I miss the days of spandex pants, guitar solos and high notes. Will it ever be popular again?

they tried with The Darkness, and i think a few other cheese metal revival bands tried to follow The Darkness' lead to create a new hair metal craze.

it didn't take.

Anxiety said:

Oh yeah, I forgot about the darkness but I thought they were pretty successful. I haven't heard about them for a while though. I couldn't really get into them because they weren't authentic cheese metal. They were more like provolone and I like Velveeta!

Anxiety said:

Things have changed bigtime. Out here in L.A., where it all started in the 80's, it was a way of life. When I started playing in bands, my senior year in high school, hair metal was HUGE. My first bands played Gazzarris and The Whisky which was and is on Sunset. FM Station in the Valley and many more. We were a part of that scene, even though some of us were black. We just wore long ass curls and pretty much looked like Jessie and Dez dressing up like Jimi. We fit right in. Then, it was about playing in a band, gigging, getting as many girls as you could and having fun. If u got picked up by a major label, cherry on the cake. If u got picked up by an indy, uh, good luck. The major key is that the public's mentality has changed, bigtime. Then, it was about goodtimes, which equates positivity. Now, it's more negative. And fear. People are more fearful. Folks are also too jaded. "Been there, done that". I dig The Darkness, BUT it's hard to take them seriously. They're a tad too parody. If it came off like they were truly influenced by Queen and infused their own image, then it would be a different story. People will always want the same things, desire the same things. U just have to find a way of bringing it across in a jaded society. That's the trick.

blackguitaristz said:

I think you've brought up some great points. I kind of get what the Darkness is doing but it's just a joke so it's hard to take them seriously. Seems like they're just mocking that whole scene. I think cheese metal was also a little too happy go lucky and cheerful for today's "rough n' tough" market. Everything is so serious now. If it's not hardcore it's weak. Same can definitely be said about rap music. How times have changed...

By the way, is the sunset strip still filled with 80's rocker types? Are those famous clubs still aorund. I would give anything to go back in time and experience going to those clubs but I was too young back then and living in NY. I did go to some clubs in the 90's though and I had a blast!

dancerella said:

Yeah, The Roxy and The Whiskey are still there. The Rainbow is still there. But nah, the 80's types are far and few in between.

that's a shame that the 80's hair metal people aren't around representing those spots too much any more. what kind of people go there now? is it more like indie kids? you know the types with converse sneakers, lop sided hair cuts and blazers?

One word: Manowar.

dancerella said:[quote]that's a shame that the 80's hair metal people aren't around representing those spots too much any more. what kind of people go there now? is it more like indie kids? you know the types with converse sneakers, lop sided hair cuts and blazers? [/quote
The Viper Room on Sunset used to have a 80's hair metal cover band called "Metal Skool" every Monday night. I used to go all the time. The place would be packed with folks dressed up in 80's rock fashion. The band was killer and funny as hell. This was about 2 years ago. U can still go to The Rainbow and see some old school cats, with the hair and boots and Harleys.