Here are five albums from the 1970s that paved the way for hair metal.
By the time the 1980s rolled around, hair metal seemed to explode overnight, characterized by loud guitars, flamboyant wardrobes, and an attitude thriving on debauchery and excess.
However, like most cultural phenomena, it didn’t just appear out of thin air. The sound, swagger, and spectacle had been brewing throughout the 1970s, crafted by bands pushing rock into new territory.
The DNA of hair metal can be traced through a handful of pivotal records from that decade; albums that combined glam, virtuosity, and showmanship with raw power to cater to mass appeal. These records not only inspired the next generation but also provided them with a roadmap.
READ MORE: 10 Hair Metal Music Videos That Defined ’80s (And Very Early ’90s) Pop Culture
While the five albums and bands on this list are just a few of many that helped pave the way for the decade of decadence, each album carried a necessary piece of the puzzle.
Together, they laid the foundation for a movement that would dominate arenas, MTV, and pop culture for the next decade and beyond. Hair metal wouldn’t be the same—or perhaps wouldn’t exist at all—without them.
5 ‘70s Albums That Paved The Way For Hair Metal
If hair metal had DNA, these 1970s rock albums would be the double helix.
Gallery Credit: Sydney Taylor
The 10 Best Hair Metal Albums By Non-Hair Metal Bands
Some bands did not fit the hair metal mold but played along convincingly enough for at least one album.
Gallery Credit: Sydney Taylor
9 ’80s Hard Rock Bands That Weren’t Hair Metal
They still had big hair and bigger riffs.
Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli
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