A style of hard rock & heavy metal music that is watered down both musically and lyrically to garner maximum radio play and mainstream acceptance. Lyrical themes are drawn from a put-on “tough guy / bro” persona, and include being a badass, getting lots of pussy, strippers, partying, and being betrayed or alone. Image wise, butt rock bands typically consist of guys in their mid-30s with spiky hair, Affliction t-shirts, and bad tattoos (usually barbed wire or tribal). The typical fan emulates this fashion style and exhibits what they think are “manly” personality traits, such as frequently drinking energy drinks, driving an unnecessarily large truck, and otherwise overcompensating for an insecurity in their masculinity. They also tend to have a superficial knowledge of metal music, being familiar only with bands that receive regular radio rotation. Examples of butt rock bands include Five Finger Death Punch, Three Days Grace, Buckcherry, Nickelback, Disturbed, and Three Doors Down.
“All riiiggghhhtt, that was Five Finger Death Punch with ‘Jekyll & Hyde,’ comin up next we got Buckcherry with ‘Crazy Bitch’ for all you ladies out there, right here on KBRO Nothing Butt Rock...”
by ProfCDryDrunk December 9, 2019
Get the Butt Rock mug.A popular term referring to a sub-genre of hard rock strongly influenced by post-grunge and nu metal. Originating in the mid-late 90s, butt rock is comprised of raspy vocals, similar to Pearl Jam, Creed, or Nirvana, backed with radio-friendly guitar riffs, drum beats, and basic bass lines.
Generally found on CBS owned radio stations across the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest, butt rock is overly commercialized, processed music that lacks innovation and creativity. Butt rock predominantly targets a demographic of blue collar workers, generally men 18-45, that drink cheap light beer, have a fascination with big trucks, avidly watch Monday Night Football, and are wannabe UFC fighters.
Women that listen to butt rock are usually huge fans of Guns N Roses, and are drawn to the sub-genre by the subconscious influence of corporate agenda, or out of sympathy for their significant other’s terrible local band.
Generally found on CBS owned radio stations across the Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest, butt rock is overly commercialized, processed music that lacks innovation and creativity. Butt rock predominantly targets a demographic of blue collar workers, generally men 18-45, that drink cheap light beer, have a fascination with big trucks, avidly watch Monday Night Football, and are wannabe UFC fighters.
Women that listen to butt rock are usually huge fans of Guns N Roses, and are drawn to the sub-genre by the subconscious influence of corporate agenda, or out of sympathy for their significant other’s terrible local band.
Butt rock groups include Nickelback, Seether, Theory of a Deadman, 3 Doors Down, Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Three Days Grace, Five Finger Death Punch, amongst others.
by take_it_homie October 23, 2011
Get the Butt Rock mug.Related Words
A genre of rock music that has had different meanings over time, but which generally describes bands who meet the following criteria:
1. The music is driven primarily by power chords, and focuses less on complexity and musical talent and more on radio-friendliness and the emotional impact it has on listeners. As such, butt rock has never been a hit with critics, but it has always enjoyed mainstream popularity.
2. The songs fit into one of two molds -- hard-rocking tracks designed to get the crowd pumped and "rocking out," or slower power ballads that are meant to attract female fans. Both types of songs are best played in an arena, which is why they are popular at pro wrestling events.
3. The subject matter of the lyrics tends to be about kicking ass, getting laid, auto racing, hedonism, and other "manly" subjects. Rebellion is also a common theme, with authority figures like cops, teachers, and parents all being portrayed as not understanding their needs. The exception is the aforementioned power ballads, which are often about loss, love, drug abuse, and other, "heavier" subjects. The lyrics in both types of songs are often misogynistic, with women portrayed as either sex objects, harpies, or home-wreckers.
4. The fanbase tends to be frat boys and working-class men between the ages of 16 and 40.
In the '80s, butt rock was used to describe the mainstream hair metal bands that were popular on MTV, such as Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and Poison. This type of music was popular from the early-mid '80s through the first years of the '90s, when it was driven out by grunge. In the late '90s, butt rock made a comeback in the form of post-grunge. Bands like Creed, Nickelback, Hinder, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Daughtry, and others came to dominate the modern rock radio charts. These bands had similar music to the above-mentioned hair bands, but wrapped it in a radio-friendly grunge flavoring. This type of rock music has persisted in popularity into the present day.
The name "butt rock" has a few possible origins. First, in the 1980s, the musicians in many hair metal bands often dressed in a "glam" style, wearing tight pants that would accentuate their butts. (This may also be the origin of the term "cock rock," which has the same connotations, as the tight pants would also accentuate the musicians' crotches.) A less flattering origin for the name is that the lead singers of these bands sounded like they were singing out of their asses. Finally, the term can generally mean that the music sounds like ass.
1. The music is driven primarily by power chords, and focuses less on complexity and musical talent and more on radio-friendliness and the emotional impact it has on listeners. As such, butt rock has never been a hit with critics, but it has always enjoyed mainstream popularity.
2. The songs fit into one of two molds -- hard-rocking tracks designed to get the crowd pumped and "rocking out," or slower power ballads that are meant to attract female fans. Both types of songs are best played in an arena, which is why they are popular at pro wrestling events.
3. The subject matter of the lyrics tends to be about kicking ass, getting laid, auto racing, hedonism, and other "manly" subjects. Rebellion is also a common theme, with authority figures like cops, teachers, and parents all being portrayed as not understanding their needs. The exception is the aforementioned power ballads, which are often about loss, love, drug abuse, and other, "heavier" subjects. The lyrics in both types of songs are often misogynistic, with women portrayed as either sex objects, harpies, or home-wreckers.
4. The fanbase tends to be frat boys and working-class men between the ages of 16 and 40.
In the '80s, butt rock was used to describe the mainstream hair metal bands that were popular on MTV, such as Twisted Sister, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and Poison. This type of music was popular from the early-mid '80s through the first years of the '90s, when it was driven out by grunge. In the late '90s, butt rock made a comeback in the form of post-grunge. Bands like Creed, Nickelback, Hinder, Staind, Puddle of Mudd, Daughtry, and others came to dominate the modern rock radio charts. These bands had similar music to the above-mentioned hair bands, but wrapped it in a radio-friendly grunge flavoring. This type of rock music has persisted in popularity into the present day.
The name "butt rock" has a few possible origins. First, in the 1980s, the musicians in many hair metal bands often dressed in a "glam" style, wearing tight pants that would accentuate their butts. (This may also be the origin of the term "cock rock," which has the same connotations, as the tight pants would also accentuate the musicians' crotches.) A less flattering origin for the name is that the lead singers of these bands sounded like they were singing out of their asses. Finally, the term can generally mean that the music sounds like ass.
by TheRedRedKroovy August 29, 2009
Get the Butt rock mug.Hair bands are synonomous with butt-rock. Hair bands were a phenonmenon exclusive to the 80's and 90's. If the guy used at least one can of hairspray per day, and wore eyeliner, it was a pretty good bet he was a butt-rocker. The SURE thing is whether or not he had a perm, and hair that stuck out/up higher than 3 inches.
These people that consider Creed and Nickleback butt-rock were obviously born in the late 80's or early 90's. Butt-rock is NOT alternative music, it is NOT heavy metal, and it is NOT from the late 90's. Try Poison, Warrant, Slaughter, Winger, White Snake, Guns 'n' Roses...
by spellcheck-enabled July 11, 2010
Get the butt-rock mug.by I Hate All The Internets October 14, 2008
Get the Butt Rock mug.A kind of music popular amoung tweens esp. in the midwest and is usualy found in the alternative rock section of a music store. Butt rock bands usualy have perdictable percusion break downs, simple bass lines, simple gutar riffs and overly emotional/ semi romantic lyrics. The trade mark of butt rock is the straind vocals that make the sinnger sound like he is constipated. This is where "butt" rock gets its name. Examples include: Hinder, Creed, Matchbox 20, three doors down, avenge seven fold, ect. Its is possable for a band to resemble butt rock but not actualy be butt rock. I.E. staind, coldplay, foo fighters.
by matic1989 April 28, 2010
Get the butt rock mug.A style of hard rock from 1986 to 1992 with nothing original to add to the genre of hard rock. Their songs consist of the same over-used series of power chords and corny lyrics and may often contain the use of keyboards or (Lord help us) a keytar , but are just following what hard rock and metal bands have done from 1970's-1985.
Butt Rockers have been plastered all over MTV through the late 80's and early 90's because of a pretty boy image seen by recording executives as a pre-teen goldmine.
Butt Rock Pioneers include Bon Jovi, Poison, Warrant, Skid Row and Winger, Lita Ford, Europe and Telsa.
Performers are usually depicted as having long, "big" hair that is either bleached blond, dyed black or permed to death. Tight, ripped jeans or spandex, bright colored ripped and/or shredded shirts and excessive use of animal print bandanas.
Butt Rock bands rarely put out more than 2 albums. Their first album was only popular because the sounded like one of their predecessors, then trying to experiment with their own style was grossly insufficient to have any lasting effect on the market.
Butt Rockers have been plastered all over MTV through the late 80's and early 90's because of a pretty boy image seen by recording executives as a pre-teen goldmine.
Butt Rock Pioneers include Bon Jovi, Poison, Warrant, Skid Row and Winger, Lita Ford, Europe and Telsa.
Performers are usually depicted as having long, "big" hair that is either bleached blond, dyed black or permed to death. Tight, ripped jeans or spandex, bright colored ripped and/or shredded shirts and excessive use of animal print bandanas.
Butt Rock bands rarely put out more than 2 albums. Their first album was only popular because the sounded like one of their predecessors, then trying to experiment with their own style was grossly insufficient to have any lasting effect on the market.
Example:
Motley Crue is still touring after nearly 30 years.
Warrant (or any member of) hasn't been heard from since 1991, despite attempts.
Butt rock has no originality.
Motley Crue is still touring after nearly 30 years.
Warrant (or any member of) hasn't been heard from since 1991, despite attempts.
Butt rock has no originality.
by Catera January 10, 2011
Get the Butt Rock mug.