American Hair Metal: Relive The Orgy Of Flamboyance And Androgyny That Was The ’80s With This New Book

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There was a time—not so long ago—when pomp and spandex dominated MTV and pop radio playlists. The book American Hair Metal ($20 via Amazon) celebrates this orgy of flamboyance, androgyny, and animal magnetism, of big-haired alpha males and the beautiful women who surrounded them.

American Hair Metal is 180 pages full of rare photographs of the biggest bands and quotes about the sex, drugs, and Rock & Roll style of ’80s American hair metal.

With all the quotes and photos, this book will find a comfortable home on your coffee table. But don’t expect much more than that. American Hair Metal is a 180-page book with 160 pages of photos. It’s a ton of fun to flip through, but there’s not much to read.

“We’re not ashamed of a little hairspray and makeup. We’ve always said it takes a real man to wear makeup.”

Bret Michaels, Poison (1988)

American Hair Metal: Book Info

There was a time—not so long ago—when pomp and spandex dominated MTV and pop radio playlists. American Hair Metal visually celebrates this orgy of flamboyance, androgyny, and animal magnetism, of big-haired alpha males and the beautiful women who surrounded them.

Hundreds of striking photographs are surrounded by hedonistic ephemera from bands like Poison, Cinderella, Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and Stryper, and wild interview quotes from major players such as David Lee Roth, Jon Bon Jovi, Sebastian Bach, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, Bret Michaels, Don Dokken, and a good number of unsung heroes.

Interest in hair metal is currently exploding—witness the barrage of VH1 specials, arena-level revival tours, and reissue compilations that are even today best-selling CDs.