Home > Glam rock

Glam performers often dressed androgynously in make up and glittery, outrageous costumes, not dissimilar to the kind of thing Liberace or Elvis Presley wore when performing in cabaret. The most famous example is David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust phase. Sexual ambiguity became a game; Bowie told the press he was gay simply for the publicity, while the late Jobriath is thought really to have been rock's first openly gay star.

Although credit for starting the trend in Britain is often given to Gary Glitter and his band, it was probably Roxy Music, headed by former art teacher Bryan FerryBryan Ferry (born September 26 1945 in Washington, County Durham) is a British singer, musician and songwriter who came to public prominence in the 1970s as lead vocalist with Roxy Music. He has since pursued a highly successful solo career. Born into a w who led the field, though they avoided the excesses of many of their imitators. Ferry's brainwave was to give his young audience an excuse to dress up for concerts; as he put it, "It would be like a night at the opera for them." Other bands/acts who might be considered part of the glam scene include:

• ABBAABBA (although an acronym the name is often written as Abba was a Swedish pop music group, the most successful to date from that country. The group was formed around 1970 by Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and the
• Another Pretty FaceAnother Pretty Face was a glam rock band. Ed Stasium recorded them in 1973- 1974; it was his first time as producer. 30 Years later, Another Pretty Face's "21st Century Rock" is being released on October 31, 2004.
• Alvin StardustAlvin Stardust (born 27 September 1942) is a musican, born Bernard William Jewry in London. In the early 1960s he became known as Shane Fenton & The Fentones. During the early '70s he became Alvin Stardust as he tried to cash in on the Glam Rock bandwagon
• Bay City RollersBay City Rollers was a popular British pop band of the 1970s and came from Scotland. The group had five members drummer Derek Longmuir, bass player Alan Longmuir, singer Les McKeown and guitarists Stuart Wood and Eric Faulkner. Their Scottish identity was
• David Bowie
• David EssexDavid Essex (born July 23, 1947) is a British actor and singer who has enjoyed a varied career. Born in London, real name David Cook he failed in his first attempt at stardom. His big break came when he was selected to play the lead in the musical Godspel
• Elton JohnSir Elton Hercules John CBE, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is one of the most successful British pop singers, composers and musicians. He was born in Pinner, Middlesex, and educated at Pinner County Grammar School and the Royal Academy o
• Gary Glitter
• Hanoi Rocks
• Iggy Pop
• Jobriath
• Klaus Nomi
• LaBelle
• Lou Reed
• Mott the Hoople
• Mud
• The New York Dolls
• The Rubettes
• Queen
• Slade
• Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel
• Suzi Quatro
• Sweet
• T. Rex
• Wizzard

Glam rock was a major influence upon the late 1970s UK punk rock movement, particularly the Sex Pistols.