Lady Gaga is the epitome of glam rock to the current youth, but how much of what she does is “lifted from the past” In the 2010 Grammy Honors as well as costumes designed for her Monster Ball tour the look borrows heavily from 1970s glam to 1980s new romantic. From Jobriath and David Bowie to Grace Jones and Sigue Sigue Sputnik , indeed Lady Gaga has got it covered. Lady Gaga is to a great deal re-hashing old concepts with her songs in addition to art and fashion she has become aware of either by proxy or simply searching the term “glam rock” That doesn’t imply that re-synthesizing these things is a pure definition of the terminology “ripped off’ from other glam rock artist. But to take Jobriath as an example. Jobriath was booked to complete in the Paris Opera House in, France. The Opera House, where he would have been to perform probably the most audacious rock and roll stunts of a decade or indeed all of glam rock history. Dressed as King Kong, he would climb a replica from the Empire State Construction, limited to the skyscraper becoming a gigantic spurting penis that might ejaculate Jobriath on a piano. He would land beautifully, slough off his King Kong costume outfit and present itself as Marlene Dietrich.  Jobriath would have been a glam-rock performer, songwriter, not to mention singer and dancer who taped only two unsuccessful records (now on CD courtesy of Morrisey). Historians consider him the initial openly gay rock musician. Once part of the first NYC run of the hippie musical “Hair”, Jobriath then migrated to The big apple, where he recorded one album (1969) while playing keyboards in the progressive rock group Pidgeon .The record went down the drain and Jobriath left to pursue a solo career. Jobriath outfits can be seen on Lady Gaga regularly, all you need to do is type in “Jobriath” on YouTube to get a good idea where she “gets inspiration” On the music side of things, Lady Gaga keeps it “lightweight” for the pop charts.

While glam rock and roll records by T. Rex , its leader Marc Bolan , Gary Glitter and The Glitter Band , Slade and The Sweet were designed for the pop charts, Lady Gaga takes this basic premise into her work. Obviously updated several decades to appeal to an electronic dance generation, the song is still the same. Disposable not to mention attractive fun music for the masses.  At one time glam rock also stood a more severe cosmetic appraisal, as shown by artists and bands like Iggy Pop, Cockney Rebel, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Jobriath, David Werner and Roxy Music. They showed a far more progressive hard rock or art rock music side. Experimentation not to mention generating new concept albums delving into themes from apocalyptic visions to tragedy and personal turmoil.

Musically, glam rock and glamorous rock and roll stars used catchy tunes and additionally whatever attire to get attention with along with oft-outrageous lyrical themes like science fiction, futurism, clever attitude, hedonism and adolescent emerging trend (as evident in most Marc Bolan records and additionally commercial bands “dressed as glam rock”. Visually, glam rock performers were much more extravagant and additionally almost aesthetically trashy ? they clothed themselves up in glittery, outlandish, androgynous attires in addition to make-up, intentionally not to mention provocatively messing around with male or female conventions.

At that time, a lot more sequined costumes as well as some feather boas have been on display, but there were hardly any breathtaking challengers for the most powerful costume. The sharp satin two-piece suits Bolan favored as well as Japanese custom Yohji Yamamoto’s space-age garments, of which Bowie wore on “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars” existed artwork. The new glam based music varied (from your suede head stomp of Slade out to the art rock of Roxy Music or Queen’s musically adept light metallic sound. Now it is all for sale, there are no beneficent glam rock bands or stars capable of producing the melodrama or melodically challenging sounds of say “Life on Mars” or “Changes”. Now we have Lady Gaga, a big sound, a big stage show, a big hit, but still, no cigar.

Glam Rock Cultural Identity and Blending In

Glam rock music is a important genre involved with the inception of  punk rock, new wave music and Rock & Roll that developed mainly in Britain during the course of the Seventies. Glam rock and roll is a style of  rock music and fashion that was helped by Hollywood glamor, with a healthy dose of influence from such films as “A Clockwork Orange” and “2001 A Space Odyssey” As far as the music itself went, glam rock music was the popular alternative to the nascent progressive rock music and the pervading folk rock or easy listening music of the age. With new music that evoked the kind of good old fashioned rock music ‘n’ roll of the 1950s or 60s with controversial imagery, fashions, styles and themes.  A great deal of glam rock bands combined aspects of  rock and roll with science fiction, Hollywood sophisticated style, 1950s rock meets sci-fi (Roxy Music) and bisexuality attitude.

Glam rock succeeded in devouring many post hippie fashions as well as music, attitude and teenage rebellion. Plus a host of other outdated styles, clothes, trends  were amalgamated into a brand new musical sphere. What definitely separates glam rock and its fashions was its focus on image. This was an age outlandish clothing and theatrical on-stage antics, often highly controversial.  What resulted was the most flamboyant chapters in rock music history. Glam rock is  still cited today within the music and fashins of younger bands such as IAMX, Meadow Zero and new David Bowie clones like Stiv Lestar. One of glam rock’s strongest elements was androgyny. Glam rock fashion was adopted within soul music, rock music, experimental music and in fact almost any genre of 70s rock and roll.

Glam rock music made famous by acts like David Bowie , Cockney Rebel , Marc Bolan and T. Rex, Jobriath, David Werner, Plod, Alice Cooper , Mott  the Hoople, Slade , Gary Glitter , Queen and The Sweet.  Glam rock fans or glitter rock fans and musicians and singers distinguished themselves from the prevailing earth shoe clad hippies. With science fiction alien arrival mythology along with Hollywood glamor and bisexual empowered attitudes and fashions all this was regarded as outrageous through the press. The music was characterized by spacy druggy ballads to fast paced high-energy rock n‘ roll which would soon enough spark the flames for punk rock.

As mentioned above, glam rock music was mostly popular in the UK Britain, where the genre was put into several categories. For the artistically-inclined listener there was the art rock of David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust alien persona, the outrageous operatic art rock music of Freddie Mercury and Queen,along with the musicianship of bands like Cockney Rebel and Roxy Music. Worshiped by teenagers were the commercial pop rock acts like T. Rex, Gary Glitter, Mott the Hoople and Steve Harley. Finally, there have been harder rocking groups like Slade and Sweet , whose fusion of pop-melodies with loud guitars and drums would have show to be a significant influence on glam rock hair metal bands of the sunset strip a decade later.

Just as glam rock music often seemed like it was trying to evoke rock’s rebellious attitude, the fashion and dynamic acts aimed to wear make up in over-the-top fashions in total Hollywood grandeur. Even though never really directly associated glam rock music leaves its mark on music both then and after this and so on its image fashions and attitude toward sexuality. Its influence surpasses just rock and roll and chipped away barriers simultaneously musically and culturally.

Performing Glam Rock music stars explored gender and theatricality in popular music , the thought of rock music as theater didn’t appear until David Bowie brought out his alien alter-ego band Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars in the early 1970s. To embellish the theatrical atmosphere, Bowie frequented costume changes along with stage props and influences from traditional Broadway staging and also mime performances. Alternative rock music would be inspired relatively by glam, especially in the UK. In the 1990s, Britpop introduced glam rock music, with groups like  Slade, Blur, Menswear  using bands like Mott the Hoople as primary factors in clothes and attitude. Placebo , Suede , Manic Street Preachers and a plethora of “New Romantic” “Romo” and post new romantic influences continue heavily even today with acts like Lady Gaga Modern pop rock also mirrors lots of the same techniques as the sound of seventies glam. Pop rock music rarely specializes in the instrumental section of the music and instead about the singer’s vocals. Modern rock music and soul also has an ambiance much like the sunshine pop music atmosphere of glam rock and roll bands like T.Rex and Slade. Many of those bands also have put into practice a cleaner, more put-together image than other genres of heavier rock and roll.

At the same time, more sequined outfits and many feather boas were presented, but there was extremely little sensational contenders for the most powerful costume. The roguish Beau Brummel outfits Marc Bolan favored and  The Ziggy Stardust Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto’s space-age outfits, which David Bowie championed, were living art as glam rock is defined. Was street fashion and subsequent emerging sexual revolution a significant part of glam rock music’s success? The music was so varied from the football chant metal sound of Slade on the art rock leanings Cockney Rebel and Roxy Music to Queen’s opera tinged musical forays. Oh how the glittering glam rock fashions good or bad are an enduring legacy in the world of music, fashions, style and culture.

Glam Rock| Before the Stardust

There was quite naturally a sense of euphoria throughout Europe and the US after the hardships of the Second World War. This new Zeitgeist of optimism provided the perfect back-drop for what followed in terms of new popular culture and new glamorous fashions. It is during this decade, especially from ’55 onwards, that we begin to see definite signs of the Glam rock mentality emerging: exploration of the borders of sexuality, and the re-defining of sexuality itself. Also, very importantly, this decade saw the inclusion of the teenager as a participating member in popular culture. The natural rebelliousness of this age group has been a key factor in forcing changes of attitude towards the freedom to express individuality. Teenagers lack the crippling self-consciousness of adults and aren’t afraid of change. They love to shock and be shocked. All of this became apparent in the 1950s when, as a social group, they began to exert their power and influence. The ‘mirror effect’ referred to in the last part- where an individual is captivated by the look or image of a ” glam rock star” enough to wish to emulate them, is something which teenagers are far more susceptible to than adults.

Glam Rock| The Lady Grinning Civil Servant

It is the transference of the freedoms like glam rock fashions and expression from stage or media into the everyday world which has taken (and is taking) a rather long time to come about. Broadly speaking, this is the aim of the Glam rock movement and although progress has been made, prejudices based upon anti-individualism abound even in the present day. Cross-dressers still suffer bigotry and abuse as does anyone with a penchant for sporting any kind of outlandish look. Such narrow-minded attitudes can be attributed to firstly, a fear of the unknown which, as animals, forms a natural part of our survival instincts, and secondly, to Religion. Whilst the first reaction is addressable, given adequate education and open-minded parenting, the second remains deeply entrenched in the modern world. There is a slightly heartening increase in atheism in Western Europe and the US but the yoke of religious guilt and ‘morality’ continues to suppress and stifle self-expression across the globe, as it has for centuries. In the post War years though, not even the Christian Church could exert sufficient influence to prevent what amounted to an explosion of brand new popular culture- through the media of Music, Film, TV and Fashion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v–IqqusnNQ

The ‘New Look’ of the 1950s is a term coined for the creations of French fashion designer Christian Dior. Although, without any doubt, fresh and innovative, his work had reference points in the distant past. The emphasis and even exaggeration of the female figure was a style which harked back to Elizabethan times. Dior’s famous ‘A-Line’ skirt with its high, narrow waist and full, wide skirt, flattered the wearer and became popular amongst women who wanted to look feminine again after the austere restrictions imposed by the War. The A-Line skirt may well have influenced the creation of the ‘Poodle’ skirt which followed a similar shape and allowed the wearer sufficient freedom of movement for the Rock ‘n Roll style of dancing, or ‘Jive’, which caught on across the US and Europe alongside the Rock ‘n Roll Music revolution of the 1950s. Dior’s lavish designs weren’t for everyone though and, in contrast, the ‘Chanel suit’ with its elegant, knee-length skirt and smart, figure-hugging jacket became a popular choice amongst many women. Both styles ‘feminized’ the wearer and in combination with a variety of new hairstyles: backcombed bouffants, bee-hives and French pleats, presented a strikingly fresh look which we still instantly associate with that decade.

Glam Rock| Ride a White Swan 50s Cadillac

These new glam fashions were adopted by female movie icons of the 50s: Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak, and Audrey Hepburn, who all, in turn, promoted the popularity of such fashions by wearing them on screen. The power of cinema culture increased significantly as young movie-goers sought to emulate and imitate their screen idols. Television too, became an increasingly influential medium, especially towards the end of the decade. A survey conducted in the US in 1956 showed that teenagers were watching as much as 6 hours of television per day- programmes such as the Stage Show, American Bandstand, and the Ed Sullivan Show- all of which played a vital role in promoting up-and-coming stars of the future.

Glam Rock| Glambilly with Implants
We have already mentioned ‘feminization’ and how it gave women a newfound freedom to express their sexuality. It is equally remarkable how the 50s impacted upon male sexuality and the manner in which it could be expressed. Male movie stars such as Marlon Brando, James Dean and Cary Grant weren’t just ‘good-looking’ or ‘handsome’. They were quite clearly ‘beautiful’- an adjective normally exclusively reserved for the female sex.  Of course, the vast majority of ‘straight’ men would never admit such a thing (for fear of being suspected as closet gay) but the massive popularity of such individuals suggests that, slowly but surely, the public’s perception of sexuality was becoming less rigid than before.
Singer Elvis Presley fell into the same category as the aforementioned male movie stars: an undeniably ‘beautiful’ man. In his case, it wasn’t just his look- it was also his blatantly sexual stage persona which shocked the adult world, whilst delighting his young audience. Never before had a male performer been seen to gyrate and thrust his hips in such a provocative fashion. Male sexuality had never been expressed in this way, nor indeed in any particular way. Whilst women swooned over him, heterosexual men were left confused- after all, they couldn’t help liking him, even admiring him. Women wanted to bed him and men wanted to be him. He was the complete package: drop-dead gorgeous with a brilliant singing voice, irresistibly magnetic as a performer, and, thanks to a team of highly talented songwriters behind him, armed to the teeth with excellent material which provided him with a string of hits: ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Hound Dog’. The remarkable magnitude of Elvis Presley’s success is thus quite understandable- when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, some 60 million viewers tuned in, even though the camera carefully avoided filming the gyrating movements of his lower half.

Despite all these new and potentially exciting developments, the world remained a relatively conservative place to live in during the 1950s. Men were still expected to act like men and women were still expected to get married young and immediately have children. If Marc Bolan had somehow been able to step through a time machine from the 70s into the 50s and appear on the Ed Sullivan Show with his band T Rex in full Glam rock regalia, he would have either been thoroughly ridiculed or strung up from the nearest tree. But significant foundations had been laid. Foundations which would prove to be solid enough to support the future socio-cultural revolution of the 1960s paved the way to glam rock.

Adam Lambert tickets are on sale and selling fast for his first headliner tour. The eight season American Idol runner up is going out on a huge national tour covering all U.S. states and major venues. The tour will showcase the tenors glam rock and pop styles with a mix of original and cover songs. His “Glam Nation” tour will kick things off on June 4, 2010 at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts and his final show for the tour will end on October 25, 2010 in Honolulu, HI. This former American Idol star is already making a huge name for himself in the rock/pop music realm.

It is no wonder why Adam Lambert tickets are selling out across the country. The theatrical glam rocker delivers an amazing show to his fans. All the dazzle one could expect to be present in the show with Lambert parading around the stage, light show, dance routines all behind a rocking band pushing out almost disco style beats. Lambert’s theatrical background is vivid within his show as it was on Idol, dishing out a dazzling production that makes it hard to believe this is his debut headlining show.

Adam looks extremely comfortable on the stage, almost as if he has been doing this for his entire life. Though his concerts are being played in relatively smaller venues and theaters, there is no doubt it has the feel of a stadium venue. The show actually feels too big to be contained within the smaller venues but this is better for fans as they get all the bells and whistles while the show still remains intimate. There was much hype behind this tour when it was announced causing many venues quickly to sell out of Adam Lambert tickets. No doubt Lambert is living up to the hype with the first shows he has played and jumping right into his glam rock persona.

The audiences are treated mostly to many original songs off Lambert’s debut album “For Your Entertainment,” as well as some of the covers from his season on American Idol. Songs on his set list include “Sleepwalker” and “Voodoo” as well as covers such as Tears For Fears “Mad World” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” The concert runs fairly short of a little over one hour and includes encores. Perhaps as the tour gains steam some more songs will be added to extend the show and keep fans satisfied.

For fans getting Adam Lambert tickets is surely a must but this show will turn even the biggest skeptic into a fan. Lambert puts in the work to produce an amazing rock/pop glam concert that it becomes hard to believe this is his first major headlining act. Right from the moment the concert starts it is full speed and never slows down. The lights, dancers and theatrics of this front man deliver a wonderful spectacle well worth seeing. Whether Lambert has what it takes for a long lasting career in the business, or if he will become the biggest act to break through after American Idol is unknown. One thing is for certain, he has all the skills, talent and ambition to do so and if this is the start of what is to come then this glam rocker’s future looks bright.

About The Author

Al has a site devoted to Broadway shows of the past and present and has content to help fans Adam Lambert Tickets and Resources for fans. His site includes up to date information and reviews on all concert events plus resources for getting Adam Lambert tickets information for any show.

Glam rock (also known as glitter rock) is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter.[1] The flamboyant costumes and visual styles of glam performers were often camp or androgynous, and have been connected with new views of gender roles. Glam rock visuals peaked during the mid 1970s with artists including David Bowie, T. Rex, Roxy Music and Gary Glitter in the UK and New York Dolls, Lou Reed and Jobriath in the US.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBQ-S6njQQw

Glam rock emerged out of the English psychedelic and art rock scenes of the late 1960s and can be seen as both an extension of, and reaction against, those trends.[2] Musically it was very diverse, varying between the simple rock and roll revivalism of figures like Alvin Stardust to the complex art rock of Roxy Music, and can be seen as much as a fashion as a musicalsub-genre.[2] Visually it was a mesh of various styles, ranging from 1930s Hollywood glamor, through 1950s pin-up sex appeal, pre-war Cabaret theatrics, Victorian literary and symbolist styles, science fiction, to ancient and occult mysticism and mythology; manifesting itself in outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots.[3] Glam is most noted for its sexual and gender ambiguity and representations of androgyny, beside extensive use of theatrics.[4] It was prefigured by the showmanship and gender identity manipulation of American acts such as The Cockettes and Alice Cooper.[5]

The origins of glam rock are associated with Marc Bolan, who had renamed his folk duo to T. Rex and taken up electric instruments by the end of the 1960s. Often cited as the moment of inception is his appearance on the UK TV programme Top of the Pops in December 1970 wearing glitter, to perform what would be his first _1 single “Ride a White Swan”.[6] From 1971, already a minor star, David Bowie developed his Ziggy Stardust persona, incorporating elements of professional make up, mime and performance into his act.[7] These performers were soon followed in the style by acts including Roxy Music, Sweet, Slade, Mott the Hoople, Mud and Alvin Stardust.[7] While highly successful in the single charts in the UK, very few of these musicians were able to make a serious impact in the United States; Bowie was the major exception becoming an international superstar and prompting the adoption of glam styles among acts like Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, New York Dolls and Jobriath, often known as “glitter rock” and with a darker lyrical content than their British counterparts.[8]

In the UK the term glitter rock was most often used to refer to the extreme version of glam pursued by Gary Glitter and his support musicians the Glitter Band, who between them achieved eighteen top ten singles in the UK between 1972 and 1976.[9] A second wave of glam rock acts, including Suzi Quatro, Roy Wood’s Wizzard and Sparks, dominated the British single charts from about 1974 to 1976.[7] Quatro directly inspired the pioneering Los Angeles based all-girl group The Runaways.[10] Existing acts, some not usually not considered central to the genre, also adopted glam styles, including Rod Stewart, Elton John, Queen and, for a time, even the Rolling Stones.[7] Punk rock helped end the fashion for glam from about 1976

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Perry Farrell the Janes Addiction singer recently played a Los Angeles benefit Glam Rock concert for charity. Perry Farrell has actually been on the forefront of many charities and public, political forums on climate change AIDs awareness and other charities. I have met him several times and I must say, along with his personal charisma and glam rock style he is friendly,personable a generous host and simply cool. Whether you are a Janes Addiction fan or not Perry is a true glam rock star in the physical, metaphysical and giving sense.

The we are golden charity hosted by Alec Mapa and starring the glamorous (Grammy award winning soul music) Jody Watley and Carmit formerly of The Pussycat dolls

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The glam -ma of dj culture French European star Ruth Flowers is a sixty nine year old glamor sensation. her positive attitude and British sense of humor,audacity and plain old get up and go make her glam rock music’s new pop hero. Ruth basically knows all the great pop.rock.glam.soul songs of the last five decades and utilizes her knowledge to add beats,effects,rhythms to classic tracks. And well who could know better that a 69 year old woman who obviously has been keen on music for years…Oh did we mention there are scientific studies women hear music better than men,higher and lower frequencies are picked up by women (ever notice how much they dig bass, yet harsh high treble gets on their nerves.  Anyways Ruth is a wizard a true star and we dig the glam fashion,attitude and savvy of her personality.

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A little glam rock video from Glasgow Scotland of all places. The truth is some really hard cases have been lured into glam ideals of individuality and  gender questioning appearance. The social pressure to “conform” as in anyone who looks, acts, thinks different is to be feared,attacked or mocked.    We say right on to our Scottish glam pals..Give em some shite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTnNtaJYjhM

Adrian Street Glamman

There might be an understandable tendency to overlook Wales as having contributed anything much glam to the world, (other than perhaps Steve Strange who didn’t exactly go out of his way to advertize that he was from Porthcawl or 90’s glam rock band Tygertailz.) So a Welsh glam wrester? From the bizarre costuming of Mexico’s Lucha Libre to Gorgeous George to the Hulk Hogan WWF heyday of the 80’s the Welsh have mostly been overlooked in the Glam Wrestling world.

Instead the media tended to focus on Druids, dour Presbyterian publess towns, a language that made Urdu seem a doddle to ignorant English ears, nomadic gangs of cider-swilling bikers, and communes growing stunted damp crops of marijuana among the ruins of cottages being fixed up by Londoners with more money than brain cells.

But then there was wrestler “Exotic” Adrian Street whose gimmick in the 1970’s was that of a flamboyantly gay character. His wrestling costume generally involved pastels and glitter face make up and clipping his bleached hair into mini-pigtails. As “The Exotic One” his signature move in the ring was to kiss opponents to escape being pinned down and to put make up on his opponents when they were disabled. Now I would have definitely paid good money to see that!

Luke James ©  Glam rock music

Mickey Rourke antihero star of the new” Ironman” flick was once a full on David Bowie worshiping glam rock kid. Rourke has always been a fascinating character who seems to have taken the credo in “Cha Cha Changes” with more gusto than the thin white guy himself. Jumping from Miami Dolls glam rock teenager Rourke moves in to Hollywood to become  as big a heartthrob as Johnny Depp or that twilight guy,etc,etc. After insulting Hollywood with his “don’t give a …” attitude” The Irish Angel decides getting his face smashed in two is the best recourse to stale acting (most would simply look into their bank account for religious affirmation)  He leaves Los Angeles with the cities kiss off “you’ll never work in this town again” Pursuing the illustrious career of  being a boxers punching bag.  The mental flip of, image conscious glam rock as a kid to embracing real damage violence would seem strange to “an outsider” In truth Rourke  seems always in a state of ” always seeking my life” a Chet Baker quote, and on reflection a similar personality. I bumped into him once in Beverly Hills in his “lost years” phase.Outside a starbucks,he was blocking the whole sidewalk in his chair slouching with menacing humor. (I just had to say hello at that!)

His current roles “depending on the film” see Mickey with a constant smirk that is his unwritten “f-u” to every producer sycophant and “have a nice day” well wisher in the city of stainless love. Mickey Rourke would have made a great glam/punk rock star as he could have unleashed the anti social outrageous behavior on a more willing audience than Paramount studios.

This is not a review for the Ironman movie starring that other guy  Downey Jr something  (smells like a privileged slum out merchant to me) I normally hate this kind of Hollywood garbage but might go just to watch Mickey Rourke’s looks of contempt at his adversary both on and off the silver screen.

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