The Hairband Channel

The name tells you everything. This channel is a permanent tour bus through 1980s hair metal and glam rock, from Def Leppard's arena anthems to Mötley Crüe's grimy excess. The format never wavers - hairspray and power chords, 24/7. Musically, this is exactly what it sounds like: heavily produced rock, layered vocals, solos designed for stadium crowds. You get Poison, you get Winger, you get every track where the distortion pedal is basically a band member. The DJs clearly grew up on this music and treat it with genuine reverence rather than irony, which is refreshing. Commercials and talk segm…