[bonniesaltrat]

I just turned 37, and one of the best birthday gifts I received is a recently published book called "American Hair Metal." Friggin' hilarious. It's chock full of photos of 80's hair metal stars, resplendent in leather pants, animal prints, studded belts, and AquaNet coiffures. As I was taking a first pass over the book, I was surprised/disturbed/pleased/confused/disgusted to see that one of the popular accessories was a belt, worn gun-belt style, with a Triumph tank badge on it. Lest you think me a liar, click here. (That's Stephen Pearcy on the far left, sportin' the tank-badge gun belt.) Now, having been born in 1970, I grew up with these bands and do have a general recollection of the manner of dress. But a Triumph tank badge?

 

[OldTimeBiker]

Rock bands of all eras have co-opt motorcycle regalia from almost the very beginning of rock music. Like it or not, motorcycling is still considered "rebellious" in the mainstream. In the early '80's, when that band (Rat) was popular, Triumphs were not the distant memory that they became a decade later after the "Harley boom phenomana". And... belt buckles made from tank badges were popular among the motorcycle culture. Besides all of that, classic Triumph motorcycles have remained popular with the rebellious entertainmant crowd. Example: James Hetfield of Metallica.

 

[itcha]

Man,

All I can say is thank goodness the likes of Metallica came along and showed us what real metal was. They put a stop to all that GLAM (Gay L.A. music) big hair, spandex and posers. Least there first 4 albums did anyway. Not a big fan of there newer stuff.
Oops, sorry this is a Triumph forum.
My favourites topics are Triumph motorcycles and 80's Thrash metal made in the USA.

Cheers

 

[sweatmachine]

The first four Metallica albums, hell the first 5, are metal gospel. Man have the sucked since then.

Lets not forget Slayer, Danzig, Megadeth, and the other good bands of the era.

Of all of them, Slayer is the only band that well, still slays. I love Slayer.

 

[OldTimeBiker]

I prefer Rainbow, UFO, Scorpions and Queensryche. I know, only one of these bands are American (Queensryche) and even they did a short "Glam" period (one album), but for these bands it was about the music, not the image! As for Metallica, funny how some prefer early and others prefer late. I'm partial to their later stuff, but that's just me.

 

[bonniesaltrat]

I get the "motorcycle as symbol of rebellion" thing. I just don't get "Triumph as the official motorcycle of American hair metal."

As for me, early Metallica. And early AC/DC.

 

[sweatmachine]

oh how did I forget AC/DC. I guess because they transend metal and music and are just generally so awesome that I feel like there's no need to mention them, it's just understood!

Probably my favorite band of all time. Esp early Bon Scott era stuff.

 

[ChopperCharles]

See, I like Savatage, Iron Maiden, X Japan, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath.

Never did like Metallica.

Charles.

 

[meatwagon]

I'm pretty sure that when the hair metal guys had made some money and wanted to shed the swishy image they went straight for a harley...Kick Start My Heart.
That whole era was funny ;guys who aspired to Van Halenesque virtuosity on guitar and Liberace inspired spandex wear.How butch.
I hung out with some chicks who were into ALL those bands;once the Metallica /Megadeath/Testament types came around they couldn,t stand the other stuff.
Then came 'Grunge'! :-D

 

[R100Pilot]

Triumph was never the Official Motorcycle of Hair Metal. That tag belonged to Harley (See: Priest, Judas, videos and stage shows and Crűe, Motley, "Girls Girls Girls" video).
<BR>
<BR>An even more frightening association was the band:
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<BR>Actually a good bunch of musicians (though always passed off as a low-rent Rush) who got caught in the Hair Metal Web. I remember seeing Ratt open for Triumph at the civic center here. Yes, it was the '80s.
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<BR>My guess is, Pearcy's stylist saw the badge and just thought it looked cool.

[ This message was edited by: R100Pilot on 2007-01-22 10:26 ]

 

[meatwagon]

Man I gotta get that book...I hope there's pictures of existing metal bands who jumped on the bandwagon with the look;KISS ,Alice Cooper?!,etc...as well as the ankle breaking -jump off the bandwagon look trying to survive in an anti glam grunge fashion world.
Crazy times.
Pete Farndon of the Pretenders had the Rocker look at the dawn of the 80s.

 

[bonniesaltrat]

Meatwagon, the book's absolutely hilarious. It's comprised only of photos and (generally inane) quotes from the band members--90% of which deal with gettin' loud, gettin' drunk, and gettin' a little (or a lot). I give it five stars. It's got a permanent place on my coffee table. :upthumb:

 

[R100Pilot]

If you like the book, you'll love this:

Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

It's a documentary on the LA club scene right before the whole thing went national. It's a total hoot (especially the dude from W.A.S.P. blitzed on vodka in his mom's swimming pool).

 

[RaceDweeb]

More recommended reading: Rock-n-Roll Gearhead by Billy F. Gibbons (of ZZ Top fame).

If you dig custom electric guitars and Hotrods, this book is for you.

 

[itcha]

Agreed that AC/DC are one awesome rock band. Love the early stuff with Bon Scott. Also Back in Black and For those about to Rock with Brian Johnson were pretty cool albums.
<BR>I haven't really been into them for a while and was wondering if Angus is still wearing the school boy uniform.
<BR>I'm all for dudes rocking on into there 40's and 50's as a lot of Rock bands seem to be doing these days but surely wearing the school boy uniform must be illegal at that age, hehe!!!!!
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[ This message was edited by: itcha on 2007-01-22 16:24 ]

 

[bonniesaltrat]

AC/DC definitely kicks. Absolutely one of Australia's great gifts to the world. AC/DC and Elle McPherson. And while I prefer the Bon Scott era, Brian Johnson was the perfect replacement. Back in Black is one of my top 5 best albums of all time. Back in Black and the Electric by the Cult were the constant party favorites of my junior and senior years in high school.

R100, thanks for the recommendation. I've been wanting to see that film for a couple of years, but it doesn't seem to be available any more, unless I want to drop some serious coin for a used VHS.

 

[meatwagon]

I am still waiting for ODIN to conquer the world;they swore they would.
Chant with me ...odin ,Odin,ODin,ODIn,ODIN!!
Decline 2 is pretty funny ,but not as funny as Heavy Metal Parking Lot.Anyone else seen it? :-D

 

[meatwagon]

Oh yeah ,on the subject of Hair Metal and Triumphs (remember?)I ought to point out that Poison drummer Rikki Rockett was an early strip metal Harley guy.He went through a sucession of V twins and chucked them when Hinckley Bonnevilles came out,and then developed a Brit bike habit ,picking up a Norton Commando (redone by Colorado Norton Works) a Thruxton ,and various other s including the odd BSA ,etc.He also founded the BritIron Rebels and has written ,produced and filmed a motion picture called 'Hooligan' (about britbike owners /riders) which will be released this year.You can find him tearing around the hills north of LA on most weekends,and he brings his Triumph Scrambler with him on tour and rides every chance he gets(45 states last year).
Steven Piercy is a poser.

 

[ssjones]

On 2007-01-22 08:36, ChopperCharles wrote:
See, I like Savatage, Iron Maiden, X Japan, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath.

Never did like Metallica.

Charles.

Maiden rules! Not much better than the Sabbath albums - Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules. The Kix was our local band, still play and I still love them. How about Saxon? Big Nugent fan as well, in fact the first concert I attended at 15 yrs old. Saw Rush about 5 times as well, but they changed too much in the later years for my tastes.
I'm 46 but still love my metal!

 

[Drift]

Tesla Rules!