Glam rock

Glam rock, or glitter rock, was a flashy, musically diverse rock and roll genre that was prevalent for a brief time in the 1970s. Primarily emanating from Great Britain, glam rock was popularized by eccentric performers who wore outlandish, often gender-bending fashions that emphasized over-the-top androgynous sexuality. Musically, glam rock was a fusion of a number of different musical styles, including traditional rock, punk, and heavy metal. In many ways, glam rock developed as a response to the somber, reflective singer/songwriter movement that dominated popular music in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Some of the most well-known and successful glam rock acts included T. Rex, the New York Dolls, and David Bowie. While the popularity of glam rock largely faded with the rise of punk in the mid-1970s, its influence continued to be seen in the performance styles of such future artists as Boy George, Madonna, and Lady Gaga.

Background

When glam rock first began to appear on the scene around 1972, its arrival marked a significant shift in popular music trends. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the singer/songwriter genre, which featured the low-key, introspective lyrics and melodies of artists such as James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Joni Mitchell, was at the height of its popularity. More often than not, singer/songwriters were predominantly concerned with music and message. For most, performance was essentially an afterthought. As a result, many songs composed by singer/songwriter artists shared a similarly sparse sound and reflective lyrical quality. In turn, live performances of these songs were usually muted and reserved. While this approach was very popular for a time, some musical artists gradually began moving in more creative and colorful directions. Thus, by the early 1970s, rock and roll was set to embark on the next stage of its evolution.

One of the earliest answers to the singer/songwriter movement was glam rock. Driven by a generally straightforward but catchy teenage pop sound, glam rock eschewed the thoughtful musicianship of the singer/songwriter approach in favor of frenetic rhythms akin to those that first popularized rock and roll in an earlier era. More important than its sound, however, was glam rock's heavy emphasis on aesthetics. In stark contrast to the singer/songwriter movement, which placed virtually no value on performance style, glam rock was all about image. Most glam rock artists dressed in outlandish clothing and makeup and turned their live shows into highly theatrical and sexualized presentations. Tonally, glam rock was the polar opposite of the singer/songwriter genre.

Most music historians agree that the originators of glam rock were the members of T. Rex, an English band led by flamboyant frontman Marc Bolan. First formed in 1967, T. Rex truly burst onto the scene with the release of its landmark 1971 album Electric Warrior. On the strength of hits like "Bang a Gong (Get It On)," Electric Warrior quickly went to the top of the British charts and firmly established the campy and extravagant T. Rex as one of Britain's most popular acts. More importantly, T. Rex and Electric Warrior set the tone for a bold new musical movement.

Overview

Even though it was essentially rooted in the exciting pace and sound of early rock and roll, glam rock's unique musical and aesthetic style was vastly different from anything that preceded it. In particular, the flashy outfits, big hair, and heavy makeup favored by glam rock performers set them apart from any other musical artists of their time. Perhaps more importantly than anything else, however, glam rock was distinguished by its emphasis on androgynous sexuality. On stage, many glam rock artists wore outlandish costumes that, while meant to exude sexuality, were also designed to defy traditional gender stereotypes. Although this certainly helped glam rock bands in garnering attention, it also ended up being something of a limiting factor for the genre. In the early 1970s, much of the Western public was just beginning to openly confront the idea of alternative sexual orientations. As a result, the gender-bending wardrobes of most glam rock acts were difficult for many audiences to accept, especially in the United States. It was for this reason that glam rock was largely a British phenomenon.

After the success of T. Rex's Electric Warrior, it was only a matter of time before glam rock rose to prominence. Eventually, 1972 turned out to be the genre's breakthrough year. A number of albums released that summer cemented glam rock as a unique genre. In addition to T. Rex's The Slider, other works—such as Roxy Music's self-titled debut album, Iggy and the Stooges' Raw Power, Lou Reed's Transformer, and Mott the Hoople's All the Young Dudes—played a pivotal part in glam rock's ascendance. Another 1972 album that contributed significantly to the genre's development was David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. Bowie, already an established artist in his own right, embraced the glam rock movement and created the androgynous alien rock star character Ziggy Stardust, who served as both the album's centerpiece and Bowie's onstage alter ego. Featuring such hits as "Starman" and "Suffragette City," Ziggy Stardust was a smash success.

The height of glam rock continued through 1973 and 1974. In 1973, the New York Dolls, the only American glam rock band to achieve meaningful success, released its own self-titled debut album on the heels of a British tour the previous year. Gary Glitter, another glam rock icon, hit the charts himself for the first time in 1973 with the release of Glitter, an album best remembered for "Rock & Roll, Pt. II," a track that eventually became a sports staple in arenas and stadiums across the United States. In 1974, Bowie returned with Diamond Dogs, his next original album, and T. Rex released Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, its fourth album of the glam rock era.

Ultimately, the glam rock movement ended as quickly as it started. By 1975, most of the genre's leading acts either moved on to other styles and interests or fell from the spotlight as the quality of their work declined. Moreover, glam rock was quickly being supplanted by the emergent punk rock movement. Although it never returned to the prominence it enjoyed in the early 1970s, glam rock's lasting influence continued to be felt in the decades that followed.

Bibliography

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Brennan, Carol. "Glitter Rock." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Edited by Thomas Riggs, St. James Press, 2013.

Denney, Alex. "Why Glam Rock Is So Misunderstood." Dazed, 6 Oct. 2016, www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/33252/1/simon-reynolds-glam-rock-shock-and-awe-interview. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016.

Edmondson, Jacqueline, editor. "Glam Rock." Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture. ABC-CLIO, 2013.

"Glam Rock." AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/subgenre/glam-rock-ma0000002619. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016.

Hall, Russell. "Wham, Bam, Thank You Glam! Marc Bolan Pioneers an Outrageous Era." Gibson, 1 Feb. 2011, www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/glam-history-0201-2011.aspx. Accessed 3 Nov. 2016.

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