A Genre of Heavy Metal popular from 1981-1992. Also known as Hair Metal or Sleaze Metal. Those who hate it and say it sucks obviously know nothing about pre-1990's Metal, and must think the whole Metal genre is based around Goth Devil worshipers and suicide/depression.

Glam Metal was the most popular form of Heavy Metal before Grunge ruined everything in the early 90's. It originated from L.A. and took the 70's Glam Rock style and mixed it with a heavier sound. Unique riffs and hooks, with awesome shredded guiar solos were the norm. Also the Power Ballad, a slower but heavy song was quite common too. Basiclly this genre was about partying, keeping people entertained, and having a FUN time in a relatively DULL decade. And for all the idiots who think it was all make-up, spandex, and "looking like a chick", you're wrong. Most just had long hair. Only a few bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Tigertailz, etc went all out with the Glam image, and if you can't tell they are men then you're an idiot! The image was meant to give a wild impression, to shock people, to be different. Something people have forgotten about in 2012.

In 1992 music in genre went down hill. Being a flannel wearing depressed loser suddenly became the "in" thing. And after Cobain killed himself all the ghetto CRap/Hip Hop, wimpy Boy Bands, and generic Alternative Rock BS took over the Radio stations. Muisc hasn't been the same since.
Some Glam Metal bands: Kix, Warrant, Bon Jovi, Babylon A.D, Cinderella, W.A.S.P., XYZ, and guess what, even Ozzy Osbourne went Glam in the 80's and he practically INVENTED the whole Metal genre.
by 80sMetalFan February 9, 2012
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Basically the Nu-Metal and Metalcore of the 80's. Characterized by generic faggotry of all musical aspects.

The vocals induce cringing whenever heard, the riffs are bullshit power chords, the drumming is "bum-chick-bum-chick", the bass doesn't exist, and the lyrics are standard tool/douche material. The solos are not bad, but still relatively mediocre.

Oh, and it's NOT METAL.

See also: Hair Metal or Glam Rock.
"Glam Metal" faggots often got scared when they saw a metalhead or heard actual Metal such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Anthrax, Metallica, Megadeth, Dio, King Diamond, Vio-Lence, Annihilator, Venom, Metal Church, Accept, Suicidal Tendencies, Queensryche, and Helloween.
by NiggerMutilator September 16, 2011
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Glam Metal aka Hair Metal is an 80's style of Rock music consisting of charismic bands with Big hair and large ego's.
Though the 80's have past, there are still big Glam bands such as

Poison, KISS, Tigertailz, Van Halen.

These bands make us Hair metal fans proud.
"Alright, the next one i wanna dedicate to every here tonight. The next time youre walking down the road and someone gives you shit, You all got two middle fingers. You just turn 'round and tell them "Fuck You. I can fight dirty too" - Tigertailz (Welsh Glam Metal band)
by Sting Madison November 23, 2007
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The best music of all fucking time. Beats the shit out of Nu metal, emo, pop, and other crap out there.
Tesla, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, Vixen, Tigertailz, Motley crue, and Poison are great glam metal bands
by Rockin' Monster April 9, 2010
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I've heard people give this genre a lot of crap, saying the GLAM part stands for "Gay L.A. Metal". To be fair, glam metal has some of the most wicked solos in metal. It's just too bad that gets overshadowed by the cheesy lyrics and the garish costumes.

There aren't many deep songs in glam metal. I personally can only stand it when i'm driving around somewhere. If you're in the mood to listen about sex and drugs, then go for this.

Anyway to all the people calling it homosexual...well I agree with one of the previous posters on here. The guys in these glam metal bands probably got laid hundreds of more times than you ever will. And look up some of the lead singers bios. They've dated some of the most beautuful women in the world. And you call that gay?

Sure you can bash someone for their horrible style, but calling them gay for it, makes you an asshat.

On a side note:
Motley Crue, Van halen, Poison, and Whitesnake are some of the more famous glam metal bands.
A glam metal song I can't stand is "cherry pie". It's so cheesy and I just hate that song so much.
by wrathkins June 14, 2008
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Rock music popular in the 80s with catchy choruses, usually romantic but friendly lyrics, major scales and joyful tones and usually was more hard rock than metal. The bands usually were drag queens. They also often sold out and made power ballads or went unplugged.

"WHAT'S METAL ABOUT THAT?!" - Dee Snider

Oh and also, TWISTED SISTER ARE NOT GLAM METAL, THEY'RE JUST HEAVY METAL. They sound NOTHING like glam, and sound more like Judas Priest, Saxon and Ozzy than Poison and Ratt. Neither are their lyrics glam. How is rebellion and kicking ass with rock n roll considered love and lust?????? They only got called glam just cause of their frontmans look. Glam is NOT a fashion. It's music. And at least Dee Snider has a more shock rock look than a glamour look. He's meant to look freaky in that makeup, not glamour-friendly. And he doesn't wear makeup anymore. And shit even metal archives doesn't even call them glam. Even Metallica were huge fans of twisted sister and they obviously DESPISED glam. If TS are glam, so is Iron Maidrn and Saxon. It's obvious they don't sound anything like the glam bands, they don't sound all joyful catchy pop-influenced shit that glam does. I bet if u told a fan they were glam they'd knock your god damn lights out!!!
REAL glam metal: Quiet Riot, Kix, Poison, Cinderella, Warrant, Mötley Crüe (except the first 2 albums; they were just heavy metal), Ratt, Whitesnake, KISS (1983-1989), Dokken, White Lion, Black Veil Brides, etc

NOT glam: Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper (although the song poison sounds glam), GnR, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, etc
by e9d8e2yh9d8yd92 June 23, 2013
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