As DJ Naked & Zerfleischt, Stephan Rehm invited Rozanes to the glam rock party series in the club “59:1” in the noughties. In short: he knows his stuff.
Two big ch-ch-ch-changes in the life of Stephan Rehm Rozanes: Feeling understood by a song for the first time in the heteronormative Bavarian province – Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” – and in an art cinema his favorite film-for-life, “Velvet Gold mine”, discover. Under the name DJ Naked & Zerfleischt, he invited people to his glam rock party series in the legendary Munich club “59:1” in the noughties. In short: he knows his stuff. Here are his glam rock recommendations.
The top 10 insider tips:
Cockney rebels – THE HUMAN MENAGERIE (1973)
The special appeal of this debut album is the express non-voice of the megalomaniac Steve Harley, as it croaks against these powerfully orchestrated songs, especially the essential glam definition “Sebastian”. That’s what makes this music so accessible: you don’t have to be blessed with the singing talent of Ferry, Bowie or even Mercury to be able to survive in the wicked midnight cabaret. But only there – Harley flopped with his band, and it was only as a soloist that he had a late hit with “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)”.
Jobriath – JOBRIATH (1973)
Certainly the most necessary entry on this list: The superstar who shouldn’t become one. Bruce Campbell, under the stage name Jobriath, was the first openly gay man to get a major deal – David Geffen signed him for a record-breaking $500,000. After a huge advertising campaign, including XXXL posters in Times Square, after pithy self-comparisons with Elvis and the Beatles, JOBRIATH missed the charts. A glamorous shame, as the pompously arranged record with its sci-fi, BDSM and woman-worshipping lyrics serves all the fantasies of the genre. In 1992, self-proclaimed uber-fan Morrissey tried to recruit Jobriath as a live support act, unaware that the artist had died of AIDS nine years earlier.
Secos & Molhados – SECOS & MOLHADOS (1973)
In Brazil, even the repressive military dictatorship could not stop the spread of androgynous performances. Ney Matogrosso, who was equipped with a dreamlike countertenor voice and appeared distinctly feminine – hailed by “Rolling Stone” as the greatest Brazilian singer of all time – led this trio, wandering between fado, prog and glam rock, with eccentric black and white make-up, which became a commercial phenomenon sold a sensational million records within 18 months. Their debut is like a carefree version of the Velvet Underground, like The Doors on life-affirming drugs.
Doctors Of Madness – FIGMENTS OF EMANCIPATION (1976)
There is no punk without glam, as these London art rockers around Richard – nomen est omen – Strange, who always missed out on commercial success, demonstrate in a breathtaking way. While their insanely lavish shows were opened by later superstars like the Sex Pistols, The Jam, Simple Minds and Joy Division, the Doctors’ hysterical theater rock would remain an insider tip. Band member Urban Blitz’s electric violin gave the group a distinctive and eerie sound – bassist Stoner was already wearing corpse paint back then. Their second album is a battle cry: anthemic, aggressive and, despite all its complexity, full of passion.
metro – METRO (1977)
With this British trio you can clearly see – literally – the genre’s wardrobe change from leopard skin to the cocktail party tailor-made suits that Roxy Music would soon wear. The lead single from their debut album, “Criminal World”, was deemed too sexy for a playlist by the BBC, but was saved six years later as a cover version by David Bowie. After the record’s flop, the band borrowed Stuart Copeland for a single; But he quickly returned to the police station and became a global star, while Metro remained a seductive secret.
Brett Smiley – BREATHLESSLY BOARD (2003)
The stuff glam dreams are made of: American with the looks of a porn queen is discovered by the dazzling Stones stripper Andrew Loog Oldham, releases two singles in 1974 – and disappears, apart from an appearance in the ’77 erotic outfit “Cinderella”.
His only album, recorded in 1974, was released in 2003. Bombastic ballads without any shame cuddle up with sleaze rockers carried by horns, as well as a Beatles cover and a harp-introduced medley from “I Can’t Help Myself” (The Four Tops) and “Over The Rainbow.” The following year, a search for clues was published in book form: “The Prettiest Star: Whatever Happened To Brett Smiley”. The HIV-infected person dies in 2016.
Velveteen Rabbit – VELVETEEN RABBIT (2019)
Most current neo-glam is buzzword-based modular pop with the artistic ambition of a tribute show. A pleasant exception is the Velveteen Rabbit from New York, named after an almost 100-year-old children’s book. There are stomp-with-the-high-heels beats and Mick Ronson licks here too, but an addition of dream pop, the drift into noisy psychedelia and the gender-bending vocals harmoniously expand the glam corset. Songs like “Too Much, Just Enough” even groove – back in the New York Groove!
City boy – YOUNG MEN GONE WEST (1977)
The “NME” compared the songwriting of this British sextet with that of Lennon/McCartney, City Boy was also the first band to be allowed to perform live on “Top Of The Pops” and hit guarantee Robert “Mutt” Lange produced their first five albums. All of them are recommendable, but the third one is probably the most “glamorous”. Lavish songs, dressed in luxury bathrobes with burn marks, performed with harmonies like the Gibb brothers.
The Hollywood Brats – THE HOLLYWOOD BRATS (1980)
Formed in 1971 as The Queen, these outrageous Londoners confirmed their reputation as the British counterpart to the New York Dolls with their final name. Always booed and often even beaten up on stage, they had at least one prominent, huge fan in Keith Moon. But no label wanted their drunken riot rock between glam and proto-punk. Their debut, recorded in 1973, was only released two years later – under a different band name and only in Norway. The first “real” release took place in 1980. At that point, no one was really interested in this style anymore, which would soon conquer the world as glam metal.
The Darkness – ONE WAY TICKET TO HELL…AND BACK (2005)
The album that was supposed to guarantee them entry into the stadiums turned out to be a gigantic flop, in the wake of which the “nation’s leading rock band” was to break up. It was said at the time that the joke had been told. Then Queen would have had to split up after their debut. Their singer would definitely have been delighted by the retro rockers’ second album, as it goes so far over the top that Mercury’s mustache would have twisted upwards to resemble a smiley face. The title track is also The Sweet’s best song that The Sweet never recorded.