I’d never seen this video before but surely it must contain the finest display of sycronised rocking out ever.
I first came across Accept at a scout camp aged about 11. Starting out on a journey into metal I was eager to hear as much new metal as possible. When someone told me that there was a band that had recorded a song called Balls To The Wall I had to find out more. As an 11 year old anything with swearing in or even that alluded to rudeness was awesome with this song by Accept being a classic case in point. To this day I’m not really sure why having your balls to the wall is important but the way Udo’s veins on his throat bulge I’m pretty sure it’s essential.
Note for Abe: I tried in vain to find Fast As A Shark so you’ll have to settle for this.
The very first time I saw Kiss was on the Paul Lynde Halloween Special in something like 77 or 78. I was maybe 7 or 8 and already obsessed with monster movies and the Saturday morning mystery cartoons like Scooby Doo. So to see a real live rock band full of monsters was pretty much a dream come true. I was hooked on Kiss from Alive 2 up until Unmasked but I was a voracious buyer of the back catalog. Although I never listen to it much, Hotter than Hell was one of my favorite albums for about 10 years. So when I saw this clip my chin hit the keyboard. I love you youtube you are truly the best internet invention ever…
One of the things I try to do is to play videos from when the bands were young. Nothing worse that a 60 year old Klaus Meine trying to do scissor kicks while wheezing through winds of change. Here’s Blackout from Japan circa 1984.
Ok this is the 2nd in the very first 21CGS Rockblocks. Death Alley Driver is another one from the Joe Lynne Turner era Rainbow. What I think great here is the “first generation” rock video look. Also, JLT playing an old ass videogame and Richie in the back of the car wringing his hands while he chases JLT through the English (L.A?) countryside. Gotta hand it to em’ they did pretty well , considering artists still thought they had to “act” in videos back then.
One thing I’ve noticed from watching way too many Rainbow videos on YouTube is that although Rainbow were responsible for some reprehensible rock traditions, They actually set the template for a lot of lesser acts to come. But I find their particular songs remarkably well crafted and hold up in their respecitve genre.
So here’s an excerpt from the 80’s era Rainbow. Even their 2nd Singer, Graham Bonnet, dressed up like Bryan Ferry, can’t stop the Rock n Roll Juggernaut that is Ritchie Blackmore.
Witness as the massive sonic assalt of Blackmore’s solo is only interrupted by the ritual beheading of his guitar. And not only does he smash his guitar real good like … well I won’t spoil the rest. Yes it seems that Spinal Tap parodied Rainbow specifically but Blackmore’s guitar and songwriting are just so damn good that you can fuck with his far reaching effect on all of Rock music.
The last post has got me all open on Maiden artist Derek Driggs again. He has such a long run of amazing covers for Maiden record it’s bone-jarring. Personally my favorites stretch from the self titled Iron Maiden all the way to Somewhere in time. I’ve included my favorite Maiden cover from back in the day….
The best thing about Abe inviting me to contribute to this blog is that it has meant I’m excitedly revisiting some of my favourite music from many moons ago. And here’s classic case in point, the mighty Florida based Savatage! Of the many sub-genres of metal that I got heavily into power metal was the first and probably my favourite, and Savatage are probably one of the finest exponents of the genre. Hall Of The Mountain King is without a doubt my favourite of their albums and this song is the business, especially the bit 3′10″ in when Jon Oliva starts screeching. Unlike nowadays where the lyrics of songs are full of allegory when Savatage sing about the Hall Of The Mountain King they are singing about a hall that belongs to a mountain king. It’s not a subtle reference about a country’s foriegn policy or childhood traumas, its about a hall, in a mountain, owned by a king. Simple as that. And that is why I will always love metal.
And the video has a dwarf in it.
And a mountain king.
And a hall.
As a special bonus I found this great advert for a Savatage show which makes me want to go and see some heavy metal right now.
Sorcery was a rock band form LA in the 70’s. They’ve garnered a cult following due to the fact that they had a truly bizarre but appropriately 70’s stage show. At one point in their show they had a wizard battle the devil in a no holds barred battle magique! This Stuntrock trailer is from a movie in the 70’s put together by Sorcery that combines Rock, Stunts, and Magic in one lo budget masterpiece of camp. The only thing missing from this to make every teenager’s fantasy complete are benny hill-esque chase scenes replete with slow motion jiggling babes.
So, my compatriot Red 5 beckons the sad crop of metal that issues forth from the decade known as the 90’s… One particularly good Metal record that came out at the time was Danzig III: How the Gods Kill.
In some ways Danzig’s solo stuff doesn’t hold up that well, but thats pretty much because his opening shot was The Misfits. I mean the Satanic Weightlifter archetype is not so compelling, compared to others.
Another problem is that Ministry and Danzig inspired a generation of pussy ass Goth kids who now lay claim the metal throne. You may sing like cookie monster over blast beats but you’re still rocking blue cornrow hair extensions and fruity raver boots. Sorry false metal in my book…
