Rock-on Hair Bands Not Having a Bad Day
The video game has given hair bands of the '80s and '90s a reason to rock again.
July 8, 2008— -- Much of the hair is gone, but the songs live on.
Though often maligned in its heyday, the music of '80s and early-'90s hair bands and glam-metal groups has shown surprising resilience.
Rocklahoma, a five-day festival devoted to the hard rock and heavy metal of that era, begins Wednesday in Pryor, Okla. Bands such as "Warrant", "Ratt", "Triumph" and "Queensryche" are expected to draw about 30,000 people a night.
Now, thanks to the "Guitar Hero" gaming franchise, a new generation is discovering the virtues of teased hair and flashy guitar solos.
"About a year ago or so, kids started bringing their "Guitar Hero" controllers for us to sign," says guitarist Erik Turner of "Warrant", whose "Cherry Pie" is part of "Guitar Hero II".
Though radio pays scant attention to these bands' new music, their early hits are still finding a second act in movies, TV and commercials. Says Turner: "It's nice not only for the pocketbook, but for the perception of the band."
Extreme
The hit: "More Than Words" (1991, No. 1)
The afterlife: Perhaps the hair-metal era's last great power ballad, "More Than Words" has appeared on more than 50 CD compilations with titles like "Monster Ballads" and "Heart of Metal". (The reign of grunge started a few months later when "Nirvana's" "Nevermind" topped Billboard's albums chart.) Surprisingly, the Beatlesque ballad has never been heard on "American Idol", but it's a choice on "Karaoke Revolution's Idol" video game (as is "Poison's" "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"). Mexican-American singer Frankie J had a Latin/pop crossover hit with the song, and David Cassidy also covered it.
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row
The hit: "I Remember You" (1990, No. 6)
The afterlife: "Skid Row's" catalog hasn't provided the licensing bonanza of other hair-metal hits, but it's hard to miss former lead singer Sebastian Bach. He's built a side career as a reality-TV regular, appearing on "Celebrity Rap Superstar" and "Gone Country". He also had a recurring role as Hep Alien guitarist Gil on "Gilmore Girls", 2003-'07. "Skid Row's" songs show up occasionally: "I Remember You" was used in a South Park episode satirizing "Guitar Hero", and Carrie Underwood has been known to sing it in concert.
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