Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal

If you lived during the time and are a music person you will probably not learn anything new from this series. Nearly everything covered is well known and common knowledge. It's by no means a bad show it just covers the most popular bands and major events of their careers that most people who follow music know about already. They could've spent a lot more time on the Sunset Strip scene and how it developed into after Van Halen's breakout and how that turned into the Hair / Glam Metal explosion of the mid 80s.

On the other hand If you don't know much about the Glam / Hair Metal scene then it's definitely worth watching but I doubt big fans of this genre will learn anything new.

"Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal" is a documentary that is currently posted on Paramount +. I enjoyed watching its three episodes but throughout I also noticed that much of the history of hair bands music was missing. I think my daughter summed it up best when she said "I think they only included bands who had members who would talk to the filmmakers"...and I think that's right on target. Many great and important bands are barely mentioned at all (Def Leppard) or are never mentioned at all (Cinderella, Bon Jovi, Metallica and too many others to count).

So despite being woefully incomplete, is it worth seeing? Yes. First, what they do tell you is often interesting or funny. Second, I really liked hearing Alan Niven's interviews. His bitterness and cynicism were a welcome change from most of the other interviews. Third, I actually liked the cute cartoons they made for the film. So, worth seeing...but not great. I lived the era and was so disappointed the film didn't give a fuller picture of the era.

In the '80's we had Heavy Metal {Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne}, Glam Metal {Motley Crue, Poison, Ratt}, Speed Metal {Metallica, Megadeth, Motorhead}, and Death Metal {Slayer, Death Angel, SamHain}. Three examples of each. That's IT! THERE WAS NO HAIR METAL! This was a term that did not exist in the '80's, 90's or even 2000, it was coined by someone that wasn't born yet!! It was called GLAM METAL!!! This documentary is the same - done by people who were not born at the time and do not know what they are talking about. Go find interviews from the bands themselves that were filmed from 1980 - 1989. That is the only way you are ever going to get an accurate telling of the '80's Metal Bands, because even The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years from 1988 doesn't do that time frame and the bands justice. Today's interviews from band members that don't exactly remember due to excesses is NOT the same as what they said AT THE TIME. BTW, the Seattle scene bands were not known to the world in 1989,even G -n - R didn't break world until 1990. The '90's are nott the '80's!

This isn't going to blow the mind of anyone who is familiar with the 80s Heavy Rock scene, or Glam Metal as they call it here. Most of the stories have been told before, this time it's just told by the lesser known stars or the stars who are trying to hold on to their glory days (like Bret Michaels).

There is a lot of focus on Motley Crue yet most of it is on their song "Shout At The Devil" and overlooks the later albums that actually took them into the mainstream. All their stories are about how crazy and wild they were, which was told better in the movie "The Dirt", and just seem to want to keep them sounding like they are constant mayhem on and off stage.

Guns n Roses story is just all about drugs, drugs and drugs. In fact the stories of most bands are about them going crazy on drugs The most interesting stories were from Trixter and how they dealt with fame and success at a young age, and the death of Randy Rhoads.

If you are a fan of this type of music you'll love the flashbacks in your mind and the memories of how awesome the music is but if this music is new to you this series won't make a mark on your life.

Thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. There are a lot of interviews with Rock stars that are still alive, and a few clips of some that have already died. It's interesting hearing their stories as they look back on their Rock lives. Some Rock careers had the lifespan of a Mayfly. Even their stories are fascinating.

I've heard so many times that Nirvana releasing Nevermind was the dagger to the heart of Hard Rock/Metal. This documentary partially confirmed that, although there were others factors at play as well, including Beavis and Butthead of all things.

Drugs, drugs, and more drugs were at the center of many bands doing their worst to undermine their own lives and careers. Really sad and stupid. It was also interesting to hear how flat broke a lot of artists were just trying to make it in the business.

Sometimes, a documentary will make you feel more love or compassion for the subject after having watched the film. This documentary is NOT one of those! There really wasn't one band or artist I felt better about after having watched this documentary. I love all the music, but their lives were an absolute mess. An interesting look behind the curtain, or backstage if you will.