The 50 Greatest Hair Albums EVER. (1 Viewer)

[SteevieG]

Though the band began earlier than the "hair metal" era, I think Whitesnake should be mentioned. Slide it in was a great album.

And maybe I missed it but Krokus should be on this list as well. "Hot Stuff" was the song I'd tip DJ's to play at strip clubs.

 

[Buzzbait]

I wonder where Tesla will land on the list.

Of all of the 80s bands, this is the one I refuse to classify as hair metal. Certainly, if GnR isn't considered hair metal for this, I'd think that eliminates Tesla too.

I guarantee there is no bigger Tesla fan on this board than me. I've seen them many, many times and as recently as a few years ago. Mechanical Resonance was the very first CD I bought as I made the switch from cassettes.

Agree. I'm betting they'll be on the list but they really should be. They're pretty much straight forward blue jean rock. Great live double guitar band!

 

[Buzzbait]

More lesser known names to make sure Warsteiner doesn't forget about them:

Armored Saint

Black n Blue

Bulletboys

Four Horsemen

Grim Reaper

Helix

Junkyard

Krokus

Y&t

Good list... loved Y&T.

Saw Y&T just last year. Dave Meniketti is still a beast and is one of the under rated guitarists and song writers.

 

[JZilla]

Might go see Y&T in a couple months myself

 

[Buzzbait]

More lesser known names to make sure Warsteiner doesn't forget about them:

Armored Saint

Black n Blue

Bulletboys

Four Horsemen

Grim Reaper

Helix

Junkyard

Krokus

Y&t

Others that should be considered:

Accept (Balls to the Wall)

Blue Murder (Jelly Roll, Valley of the Kings)

The Cult

Fastway (Debut with all time riff Say What You Will)

Jackyl

Michael Schenker Group (The Mad Axe man!)

TT Quick

Riot (The Fire Down Under album is a classic)

UFO (I wound't consider them hair but if you do there's at least 4 albums that could be top 50)

Waysted (Debut album from the Pete Way formed band is really good)

Don't know that all of them are hair bands but the inclusion of VH and exclusion of GnR causes which to consider in doubt.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Enuff z nuff?

Loudness!

Steel panther!

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Wind of change, imo

 

[Hawks64]

I have spent the last decade on this board thinking I was the only person that still listened to warrant, Cinderella, bullet boys, tyketto, wild side, Bon jovi, skid row, Kik tracee, Tuff, slaughter, trixter, firehouse, Britney fox, Black-eyed Susan, asphalt ballet, so on and so forth. Glad to find some new friends. Because this #### is always going to be awesome.

I have recently found my way back to spotify and the 80's hair metal playlists are so ####### awesome.

 

[jomar]

I can't consider The Cult hair metal. what is the consensus here?

going through my lists for hair metal albums, I removed Metallica, Megadeth and Maiden. to me, they were different than 'hair metal'

 

[KarmaPolice]

I have spent the last decade on this board thinking I was the only person that still listened to warrant, Cinderella, bullet boys, tyketto, wild side, Bon jovi, skid row, Kik tracee, Tuff, slaughter, trixter, firehouse, Britney fox, Black-eyed Susan, asphalt ballet, so on and so forth. Glad to find some new friends. Because this #### is always going to be awesome.

I have recently found my way back to spotify and the 80's hair metal playlists are so ####### awesome.

Link?

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe EG needs a "is ________ a hair metal band?" thread.

 

[Abraham]

Though the band began earlier than the "hair metal" era, I think Whitesnake should be mentioned. Slide it in was a great album.

And maybe I missed it but Krokus should be on this list as well. "Hot Stuff" was the song I'd tip DJ's to play at strip clubs.

Definitely hair metal. And if you listen to "now you're gone" carefully you'll realiZe that Steve Vai is so much better than most every other guitar player in rock. Just a beautiful song for guitar fans.

 

[coyote5]

I can't consider The Cult hair metal. what is the consensus here?

going through my lists for hair metal albums, I removed Metallica, Megadeth and Maiden. to me, they were different than 'hair metal'

Cult, no. Quiet Riot, yes.

 

[jomar]

a couple lesser known hair metal ballads I enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l33reG9jss0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nyeiKk35M

 

[beer 30]

Wanted Dead Or Alive was filmed at UIC Pavilion and at the 2:39 mark, a girl from the neighborhood I grew up in has proof that she was one of a million faces that has been rocked

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho

Which one?

 

[Hawks64]

I have spent the last decade on this board thinking I was the only person that still listened to warrant, Cinderella, bullet boys, tyketto, wild side, Bon jovi, skid row, Kik tracee, Tuff, slaughter, trixter, firehouse, Britney fox, Black-eyed Susan, asphalt ballet, so on and so forth. Glad to find some new friends. Because this #### is always going to be awesome.

I have recently found my way back to spotify and the 80's hair metal playlists are so ####### awesome.

Link?

This is one of them.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Maybe EG needs a "is ________ a hair metal band?" thread.

Not opening that door again. I thought I'd get 10-12 questions, they were coming in so fast I couldn't even keep up.

 

[coyote5]

a couple lesser known hair metal ballads I enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nyeiKk35M

Oh man that was our "first dance" song at my wedding! What memories

I mean, we're divorced now so #### that #####, but great song!

 

[Bull Dozier]

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

I'd be OK with that explanation except if you're putting VH on the list you can't exclude GnR. Makes no sense. GnR is just as close to the hair genera (actually more IMO) than VH.

Agree, VH shouldn't be anywhere near this list.

How the heck in VH less hair metal than GnR?

 

[PIK95]

VH is more hair then Quiet Riot imo. This is confusing.

 

[Doug B]

Curious about two demographic aspects of the countdown:

1) How many, if any, albums by solo artists will make Warsteinner's countdown?

2) Will any of the albums feature female vocalists on any tracks? I realize that "hair" (rock? metal?) was decisively dominated by men, of course. But sometimes these kinds of Top-Some-Odd lists are iconoclastic, and the author likes to throw in a few curveballs.

 

[Bull Dozier]

If Firehouse or Trixter turn up on this list, I'm going to go ape.

When I look into your grinI can see how much I love you

And it makes me realize

When I look into your grin

I see all my dreams come true

When I look into your grin

If I remember tomorrow, I'll tell you guys about the Trixter parody video the band I was in did back in the late 80s.

Back in high school I used to buy cassette singles because I hated buying whole albums and then only liking one or two songs. I bought "Give it to Me Good" and it was blank on the other side, so I copied "High Enough" onto the B side. I was the one of the few of my friends with a car I made them suffer through both songs on a constant loop for several months. The into to Give it to Me Good still puts me right back in my 1980 Cutlass Supreme like it was yesterday.

I was in a country rock band in 2001 ish. We played a Halloween show at a rock club. Started the set with bad seamstress blues and went right into falling apart at the seams. Place came unglued. Was a great show.

Cinderella is criminally underrated.

I have spent the last decade on this board thinking I was the only person that still listened to warrant, Cinderella, bullet boys, tyketto, wild side, Bon jovi, skid row, Kik tracee, Tuff, slaughter, trixter, firehouse, Britney fox, Black-eyed Susan, asphalt ballet, so on and so forth. Glad to find some new friends. Because this #### is always going to be awesome.

The funny thing is, desipte living through the heyday of hair metal, I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have. I knew the most popular bands that got the most airplay on MTV, but I was more into Metallica, Iron Maiden and Anthrax. With the access through Spotify, I'm actually going back and familiarizing myself with these classics. There is a whole lot of sclock to sift through, but there are some great classic rock songs in there when your first exposure to them is not via Aqua Net Hair and mascara laden videos.

 

[Bull Dozier]

VH is more hair then Quiet Riot imo. This is confusing.

We need a Offdee rating scale for hair metal bands.

ETA: to rate how "hair" they are, not how good they are.

For example:

10. MENSA of Hair.

9: Wore as much makeup as the hottest girl in the club. Played ballards primarily, but had that one song that really rocked.

etc...

 

[Doug B]

VH is more hair then Quiet Riot imo. This is confusing.

Note the lack of "metal" in the thread title. Still, I'm not counting on Sasquatch Paul Davis or Richard Marx to be on the list.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Wanted Dead Or Alive was filmed at UIC Pavilion and at the 2:39 mark, a girl from the neighborhood I grew up in has proof that she was one of a million faces that has been rocked

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SRvCvsRp5ho

Which one?

Front and center

 

[beer 30]

Wanted Dead Or Alive was filmed at UIC Pavilion and at the 2:39 mark, a girl from the neighborhood I grew up in has proof that she was one of a million faces that has been rocked

and made a life altering discovery. The source of 'rocking' was not Jon. You will see at the 2:09 mark that Jon asks for the rocking to be bestowed upon him from...Richie Sambora. I submit the fountain of being rocked springs forth not from Jon Bon Jovi but from Richie. Literally had to sit down when I had that epiphany. Carry on

 

[jomar]

Wild In The Streets might be the one song, more than any other, that takes me back to 1987. Loved that song back then and love it now.

 

[Buzzbait]

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

I'd be OK with that explanation except if you're putting VH on the list you can't exclude GnR. Makes no sense. GnR is just as close to the hair genera (actually more IMO) than VH.

Agree, VH shouldn't be anywhere near this list.

How the heck in VH less hair metal than GnR?

VH predated the whole hair term while GnR came after.

---

http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/07/19/the-top-ten-bands-most-often-miscategorized-as-hair-metal-9-van-halen/

"no band besides Kiss was more influential on the hair metal scene — for what were the glam bands if not just one long string of EVH and DLR impersonators?

And yet it is this very influence which disqualifies Van Halen from being categorized as a hair metal band — for how can they be part of a trend that they pre-dated? Call Van Halen “#### rock” and I’d be hard pressed to argue, but a bunch of Aqua Net lovin’ pretty boys Van Halen were not.

Bottom line: Van Halen were, are, and will forever be just an awesome American rock n’ roll band. Period."
---
IMO neither are. Both a straight forward rock and shouldn't be considered hair bands. If I were forced to label one between the two thought it would be GnR simply because of what was stated above.

 

[FlapJacks]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

 

[FlapJacks]

maybe pre-hair band era -

Vandenberg - Burning Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGSrv1GnXMM

all-time ballad consideration IMHO

 

[Northern Voice]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

In before Buckcherry.

 

[cstu]

VH is more hair then Quiet Riot imo. This is confusing.

We need a Offdee rating scale for hair metal bands.

ETA: to rate how "hair" they are, not how good they are.

For example:

10. MENSA of Hair.

9: Wore as much makeup as the hottest girl in the club. Played ballards primarily, but had that one song that really rocked.

etc...

Playing ballads doesn't make a band hair metal. Hair metal is sex, drugs, and rock n roll - the sleazier the topic, the better.

 

[Abraham]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

No. Not even close.

 

[tonydead]

And yet it is this very influence which disqualifies Van Halen from being categorized as a hair metal band — for how can they be part of a trend that they pre-dated?

Pre-dated AND post-dated. A great rock band that lived through the hair metal trend. To me hair metal bands are bands that lived and DIED in the 80-90s.

 

[tonydead]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

No.

 

[cstu]

I saw Bon Jovi and Kid Rock at Soldier field a few years back. Fantastic show.

Until Cocky (and especially before Joe C died), Kid Rock put on an amazing show. One of the best shows I went to was with Tenacious D (when they were acoustic) opening up for him.

 

[Hawks64]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

No.

 

[cstu]

And yet it is this very influence which disqualifies Van Halen from being categorized as a hair metal band — for how can they be part of a trend that they pre-dated?

Pre-dated AND post-dated. A great rock band that lived through the hair metal trend. To me hair metal bands are bands that lived and DIED in the 80-90s.

Link to these great songs VH made after 1992?

 

[Bull Dozier]

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

As we dip into the final 39 I just want it to be know that I love Appetite for Destruction. I do not however put it into the "hair" category so will not include it in the list. Any other 80's rock list it would be #1 without a close challenger.

I'd be OK with that explanation except if you're putting VH on the list you can't exclude GnR. Makes no sense. GnR is just as close to the hair genera (actually more IMO) than VH.

Agree, VH shouldn't be anywhere near this list.

How the heck in VH less hair metal than GnR?

VH predated the whole hair term while GnR came after.

---

http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/07/19/the-top-ten-bands-most-often-miscategorized-as-hair-metal-9-van-halen/

"no band besides Kiss was more influential on the hair metal scene — for what were the glam bands if not just one long string of EVH and DLR impersonators?

And yet it is this very influence which disqualifies Van Halen from being categorized as a hair metal band — for how can they be part of a trend that they pre-dated? Call Van Halen “#### rock” and I’d be hard pressed to argue, but a bunch of Aqua Net lovin’ pretty boys Van Halen were not.

Bottom line: Van Halen were, are, and will forever be just an awesome American rock n’ roll band. Period."
---
IMO neither are. Both a straight forward rock and shouldn't be considered hair bands. If I were forced to label one between the two thought it would be GnR simply because of what was stated above.

I guess I'd agree that VH morphed into Hair. 1984, with the cheesey vidoes and poppy songs epitomize hair to me. But, as this thread had made more clear than anything else, there is no universal definition of "hair."

I think the only way GnR ever gets tied to hair is because of their appearance in the Welcome to the Jungle video. Nothing else they have ever done, to me, ties them to hair.

 

[Bull Dozier]

VH is more hair then Quiet Riot imo. This is confusing.

We need a Offdee rating scale for hair metal bands.

ETA: to rate how "hair" they are, not how good they are.

For example:

10. MENSA of Hair.

9: Wore as much makeup as the hottest girl in the club. Played ballards primarily, but had that one song that really rocked.

etc...

Playing ballads doesn't make a band hair metal. Hair metal is sex, drugs, and rock n roll - the sleazier the topic, the better.

I'm thinking of a White Lion type band here. Looks like a rock band, plays songs like an adult contemporary artist. Is White Lion not hair?

 

[jomar]

White Lion is almost as hair as they come. BTW, I really liked that Pride album which apparently isn't making this list.

 

[Stoneys]

do we have an updated list?

Couple of comments...

GnR is a hair band, they were in the era, came out of the LA scene, they were just better than the rest.

White Lion should actually make the list. They got a lot of crap at the time and it has carried over, but go back and listen, Vito Bratta could play some guitar.

 

[IC FBGCav]

More lesser known names to make sure Warsteiner doesn't forget about them:

Armored Saint

Black n Blue

Bulletboys

Four Horsemen

Grim Reaper

Helix

Junkyard

Krokus

Y&t

I wore out Armored Saint's Symbol of Salvation cassette, multiple times. Great album. Same goes for Junkyards's first 2 albums. All of em still in my rotation.

I'll add:

Love/Hate - pure sleaze metal

Vain

Queensryche (obviously)

Badlands- Jake E Lee AND Ray Gillen???!!!

Pride and Glory- Zakk Wylde's first departure from Ozzy. 1 album masterpiece

EZO - for the international crowd

Come on Warsteiner, you can keep posting from the bar. Hit the jukebox while you're at it.

Manowar

 

[TripItUp]

Would we consider Candlebox hair metal?

Far Behind should be on that ballad list

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LW6m0zX5A

in the grunge era, so I say not a chance...also, not enough hair/makeup

 

[IC FBGCav]

Every rose

Heaven

Beth

Home sweet home

Patience

Don't know what you've got

House of broken love

Love bites

I'll be there for you

But #1 is I remember you.

You still left out the best ever.

House of Pain is really good. Good point.

Beth is the best ballad of all time. Start mixing in words like "power" and "hair" then sure whatever. But best ballad....its Beth.

Ballad of Jane is the best ballad.

 

[IC FBGCav]

I can't consider The Cult hair metal. what is the consensus here?

going through my lists for hair metal albums, I removed Metallica, Megadeth and Maiden. to me, they were different than 'hair metal'

Firewoman kicks butt. I vote not hair band.

 

[DocHolliday]

Enuff z nuff?

Loudness!

Steel panther!

Enuff z nuff is a hair band. Not making this list though

Loudness is a hair band. Should have made the list around #45. Thunder in the East is a perfect hair band album. Killer riffs. Blazing solos. Strong ballad..

Steel Panther is a great band but does not belong in this discussion since they are not from the 80s.

 

[TripItUp]

I can't consider The Cult hair metal. what is the consensus here?

going through my lists for hair metal albums, I removed Metallica, Megadeth and Maiden. to me, they were different than 'hair metal'

Firewoman kicks butt. I vote not hair band.

agreed

 

[TripItUp]

Steel Dragon would make my list. :

 

[KarmaPolice]

I have spent the last decade on this board thinking I was the only person that still listened to warrant, Cinderella, bullet boys, tyketto, wild side, Bon jovi, skid row, Kik tracee, Tuff, slaughter, trixter, firehouse, Britney fox, Black-eyed Susan, asphalt ballet, so on and so forth. Glad to find some new friends. Because this #### is always going to be awesome.

I have recently found my way back to spotify and the 80's hair metal playlists are so ####### awesome.

Link?

This is one of them.

Nice - will listen to this today.