menu Home chevron_right
AGGRO : HISTORY

12 Hair Metal Songs That Survived the Dark Years

The Hair Metal Guru | September 25, 2026



The 1990s were a dark time for Hair Metal. By 1994, the music that had dominated MTV and rock radio was largely pushed underground—but that doesn’t mean the great songs stopped coming.

In this video, four of us each choose 3 songs from 1994–1998 that still regularly make their playlists. That’s 12 songs that prove there was still plenty of great music being made during Hair Metal’s so-called “Dark Years.”

Which songs made the list? And what songs would YOU add?

🎸 12 Songs We Still Play
🔥 The Dark Years of Hair Metal: 1994–1998

Leave your picks in the comments!

#HairMetal #GlamMetal #80sRock #90sRock #HairMetalGuru

Please Like, Subscribe, & HYPE!! Thank you!!

Feel free to donate (or NOT!) to my PayPal: anthony.a.bryant@hotmail.com

The Hair Metal Guru on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/show/2ytnPes9fSQoGK0ii9SAB9?si=e2e53cc9285c40ee

Follow me on X!
https://x.com/HairMetalGuru

The Hair Metal Guru on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thehairmetalguru/

Buy some of your favorite hard rock releases at FNA Records!
https://fnarecords.net/

Support Stevie Rachelle and Metal Sludge:
www.metalsludge.tv

I host Hair Metal Mansion on Rock 101 KLOL every Saturday night from 6-8pm Central Time… you can listen here!
https://www.rock101klol.com/

Written by The Hair Metal Guru

Comments

This post currently has 49 comments.

  4. @MikeGamesSingingOrigamiVlog

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    My Favorite hair metal band, album from 1994, was, is Firehouse.

    They were known for both their power ballads, and ballads, but they also had some awesome non ballad hard rock, buttrock, power rock, hair metal, etc, songs, that are, were good.

    They were sponsored, mentored, discovered, etc, by Bon Jovi.

    Their Ballads is how Firehouse survived the dark period of the 90's.

    Bon Jovi also put out a Album in 1994, 1995 ish, that put out songs like Its My Life, and Always, Keep the Faith, Have a Nice Day.

    You mentioned Scorpions Wild Child. But Scorpions Winds of Change, that released or rereleased in 1994, 1995 was
    ,is really good.

    Def Leppard stayed relevant through its release of Vault Greatest Hits in 1995, that featured not only hits from Pyromania, Hysteria, Adrenalize, like Rock of Ages, Photograph, Pour Some Sugar on me, Lets Get Rocked, Have you Ever Needed Someone So Bad, Love Bites, Rocket, etc, but featured 2 bonus, new never been released until 1995 singles, Two Steps Behind, and When Love and Hate Collide.

    Vault kept Def Leppard Relevant in the mid 90's.

    Aerosmith, and Steven Tyler released a Album in 1997, 1998 that had songs like "I Dont Want to Miss a Thing" that was used for the Movie Armageddon.

    So there were mainstream made it big time hair metal, hair hard rock bands like Firehouse, Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Aerosmith, Steve Tyler, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, that were releasing Albums, Singles, in, from 1994 to 1998 from the Dark Period, that flourished, that was, is better then the music of the nonmainstream bands you guys mentioned.

    Theres a reason why Frontline, Savatage, Danger Danger, Dirty something whatever the band name, and Big Bad Wolf, was not as good, not as big as, not as popular, not as mainstream as Motley Crue, Scorpions, Firehouse, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Steven Tyler were during the 90's, 94 to 98, and thats because they had made it, were so big, had huge fanbases, and had such good music, and were so much better then the bands Frontline, Danger Danger, Savatage, Big Bad Wolf, Dirty Something, that while good, were not as good as Scorpions, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Firehouse, Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, etc.

  7. @ChrisPorter-il2vp

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Anthony/Patrick, Matt/RVK I Love this kick ass Rock channel, I loved this episode & all of the kick ass bands that you brought up their songs awesome picks BTW I may add never change who you are, never stop Rockin neither I'll never stop being your Big huge loyal fan, follower/supporter, bestie/brother this channel really does kick ass. Long live Rock n' Roll/The Hair Metal Guru…. Forever from yours truly Chris '' PartyRocker '' Porter.

  12. @johnnyblackout

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Yes! You guys talked about some of my favorite songs…Jaded from Danger Danger is amazing. That song could have been a radio hit. It had that Marvelous 3 sorta vibe to it. Paul is always great and a super nice dude. Big Bad Wolf – so obscure – one of those MTM gems and – yeah – I believe it was recorded in the early 90s. Love that Scorpions record although I think my fave is Oh Girl. Die Off Hard by Harem Scarem is so good. Love Karma Cleansing and Big Bang Theory has Climb the Gate which rocks. I thought you guys might throw in some Jaded Heart but you got Frontline in there so that's cool as hell.

  17. @0U812FU

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Fantastic video gentlemen!
    It was a dark time but you could definitely find some good stuff in there.. going to be a little more with the commercial bands here:
    .
    1. Dokken
    too high to fly

    2. Kiss
    psycho circus

    3. Boston – And I've seen a few mentions on this one but "surrender to me" is a phenomenal song.
    Honorable mention

    Van Halen – 7th seal

  23. @andy.braban

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Frontline, superb albums. Right up to the point of the Ai album of 2026 that they denied using. But Stephan kammera's voice is so different l. My favourite is one called, right attitude.

  24. @appplebong

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Harem Scarem are fantastic. I've been a fan since their debut Album. I have so many versions of their music. They released so much music. They are so talented. If you're interested start with their 1st Album and enjoy the Ride.

  30. @klyter21

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Thanks for the reminder about that Boston song from 1994. Forgot about it but thoroughly enjoyed it back then and actually played it on a pub's "jukebox" a few times!! 🙂Will be playing it here on YouTube very shortly.

  31. @HaremScarem-q9i

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Great topic…

    1) Walk On from Boston is a great album…if I was betting which song from it would be picked…I would have guessed (incorrectly) "Surrender to me" …that is also a great song
    2) Harem Scarem – another good call with "Die off Hard"- if you are looking for albums to check out first – over their vast catalog- May I suggest "Mood Swings" "Weight of the World"….and "United" to start with. Ok…and maybe "Human Nature" (not sure what your thoughts are Stone?) I agree…lots to love from each album…even if each album varies in style.

    Thanks for all you guys do – love the channel🇨🇦

  32. @FredBull1976

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    MSG – Love never dies
    Joey Tempest – We come alive
    David Coverdale – Dont lie to me
    Rick Springfield & Sahara Snow – Rovianne
    Great White – Hey, little Mama
    Gotthard – Mighty Quinn
    Krokus – To rock or not to be
    Def Leppar – Demolition man
    Dare – Someday
    Firehous – Perfect world
    The Storm – What ya doing tonight
    The Vu – Keys to the city
    Axel Rudi Pell – Carousel
    Axel Rudi Pell – Forever young
    Axel Rudi Pell – Your Life
    Axel Rudi Pell – Warrion (Jeff Scott Soto)
    Hugo – If youre ever lonely
    ACDC – Hard as a rock
    Boston – Surrender to me

    Great show, guys … thanks for your efforts

  35. @mkultra1965

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Check out Gotthard "Dial Hard," Bogus Toms debut and the rare of rare Thunderfoot "Southern Discomfort." Believe me, I scoured every possible avenue back in the "dark days" to get my fix. Perris Records and CMC International was my lifeline.

  39. @amagickalmeliss

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Do you know who did help me in the late 90s was marvelous 3!!!!!!!!!! (who used to be that band sshhhh don’t tell anyone they didn’t want anyone talking about it)

    And also SR71, who used to be known as honor among thieves in the local area.

  40. @stephanea5364

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Bitter Pill, amazing choice. I always wonder why Motley didnt try to make a whole record of songs like Primal Scream and Bitter Pill vein.
    And Savatage, another great choice. This band is soooo underrated. Criss Oliva was one of the best guitar player, playing with both technique and feelings. Just perfect. Skolnick, and Pitrelli kept that same approach, and they're great too.

  45. @Defining_Real

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    I was working for a mainstream rock station then. Even previously core artists (Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue), maybe had 2 or 3 songs left on the playlist to make way for grunge. I was always excited when CMC International (Slaughter, Dokken) sent some new stuff for the SMASH OR TRASH segment. WILD CHILD from Scorps was a bright spot from the period. So was DESERT SONG from Leppard. Even hair metal adjacent Foreigner had the killer LOWDOWN & DIRTY with a new singer. All those songs got super minimal airplay, but any time I got to play a melodic track I had a few minutes of heaven. Jackyl was also a standout from the period.

  47. @Johnny_Rock_Fan

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    RVK with the Bitter Pill callout! Love it!!! Couldn't agree more! In addition to that song, I'd include Unknown Destination by Slaughter and Promises by Def Leppard. Maybe not deep cuts, but worth shouting out!

  49. @amagickalmeliss

    September 25, 2026 at 2:00 am

    Off topic comment. I only just saw ur video talking about ballads and I wanted to pop a couple of my favs:

    Desperate by Babylon AD‼️‼️

    Father Time and The Answer by Richie Sambora 💜💜💜

    And even though I think this album was on a list that you considered a bad album:

    👉🏻Might as well be on Mars by Alice Cooper👈🏻

Comments are closed.

Related
The DUMBEST Sampling Mistake of the 90s…
Rock N' Roll True Stories | October 8, 2026
Related
I Finally Saw Wednesday 13 Live — Here’s What I Think
The Hair Metal Guru | October 8, 2026
Related
Review: Streamer ‘Into the Void’ (traditional heavy metal)
Sea of Tranquility | October 8, 2026

This area can contain widgets, menus, shortcodes and custom content. You can manage it from the Customizer, in the Second layer section.

 

 

 

Go to album
  • play_circle_filled

    92.9 : The Torch

  • play_circle_filled

    AGGRO
    'Til Deaf Do Us Part...

  • play_circle_filled

    SLACK!
    The Music That Made Gen-X

  • play_circle_filled

    KUDZU
    The Northwoods' Alt-Country & Americana

  • play_circle_filled

    BOOZHOO
    Indigenous Radio

  • play_circle_filled

    THE FLOW
    The Northwoods' Hip Hop and R&B

play_arrow skip_previous skip_next volume_down
playlist_play