Glam!: (David) Bowie, (Marc) Bolan and the Glitter Rock Revolution

by Barney Hoskyns

Traces the history and the performers who defined glam rock, including David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Iggy Pop, and Queen, and their influence on musicians in the decades that followed

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Audiobook, History, Rock N Roll

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slim and concise (115 pages) volume that focusses on Glam's key players (Bowie, Bolan, Roxy Music, New York Dolls, Lou Reed) and a more passing reference to some of the lesser lights (Sweet, Slade, Suzi, Sparks, Mud, Rubettes etc.). I am fairly knowledgeable about Glam Rock and learnt nothing new, however I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and that is testimony to Barney Hoskyns' thoughtful and highly readable style.

Barney Hoskyns places the era in context, charts the all too brief rise and fall of Glam including quotes from well informed commentators and key participants, before briefly exploring Glam's legacy.

The book was published in 1998 and so only hints at Gary Glitter's fall from grace. The book also precedes the interest in the the so-called Junk Shop Glam scene that developed in the early 2000s. As in all musical genres, some of the best Glam tracks were recorded by those who were has-beens or were-never-gonna-bes. Some of this now highly collectible Junk Shop Glam has been issued on compilation CDs, most notably the three RPM Junk Shop Glam compilations (Boobs: The Junkshop Glam Discotheque, Velvet Tinmine: 20 Junkshop Glam Ravers, and Glitterbest: 20 Pre Punk & Glam Terrace Stompers). A more comprehensive book, or one written more recently, might choose to explore the one-offs who tried to cash in on the craze, leaving behind a lone stellar 45 before shuffling off back into complete and total obscurity.

This book is a great introduction to the Glam Rock genre, and also makes a satisfying read for the more informed reader who simply wants to enjoy a short, well written account of Glam's glory years.

[Byron 'Giggsy' Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Todd Haynes (director of Velvet Goldmine) states in the forward (1998), he could find no book, in or out of print, on the glitter era, only individual artist examinations. That alone makes this book a worthy read.

Focuses on the Bowie/Bolan/Mott/Sweet/RoxyMusic/GaryGlitter/Slade British side and foils it with the American IggyPop/LouReed/NewYorkDolls/AliceCooper.

Also brings in the fashion influences, art and culture influences (Warhol and Factory, Max's Kansas City, Top of the Pops, etc..) , producers/managers/labels, drag queens, and the good ole groupie scene.

The flaw is it leaves you wanting much more than you get and coverage of Bowie or Reed doesn't get anywhere near what you find in individual bios.

The good is the perspective of timing of events, comparison of UK vs US, and some coverage of other glam players you may have forgotten or missed such as Jobriath, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, MUD, or Silverhead.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bang a gong, etc.
Velvet Goldmine did a number on me.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure that I learned much about Glamrock from this book beyond the surface of make up and dressing up. What made the music distinct, if anything? The book doesn't really explore this. It reminds me of reading NME in the early 70's as the writer clearly enjoys writing about the Stooges and New York Dolls than Britain's plethora of glam pop and bubblegum rock acts. Still, I'd recommend his Rock's Back Pages podcast for those of us with an interest in thejiurnalistic history of popular music from the 50's onwards.

[Ruth Capoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for anyone who loved the Glam era like I did!
Gives you insights on the rise and fall of Glam into other genres etc.

[Liz ݁ ˖ִ ࣪✩₊ ⊹˚ - INACTIVE · Rating 4 out of 5]

p cool that so many things in Velvet Goldmine were taken from the real life glam scene and that things like the death of glitter concert really happened

[Ray Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a superficial, though entertaining, review of Glam. In the late 60s while hippies were donning Edwardian frills, a group British rockers were going straight to cross dressing. The idea of rock stars "gender bending" is cliche now, but in the days of classic rock, the openly bi-sexual images of Bowie and Bolan were shocking and controversial. The New York Dolls, Brian Ferry and Roxy Music also picked up the banner and together they represent a movement that was short lived though very influential.

I enjoyed the book, but as a sketch of a half dozen acts, it wasn't really a particularly thorough profile of any. It was obvious that this was written from secondary sources, not original interviews of the artists or their fans. Again, not a bad intro to the genre, but not a particularly insightful study either.

[minnie]

Have this for a few years, have dipped into it but never read it properly

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, good introduction to the glam/glitter rock genre. The definitive version has yet to be written, though.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent and well-researched profile of the beginning and 'end' of the height of the glam scene. For those who want to dig deeper past Bowie, Marc Bolan and Roxy Music. Very enlightening!