What is Glam Rock?

Glam rock (also known as glitter rock), is a rock music style that developed in the UK in the post-hippie early 1970s which was "performed by singers and musicians wearing outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots." The flamboyant lyrics, costumes, and visual styles of glam performers were a campy, theatrical blend of nostalgic references to science fiction and old movies, all over a guitar-driven hard rock sound.

Largely a British phenomenon, glam rock peaked during the early 1970s. The "most famous exponents" of the movement were "Marc Bolan, Gary Glitter and the bands Sweet and Slade." Other influential performers include Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Mud, Queen, Mott The Hoople, The Glitter Band and Suzie Quatro.