Nothin' But a Good Time: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Glam Metal

by Justin Quirk

From 1983 until 1991, Glam Metal was the sound of American culture. Big hair, massive amplifiers, drugs, alcohol, piles of money and life-threatening pyrotechnics. This was the world stalked by Bon Jovi, Kiss, W.A.S.P., Skid Row, Dokken, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Ratt and many more. Armed with hairspray, spandex and strangely shaped guitars, they marked the last great era of supersize bands.

Where did Glam Metal come from? How did it spread? What killed it off? And why does nobody admit to having been a Glam Metaller anymore?

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Rock N Roll

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2020

Reviews

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So here may be something you don't know. Although I am a die-hard Prince fan and he will forever be my favorite artist, because I was a teen in the 80's, I spent a lot of time listening to and perfecting my glad rock collection. It was the era of attending concerts alone for the first time and I can say I saw some of the greats - Aerosmith, Van Halen, White Lion, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, Ratt, Cinderella, Bon Jovi (3X) and Poison (5x) to name some of the more notable ones. You might say I had a thing for Bret Michaels but don't tell anyone. So I was excited to read Quirk's novel. And I'll be honest, while it didn't disappoint, it wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

Quick had certainly did his research and I think I went into this book hoping to learn some juicy tidbits about some of my favorite glam bands. And while there might have been a few, Quirk looks more at how Glam Rock became a thing. It was interesting but at times, my interest did wane. However, the author's passion did shine through and if you are a fan of the era and want to know more backstory, then this is definitely a book you want to add to your collection. I honestly think this would be a good physical copy to have in a collection so you could peruse it from time to time and pick out the parts that are most interesting to you. I read an ebook copy and wish I had a physical one instead.

[James Donaghy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much going on in this excellent book it's hard to know where to start. As with much of his other work, Justin Quirk has that knack of making you deeply invested in a subject you'd have walked a mile to avoid. Glam metal has always been a punchline to me so it's quite the adventure to read about Mutt Lange's polyphonic wizardry on Def Leppard's Hysteria, a resurgent back-from-the-dead Aerosmith and legit virtuosos like Ozzy Osbourne's Randy Rhoads', Eddie Van Halen and Dokken's George Lynch. There's also a smart social history tracing the links between the deranged bombast of hair metal, Reagan's America and Vince McMahon's WWF - a bootstrapping fake-it-till-you-make-it ethos that defined the decade.

So the genre finds itself a champion in Quirk, though not one who is blind to its flaws. He is unsparing in chronicling the technical and artistic shortcomings of some of the players and the depravity of the genre's standard bearers Mötley Crüe. He has a merciless satirical eye too for the deadbeats, f*ckups and also-rans sucked up into the scene like tornado detritus. At heart though the book is a love letter - a passionate missive from a true aficionado who sees the beauty and the chaos and embraces them as indivisible parts of the whole. \M/

[Stephen Curran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, entertaining history of the music genre I loved as a twelve year old to the exclusion of all others. Listening back to some of it while I read, it’s amazes how execrable most of it was (hells bells, Dokken, have some dignity!) but I was young, and what could appeal to a young boy more than bands that are brightly coloured, showy, loud and absolutely devoid of irony? There are no revelations here - most of the stories I recalled, if hazily - but I think this is the first time that the era has been considered seriously and in one place. Highly recommended if you’re of a certain age and in search of a nostalgia hit.

(Hysteria is still a classic, btw).

[Shan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another quick read for me as it is like reading about family for me. I know all the characters and don't learn anything I didn't know from reading other books. If you need a down and dirty on the main players in the music genre on glam rock, this is the ticket.

[Niek · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Mixed feelings about this one. Quirk clearly writes well, and this is a fast and easy read. I can see casual fans enjoying this book quite a lot...I know I did. However, most of the book sources band/artist memoires and interviews, resulting in a book that will come across as a summary of those book for more avid reader of this genre. The best parts of the book are when Quirk takes a broader perspective, connecting the dots between different bands, producers etc. I wish he did that more often.

At several points throughout the book, Quirk's writing felt forced, resulting in rather awkward transitions. For example, chapter 8 deals with the downward slope for the popularity of glam rock. Quirk starts by mentioning guitar prodigy Jason Becker who became chronically ill with a rare disease (a truly sad story, but a story that feels out of place in this book) and somehow draws a straight line to Adam Curry being fired by headbanger's ball, and then moving ahead to drug overdoses and alcohol abuse of artists. Really?

I guess I also would have liked the author to write more from his personal experience - similar to Chuck Klosterman in Fargo Rock City. There are some clumsy errors as well, e.g., have you ever heard the song 15 years by GNR?

[Xenos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, yes! The background music to my well-spent (misspent?) youth! This book brought back great memories! (Oh, the concerts I've seen! I have stories.) However, I have a bone to pick with the author...Warrant absolutely did NOT put out "terrible music". Their first two albums, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" and "Cherry Pie", gave us some classic rock tunes and power ballads that still make me want to wave my lighter in the air. (RIP, Jani Lane.) And, as someone who was motorin' around the time Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" hit the airwaves, I will fight you to the bitter end about it being a "wimpy, ponderous ballad".

[Alexander Titcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really solid overview of the era and does a good job linking the cultural feeling and political happenings of the time into glam's musical output.
At times there is too much dissecting of individual songs, and some repetition of ideas that a talented editor would've picked up on, as well as the prevailing idea that Quirk mostly likes the singles from each album he talks about. But a great book overall 🤘

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb bit of hair metal nostalgia. An interesting and thoughtful canter through the various musical and sociological influences that both gave rise to and killed off glam metal. It covers a wide range of groups as well as the usual suspects and is written with a biting wit that makes it a major page turner. At times the tone bordered on snide which is my only complaint.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good on the rise of glam metal, brilliant on linking the politics of America to the movement and appraises Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Guns n Roses. For casual fans, it's good to see Ratt, Cinderella and other minor league bands get their due.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why this author chose to write about this particular subgenre of metal - it is clear he doesn't totally understand what makes up the genre, spends a lot of time talking about bands that are not a part of the genre, and clearly is not a fan of the music.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

See blog for full review 12th September 2020

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read on the subject and fills in the gaps for a lot of the "myths and legends".

My only criticism is that I wish there was more content on the tail end in the early 90s.

[Sarah Potemkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know how it ends, but it's still sweet, especially as someone more of that era than not.

[Gioia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Caspar Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, insightful book written by an author who loves the music and culture but can still enjoy and highlight the ridiculousness of it all.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cultural analysis of glam metal might sound like an oxymoron but Justin Quirk deftly links the increased height of his protagonists' backcombed hair to President Reagan's promise of "morning in America". This is obviously the work of a grown-up fan but, rather than relying on the cliched tales of drink, drugs and women (although obviously intrinsic to the history) Quirk also explains how the music worked as it did ("a minor key riff" or how the sound is amplified), the musical tricks & innovations and the increasingly crucial role of the producers. He takes a chronological approach, drawing connections, highlighting trends and turns in the road. The book treats an often-mocked genre respectful, which then allows for some affectionate teasing: a high point being describing Mötley Crüe as wearing "a greasy get-up of leather and lycra which they appear to have been sewn into for winter like medieval peasants". The description of Metal's response to Live Aid is even funnier, but you will have to buy the book to read it