Glam Metal

Accept, the German heavy metal titans, roared onto the scene in Solingen in 1976, forged from the ashes of earlier projects like Band X. Founded by guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, and bassist Peter Baltes, the band`s influence on speed and thrash metal is undeniable, solidifying their place in the burgeoning German heavy metal scene of the early to mid-1980s.

While numerous lineup changes have seen all but Hoffmann depart—he remains the sole constant member across their extensive discography—Accepts legacy remains untarnished. Their breakthrough arrived with 1983s Balls to the Wall, achieving US and Canadian gold certification and cementing their status with the iconic title track. The band`s seventeen studio albums, five live albums, and nine compilations represent a vast catalog, totaling over 17 million units sold worldwide as of 2024.

Accept`s history is punctuated by periods of both intense activity and hiatus. Their first split in 1989, shortly after Eat the Heat (their only album with David Reece on vocals), saw a reformation in 1992 followed by another split in 1997. A brief reunion in 2005 ultimately led to a more permanent return in 2009, with former T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo taking the reins from Dirkschneider. This lineup has produced six highly successful albums: Blood of the Nations, Stalingrad, Blind Rage, The Rise of Chaos, Too Mean to Die, and Humanoid (2024). These releases have propelled Accept back into the German top ten charts, reigniting their fervent fanbase.

RATT (stylized as RATT), the iconic American glam metal band, ruled the 1980s. Their albums achieved multi-platinum status, cementing their place in music history. The bands infectious hits, including the Billboard Top 40 smashes "Round and Round" (#12) and "Lay It Down" (#40), along with anthems like "Wanted Man," "Youre in Love," and "Dance," became staples of the era. Shoulder-to-shoulder with rivals like Mötley Crüe, RATT was pivotal in shaping the explosive Los Angeles glam metal scene—also known as hair metal or pop metal—of the early 1980s.

Though they continued touring and recording sporadically from the 1990s to 2021, enduring numerous lineup changes and extended hiatuses, their final studio album, Infestation, dropped in April 2010.

Early Years (1973-1982):

RATT`s story begins in 1973 Hollywood with the band Firedome, formed by vocalist Stephen Pearcy and friends. After Firedome disbanded in 1974, Pearcy formed Crystal Pystal, later evolving into Mickey Ratt in 1976, finally shortened to Ratt in 1977, setting the stage for their legendary rise.

Skid Row, the New Jersey hard rock titans, exploded onto the scene in 1986. Their classic lineup – Rachel Bolan (bass), Dave Sabo (guitar), Scotti Hill (guitar), Rob Affuso (drums), and the unforgettable Sebastian Bach (vocals) – forged a legacy of arena-rocking anthems. Their debut self-titled album (1989) and its follow-up, Slave to the Grind (1991), achieved multi-platinum status, with the latter hitting #1 on the Billboard 200. These albums spawned a string of iconic hits like "18 and Life," "I Remember You" (both Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits), "Youth Gone Wild," "Monkey Business," "Slave to the Grind," "Wasted Time," and "In a Darkened Room," solidifying their place in the 80s/90s hard rock pantheon. While their third album, Subhuman Race (1995), received critical acclaim, it couldnt replicate the phenomenal success of its predecessors. By 1996, the band had sold 20 million albums worldwide, but internal tensions led to Bach and Affusos departures, plunging Skid Row into a three-year hiatus.

Resurfacing in 1999 with Johnny Solinger replacing Bach, Skid Row continued, albeit with a rotating cast of drummers (most recently Rob Hammersmith). Solinger fronted the band on two studio albums, Thickskin (2003) and Revolutions per Minute (2006), as well as the United World Rebellion EPs (2013 & 2014), receiving a mixed critical response. Despite the lineup changes, Skid Row`s impact on hard rock remains undeniable, cemented by the enduring power of their early, classic-era material.