Episode Details

Cathy and Todd explore how 1980s glam metal, later dubbed “hairbands” in the ’90s, fused hypersexual, alpha-male posturing with makeup, teased hair, and flamboyant style, creating a theatrical masculinity that rose with MTV and collapsed with the arrival of grunge. From Def Leppard to Poison, these bands borrowed from femininity while reinforcing traditional masculinity, leading to a theatrical version of toughness built for MTV’s visual era. They discuss the rise, peak, and fall of the genre, its shift from rebellion to redundancy, and how it reflected and reshaped cultural ideas about gender, authenticity, and performance.

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AI Summary

Summary

Hair Bands and Gen X Culture

Todd and Kathy discussed the evolution of hair bands and their impact on Gen X culture. They clarified the distinction between heavy metal and hair bands, explaining that hair bands emerged in the early 1980s with bands like Quiet Riot and Def Leppard. Todd shared his research findings, including the origins of the term “hair band” and the influence of David Bowie on the genre. They also announced upcoming changes to their virtual community and podcast, including the addition of a Zen Parentin