The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade

Music journalist Martin Popoff presents an illustrated oral history of hair metal, the heavy metal subgenre that dominated the 1980s. During this decade, heavy metal shifted from the dark themes and complex instrumentation of bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple to a new style centered on themes of partying, girls, and drugs, delivered through shredding solos and power ballads that appealed to mainstream audiences. This comprehensive guide features interviews and observations from dozens of musicians, producers, promoters, label executives, and others involved in the scene. It examines hair metal's rise and fall, covering major bands including Twisted Sister, Bon Jovi, Poison, Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Warrant, Great White, Whitesnake, Cinderella, Vixen, Skid Row, L.A. Guns, and Guns N' Roses. Popoff explores the factors behind the movement's emergence, including MTV, Reagan-era culture, and shifting social attitudes, as well as the bands that influenced it, such as the Sweet, New York Dolls, Alice Cooper, and KISS. The book also examines key scenes like the Sunset Strip. The era concluded around 1991 when grunge replaced hair metal. The book includes previously unpublished quotes, anecdotes, photographs, and memorabilia.