Favorite 80's big hair band

[Thorlifter]

Ok, I know there could be a ton of opinions and I know I'll leave some out. I'm just going to try to hit the bigger bands of the 80's and leave the one hit wonders at home. I'll start the vote and I have to vote for my all time favorite band. Night Ranger!

 

[Crunch]

Gunners for the music.

White Snake for the now stereotypical pisstake value.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Rat!!

 

[gumbyk]

You just can't beat a one-armed drummer!!!

 

[Stitch]

Rat!!

Great band in the studio, TERRIBLE live! Saw them open up for Scorps, and I couldn't understand a word Stephen Peacy was saying. The Scorps blew them away . . .

That being said, most of the "big hair" bands listed above were pretty good, but Van Halen has to be at the top of the list: great lead vocalist (yes, better than Sammy, IMO) and a legendary guitarist. It doesn't get much better than that (unless they're Chickenfoot).

 

[GrauGeist]

My favorite band of the 80's wasn't listed...Judas Preist, but Van Halen with Diamond Dave was thee Van Halen...Sammy Hagar was good, but he didn't belong in David's place...just wasn't the same.

My other top bands of the 80's would be the Scorpions and Deep Purple, who made a comeback release with the Perfect Strangers album!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Not sure I am going to vote for yet. Lots of bands that I really love on that list. Scorps however were not an 80s hair band. Great band though!

 

[lesofprimus]

Even tho I dont consider them to be a "hair" band, Van Halen surpasses anyone else up there, with the possible exception of Aerosmith...

 

[Maximowitz]

Scorps however were not an 80s hair band.

And now they are a no-hair band.

 

[evangilder]

Damn Yankees first album was released in 1990, so they don't classify as an '80's band'. I certainly never thought of them, Aerosmith, Van Halen or Queensryche as 'hair bands'. Jeff Tate (Queensryche) hardly had any hair in their heyday.

Tough call for me between Van Halen and Queensryche.

 

[Thorlifter]

Ok ok, I made a couple boo boo's!

Your right Adler, the Scorpions were not a hair band and I tried to leave off the bands that were considered Metal bands like your boys from Metallica, Judas Priest, and others.

Les, I probably should have left Van Halen off simply because I knew they would probably win because of Eddie and for those fools that think DLR is a front man than Sammy! hahahahaha

Eric, you don't think Queensryche would qualify for a hair band? This pic alone says it all. But your right about Damn Yankees. I listed them just because of my bias for Jack Blades as he is from Night Ranger.

 

[Njaco]

Well, if Judas Priest is off, then the only other logical conclusion is.....

Spinal Tap!!!

 

[evangilder]

I guess it's a matter of perception. To me, bands like Poison, Cinderella and others were definitely 'hair bands'. I think of them like bubble gum rock, simple melodies and simple lyrics. I don't think of Queensryche as a hair band because of their good musicianship and lyrical content that was amazing. I would classify Queensryche as more of the 'progressive rock' genre like Rush, Dream Theater and Triumph.

That's my thought on it, but yes, the hair was pretty bad.

 

[Thorlifter]

I guess it's a matter of perception. To me, bands like Poison, Cinderella and others were definitely 'hair bands'. I think of them like bubble gum rock, simple melodies and simple lyrics. I don't think of Queensryche as a hair band because of their good musicianship and lyrical content that was amazing. I would classify Queensryche as more of the 'progressive rock' genre like Rush, Dream Theater and Triumph.

That's my thought on it, but yes, the hair was pretty bad.

And giving that definition, I agree with you 100%

 

[Messy1]

I agree, to me Van Halen and Aerosmith just do not fall into the hair band category. Van Halen in either configuration is my favorite band. Both changed hard rock and have left a impressive history, along with a technical history too. I like a lot of the hair bands, but too me, most hair bands (ie Ratt, Dokken, Cinderalla, and FIREHOUSE) generally do not fall into the same category as some of the super groups of rock do such as VH, Aerosmith, AC/DC, even Def Leppard.
With all that being said, I still am going to vote for Van Halen as I simply cannot not chose them!

 

[Amsel]

Guns and Roses. One of my favorite bands of all time.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Since this is about favorite and not best, I will probably have to go with Skid Row.

There are plenty on this list that are not hair bands however to include:

Ozzy
The Scorpions
Aerosmith
Guns N Roses
Queensryche

 

[Yerger]

Never saw Ozzy or Queensryche as "hair bands." HBs were (to me) low skill all video show/no go trans gender noise makers. 2 mentioned not the type

 

[worksetsyoufree]

GUNS N' ROSES FOR SURE!! though that new album they came out with was trash, absolute trash!

 

[RabidAlien]

GnR or Bon Jovi for me....and since its late and I'm beat, Bon Jovi happened to be closer to my mouse pointer.