GLAM ROCK European Style

Glam Rock was massively popular throughout western Europe in the 70's, with many British bands finding success there even when it eluded them in the UK (such as Hello, Shabby Tiger and Merlin).

It is surprising that more countries did not produce their own home grown acts, though I suspect that they probably did and they just remain unknown outside their native lands. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone in European countries to help fill in the gaps.

HOLLAND

The Netherlands seems to be the country who produced the most home grown acts, although it could just be because their artists tended to sing in English that they are better known.

GOLDEN EARRING had been prolific recording artists since the mid-sixties, their sound and image taking a turn in the direction of glam in the early 70's, which no doubt helped 'Radar Love' to reach the British charts in '74.

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE & UNIT GLORIA almost cracked the UK charts with their terrific single 'Clap Your Hands (And Stamp Your Feet)'. They produced a number of other singles in a similar vein, before Bonnie went solo and released a further series of recordings in her native language.

CATAPULT were massive at home and in other European countries, but despite producing a string of great stomping glam singles throughout the 70's the failed to cross the channel.

KAYAK had the glam visual style, though much of their music was more prog-orientated, but singles such as 'We are not amused' and 'Wintertime' fitted in.

HEART were fronted by future disco diva and Starsister Patricia Paay, and produced a series of early 70's singles much in the style of Suzi Quatro.

LEMMING gave us gothic glam with great singles like 'Lucifera' and 'Queen Jacula'.

LEFT SIDE's releases wrere oddly interchangable with those of Unit Gloria, both acts releasing versions of 'Clap Your Hands' and '(Like A) Locomotion'.

Other Dutch acts for consideration include SMYLE who enjoyed several Euro hits and LIMOUSINE.

GERMANY

GIORGIO MORODER, although Italian born, was Germany-based by the time he started his recording career in the late sixties, and enjoyed a number of bubblegum/glam hits across Europe in the early 70's under the name GIORGIO and as half of the duo SPINACH. He is largely responsible for popularising the synthesiser, before such synth-led glam groups as Roxy Music, Sparks (who's late 70's chart comeback 'No.1 In Heaven' he produced) and Chicory Tip (he recorded the original version of 'Son Of My father', and his was the hit version across most of Europe).

ABACUS released a series of English language singles and albums in a heavy glam-pop style.

PETER MAFFAY covered Chicory Tip's 'What's Your Name' in his native language, and enjoyed a lengthy career. Similarly KRUGERS NATIONALPARK covered Sailor's 'Girls Girls Girls' in their native tongue, but do not otherwise appear to have been a glam act.

MUFF, who is featured in the Junk Shop Glam pages, may also have been German, but I await some confirmation of this.

Golden Earring

Bonnie St. Claire

Key Glam Tracks

GOLDEN EARRING

Buddy Joe

Stand By Me

Radar Love

Ce Soir

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE

Clap Your Hands

Voulez-Vous

Waikiki Man

Rocco (Don't Go)

CATAPULT

Let Your Hair Hang Down

Teeny Bopper Band

The Stealer

Disco Njet Wodka Da

KAYAK

We Are Not Amused

Wintertime

HEART

Lovemaker

Hang On

Stronger

SMYLE

The Tandem

LEMMING

Lucifera

Queen Jacula

LEFT SIDE

(Like A) Locomotion

GIORGIO

Son Of My Father

ABACUS

Indian Dancer

PETER MAFFAY

Wo Bist Du

Catapult

Kayak

Smyle

Lemming

Glam European Style is now split over 2 pages. For information on acts from SWEDEN (Abba, Magnus Uggla, Tears, Blue Swede), FRANCE (The Frenchies, Rockets) and SPAIN (Burning): follow this link

MORE GLAM EUROPEAN STYLE

Links

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE

BONNIE ST. CLAIRE 2

CATAPULT

KAYAK 1

KAYAK 2

SMYLE