Glam punk (or glitter punk) is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock (and sometimes garage rock).

The most influential glam punk band has been New York Dolls, whose androgynous image and raw, loose music style laid down a blueprint for the genre. Other notable acts who have been described as glam punk include Hanoi Rocks, Manic Street Preachers and D Generation.^[1][2][3]

[edit] 1970s: New York City and Detroit

Following the 1970s punk explosion in London, the New York Dolls were sometimes labelled glam-punk in comparison.^[4] Iggy Pop is also considered by some as glam punk; likely due to his androgynous image and the protopunk sound of his band, The Stooges.^[5]

Glam rock icon David Bowie produced some of Iggy Pop's most popular songs, such as "Lust for Life". Alice Cooper, one of the first glam rock artists, influenced bands such as Hanoi Rocks and the Sex Pistols.^[6] Most of the original American New Wave bands, especially those in New York City, showed at least a certain amount of glam influence. Some of the more obscure glam punk bands from this period — such as Hollywood Brats,^[7] and Jet — can be heard on the compilation CD Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk 'n' Glam Terrace Stompers.^[8]

[edit] 1980s

The 1980s saw a re-emergence of the glam punk style with the band Hanoi Rocks.^[3] While playing in London, the group influenced several other bands who played in a similar style, such as Dogs D'Amour.^[9]

[edit] 1990s: international revivals

In the 1990s, the glam punk image was unpopular, but punk rock-influenced music was on the rise with grunge music acts such as Nirvana. Bands such as New York City's D Generation became popular in the underground scene and received critical acclaim from Rolling Stone magazine.^[10] However, the critical acclaim did not result in high album sales. Around the same time, Welsh band Manic Street Preachers played a similar musical style.^[11] Their 1991 debut Generation Terrorists drew influences from The Clash and Hanoi Rocks, and, much like the work of D Generation, it received critical acclaim, but poor sales.^[12]

Backyard Babies, from Sweden, were a prominent example of glam punk during the 1990s, with their album Total 13. Guitarist Dregen once described the Backyard Babies in an interview as "The missing link between KISS and the Ramones."^[13] Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks was a guest performer on one of the band's albums, and guitarist Dregen has recorded a live acoustic album with Dogs D'Amour vocalist Tyla. Another band that started in 1995 that are classified under glam punk are Pure Rubbish who owe a huge debt to New York Dolls, Hanoi Rocks, and Dogs D'Amour even going so far as to record a tribute song for Tyla named "Hey Mr. Taylor".

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• GlamPunk.org
• Glitzine.net
• VeGlam.com
• Glam Punk band directory