Back in the late 80's metal period all the bands had the long teased hair and made a point to strut their fashion statements. It's more of a personal preference as to which aspect stuck out more to you, the hair or the style. (Which if you notice is all still part of the image.) Hair and makeup always has and always will go together which is a prime example of why any 80's metal band can be referred to as either or.

As for Mott the Hoople and David Bowie, they were neither glam rock or hair rock. Both terms refer to the 80's metal bands, exclusively. Rather these two bands were rock/rock n roll.

Nelson, however, now they were an 80's metal band so call them what you want... glam rock or hair rock. Either way they were a great band in my eyes.

Good question!

Answer 3

Glam rock is usually directed at some one who wears make up--like early poison or David Bowie
Mott the Hoople would be considered progressive rock
and hair bands are the long haired rock bands that came out in the 80s and early 90s before grunge took over.

Answer 4

The "zayla" dame is correct - the difference being, some 80's hair bands incorporated a dash of glam in their sound - but you'd find more of their musical legacy in the "New Romantic" bands of the 80's than in metal or hair bands - for better or worse.
Back in the day - most "New Romantic" bands completely "smoked weenies" out of the gate (at least in our opinions) - they were so wimpy we couldn't believe it! Then, about 20 years passed - and any given day, Culture Club and Duran Duran can seem like the freakin' Book of Chronicles - who knew? Just goes to show ya - some music is truly ahead of it's time - as well as the listeners.
Ever hear David Byrne's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts"?
Psyche! heehee! You should see my schizo-gay-stalker neighbor at "The Catherine Wheel"!
It's been tough, alright - but who knows? Maybe I'll be President too, someday!
Take a bath, goober-gipper...!
Heehee!

Answer 5

Glam Rock boarders on the drag-queen look. Hair Rockers want to appear more masculine but with big hair.
People like David Bowie and Marc Bolan were of the original glam rockers, which came to be in the early 70s.
The late 80s brought us Hair rock. Head-banging became popular and it looked cooler to have long and big hair to head-bang with. With the long hair came flashy and semi transgender styles, but it wasn't cool to question their straightness like it was with the glam rockers.

Answer 6

"Glam rock" refers to acts like the Killers (think: mr. brightside) or old school David Bowie.

"Hair Bands" are 80s group with big hair like you mentioned, Poison, Nelson, Warrant, etc.