Songs We HAVE To Crank! | Hair Metal Anthems & Hidden Gems
What happens when four hard rock and hair metal fans get together to talk about the songs they simply HAVE to crank when they come on?
In this episode of The Hair Metal Guru, I’m joined by Patrick, Ryan, and special guest Billy Morris (formerly of Warrant and Quiet Riot) to discuss the songs that demand maximum volume. From classic hair metal anthems to hidden gems that deserve more attention, everyone shares the tracks that make them reach for the volume knob every single time.
Did your favorite make the list? Let us know in the comments which songs YOU have to crank when they come on!
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@benstjack640
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Looks that Kill – Motley
Photograph – Def Leppard
Electric Eye – Judas Prieat
Unchained – Van Halen
Wildflower – The Cult
@DanielOzzzy189
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
I'd love to see Rikki Rokkett do one of these!
@chrisatwill9330
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
1. Iced Earth – Ten Thousand Strong (Best song for the gym) 2. Running Wild – Conquistadores 3. Motley Crue – Kickstart My Heart 4. Billy Idol – Speed 5. Stratovarius – Eagleheart
@chrissheridanrocks
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Crank it up! (and Go Stillers, yinz!)
@TanksFaves
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Great White/Rock Me, Dokken/The Hunter, Queensryche/ Take hold Of Flame, Accept/ Fast as a Shark, Motorhead/ We are the road crew.
@christopherkeeley6344
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
TNT-Tell No Tales🤘🤘🤘
Leatherwolf-The Calling
Rough Cutt-Dreamin’ Again
Armored Saint-Can You Deliver
Malice-License to Kill
Wings of Steel-We Rise
Striker-Too Late
@ivanstankovic2960
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
You think your tough,-Ratt
Hells Bells -Ac-Dc
Iton man-Sabbath
Its not love-Dokken
Meatal health-Quuet riot
Cat scratch fever-Ted Nugent..6 songs.
@lisafortune7019
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Agreed with “Stage Fright” by DL
@HoboRaider
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Hey guys. I just discovered your channel. I know you've probably answered this before, but would love your opinion.
Why do you think Guns N Roses was the only true rock band to remain successful in the grunge era? GNR didnt lose any steam at all.
I know Metallica was kicking behind too, but they're more metal than rock, so no one lumped them in with hair metal anyway.
GNR is my favorite band of all time. At the time, It didnt occur to me that they were the only hard rock band still standing.
Btw you are all WRONG about what killed grunge. Wanna know what really killed grunge? It was when Pearl Jam released that god awful where oh where can my baby be song. I was never a big Pearl Jam guy, but I respected them cuz I thought they were authentic. But that where oh where is my baby song made me lose all respect. Yall could probably do an entire episode on that song and how awful it was and the cultural significance of its awfulness lol
@KCKane-kc5dd
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Did he say Cuts like a knife, by Kiss ????
@CaboWabotv
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
"Wait" and "Little Fighter" by White Lion if anything just for Vito's improvised guitar solos alone that's on the recording. I really thought we found the successor to EVH
@CaboWabotv
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
VH "Cabo Wabo" takes me right back to 89 cruising around town in my Jeep wiith the top down. I wore out my OU812 cassette that summer.
@ozkisser
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Lynch Mob – Wicked Sensation
@ericsatterfield3178
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Killer Drarfs…nice mention 👍
@jimthar17
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Billy mentioned modern bands with that 80’s sound in Eclipse. If you guys want more bands like that check out Crazy Lixx, Santa Cruz and Crashdiet. They all have that 80’s look and sound.
Crazy Lixx – Rise Above
Santa Cruz – Aiming High.
*NOTE* I wrote the above comment before we got to the end of the video and Billy mentioned Santa Cruz and Crashdiet and Crazy Lixx. That’s some great minds think alike stuff! 😎😎😎
@peteadams9604
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Another great episode! So many to choose from, but one I just played recently was "Love Has Taken Its Toll" by Saraya
@JonathanReeves-wj6do
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Scorpions- Rock You Like a Hurricane. AC/DC- Thunderstruck. Cinderella- Gypsy Road. Motley Crue- Dr. Feelgood. Tesla- Modern Day Cowboy.
@denalemay5578
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Babylon a.d slave your body, monkey business, ratt can't wait on love, ten seconds to love, meanstreak. To all of you who love new bands. Black smoke trigger caught in the undertow, black oak county feels alright, any given sin dynamite sounds just like shinedown, cage the gods favorite sin
@ozkisser
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Vain – No Respect = Kick Ass!!
@ciaranmeeks9431
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
I have many! Here's several that spring to mind!
W.A.S.P. – I Wanna Be Somebody/Wildchild
Lizzy Borden – Me Against the World
Twisted Sister – We're Not Gonna Take It/I Wanna Rock
Motley Crue – Red Hot/Looks That Kill
Ratt- You're In Love
Danger Danger – Bang Bang/Don't Blame It On Love
Bad 4 Good – Nineteen
Hardline – Hot Cherie
Warrant – Uncle Tom's Cabin/Mr Rainmaker
Quiet Riot – Cum On Feel the Noise
Britny Fox – Louder/Long Way To Love
Trixter- Drag Me Down
@austindolan7182
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
van halen's afu (naturally wired) and panama are must cranks for me. down boys by warrant and winger's down incognito is too.
@scottelfverson597
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Hair metal genre top 5
1. Mr Rainmaker – Warrant
2. Power To The Music – Motley Crue
3. Ride The Wind – Poison
4. Atomic Playboys – Steve Stevens
5. Youth Gone Wild
Non Hair Metal
1. Holy Wars – Megadeth
2. Raining Blood – Slayer
3. Painkiller – Judas Priest
4. More Wine Waiter Please – The Poor
5. Down From The Sky – Trivium
@beatlesforever69
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
The Trooper- Iron Maiden
Stone in Love- Journey
Mean Streak- Y & T
Welcome to the Jungle- GnR
Hold on to 18- Black n Blue
Panama- VH
Metal Health- Quiet Riot
Skid Row- Big Guns/Youth Gone Wild/18 and Life
Pretty much any AC/DC- Bon Scott era and also anything off of Back in Black and of course, Thunderstruck!
Blow my Fuse- Kix
Whole Lotta Love- Zeppelin
The list is endless!!
@tracysarsycki7938
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Eagles will crush your whole division lol. Respect tp big Joe and the Bengals though.
White Zombie Thunder Kiss 1965
EMN Walls Come Down
Cats in Boots Her Monkey
Fastway Say What You Will
Black N Blue Wicked Bitch
@emmittzone99x
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
1. Still of the night – whitesnake
2. Blow my fuse -Kix
3. Modern Day Cowboy – Tesla
4. Can’t drive 55 – Sammy Hagar
5. Turn up the radio – Autograph
@bonehead797
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Don't Tell Me How To Live – Monster Truck
Nothing But A Good Time – Poison
Highway To Hell – AC/DC
To Much, To Young, To Fast – Airbourne
Shake And Tumble – Firehouse
Unchain The Night – Dokken
Standing In The Shadows – Britny Fox
Hide Your Heart – KISS
Caught Up In The Rush – Eclipse
Falling – Nordic Union
Put Your Money On Me – The Struts
@D-Wild-1
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
5-Shotgun Messiah – Heartbreak Blvd
4-Tora Tora – Amnesia
3-Brother Cane – And Fools Shine On
2-Saints & Sinners – Rip It Up
1-Hardline – Hot Cherie
@ezmoney9416
June 12, 2026 at 9:10 am
Great show!