The Sleaze Glam movement emerged between the mid to late 1980s, primarily influenced by
the likes of Mötley Crüe, Hanoi Rocks, The
Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, as well as influences from 1970s punk
rock bands such as the New York Dolls.
Sleaze Glam in America
Undeniably the most famous example of Sleaze Glam ever, is Guns N' Roses, a band
put together by degenerates, surviving on the streets of Hollyweird. 1987 proved to be the break-through year for American
Sleaze, Faster Pussycat would released their debut album, pushing themselves to the forefront
of the movement, but as fate had it would be overshadowed by their contemporaries Guns N' Roses.
Other examples of Hollyweird Sleaze Glam at this time are; L.A. Guns, a band which Guns N' Roses were spawned from.
Vain's1989 debut No Respect remains a classic of the genre. Dangerous
Toys and Junkyard provided relief for Sleaze fans desperately waiting for a
follow up to Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction. Roxx
Gang's debut would force strong opinions from Sleaze fans, some taking a strong dislike to the group others loving
it. Swedes living in Hollyweird; Shotgun Messiah, would unleash their second album Second
Coming, in 1991 with Tim Skold moving up to vocals, this would prove to be a strong effort.
More obscure Hollyweird bands around and a little after this time; Glamour Punks, Alleycat Scratch and Pretty Boy Floyd, never saw the major
success of many other bands but are still appreciated greatly in underground Glam communities.
Sleaze Glam in Britain
In Britain a similar movement emerged, but incorporated more of a Hanoi Rocks influence
in their music and than the American bands.
The forerunners of the British Sleaze bands were Tyla'sDogs D'Amour with
their In The Dynamite Jet Saloon and the Cult, who by 1987 had turned fully
into a Sleaze rock band with their Electric album, they would be supported by Guns N' Roses
on a tour of the States, ironically future Cult drummer Matt Sorum would later
join the Gunners.
Welsh band Tigertailz then fronted by Steevi Jaimz gave the world Young And
Crazy, before parting ways with Jaimz, bringing in Kim Hooker to record Bezerk.. the latter been the more
commercially successful of the two.
1990 saw the debut of the Quireboysor as they are known in the US, the London
Quireboys, fronted by Spike, whos unique whiskey whipped voice added a bar rock feel to the group.
Other notable contributions to the British movement, include Zodiac Mindwarp , whos music
included, humour, sex, and rock n roll, Zodiac helped pen the infamous Alice Cooper track Feed My Frankenstein.
Kill City Dragons, featuring former members of the late Stiv Bators, Lords of
the New Church would form in the late 1980s and release a self titled LP. Soho Roses,
fronted by Paul Blittz who bore more than a passing resemblance to Michael Monroe, gave us the Third And
Final Insult. Aswell as; The Babysitters who released their album in 1985.
The Revival
After the emergence of Grunge, Sleaze Glam and all related genres were unceremoniously, removed. Throughout the 1990s
few Sleaze bands gained much success or notoriety, until in 1998 after a four year break, Swedish band the Backyard
Babies put out their second album Total 13 a rip roaring soundtrack to boozing, the band even covered a
track from Faster Pussycat, Babylon, the very same year fellow Scandinavia's Hardcore Superstar, unleashed their debut before two years later releasing the great Bad
Sneakers and a Piná Colada.
The two bands instilled a rejuvenated thirst for Sleaze in Scandinavia which would show evident a few years later. Four strong
Sleaze bands emerged in the 2000s; Crashdïet, Private Line,
Gemini Five and Vains of Jenna, all playing their
own flavour of music reminiscent to vintage 1987 era Sleaze Glam, with a modern update. Three of the four releasing
very strong debut album Gemini Five with Babylon Rockets, Crashdïet
with Rest In Sleaze and Private Line with 21st Century Pirates. Due to a
tragic twist of fate, Crashdïet has come to an end, due to the death of their vocalist
Dave Lepard, one of the revivals most prominent frontmen. It is unclear what effect this will have on the movement,
aside from robbing it of one of its most promising new bands and the first Sleaze rock band signed to a major label in a decade.
Vains of Jenna are yet to release a full album but one is due in 2006.
The Murderdolls are proving to be an important band for the United States rival, bringing
Sleaze Glam back to the attention of the youth, influencing many youngsters to seek out Mötley
Crüe's Too Fast For Love and Shout At The Devil after almost of decade of tedious nu-metal. The
bands side projects continue with more Sleaze Glam, with vocalist Wednesday 13's
solo group, Acey Slade's Guns N' Roses-esque, Trashlight
Vision, and Eric Griffin has joined the Napoleon Blownaparts, aswell
as filling in on guitar for a Faster Pussycat tour.
In Britain, Towers of London are fighting the good fight, with hit singles taking on the
charts, they are also due to release their debut in 2006.
With the likes of Hanoi Rocks, Mötley Crüe, L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat back out touring and releasing
new material. Along with some up and coming new blood. There is hope for the future of Sleaze.
