
Don't Call It Hair Metal
Art in the Excess of '80s Rock
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Narrated by:
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Sean Kelly
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By:
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Sean Kelly
About this listen
A love letter to the hard-rocking, but often snubbed, music of the era of excess: the 1980s
There may be no more joyous iteration in all of music than 1980s hard rock. It was an era where the musical and cultural ideals of rebellion and freedom of the great rock 'n' roll of the '50s, '60s, and '70s were taken to dizzying heights of neon excess. Attention to songcraft, showmanship, and musical virtuosity (especially in the realm of the electric guitar) were at an all-time high, and radio and MTV were delivering the goods en masse to the corn-fed children of America and beyond.
Time hasn't always been kind to artists of that gold and platinum era, but Don't Call It Hair Metal analyzes the sonic evolution, musical diversity, and artistic intention of '80s commercial hard rock through interviews with members of such hard rock luminaries as Twisted Sister, Def Leppard, Poison, Whitesnake, Ratt, Skid Row, Quiet Riot, Guns N' Roses, Dokken, Mr. Big, and others.
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- A Gen X Life and the Pop Culture That Defined It
- By: B Harrison Smith
- Narrated by: B Harrison Smith
- Length: 16 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Gen X is the “forgotten generation.”
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An enjoyable trip through time, especially if you loved through it.
- By Anonymous User on 02-27-25
By: B Harrison Smith
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Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
- Tales from the Other Mötley Crüe Frontman and Journeys Through a Life in and out of Rock and Roll
- By: John Corabi, Paul Miles - contributor
- Narrated by: John Corabi
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
- Abridged
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John Corabi recounts his life from the mean streets of Philadelphia to the Sunset Strip. Take a look behind the scenes at Corabi’s time fronting Mötley Crüe, Union, and The Dead Daisies, as well as his time playing rhythm guitar with Ratt and even his stint as a long-haul trucker. Whether it’s detailing his parents' difficult divorce, his family’s dark history of abuse, his run-in with a serial killer, or simply the best way to arrive at a wedding—which maybe is by helicopter and maybe it isn’t—he pulls no punches and outlines the good and bad of it all in this raucous autobiography.
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Great story
- By Denise on 03-31-24
By: John Corabi, and others
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The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Hair Metal
- By: Christopher P. Hilton
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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The spectacular story of ‘80s Hair Metal! What hidden mayhem truly lurked behind the curtain as outrageous bands such as Poison were having Nothing But a Good Time, only to find out later that Every Rose Has Its Thorn… “For both devoted fans and people who just hum the tunes, this is the definitive account of Hair Metal's history, including all of the behind-the-scenes drama and spectacle—a well-written and exciting adventure.”—Jonathan P. Brazee, USA Today Bestselling writer and multiple Nebula and Dragon Award finalist. An intoxicating chronicle detailing the sensational arc ...
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Audible: please do not use AI for narration. It doesn’t seem to work. Definitely no imitation game.
- By David on 02-21-25
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I Want My MTV
- The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution
- By: Craig Marks, Rob Tannenbaum
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 20 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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It was a pretty radical idea - a channel for teenagers, showing nothing but music videos. It was such a radical idea that almost no one thought it would actually succeed, much less become a force in the worlds of music, television, film, fashion, sports, and even politics. But it did work. MTV became more than anyone had ever imagined. I Want My MTV tells the story of the first decade of MTV, the golden era when MTV's programming was all videos, all the time, and kids watched religiously to see their favorite bands, learn about new music, and have something to talk about at parties.
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The Most Entertaining Book of the Year
- By David on 10-24-12
By: Craig Marks, and others
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It's So Easy
- And Other Lies
- By: Duff McKagan
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1984, at the age of 20, Duff McKagan left his native Seattle - partly to pursue music, but mainly to get away from a host of heroin overdoses then-decimating his closest group of friends in the local punk scene. In LA only a few weeks and still living in his car, he answered a want ad for a bass player placed by someone who identified himself only as "Slash." Soon after, the most dangerous band in the world was born. Guns N' Roses went on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide.
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This book just may save a life.
- By Katrina Hamilton on 10-16-16
By: Duff McKagan
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Life in the Fast Lane
- The Eagles’ Reckless Ride Down the Rock & Roll Highway
- By: Mick Wall
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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"Surely make you lose your mind . . ." So the Eagles warn us about the outrageous and ruthless lifestyle of the ambitious rock-n-roller. In fact, Don Henley could barely listen to the track "Life in the Fast Lane" when they were recording it. He was so high that it made him sick. The band that embodied the American dream with globe-straddling success, impossibly luxurious lives, and almost supernatural talent also descended into nightmare with betrayal, hate-filled hubris, the skeletons of perceived enemies, brutally discarded lovers and former band mates left unburied in the road behind them.
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Welcome Overview
- By Stephen on 11-09-23
By: Mick Wall
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Sex, Drugs, Ratt & Roll
- My Life in Rock
- By: Stephen Pearcy, Sam Benjamin
- Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Stephen Pearcy was a scrawny, horny, thrill-seeking teenager with an electric guitar who had graduated from backyard parties in San Diego to half-empty dives in Los Angeles before he and his band broke through at Whiskey a Go Go. Cranking out metal just as metal got hot, Ratt was the perfect band at the perfect time, and their hit single "Round and Round" became a top-selling anthem.
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Stephen Pearcy is one sad mf
- By Awkward Frog on 12-28-20
By: Stephen Pearcy, and others
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How to Be a Man
- (and Other Illusions)
- By: Duff McKagan
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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Duff McKagan is one of the most respected survivors in hard rock. In How to Be a Man, he shares the wisdom he gained on the path to superstardom - from his time with Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver to getting sober after a life of hard living to achieving his personal American dream of marrying a supermodel, raising a family, and experiencing what it's like to be winked at by Prince.
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Overly dramatic reader.
- By CB on 01-07-17
By: Duff McKagan
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The First 21
- A Memoir
- By: Nikki Sixx
- Narrated by: Nikki Sixx
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Rock-and-roll icon and three-time best-selling author Nikki Sixx tells his origin story: how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx, chronicling his fascinating journey from irrepressible Idaho farmboy to the man who formed the revolutionary rock group Mötley Crüe.
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Surprised but great advice too
- By nancy macintosh on 10-19-21
By: Nikki Sixx
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Red
- My Uncensored Life in Rock
- By: Sammy Hagar
- Narrated by: Scott Shepherd
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Loud rock, fast cars, and Cabo. This is the life of Sammy Hagar. For almost 40 years, Sammy Hagar has been a fixture in rock music. From breaking into the industry with the band Montrose to his multiplatinum solo career to his ride as the front man of Van Halen, Sammy's powerful and unforgettable voice has set the tone for some of the greatest rock anthems ever written - songs like "I Can't Drive 55", "Right Now", and "Why Can't This Be Love".
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LOVED it Twice
- By Hilary on 10-23-12
By: Sammy Hagar
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18 and Life on Skid Row
- By: Sebastian Bach
- Narrated by: Sebastian Bach
- Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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18 and Life on Skid Row tells the story of a boy who spent his childhood moving from Freeport, Bahamas, to California and finally to Canada and who, at the age of eight, discovered the gift that would change his life. Throughout his career, Sebastian Bach has sold over 20 million records both as the lead singer of Skid Row and as a solo artist.
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Like Sebastian Bach?? BUY THIS NOW!
- By Sebastian on 12-17-16
By: Sebastian Bach
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Confess
- The Autobiography
- By: Rob Halford, Ian Gittins - contributor
- Narrated by: Rob Halford
- Length: 13 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Most priests hear confessions. This one is making his. Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true "Metal God." Raised in Britain's hard-working, heavy industrial heartland, he and his music were forged in the Black Country. Confess, his full autobiography, is an unforgettable rock 'n' roll story—a journey from a Walsall council estate to musical fame via alcoholism, addiction, police cells, ill-fated sexual trysts, and bleak personal tragedy, through to rehab, coming out, redemption...and finding love.
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Pretty small % of this book is about his music
- By JA3 on 12-17-20
By: Rob Halford, and others
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My Appetite for Destruction
- Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses
- By: Steven Adler, Lawrence C. Spagnola - with
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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From Steven Adler, the original drummer for Guns N' Roses, comes My Appetite for Destruction, the inside story of GNR. Offering a different perspective from the bestselling Slash, Adler chronicles his life with the band, and own intense struggle with addiction, as seen on Dr. Drew's Celebrity Rehab and Sober House.
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TERRIBLE NARRATION
- By SNAFU666 on 02-04-21
By: Steven Adler, and others
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Dirty Rocker Boys
- By: Bobbie Brown
- Narrated by: Bobbie Brown
- Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Who could forget the sexy "Cherry Pie" girl from hair metal band Warrant's infamous music video? Bobbie Brown became a bona fide vixen for her playful role as the object of lead singer Jani Lane's desires. With her windblown peroxide mane, seductive scarlet lips, and flirtatious curves, she epitomized every man's fantasy. But the wide-eyed Louisiana beauty queen's own dreams of making it big in Los Angeles were about to be derailed by her rock-and-roll lifestyle.
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LOVED IT!
- By Kelleefornia on 09-02-14
By: Bobbie Brown
What listeners say about Don't Call It Hair Metal
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gudmundur Hardarson
- 06-25-24
Hair Metal!
An interesting book but targeted at those in the know. I was hoping this would lead the uninitiated into the whole scene but most of the time it assumes the reader already knows most of the bands, musicians and other players. This is even my time period, or at least the later part of it is, only I wasn’t all that into this type of music so much of the references didn’t hit with me.
Still it was interesting and the real value is in all the interviews and direct quotes, with fun anecdotes and tidbits.
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- Gene Blanton
- 11-26-24
Very interesting material, super performance
Loved the behind the scenes information and how the industry worked back then. I was a teen into early adult during this time and knew alot of the stories. I appreciated the behind the scenes info with the bands and some of how they actually felt about the time period and transition to grunge.
I’ve listed to several of these books about the time period and the author here has done a great job of capturing our mutual love of the genre. His delivery and cadence were very easy to listen to, very enable!
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- J. Piper
- 01-11-24
Behind the scenes and more
I love hearing how bands were formed and how people living the times actually felt about them. Not the sex and drugs- just the rock and roll. Must read for all 80s rock fans.
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- Scott Woodward
- 07-08-24
Great story / life experience
Great story. Great speaker. Very easy to listen to. I wish all authors could read like this.
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- Bobby Kenner
- 03-06-24
A Blast if you Love 80s Rock
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been a huge fan of the 80s rock scene. The author, being a musician himself, dove deep into the history of 80s rock and pulled out some great behind the scenes stories, commentary on playing styles (notably the guitar), and included cool interview segments from notables of that era.
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- abbeyroad
- 03-10-24
do not listen while driving
very technical with a lot of industry terms and jargon, almost a text book he would make a good teacher ,but I'm not a student
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- Anonymous User
- 08-16-24
isn't it all hair metal?
for starters I don't think calling music hair metal makes any sense every band had long hair at least most of the members of the Bands had long hair. and we can argue if all of these bands are actually metal bands or hard rock bands and which ones were Glam and which ones weren't. that being said I think the author should have put a disclaimer if you're not a musician you may not understand a lot of this book when he gets into more technical talk being around musicians for years I understand it I can't play it and no I'm not a drummer LOL. it is a very intelligent read on a subject you don't think of being intelligent most of these bands wrote material about kind of moronic things women drugs alcohol partying Etc. but yes there is another side to it and some of these Tunes did stand the test of time and still get radio play today because they are part of classic rock. even if their hair didn't stand the test at time I know how that feels. it's a decent book but as a Canadian you wouldn't mention the band killer dwarfs just once they weren't Glam but they definitely had an impact in the metal scene in the mid 80s. and I get to see them for the first time at the end of August. so I definitely recommend it you may have to use a search engine to look up some of the technical terms in music but it's better than the title infers
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- PKW
- 07-24-23
Great Book which is well researched and Delivered
Shows a great passion for the genre and ups and downs. Highly recommended for anyone who loves music!
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7 people found this helpful
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- Ignatius
- 01-13-24
Solid history
The writer won't win any converts here. but if you listened to hard rock in the 70s 80s and 90s then this book is a relatable recap. Sometimes he focuses more on his friends, but the stories are ok and there's enough here about big acts to hold interest, as long as you know the bands being discussed.
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- Scott Roland
- 07-22-23
Must read for any musician or music lover
Fantastic book with great stories and insights. He really did his homework and allows the reader to truly appreciate the industry. I grew up with all of this and was wonderful to experience through real eyes. Highly recommend!!!!!
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14 people found this helpful