American Song

During the 1980s, the Sunset Strip, based in West Hollywood, had become the nucleus for the mighty surge of hard rock that defined the era. Throughout the decade, thousands of hungry musicians, bands, and music industry hopefuls made the pilgrimage in hopes of getting signed to a major label. For a young man in the 1980s, it was the rock and roll version of the American dream. The result was a creative juggernaut. The Strip not only unleashed a tour de force of hard rock, but also became a beacon for fashion, youth culture, and good times. It was, in fact, the longest-running scene in rock history.
Likely, you have heard the stories and legends regarding rock royalty such as Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses... but those bands were only a small part of the actual story. By the mid-80s, the Strip bustled with a record number of bands, musicians, partygoers – and record companies. With hair metal dominating the charts, a signing frenzy commenced, and many young musicians were able to get a taste of rock and roll's holy grail: a major label recording contract. However, the 1990s were inching closer, and unbeknownst to all, things were about to change in a considerable manner. A multitude of bands dominating the Strip were being courted by the record labels, and global stardom was close at hand. These chosen few were destined to be the next big thing… and then came the crash. At the turn of the decade, with the arrival of this new thing called 'grunge,' these local legends on the path to rock and roll victory suddenly found themselves with no prospects - and no support. Everything was, rather suddenly, off the table. But was it truly the fault of grunge or something more organic?
American Song is the saga of hard rock (or hair metal if you like) in its glory and at its height - and consequently, its fall. It is the narrative of the bands that should have, could have, and would have made it to the major leagues. It is the story of a genre beloved by millions, far beyond Ratt, Quiet Riot and Poison. It is a tale of rock & roll reality - the...