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If you hear the term "glam rock" and think of '80s hair bands, you've got it all wrong. Here are some examples of the progression from glam's original trendsetters to the current breed of glam-influenced glitter dance music.
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David Bowie, "Ziggy Stardust"
The quintessential summer-of-glam began with the release of this groundbreaking album. It should really be in every hotel room, right next to the Gideon bible. Just as Elvis is cited as a primary force in the birth of rock and roll (though Little Richard might have gotten a bit upset), this song anchors the glam rock flag firmly in the ground (though Marc Bolan might have gotten a bit upset).
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from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972, RCA)
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T. Rex, "Telegram Sam"
It's no surprise that the track "Lady Stardust" off David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album is about T. Rex lead singer Marc Bolan. Marc and David were brothers-in-arms, both loving and hating each other as they watered the glittering roots of glam rock.
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from The Slider (1972, EMI)
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Roxy Music, "Virginia Plain"
Although Roxy Music was more of a sonic hodgepodge than some other acts of the era, chart-topping hits such as this track sounded fresh and amazing when first released. Bryan Ferry's unique vocals stand out while still leaving room for oboes and Brian Eno's knob-twisting.
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from Roxy Music (1972, Reprise)
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Brian Eno, "Needles in the Camel's Eye"
Brian Eno is famous for "inventing" ambient music and producing such acts as U2, Devo, James, and The Talking Heads, but his solo career started with this mind-blowing album, made just after he left Roxy Music. The knob twiddling, hip shaking, synth playing, makeup, and general snarkiness he was known for in Roxy Music weren't lost in the transition.
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from Here Come the Warm Jets (1974, E.G. Records)
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Bauhaus, "She's in Parties"
Bauhaus made it clear that the goth music movement they helped to inaugurate was heavily influenced by glam rock; they covered several glam standards, including "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie, "Telegram Sam" by T. Rex, and "Third Uncle" by Brian Eno. This was Bauhaus's final studio album before breaking up.
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from Burning from the Inside (1983, Beggars Banquet)
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Tones on Tail, "Go!"
Night Music was the first CD I ever listened to. I stole it from my older brother because it had a naked woman on the cover. Turned out the music was my favorite thing to come out of the Bauhaus troupe (it was formed as a side project by guitarist Daniel Ash). "Go!" has almost no lyrics, but features one of the best bass lines ever written.
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from original 7"/12" single (1984, Beggar's Banquet); re-released on Night Music (1987, Beggar's Banquet)
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Love and Rockets, "Sweet Lover Hangover"
After Tones on Tail's brief run, the entire cast of Bauhaus except lead singer Peter Murphy regrouped to form Love and Rockets. This album was started in producer Rick Rubin's house in the Oakland hills, but the arrangement was cut short when the house burned down, along with all the band's gear. Luckily everyone survived, including Genesis P-Orridge, a guest of Love and Rockets, who sued Rick Rubin (and won) after jumping out a second-story window to escape the flames.
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from Sweet F.A. (1996, American)
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Peter Murphy, "Scarlet Thing in You"
After Bauhaus broke up, singer Peter Murphy began his own somewhat successful solo career. Although this track is from later in his career, I unabashedly love this alternative-pop derivative of über-goth.
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from Cascade (1995, Beggars Banquet)
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Placebo, "Pure Morning"
Placebo encapsulates the modern version of glam rock, which is clearly influenced by the alternative and modern rock of the early '90s. In the movie Velvet Goldmine, these guys do a great cover of T. Rex's classic glam rock song, "20th Century Boy."
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from Without You I'm Nothing (1998, Virgin)
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Scissor Sisters, "Take Your Mama Out"
This track is completely amazing, by far the best thing I've heard from this band. From the list of influences on their MySpace page (David Bowie, Roxy Music, Elton John, Giorgio Moroder, burlesque theatre, rock opera), it's clear that they're the modern gay dancefloor children of glam rock.
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from Scissor Sisters (2004, Universal)
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– Compiled by Tobias Tenney
Posted September 2006
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