Quick Quiz…. Hair, leather, metal, make-up, and more hair: which decade?
That’s right. You guessed it, or at least I hope you did. It’s the 80s, and, man, was it a decade. Sad as it may be now, though, most of the big names from that era have slipped into oblivion. With bands like Docken, Firehouse, Great White, and far too many others to mention not even being a blip on the younger generation’s radar, it might easily be thought this aesthetically loony decade has disappeared forever. And the artist’s themselves … forgidaboutit! Ain’t nobody remembers them, right? Wrong! Although most have gotten haircuts and real jobs all these many years later, there are those diehards who simply and adamantly refuse to give up their turns under the limelight. Sit back in your chair now, make yourself comfortable, push those reading glasses a little higher up on your nose, and prepare yourself for World of Female’s top ten 80s rockers who refuse to lower their fists and fade into the background.
Rocker #10
Vince Neil (Vincent Neil Wharton)
Earning himself a whole heap of fortune and a whole lot of fame throughout the eighties as the lead vocalist for Mötley Crüe, Vince Neil also went on to add auto racing, creating his own brand of tequila, and founding a wine making enterprise called Vince Vineyards to his resume. In 2010 he laced up his skates and stepped on the ice with pro skater, Jennifer Wester, to kick-off ABC’s new series, Skating With The Stars (a spin-off of the popular, Dancing With The Stars). Neil’s latest newsworthy note, however, and the tid-bit that pushed him to the bottom of our list, is that charges have been brought up against him for roughin’ up his woman. Not cool Vince. Not cool.
Rocker #9
Alice Cooper (Vincent Damon Furnier)
Although the Alice Cooper franchise had already been deeply established in the music industry by the start of the eighties, his popularity was beginning to wane as the decade progressed. That all changed, though, in 86 when he exploded back onto the scene with the album, Constrictor, from which, He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask), was used as the theme song for the movie, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Above being a restaurateur, a celebrity golfer, and an actor, Cooper became a radio personality on his show, Nights with Alice Cooper, in 2004. In 2011 the original lineup of Alice Cooper from all the way back in 68 were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Rocker #8
Steve Harris (Stephen Percy Harris)
Standing for the entreaty of band for the number eight spot, Steve Harris is the basest, primary lyric writer, backing vocalist, occasional keyboardist, and most importantly, the founder of Iron Maiden. Since the time of its creation (Christmas day: 75), Maiden’s gone on to produce an astonishing thirty-six albums including 15 studio albums, 11 live albums, 4 EPs, and 6 compilation albums, and are today considered to be amongst the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history.
Rocker #7
James Hetfield (James Alan Hetfield)
Ranked within the top ten in Joel McIver’s 2009 book, The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and twenty-fourth on Hit Parader’s list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time, Hetfield is a true legend of his own time. While not writing, playing, or screaming his ass off as the front man for Metallica, he spends his time customizing and drooling over cars at hot-rod shows. In 2009, James Hetfield, along with fellow Metallica members Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, former bassist Jason Newsted, and deceased bassist Cliff Burton, were all inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Rocker #6
Tommy Lee (Thomas Lee Bass)
Born in Athens, Greece, with a drumstick in each hand, Tommy Lee’s the founding member of the little-known band: Mötley Crüe. … Yea right, right? This guy’s set the bar for Holly Wood bad-asses from the time he first stuck his over-haired head into the public eye back in 81. He’s had a solo career, a rap metal band called Methods of Mayhem, and Pam Anderson; he’s been shaken up, torn up, ripped up, turned upside down, and had his ass hanging out in public more than a p**n star. He’s had reality shows centered around him, he’s been spoofed on Family Guy, he’s been … did I mention he had Pam Anderson… Every guy’s dream, man. Every guy’s dream.
Rocker #5
Zakk Wylde (Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt)
A master of the fret-board and best known for his lead guitar roles with bands, Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society, Zakk Wilde has also found his way onto the silver screen as a character named Ghode: the guitarist for the fictional metal band, Steel Dragons, in the movie Rock Star. In 2003 he made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live where he sat in with the host band and threatened to lay a pounding on Limp Bizkit’s front man: Fred Durst. Wilde’s latest appearance in the public eye came when he belted out Sammy Hagar’s Heavy Metal with American Idol hopeful, James Durbin, to close the Idol show for that evening.
Rocker #4
Bret Michaels (Bret Michael Sychak)
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn … the emotional anthem for heartbreak of the decade … who of anybody from the late 80s hasn’t felt the sting of those lyrics at one time or another? Nobody, that’s who. And to think: Michaels was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the ripe old age of only six. It seems this guy wasn’t about to let anything stand in the way of his turn at stardom. And then, of course, there’s the whole Pam Anderson thing. Yea, him too. Today Michaels is working with teen-idol, Miley Cyrus, on a remake of that same old emotional anthem bringing him back under the spotlight once again and earning him a respectful number four spot on our list.
Rocker #3
Ozzy Osbourne (John Michael Osbourne)
In a word: ICON. If there’s ever a Rushmore chiseled out of the mountainside to pay tribute the most notable of the greats in the music industry, this guy’s chin needs to be amongst the mugs hanging over the countryside. Ozzy’s career got underway just before the 70s broke when he and friends started a band called Rare Breed, which they quickly changed to, Earth, which they quickly changed to Black Sabbath. After settling on a name and rockin’ the fuck out of the 70s, Ozzy left (or more appropriately: got the boot from) Sabbath, and started his own thing under the management of his future wife: Sharon Arden (Sharon Osbourne today). Guess it can go without sayin: he done well for himself flying solo. Then of course there’s the whole Osbournes reality show thing yada, yada, yada, and so on, and so forth, and we all know how big that went over. Seems anything this guy touches is automatically golden.
Rocker #2
Slash (Saul Hudson)
Spending most of the 80s going only by the name of Slash, obscured by hair, and trimmed out by his trademark top-hat, this guy should have been considered one of the most mysteries rockers to have come out of the entire decade. His talent, as it seemed though, was his true trademark because nobody back then seemed to give a shit they could only see an electric guitar protruding from a puff-ball of black fluff. With the crash of Guns N’ Roses not dimming his limelight what so ever, he went on to co-create Velvet Revolver with former Guns N’ Roses members Duff Mckagan and Matt Sorum, and is now considered to be one of the most respected guitarist in America. Slash is presently on tour promoting his latest album simply called Slash with vocalist, Myles Kennedy, and has recently made headlines when deciding to go ahead with the Japan end of his tour regardless of the 9.0 quake that shook the region.
Rocker #1
Steven Tyler (Steven Victor Tallarico)
On close examination you’ll notice a tiny set of eyes and a small nose high on Steven Tyler forehead; the rest of his face is completely and absolutely dedicated to Yeoowwwlllll! The newest crew of up-and-coming fans will recognize this guy right away as the new and flashy American Idol judge who’s choice words are often bleeped out during the show, but back in the day Stephen Tyler was … well, he was Stephen Tyler, but man could he sing. To put the Demon of Screamin’ as number one on our list with no mention of the group that put him on the map, though … that would be a travesty. So, in a nutshell: here it is. Joined Aerosmith, got popular, got high, got less popular, got rehab, busted back onto the scene, became legend: Aerosmith.
