51 definitions by Bill M.
A store where you can buy a shot gun, ammunition, a ski mask, a baseball bat, a meat cleaver and a chainsaw, but you can't buy a CD that has a "Parental Advisory" sticker.
by Bill M. July 28, 2004
A band of the hard rock or heavy metal variety associated with the 1980s, even if from the early 90s (as was the case with Damn Yankees, Mr. Big, Nelson) "Hair metal" was a term not coined until well into the 90s, but roughly covers what was known in the 80s as "glam metal".
Self-proclaimed haters of hair metal try to define the genre as music with all focus on image, and contrast it with grunge. Yet in grunge, the lack of aesthetics became a trendy enforced look itself, and the scene never produced any virtuoso "musician's musicians". Many credit Nirvana and grunge with the "death" of hair metal, but this is historically inaccurate, as hair metal's loss of popularity was mainly due to 1) sudden denial by radio stations and Mtv of any airplay or promotion, and 2) unrelated pitfalls of many key bands in a very short time span: Ozzy Osbourne had announced retirement, inner conflict led to Guns n' Roses' break-up, too many years taken off in between some band's albums (Metallica, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Def Leppard), while other bands lost prominent members (Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Poison).
Most hair metal bands in fact continued to put out albums and play small venues throughout the 1990s, finding promotion via the internet, college radio, and the work of loyal fans. Ironically, it then became a much more anti-corporate, "alternative" form of music than the 90s pop music that was still being called "alternative".
Self-proclaimed haters of hair metal try to define the genre as music with all focus on image, and contrast it with grunge. Yet in grunge, the lack of aesthetics became a trendy enforced look itself, and the scene never produced any virtuoso "musician's musicians". Many credit Nirvana and grunge with the "death" of hair metal, but this is historically inaccurate, as hair metal's loss of popularity was mainly due to 1) sudden denial by radio stations and Mtv of any airplay or promotion, and 2) unrelated pitfalls of many key bands in a very short time span: Ozzy Osbourne had announced retirement, inner conflict led to Guns n' Roses' break-up, too many years taken off in between some band's albums (Metallica, Alice Cooper, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Def Leppard), while other bands lost prominent members (Iron Maiden, Motley Crue, Poison).
Most hair metal bands in fact continued to put out albums and play small venues throughout the 1990s, finding promotion via the internet, college radio, and the work of loyal fans. Ironically, it then became a much more anti-corporate, "alternative" form of music than the 90s pop music that was still being called "alternative".
"Haha, look at all that hair metal. I hate anything that came out of the 80s."
"Wait a minute, didn't you just buy the latest CDs from Guns n' Roses, Aerosmith, and Metallica?"
"Yeah, but those bands don't count as hair metal because, um, you know. Er, uhhhh...hey what's on TV tonight?"
"Wait a minute, didn't you just buy the latest CDs from Guns n' Roses, Aerosmith, and Metallica?"
"Yeah, but those bands don't count as hair metal because, um, you know. Er, uhhhh...hey what's on TV tonight?"
by Bill M. July 24, 2004
A pass, usually in the form of a laminated card or felt-like sticker, that allows the bearer access to the "backstage" area of an entertainment event (e.g., a concert). The area might not literally be behind the stage, but some other at the venue normally restricted to the other event attendees. An event may have different types of backstage passes for different levels of access; typically the "All Access" passes for a concert are of the laminated card variety, whereas the sticker type usually only allows the bearer access to limited areas at predetermined times.
Many music fans dream of getting a backstage pass so that they can meet their favorite bands at one of their concerts, but they should realize that 1) the bands their fan clubs don't always have the power to give out backstage passes; usually it's the venue or radio stations who get a hold of these, 2) like front-row tickets, backstage passes are mostly snatched up by those who already personally know somebody in the band, crew, or venue staff. And most importantly, 3) even having a backstage pass does not guarentee that you'll get to meet the band.
Many music fans dream of getting a backstage pass so that they can meet their favorite bands at one of their concerts, but they should realize that 1) the bands their fan clubs don't always have the power to give out backstage passes; usually it's the venue or radio stations who get a hold of these, 2) like front-row tickets, backstage passes are mostly snatched up by those who already personally know somebody in the band, crew, or venue staff. And most importantly, 3) even having a backstage pass does not guarentee that you'll get to meet the band.
In the movie "Wayne's World", Wayne and Garth use their backstage passes to meet Alice Cooper after the show.
by Bill M. July 29, 2004
Short for mathematics - the logical study of quantity (numbers) and abstract structure (geometry), their operations, properties, applications, and how they all interrelate.
Aside from its incredible value in real-world applications (science, engineering, business, etc.), mathematics is also taught in schools because it's the best system to demonstrate and strengthen the vital concepts of deductive reasoning, objectivity, and abstract thinking.
People who are quick to say they hate math are typically those who had horrible math teachers/curricula in school, and never grasped the basic underlying concepts of math. Other reasons for an individual's poor math skills might include having a short attention span, no confidence to question what isn't understood, and the simple reinforcement by peers that it's OK to remain bad at math. But like a sonet or a piece of sheet music, mathematics reveals its beauty to those who speak its language.
Aside from its incredible value in real-world applications (science, engineering, business, etc.), mathematics is also taught in schools because it's the best system to demonstrate and strengthen the vital concepts of deductive reasoning, objectivity, and abstract thinking.
People who are quick to say they hate math are typically those who had horrible math teachers/curricula in school, and never grasped the basic underlying concepts of math. Other reasons for an individual's poor math skills might include having a short attention span, no confidence to question what isn't understood, and the simple reinforcement by peers that it's OK to remain bad at math. But like a sonet or a piece of sheet music, mathematics reveals its beauty to those who speak its language.
by Bill M. July 28, 2004
1) A musical instrument that is not electric
2) A musical performance that uses no electric instruments (aside from microphones and similar amplification)
2) A musical performance that uses no electric instruments (aside from microphones and similar amplification)
1) Jimi Hendrix played an electric guitar on the song "Purple Haze", but Paul Simon played an acoustic guitar on Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson". Techno and dance music uses electric drums, but rock music typically sticks to acoustic drums.
2) Eric Clapton's band did an acoustic show on "Mtv Unplugged".
2) Eric Clapton's band did an acoustic show on "Mtv Unplugged".
by Bill M. August 28, 2004
(adj) Describing an aspect that one keeps rather private or completely secret, usually due to fear of social rejection. Commonly used in reference to homosexuality, but not exclusively.
"Yep, my brother has his guilty pleasures when it comes to music. He's closet hair metal fan, believe it or not."
by Bill M. September 21, 2004
An abbreviation for a phrase created by taking the first letter or so of each word, AND is pronounced as a word itself.
"USA" is technically NOT an acronym, because people don't pronounce it as "You-Sah". However, "MADD" (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is an acronym because it's pronounced exactly as it's spelled.
by Bill M. July 28, 2004