Big Hair, Big Riffs and Big Trivia | Ron and Don Higgins Discuss The Biggest Big Hair Book of Metal Trivia

The 1980s gave us many things.

Synthesizers. New wave. MTV. John Hughes movies.

But it also gave us towering stacks of Marshall amplifiers, guitar solos that seemed to last forever and enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer.

This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve welcomes authors Ron and Don Higgins to discuss their new book, The Biggest Big Hair Book of Metal Trivia, a deep dive into the music, personalities and outrageous stories that defined the era of hair metal and hard rock.

For fans of bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, Ratt, Cinderella and countless others, the book serves as both a trivia collection and a love letter to one of the most entertaining periods in rock history.

The Higgins brothers discuss how the project came together and share some of their favorite discoveries while researching the book. Along the way, listeners are treated to stories about the artists, albums and backstage antics that helped make the genre so unforgettable.

Of course, no conversation about big-hair rock would be complete without talking about KISS. The discussion includes plenty of KISS memories and observations about a band whose influence can be seen throughout the hard-rock landscape of the 1980s.

The episode also explores why hair metal continues attracting devoted fans decades after its commercial peak. While critics sometimes dismissed the genre, the music's combination of huge hooks, memorable choruses and unapologetic fun has proven remarkably durable.

Like many Stuck in the ’80s interviews, the conversation balances nostalgia, music history and plenty of laughter. Whether you're the type of fan who can identify every guitarist who ever played the Sunset Strip or someone who simply misses the days when every music video looked like a party, there's plenty to enjoy.

The result is a reminder that the 1980s weren't just loud — they were gloriously loud.

And sometimes that's exactly what we need.

If you love hard rock, metal trivia, arena anthems and revisiting one of the most over-the-top eras in music history, this episode belongs in your playlist.

The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.

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