glam rock

noun

: rock music characterized by performers wearing fanciful costumes and flamboyant makeup

It was 1972 and a new musical craze, glam rock, was on the rise. Characterised by glittery flamboyant outfits, extravagant make-up, androgynous stage personas, and loud anthemic songs, its prime exponents included David Bowie, Slade, Sweet, Alice Cooper, Roxy Music, Suzi Quatro and Mott The Hoople.

—David Morton

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

Taking their inspiration from the old glam-rock bands like Alice Cooper and the New York Dolls, today's metal bands … arrived in carnival costumes and heavy make-up, singing catchy melodies and riding any one of the ever-popular bad boy myths.

—Divina Infusino

called also glam, glitter rock

Examples of glam rock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jay de la Cueva is saying goodbye to Brian Amadeus, the alter ego that has accompanied him since 1999 fronting the Mexican glam rock band Moderatto. —Natalia Cano, Billboard, 2 Aug. 2023

Great shows are all over From large robotic insects in Golden Gate Park to the iconic Bay Area glam rock band The Tubes, there are a ton of great shows, exhibits and concerts to catch in the Bay Area this week. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024

From glam rock fashion to Old Hollywood glam, glamour was the word of the day. —Maane Khatchatourian, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2024

By topping off her look with a pair of white sneakers, Waterhouse added even more comfort to the equation without sacrificing her '70s glam rock aesthetic. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 7 Dec. 2023

The music blaring at Rizzoli’s NoMad flagship on Tuesday night was a retro set of ’70s glam rock courtesy of DJ Stretch Armstrong, with designer and host Frida Giannini holding court in a Woodstock concert T-shirt. —Mario Abad, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2023

Celebrate the spirit of rock-and-roll with DJ Matt Mathews, whose previous sets at the Runaway have been packed with power pop, post-punk and retro glam rock. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2024

The pop diva was spotted giving classic glam rock in Los Angeles on November 14. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Nov. 2023

On Oct, 21, the frontman of glam rock group Royal Sugar, 29, married Zarrella, 27, in a Nashville wedding extravaganza. —Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 24 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above