Episode 26: Starmen: Glam Rock of the 70s

SHOW NOTES

In this episode, Amy examines the fashion, theatrics, and music that combined to make 70s glam rock. This sub-genre of rock definitely pushed the boundaries of gender and masculinity, but glam was more than glitter and shiny jumpsuits. It was rock music and produced some of the classic rock songs of the decade, such as “All the Young Dudes” by Mott the Hoople and “Star Man” by David Bowie. It informed the cult class film. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.,” and it foretold the coming of 80s new wave and metal. It also carved out a safe space for queer kids to express themselves without having to come out. Glam was flashy and it was, at times, outrageous, but Amy makes the case that dismissing glam as pure theater is missing the point of glam’s role in 70s pop culture.

PLAYLIST

  1. (Bang a Gong) Get it On by T Rex (1971)

  2. School’s Out by Alice Cooper (1972)

  3. Starman by David Bowie (1972)

  4. All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople (1972)

  5. Love is the Drug by Roxy Music (1975)

  6. Sweet Transvestite by Tim Curry (1975)

  7. Love is like Oxygen by Sweet (1978)

SOURCES

Booth, Susan E. “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/booth_ziggy_stardust.pdf

Copetas, Craig. “Beat Godfather Meets Glitter Mainman: William Burroughs Interviews David Bowie.” Rolling Stone. February 28, 1974.

Cornell Julian.  Rocky Horror Glam Rock. In: Weinstock J.A. (eds) Reading Rocky Horror. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230616820_3, 2008.

Chatham43. “Marc Bolan 1972 Interview.” YouTube Video. March 16, 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlUza2jV4B8&t=102s

D.B. “How Roxy Music Helped Define Generations of Pop.” The Economist. March 19, 2019. https://www.economist.com/prospero/2019/03/19/how-roxy-music-helped-define-generations-of-pop

Kilday, Gregg. “All That Glitters is Not Rock. Miami Herald. September 8, 1974.

Moriarty, Wayne. “Love is Like Oxygen Contest.” Edmonton Journal. August 27, 1998.

Official Alice Cooper. “Rare Alice Cooper 1974 Interview During Billion Dollar Babies Tour.” YouTube. November 27, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E90jokEn8M4

Palmer, Tony. “Shock Tactics from the Roxy.” The Observer (London). April 15, 1973. 

Petridis, Alex. “Why Marc Bolan was the Perfect Pop Star, by Elton John, U2, and more.” The Guardian.  September 4, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/04/marc-bolan-perfect-pop-star-t-rex-singer-tribute-album-elton-john-u2

Reynolds, Simon. Shock and Awe. Dey St.: New York. 2016. 

Rock, Mick. Glam!: An Eyewitness Account. United Kingdom: Omnibus Press, 2005.

Thomas, Michael. “T. Rex is a Monster. And I am the Whipmaster.” Rolling Stone. March 16, 1972. 

Wadsworth, John. “Roxy Music is Ethereal.” The Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, NC). January 24, 1974.

West, Mike. “Glitter Rock is Lacking in Talent” The Daily News-Journal (Murfreesboro. TN). January 13. 1974. 

Amy Lively