Glam Rock & Glitter

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The most commercially successful pop band of the 1970s, ABBA rose again in the 1990s when ABBA Gold (1992) revived their peerless singles’ legacy, which has carried on ever since. ABBA were formed in 1973 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Benny Andersson (born Goran Bror Benny Andersson, 16 December 1946), Bjorn Ulvaeus (born 25 April 1945) and their girlfriends Frida Lyngstad (born Anni-Frid Lyngstad-Ruess, 15 November 1945) and Agnetha Faltskog (born ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1970–present) This best-selling American heavy rock band, frequently compared to The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, centred on the relationship between principal members Steven Tyler (vocals) and Joe Perry (guitar). The pair came together in Boston, Massachusetts, with Joey Kramer (drums), Brad Whitford (guitar) and Tom Hamilton (bass). Their first album Aerosmith (1973) was an immediate success, paving the way for the multi-platinum Toys In The Attic (1974) and ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1948) Although over time the name Alice Cooper came to attach itself to singer Vincent Furnier, it originally applied to the rock band that he fronted, the classic line-up of which comprised Cooper, Glen Buxton (guitar), Michael Bruce (guitar), Dennis Dunaway (bass) and Neal Smith (drums). After recording two albums for Frank Zappa’s Straight label, the band relocated from California back to Detroit, developing the outrageous stage act for ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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‘Spaceman’, 1996 Another case of Levi’s jeans popularizing a song into a hit single – something they had done, not only with new songs, but also with reissues of classic soul songs in the 1980s – Babylon Zoo’s ‘Spaceman’ was an electro-pop hit that appealed instantly to a mid-1990s crowd, but would seem dated and clumsy today. Jas Mann (pronounced ‘jazz man’) was the group’s driving force, and he/they were pretentious ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal group, 1979–83, 2005–present) Taking their name from the German architectural movement, Bauhaus were a prototype goth outfit who made their recording debut in 1979 with the nine-minute single ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’. Peter Murphy’s brooding voice was accompanied by Daniel Ash (guitar), David J. (bass) and Kevin Haskins (drums) for four albums until the singer left in 1983. Their only Top 20 hit was a faithful cover of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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America’s leading hard rock band in the 1980s, Bon Jovi have broadened their appeal still further by combining their musical aggression with catchy pop songs to achieve a universal appeal. The band was formed in 1983 in New Jersey by singer Jon Bon Jovi (b. John Francis Bongiovi, 2 March 1962), guitarist Richie Sambora (b. 11 July 1969), keyboard player David Bryan (b. David Bryan Rashbaum, 7 February 1962), bassist Alec ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal group, 1973–78) Led by singer Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel’s first line-up was Jean-Paul Crocker (violin), Paul Jeffreys (bass), Milton Reame-James (keyboards) and Stuart Elliot (drums). Debut album The Human Menagerie (1973) was unusual for the absence of lead guitar. Harley sacked all except Elliot after The Psychomodo (1974). Rebel mark II emerged with the 1975 UK No. 1 ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)’ and made four more ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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One of the great chameleon figures in rock, David Bowie has also been among the most influential. Born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947, his earliest records with The King Bees, The Mannish Boys and The Lower Third were unsuccessful. In 1966 he changed his name to David Bowie and combined his songwriting with an interest in stage and visual arts. The Rise Of Ziggy Stardust It was not until 1969 ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1977–present) The band appropriately formed in Sheffield, erstwhile home of the British steel industry. Their fresh brand of poppy heavy metal, led by Joe Elliott (vocals) and Pete Willis (lead guitar), soon won them fans. An early B-side ‘Hello America’ hinted at their ambitions. Debut album On Through The Night (1980) just missed the US Top 50, but with 1983’s Pyromania they became giants of the genre, hitting the ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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From a shy piano player, Elton John became one of the most extrovert performers of the 1970s. He has sold over 250 million records worldwide and is now almost a national institution. Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947, he won a part-time piano scholarship to London’s Royal Academy Of Music at the age of 11. By the time he left school in 1963 to work for a music ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
899 Words Read More

(Vocals, b. 1947) One of the most significant figures of the 1970s, Iggy Pop (real name James Osterberg) was hailed as the godfather of punk. But when The Stooges called it a day in 1971, he was viewed as a spent force and it was only the persistence of David Bowie that led to The Stooges reconvening for Raw Power (1973) and a legendary gig at London’s King’s Cross Cinema. The ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1974–82, 1991) This South-East London band led by singer David Sylvian (real name Batt) traced an odd career trajectory. Starting out playing guitar-based glam, they tried to fit in with punk, but found their forte in the new romantic era. Mick Karn (bass, saxophone), Rob Dean (guitar), Richard Barbieri (synthesizers), and Steve Jansen (b. Stephen Batt, drums) completed the personnel who finally made inroads with their third album Quiet ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocal/instrumental group, 1973–present) Kiss, founded by New Yorkers Gene Simmons (bass, vocals) and Paul Stanley (guitar, vocals), combined the showmanship of glam rock and the drive of heavy metal. Recruiting Peter Criss (drums, vocals) and Paul ‘Ace’ Frehley (guitar, vocals) and adopting the costumes and elaborate stage make-up without which they never appeared in public, Kiss’s early albums made little impact but their reputation grew via an increasingly extravagant stage show. ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
167 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1986–present) When guitarist Richey Edwards disappeared/committed suicide in 1995 the end of the line seemed in sight for this band of Welsh Generational Terrorists. However, James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitar), Nicky Wire (bass) and Sean Moore (drums) soldiered on delivering Everything Must Go (1996). Retaining the artistic integrity that was one of their punk-inspired founding principles, it yielded hit anthem after hit anthem. Subsequent albums were equally compelling as ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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(Vocals, b. 1969) Setting out to shock everyone, Brian Warner certainly succeeded. After assuming the name Marilyn Manson all members of his Florida-based band were required to adopt the names of female divas and serial killers. Industrially functional music grew increasingly melodic as time wore on, culminating in Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998). Like Rob Zombie, Manson is articulate in his own defence and is simply an updated version ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
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