Van Halen’s ‘1984’ Represents the Past, Present, and Future
The era of hard rock and metal Van Halen ushered peaked and fell when the 1980s ended, but comes back again as classic rock for today’s 13-year-olds.
hair metal
Hair Metal Is Back in Style Like It’s Going Out Of Style
New albums by Extreme, Y&T and Filter show nothing falls out of fashion anymore. Hair metal is no longer a punchline but a cultural artifact to be appraised.
Nöthin’ But a Good Time Parties Like It’s 1989
Nöthin’ But a Good Time takes readers on a loud tour of the monster decade of the ’80s, but not for the reasons you’d think.
10 Essential Glam Metal Albums
‘Nöthin’ But a Good Time’ authors list their essential glam metal albums to help new listeners find the era’s best music.
Ballad of Big Hair: Los Angeles’ Glam Metal Scene Rises from the Ash Heap
The authors of a new and expansive oral history talk with us about Los Angeles’ 1980s glam metal scene and their book, Nöthin’ But a Good Time.
Chicago Artist Emily Blue Unveils “17”, Merging Electropop and Hair Metal Ahead of Collaborative Tour (premiere + interview)
Chicago avant-pop artist Emily Blue merges electropop and hair metal into a synergy that sounds like they were destined to become entwined.
Finally Unchained: the bird and the bee Tackle Van Halen’s Legacy
In 2010, the quirky electropop outfit the bird and the bee scored a hit with an album of Hall & Oates covers. Now, almost a decade later, the duo reinvent the hair metal machismo of Van Halen into one of the most joyous albums you'll hear all year.
Def Leppard: Def Leppard
A staggering rebirth from a band that many were all too happy to leave for dead.