Glam Slam Guide: (70s Excess)

Where the Glitter Began From grey Britain to a technicolour explosion – the story of how rock got fabulous. Glam rock didn’t just happen – it erupted in the UK at the start of the 1970s like a sequinned volcano, turning drab streets into catwalks and ordinary lads into peacocks. The Spark That Lit the Fuse The drab backdrop: Three-day weeks, power cuts, strikes, and post-war austerity still hanging in the air. Britain needed colour, escape, and a damn good kick up the backsid

The Thin White Duke, Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom – one man, a thousand faces. No artist reinvented himself more times than David Bowie – from folky oddball to glam alien, soul man, Berlin minimalist, 80s pop titan, and elder statesman of art-rock. Here’s your essential map to the labyrinth. The Classic Line-Up (ever-changing, but key eras) 1969–1971: Space-folk Bowie (with Mick Ronson emerging) 1971–1974: Ziggy & the Spiders from Mars (Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, Woody Woodmans

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars commonly known as the "Ziggy Stardust" album, is one of the most iconic works in rock history. The album was released on June 6, 1972. Concept: Ziggy Stardust is an alien rock star who comes to Earth with a message of hope before humanity's predicted apocalypse. Through this character, Bowie explored themes of fame, identity, sexuality, and alienation. The album tells a narrative story through its songs, with Ziggy

The cosmic yob who took a whispery hippie duo, plugged in the electricity, grew the curls, and accidentally invented glam rock overnight. One minute he’s a bongo-playing Tolkien elf called Tyrannosaurus Rex, strumming acoustic fairy tales about unicorns. The next he’s Marc Bolan in satin and glitter, getting it on straight to number one and turning every teenage bedroom in Britain into a shrine. The Glam Slam Essentials Electric Warrior (1971) – Album Release (1971) – UK #1 T

The curly-haired cosmic dancer who didn’t just join glam rock – he switched on the lights, cranked the amp, and made the whole world boogie. Before Bolan there was no glitter, no feather boas on Top of the Pops, no acceptable excuse for a grown man to wear silver lamé to the supermarket. One electric chord in 1971 turned a whispering hippie poet into the Electric Warrior – and glam rock exploded into life. He gave us the blueprint: the riffs, the curls, the cheekbones, the sw

The Slider is a seminal album by T. Rex, released in July 1972. Here's a detailed look at this iconic record: Background: Formation and Context: By the time "The Slider" was released, T. Rex, led by Marc Bolan, had already transitioned from their earlier folk-rock sound to a more electric, glam rock style. This album came on the heels of their breakthrough album, "Electric Warrior" (1971), which had established them as leaders in the glam rock scene. Production: Recording: Th

The original shock rock pioneers – five Phoenix kids who terrified parents and invented rock theatre! The Alice Cooper Group (1964–1975) were the godfathers of shock rock: raw Detroit garage energy, vaudeville horror shows, and glam-tinged hard rock that influenced everyone from Kiss to Marilyn Manson. The Classic Line-Up (The “Killer” era) Vincent Furnier (“Alice Cooper”) – vocals, ringmaster of chaos Glen Buxton – lead guitar (the quiet riff wizard, died 1997) Michael Bruce

The shock-rock king ditched the band, kept the guillotine, and turned his nightmare into a billion-dollar solo empire. The original Alice Cooper Group called it quits. Vincent Furnier legally became Alice Cooper, stepped out alone, and somehow made the horror show even bigger, broader, and more theatrical. The Glam-to-Goth Slam Essentials Welcome to My Nightmare (1975) – Album Release (1975)The first true solo masterpiece – title track, “Only Women Bleed”, “Department of Yout

Bernard William Jewry, became a notable figure in the glam rock movement of the 1970s as Alvin Stardust. Here's an overview of his career, style, and impact: Early Life: Born: September 27, 1942, in Muswell Hill, London, England. Career Beginnings: 1960s: Initially, Jewry performed under the name Shane Fenton, leading Shane Fenton and the Fentones, a band that scored minor hits with songs like "I'm a Moody Guy" and "Cindy's Birthday." Rise as Alvin Stardust: Transformation: I

From the first sparkle to the last stomp – every key single that built the glitter empire, month by month. This is the timeline that turned grey Britain day-glo: the exact order the anthems hit the streets, the airwaves, and the bedroom walls. No filler, no hindsight – just the songs that defined glam as it happened. Date Artist Song Why It Matters February 1971 T.Rex Hot Love The first #1 with handclaps and glitter – glam is born July 1971 T.Rex Get It On The riff that made

The glam-pop hit machine who gave us “Dancin’ (on a Saturday Night)” and wrote for Diana Ross, produced Heatwave, and still rocks the retro circuit! Barry Blue (born Barry Ian Green, 12 December 1950, London) was one of the 70s’ most successful British pop writer-producers who also scored massive hits under his own name. Think bubblegum-glam with irresistible hooks, huge boots, and even bigger choruses. The Essential Facts Real name: Barry Ian Green Breakthrough as artist: 19

Established in 1972 in London by singer-songwriter Steve Harley, who had previously been involved in the folk scene and journalism, formed Cockney Rebel in the early 1970s. The original lineup included Harley, Jean-Paul Crocker (fiddle/mandolin), Stuart Elliott (drums), Paul Jeffreys (bass), and Nick Jones (guitar), later replaced by Pete Newnham. First Gig: One of their first major performances was supporting the Jeff Beck Group at the Roundhouse in London in 1973. Debut Alb

Singer, songwriter, and actor who has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry since the 1970s. Here's an overview of David Essex's career: Early Life: Born: July 23, 1947, in Plaistow, London, England, as David Albert Cook. Background: His father was an East End docker, and his mother was a self-taught pianist with Irish Traveller heritage. Musical Career: Early Career: Essex began his musical journey in the 1960s with bands like 'David Essex and the Mood Indig

The bespectacled piano man who turned camp into rocket fuel and made the 70s sparkle brighter than his wardrobe. He didn’t just play glam – he detonated it in feather boas, 12-inch platforms, Donald Duck outfits, and glasses that could blind aircraft. One minute he’s a shy session musician, the next he’s the biggest pop star on the planet, outselling everyone with heartbreak ballads and honky-château boogie. The Glam Slam Essentials Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) – Album Re

The Small Face who walked away from stadiums, grew a moustache like a broom, and spent the rest of his life chasing the perfect rootsy, ramshackle, travelling-show vibe. He was the bass-playing heart of the Small Faces and Faces – the one with the bell-bottoms, the cheeky grin, and the voice like a cockney nightingale. When Rod and Ronnie Wood went full rock-star, Lane said “nah”, bought a caravan, formed Slim Chance, and made some of the most beautiful, shambolic, heartfelt

In the sticky-floored back rooms of 1970s London, where the beer was warm, the shirts were louder than the amps, and the hangover started before the encore even finished… there strutted a gang of piss-taking, booze-soaked, platform-heeled rascals who turned every gig into a glorious pub brawl with guitars. They had a singer who looked like a rock ’n’ roll pirate, a bassist who played like he was trying to wake the dead, and a drummer who hit the skins like he was personally o

Step back into the glitter-soaked, platform-heeled, electric-booted madness of the early 70s – where rock became theatre and the world turned day-glo. This is your time machine built from original music papers, scrapbook clippings, record sleeves, adverts, reviews, and every scrap of 1970–1976 ephemera we can lay our hands on. Feel the bass drum stomp of Slade, the cosmic curl of Bolan’s hair, the sneer of Alice Cooper swinging from a gallows, the alien cool of Bowie’s lightn

The stomping, sax-blasting, silver-suited engine room that turned glam into a gang! Before they had a name, they were simply “the band” – the group of session musicians who gave Gary Glitter his trademark wall-of-sound stomp. When they stepped out front in 1974, they kept the glitter but added harmonies, horns, and pure bubblegum joy. The Classic Line-Up John Rossall – sax, vocals, ideas man Gerry Shephard – lead guitar, vocals (the pretty one) Pete Phipps – drums, vocals Ton

The Godfather of Punk – shirtless, fearless, and still bleeding on stage at 77. Before there was glam, before there was punk, before there was shock rock as we know it, there was a skinny kid from Michigan crawling through broken glass, smearing peanut butter on his chest, and inventing a whole new way to destroy yourself in front of an audience. The Essential Facts Born James Newell Osterberg Jr., April 21, 1947 – Muskegon, Michigan Frontman of The Stooges (1967–1974, reform

The leather-clad poet who dragged the Velvet Underground's shades into the daylight and painted them glitter-black. He never wore platforms, never needed a spaceship, and definitely didn’t smile for the cameras… but without this deadpan, sunglasses-at-night New York City vampire, glam rock would have sounded a lot less dangerous The Glam Slam Essentials Transformer (1972) – Album Release (1972)Bowie & Ronson production magic. “Walk on the Wild Side”, “Perfect Day”, “Satellite