Our Wacky, Wacky World

In the early ’70s, we Americans called it glitter and the English glam, but by any other name it would still be mass transvestitism. It’s this summer’s Great Big Thing in rock ’n’ roll in Southern California. There, inspired by the success (if not by their record deal, then by the number of spandex-encased teen slutettes who flock to their shows) of a group called Poison, who derive from Ratt via the infinitely dreadful Hanoi Rocks (who, of course, derived from the New York Dolls, who got the idea from the Rolling Stones in general and Mick Jagger’s 1967 film debut, Performance, in particular), every young male heavy metal musician in sight seems to have traded in his chain-, stud-,and spike-laden vinyl clothing, leer, and Morgan Fairchild hairdo for rouge, mascara, lip gloss, fishnet clothing, bracelets, a pout, and a Morgan Fairchild hairdo.