What is the definition of a "hair band"?

[wip5150]

A buddy of mine wanted to grill me about who the greatest hair bands are/were. In general, we agreed on groups like Poison, Warrant, etc. However, when Ratt was mentioned, I would not agree that they were a "hair band".

I classify a "hair band" as one that was far more interested in their image than the music. Take Dokken for example. Their songs were much better than that of Poison's, but Donny and the boys seemed to care more about "looking right" than sounding right. This isn't a rip on Dokken - I'm a pretty big fan - but it's clear to me that Dokken is a hair band.

On the other hand, I never got the impression that Ratt was more into the image than the music. Well, you could make a case for Pearcy and Crosby, but I think that their love for music outweighed the love of image. Of course, I could be (and, after reading this probably am) wrong here. Anyone with me?

[ericgtr]

I agree with this, the "posers" where the hair bands IMO. I was a poser and still try to be and was proud to be a part of cheese metal back in the day [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img] Of couse they all seemed to be lumped in together at the time and I think it even gave the good bands (with hair) a bad name in general.

[EddieMan2003]

so would you consider VH a hair band? i dont.

[ericgtr]

No, I wouldn't either but I think they were labeled that way in a sense simply because they put them all into one group at the time. Those of us that know the difference know better though [img]images/smilies/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[EddieMan2003]

those bastards lol.

[ericgtr]

[img]images/smilies/chucks.gif[/img]

[wip5150]

[ QUOTE ]
EddieMan2003 said:
so would you consider VH a hair band? i dont.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, Van Halen was never (and should never be) classified as a hair band. The entire hair band moniker really grew out of the late 80's with Poison, Warrant, Brittany Fox, etc. Again, it's groups who were far more concerned with their image than the music - at least from my perspective.

[wahwah]

Winger? Great songs and musicianship (especially on the last album) but Kip was going for the George Michael chin growth??? Ratt were a great band...Lay it Down is one of the all time great riffs IMO of course...ain't that the thing with music...everybody thinks different-thank God! [img]images/smilies/icon_doh.gif[/img]