London is the undisputed home of Glam Rock- and not just because early icons like David Bowie and Marc Bolan were born here. Unfortunately, to some this style was just a passing fad, swept away by eighties hair metal. It then became a pastiche novelty in recent bands like the Darkness and Steel Panther. Even the legendary Aerosmith are denounced as ‘cheesy’. Sadly, today the energised void that spans between heavy metal and the smooth coldness of current ‘rock’ is all too wide and empty.
To others, however, the androgynous, liberal attitudes and aesthetic of glam rock are as relevant today as ever. The dust of daily life is swept away by energised riffs, bright make up and leopard print. And they won’t be fooled.
A Lineage of Glam Rock
The original innovations of bold theatrics, costumes and make up were a rapid progression from the more subdued mod styling of the sixties. Bands like the Beatles and the Kinks looked great but were still comparatively reserved and ‘suited’.
Clearly, the move was reflected both sides of the Atlantic with Lou Reed and New York Dolls reflecting Britain’s Bowie, Slade and Bolan.
The free and liberal field left open by glam rock meant other styles took over- like Punk and New Romanticism. The hair metal of the eighties formed an almost caricature new image of glam with bands like Motley Crue and Kiss.
The era was immortalised in the 1998 film ‘Velvet Goldmine’, featuring protagonists with uncanny likenesses to the real pioneers.
Glam Rock Today. Sadly the legacy of glam rock in mainstream music has died. Aerosmith are retiring and The Darkness haven’t repeated their incredible 2003 rise. Guitar bands are seeming ever more ‘cool’ and reserved with boy band melancholy lasting into Coldplay’s middle age. However, like many subcultures, London still has a scene for those who want to Feel the Noize.
London’s diverse culture means the young blood who uphold these same values are found amongst an array of rock nights and venues.For traditional seventies proto-punk, Some Weird Sin is held at Namucca on Holloway Road. It hosts various bands followed by DJs. Alternatively, Cherry Bomb is held in the corridor-like Mascara bar in Stamford Hill. Better yet, the latter is free and open late. Both of these offer the ‘classic’ glittery platform-heeled canon of the likes of T.Rex and New York Dolls.
The Lounge in Archway recently launched ‘Shot Through the Heart’, a night of hair and glam-metal. This is fortunately filling the void between the many ‘indie’ nights and heavy metal at the other end of the spectrum.
Finally, Bowie’s death has sparked a great trend for Bowie retrospective nights, covering classics and rarer back catalogue gems. So enjoy many of the cabaret and alternative performance nights found regularly around the capital, since he influenced so many genres and practises.
The post London’s Glam Rock- Finding the Children of the Revolution appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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