Marc Bolan is credited with sparking glam rock music. Bolan and his band, T. Rex, used distorted guitars, high volume and pigmented makeup on stage. This was to be the identity of glam rock musicians--sexually ambiguous, futuristic gods. By the end of 1972, Bolan and his band were at the height of their fame. Glam rock music then inspired David Bowie and other artists to join the movement spreading in the U.K.
David Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, was among the most visual and recognized glam rock artists. The New York Dolls were popular in 1971 and took on a more high-energy sound inspired by earlier glam rockers The Kinks. Their lyrics became more about freedom of fornication, and other artists followed suit. The typical glam rock artist by 1973 had abandoned face paint for long frizzy hair and tight fabrics.
In 1975, glam rock abandoned the space-age theme in lieu of something more dance-club friendly. Bowie and other artists embraced disco and soul as true glam rock was falling out of popularity. Ziggy Stardust was "retired" and Bowie put together a more progressive sound. The New York Dolls split up as the band decreased in popularity. Many glam rock bands turned to punk.
In the 1980s, bands such as Aerosmith, Poison and Motley Crue hit the scene and paid homage to the glam rockers who came before them. Guitar riffs reminiscent of earlier bands were revived and exaggerated to accommodate the new rising interest in metal and hard rock. Def Leppard, Quiet Riot and Guns N' Roses all followed suit. For a few years between 1983 and 1988, glam had a slight revival with such bands.
Glam rock had primarily futuristic influences and alluded to the possibility of sexual ambiguity. The guitar riffs were distorted and were thought to sound off key. Today those guitar riffs are present in popular music on a regular basis. Marc Bolan and his band pioneered the distorted guitar sound. Toward the late '70s, glam rock took its influences from the R&B and disco sounds that were becoming popular.