Glam rock (also known as glitter rock) developed in the UK in the post-hippie early 1970s performed by singers and musicians wearing outrageous clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and platform-soled boots that musically was a guitar-driven hard rock sound incorporating proto-punk, soul and retro rock 'n' roll influences.
The flamboyant lyrics, costumes, and visual styles of glam performers were a campy, theatrical blend of nostalgic references to science fiction and old movies, while the music was a return to a simpler, rawer and more populist form of rock after the perceived excesses of the preceding psychedelic and prog rock artists (though leading acts of the Glam era David Bowie and Queen were both parts of these scenes themselves and, along with Lou Reed and Roxy Music were strongly inclined towards Art Rock). In both these ways glam informed the aesthetics and attitude of many punk/new wave bands who were to emerge a few years later.
Largely a British phenomenon, glam rock peaked during the early 1970s. Marc Bolan and T. Rex, Gary Glitter, Sweet and Slade were some of the most popular artists of the movement, while other influential performers include David Bowie, Roxy Music, Mud, Queen, Mott the Hoople, Brian Eno and Suzi Quatro.
The style is not to be confused with shock rock.
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