re: The Voices Behind The Hair Bands

quote:

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halford

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I think we have to include Dickinson, then, and the entire NWOBHM movement.

But, Halford and Dickinson were very talented metal vocalists - probably the reference standards, with Halford being a little more husky and raw, while Dicksonson probably a little cleaner, but both had pretty good range for this kind of music.

Hair metal itself is, mainly, American bands trying to follow the template of NWOBHM, with Maiden, Priest and Def Leppard (yes, Def Leppard) being the notable examples of NWOBHM - all had twin lead guitars - and all, to vary degrees taking style and musical cues from glam, Thin Lizzy, Queen, Boston and the usual suspects (mainly Zeppelin) from the previous generation.

You start to see deviations - Maiden and Priest were not big on harmonies (while glam and Queen certainly were), Def Leppard was. Most hair metal eschewed harmonies and had a front man who did not play an instrument, at least not typically, live. Most hair metal bands did not go for 2 lead 6-string players (although some did). Despite the cheesy songs, most of the successful hair metal bands were loaded with talent.