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Yacht Rock vs. Hair Metal: A Study in Contrast and the Toll of Drug Choices

By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 4, 2024 |

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Header Image Source: Paramount/Max

On the night before Thanksgiving, Pajiba co-owner Seth — likely under the influence of edibles — Slacked me about Nothin’ But a Good Time, a documentary series on the hair metal scene that had been streaming on Paramount+ for a couple of months. It was the first I’d heard of it, and, as a person of a certain age, I felt drawn to the doc, which comes from Jeff Tremaine (director of the Jackass movies, which explains Steve-O’s involvement as a talking head).

A few days later, Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary dropped, generating enough buzz on Bluesky that I decided to give it a shot — despite not being a fan of the genre. That said, the documentary is fascinating and surprisingly illuminating. Unlike Nothin’ But a Good Time, which was purely a nostalgia trip for me since I lived through the hair metal era, Yacht Rock taught me a lot and gave me a newfound appreciation for the genre. Even so, it’s not about to crack my Spotify Wrapped.

Watching these two documentaries back-to-back, what actually struck me most was the physical appearance of the musicians. I initially considered compiling a pictorial commentary but worried it might come across as a mean-spirited joke, which wouldn’t be my intent. However, the contrast is stark: many of the yacht rock musicians reminisced about their weed consumption during their heyday, while the hair metal guys detailed their battles with hard drugs and alcohol.

If you want a visual lesson in the long-term effects of marijuana versus hard drugs, these two docs provide it. Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins — the Yacht Rockers — look happy, healthy, and robust well into their 70s. Meanwhile, the hair metal guys — a generation younger — often look like they’ve had their makeup done by the Crypt Keeper.

The toll of addiction is palpable in the hair metal doc, especially in its third episode, which addresses the cost of substance abuse. Several musicians couldn’t participate because they’d passed away, and two interviewees, including the lead singer of Great White, died between filming and the series’ release. The hair metal scene is littered with casualties, whereas the members of bands like the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan are mostly alive and thriving.

I don’t smoke much weed myself, but after watching Yacht Rock, I might reconsider. Those guys seem content, healthy, and full of good vibes (well, except Donald Fagen, who hates the term “yacht rock” and told the filmmaker to “go fuck” himself).

The substance choice seems to influence not only the participants’ vitality but also the tone of the documentaries. The hair metal doc feels like both a celebration and a eulogy, while the yacht rock documentary exudes pure joy (thanks in part to the talking heads, which includes Questlove). I had no idea how much collaboration existed among Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, and even Fleetwood Mac. Nor did I realize how much R&B and jazz influenced the genre. Hair metal, on the other hand, is often formulaic, much of it objectively terrible, and 90% of it has been rightfully forgotten. The hair metal musicians do not spend much time talking about their craft, because with little exception (Nuno Bettencourt), there was none.

I laughed a lot during Yacht Rock. These old guys are having a blast recounting their heyday and bear no resentment over how Michael Jackson’s Thriller essentially ended their run. By contrast, the hair metal folks don’t seem bitter about Nirvana dismantling their careers overnight, but the impact is evident — in both their physical health and their post-fame lives, with some returning to minimum-wage jobs. Many of the bands still tour, but it’s rare for them to feature all — or even most — of their original members, given deaths, departures, and recriminations.

In the end, Yacht Rock is a delightful piece of entertainment, while Nothin’ But a Good Time is an intriguing study in contrast. Hard drugs are bad for your health and, honestly, bad for music. While I enjoy hair metal in small doses, I can’t deny the disparity in talent and craftsmanship between the two genres. I’ve always thought Christopher Cross was a punchline, but after watching this doc, I’ve gained immense respect for his particular genius, as well as the genre as a whole, even if I don’t want to hear it in the dentist’s office ever again.

Yacht Rock: A Documentary is streaming on Max. Nothin’ But a Good Time is streaming on Paramount+.