Is There Anyone Big Enough?

I must admit to being completely mesmerized by the Michael Jackson mess. Michael's entire family seems completely nuts and, as a result, he lead a completely tragic existence. That said, boy could sing (and dance!) better than just about anyone. He definitely earned his title as the King of Pop.

Yesterday, Noisecreep sort of mused if anyone in rock (or metal) would get as much publicity as MJ when their fateful death day arrives. Let's face it, we're all going to end up on the other side of the dirt sooner of later - so we better rock out while we still have the chance!

That said, I don't think there's really any true Metal artists that will make a massive media impact upon death. In rock, things are a little more complicated. Paul McCartney has left a massive legacy and, come on, he's a Beatle. Then there's Mick Jagger, of the freaking Rolling Stones. Talk about legacy! Every modern hard rock or metal band owes a debt to Jagger. He paved the way for rock n' roll debauchery - if you like Glam, thank Mick.

Does anyone else really come close to Paul or Mick? Not really, but Steven Tyler is an option, and Axl Rose presents an interesting scenario because he possesses a mix of big fame and crazy behavior. Glam, the media loves some juicy celeb behavior. Over on Noisecreep, my friend Chris Harris thinks Ozzy Osbourne will make quite a splash. I'll agree he's a big celeb, but no longer for his music. He's now more known as the "nutty guy with a ridiculous reality show and a calculating business woman for a wife." Legacy? I dunno. Being an original member of Black Sabbath gives instant metal cred, I'll admit that. 

I can't think of anyone else - ok, *maybe* Eddie VanHalen - that would create a complete, 24 hour media feeding frenzy like what we're seeing in the wake of Jackson's death. Maybe that's a good thing, but I'm not so sure. I guess it speaks to the general acceptance of rock music overall. We've come a long baby, but we ain't there yet. There will always be people that just don't like rock or metal - and there's those who refuse to give it a chance. No one was particularly afraid of Jackson's music - it was so widely loved and accepted, it's almost mind boggling. There's a reason the guy had five number one records - and Billboard is reporting a 1735% increase in his song play on radio since Thursday. Of course, Jackson's antics and unique lifestyle made him a huge media target.

Perhaps we should be thankful none of our beloved rock stars are normal tabloid fodder? Thoughts?

Win an Autographed Copy of 'Stay Hungry'

Want to win an autographed copy of the deluxe reissue of Stay Hungry? That's right: the disc is signed by every member of Twisted Sister!

If you want to enter, you must follow these steps:

Follow Bring Back Glam! on Twitter. The address: http://twitter.com/bringbackglam

Follow me by 5pm ET on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

After 5pm ET, I'll put all my followers in a hat (this means if you're already following me, you're automatically entered) and I'll draw a winner. I'll send a Tweet announcing the winner and we'll work out the shipping details privately. Anyone in the world is eligible - you don't need to be a U.S. resident.

Get tweetin'!

Top 7 Women in Rock: Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks is one of the most successful female singers of all time - and that's why she lands in the winner's spot on our countdown of the top seven women in rock. Nicks is best known for her time with Fleetwood Mac, but she's also had a very long and successful solo career. With Fleetwood Mac, Stevie recorded the album Rumours - considered by many to be one of the finest rock albums - period.

Some of Stevie's best known songs include "Gold Dust Woman," "Gypsy" and "Landslide."

With Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Nick's has also recorded with a lot of cool people, including Bret Michaels, Tico Torres and Jon Bon Jovi. Plus, Stevie influenced a ton of younger female singers, including Sheryl Crow and Kelly Clarkson. Above all else, she's pretty much stayed true to her own image, creating a signature sound that is undeniable.

You have to see this amazing footage of "Gold Dust Woman" from 1981.

Sad News for the Hairball Nation: the 'Acid Chimp' Signs Off

Sad news tonight for members of the Hairball Nation. Listeners of the Hairball John Radio Show certainly know the Acid Chimp, Alan Schafer. Chimpy died June 22nd from a heart attack. He was 37. 

Schafer was a dedicated side kick to Hairball John, providing funny commentary and stories during the weekly shows. The Hairball John Radio Show has been on hiatus for several months. John writes,"The future of The Hairball John Radio Show will be evaluated over the next couple of weeks, but at this time I mourn the loss of a very close friend and genuinely good man."

For more information on the Hairball John Radio Show, click here.

Photo by Carrie Harding

Top 7 Women in Rock: Ann and Nancy Wilson

Ann and Nancy Wilson are two rocking sisters – and together they comprise the core of Heart. For that reason, the Wilson sisters share the number two spot on our countdown of the top seven women in rock.

Heart formed in the 1970s and went on to make a splash in the hard rock world – not something common then for a group fronted by women. Heart churned out some amazing singles, especially “Alone,” “Crazy on You,” “These Dreams,” “What About Love?” and “Barracuda.”

Many female artists have covered Heart songs over the years – and “Alone” is an American Idol staple for female hopefuls with a rock edge.

Heart is currently on tour – some dates are with Journey.

Top 7 Women in Rock: Joan Jett

It’s pretty clear Joan Jett rules and that is why she comes in at number three on our countdown of the top women in rock.

Jett was a member of The Runaways and launched a successful rock career in the 1980s – both solo and with her band, The Blackhearts. Joan’s probably best known for her mega-hit cover “I Love Rock n’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Bad Reputation.”

Joan not only sings better than you – she can also wail on a guitar. Rolling Stone even put her on their “Top 100 Guitarist of All Time” list. Plus, Joan is a monster song writer.

A couple summers back, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts hit the road with Alice Cooper and Motorhead. I'm sure that was one hell of a tour! 

Remembering Michael Jackson

There really isn’t anyone bigger in the music world than Michael Jackson.

People become fascinated with celebrity: bigger than life stars that lead seemingly much better lives than our own. It’s always fun to dream of being rich and famous: owning a private jet, buying fancy clothes, traveling the world. And yet, celebrities lack one thing the rest of us have in abundance: privacy.

Michael Jackson lived his life running from the cameras. He had millions of rabid fans and most would do anything to meet him. Jackson responded to his fame in weird ways to be sure. There was the plastic surgery, the skin issues, the Elephant Man...and the child molestation allegations. Those molestation allegations set to derail Jackson and his career – but really nothing will be able to cancel his legacy when it comes to his place in music history.

At his core, Michael Jackson was all about the music - and the money that came from it.  Everything else was all secondary – and tabloid reporters were nearly rabid in their efforts to gain a juicy scoop on Jackson. In all those tabloids reports of Jackson’s eccentricity – his musical talents and all those Grammy Awards were forgotten.

We shouldn’t forget Jackson’s immense talent. In fact, he’s a once in a lifetime talent. A brilliant manipulator or both pop and rock. He was able to mold pop harmonies with rock guitar to create a bridge between the two genres. Metal fans might not point to Jackson as a favorite artist – but most of the musicians I’ve interviewed specifically list him by name as an influence.

As the news of Jackson’s death broke and details started to unfolded, I watched the news like everyone else – and then I went to work, reaching out to musicians and publicists to get their opinion on the matter. Jackson leaves behind an immense catalog of work. He was a pop culture icon, and deservedly so. The self-proclaimed King of Pop was about to embark on a 50 city European tour that sold out in seconds. Not many acts sell out shows these days – let alone in under a minute.

Of course, the days ahead will be most interesting. After the shock is over and news dissipates – the focus will shift to Jackson’s kids and his estate. Clearly, a long legal battle will ensue and the kids will most likely be bandied about in every different direction. That’s the real tragedy here.

Let’s not forget Jackson recorded with some of the musicians we love – especially Steve Stevens and Slash. A couple hours after Jackson’s death, Slash Tweeted “Really sad news about Michael, he was a talent from on high.” See, true music lovers appreciate talent across genres. Thank Glam we have so much music to enjoy.