Monday, February 20, 2012
80s Music Revisited: A flock of Seagulls - Futuristic sound
80s Music Revisited: A flock of Seagulls - Futuristic sound: More than any band of the eighties, Liverpool's A flock of seagulls have come to epitomise a period in pop that was quite unlike anything se...
A flock of Seagulls - Futuristic sound
More than any band of the eighties, Liverpool's A flock of seagulls have come to epitomise a period in pop that was quite unlike anything seen before. The 'new romantic' period was widely ignored by many as they were not seen as credible as the whole punk thing had passed and the idea of synths and heavy bass just wasn't real.
However, it could be argued that the new romantic period lasted longer than punk and was a steady influence of up and coming bands such as depeche mode. The new romantic period restored the importance of the dancefloor and with this more and more bands realised this importance.
As in previous blogs the whole period started in London and quickly reached new audiences in the big cities in the UK. The futurist period reached Liverpool where hairdresser Mike Score was intrigued and fascinated by the images that was leaving London.
He soon began to experiment and created his own unique hair style (never to be seen again!), he recruited his brother Ali to play drums and fellow hair crimper Frank Maudsley on Bass and finally guitarist Paul Reynolds came on board after numerous auditions held in Liverpool. the name was taken via a lyric on a Stranglers Album From Jonathan Livingston Seagull and thus the band was now up and running.
With Mike score individual haircut and styling, the band was associated with the whole futurist movement and there success coincided with a boom in Liverpool music where bands like Wah! Heat and Echo and the Bunnymen were making huge strides. The band came to the attention of Bill Nelson who released there first single Its not me talking and followed by Telecommunications. The band was being compared to the early version of Ultravox with similar space age fascinations.
Following this Jive signed the Flocks and a run of singles would cement there place in difficult place called the USA. with there Avant Garde Videos and sounds they were a popular hit on MTV and were proving to be more popular in America than in the UK. Songs such as space age love song and I ran had limited chart success in the UK but it wasn't until they released Wishing (I had a photograph of you) that they hit the top ten and an appearance on Top of the Pops.
That single Wishing proved to be there peak artistically and commercially as audiences were turning towards the likes of depeche mode and new order, although subsequent albums such as Listen did well there time had gone. It is with irony that one decades futurism can become anothers nostalgia but there image and the tunes they produced still hold relevance.
To enjoy some of the Flocks finest material
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Simple Minds - The ultimate stadium rockers
80s Music Revisited: Simple Minds - The ultimate stadium rockers: One band synonymous with the 1980s and that is Glasgow's finest export Simple Minds. Prolific songwriters with 8 albums released and a score...
Simple Minds - The ultimate stadium rockers
One band synonymous with the 1980s and that is Glasgow's finest export Simple Minds. Prolific songwriters with 8 albums released and a score of massive singles success in the UK, Europe and the tough nut of the USA. They were one of the hottest tickets to get in town and there music although produced perfectly in the studio was also just as effective live.
The core of the band is Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill with the addition of Mel Gaynor on Drums, Derek Forbes on Bass and keyboardist and chief composer during there heyday until his exit Michael MacNeil. The band formed after the punk era and new wave was taking over the airwaves.
The band went through many personnel and name changes before settling on Simple Minds as this was taking from a David Bowie lyric on Jean Genie. The 1980s were beginning to be a period of success for the band. The early eighties saw the release of 3 albums in 2 years these were Empires and Dance, sons and fascination and Celebration. It was a mixture of new wave, kraut rock and a hint of prog rock. The albums delivered success but not ultimate exposure on the TV and airwaves.
It wasn't until a appearance on Top of the Pops and the release of New Gold Dream 81 82 83 84 that the hard work paid off. Promised you a miracle became a big hit and in turn generated interest in the forthcoming album. this spawned some great material such as big sleep and someone somewhere in summertime. They had incurred an uphill struggle to convince record labels and the general public that this was a band who had a message and an image to match.
It wasn't until the release of there 7th album Sparkle in the rain that progress moved up a gear. The album generated the songs Waterfront, East at Easter, speed your love to me and up on the catwalk and soon this was band that was moving on up and they further cemented the global success with the release of the critically acclaimed album Once upon a Time which had anthems such as Alive and Kicking, Jungleland, Ghostdancing and All the things she said. Prior to that but didn't feature on the album was the huge hit don't you forget about me. A number one in the USA as this was the soundtrack to Brat pack film The Breakfast Club.
Following this success the groups act had now become a stadium show, records were topping the charts and fans from all over the world wanted to see them. Such was there powerful live shows that they released a double album of a live show from Paris, again the album was a huge hit and help further cement there dominance. However, in some misguided corridors playing to audiences of 50, 000 was deemed a sell out or unfashionable but the songs were so good that they could be effective in a small theatre or a football stadium. The bands live showings were on display at Live aid in 1985 and the Mandela concert in 1988 where they could have played it safe and showcased there old material but instead wrote 2 incredible songs for the occasion Mandela Day and Biko.
After that Wembley appearance they released the Ballad of the Streets EP which featured those 2 Wembley songs and the powerful song Belfast Child. Finally, they got a UK number one single with a 6 minute long folk song. Following they released the final album of the 1980s Street Fighting years which had a duet with Lou reed on This is your land and Kick it in. The 1980s saw the gradual success of Simple Minds and although all good things come to an end for what ever reason, the music still holds relevance now with many bands citing them as a big influence or even using or sampling there music. Quite simply they were the ultimate stadium rockers.
For further listening
The core of the band is Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill with the addition of Mel Gaynor on Drums, Derek Forbes on Bass and keyboardist and chief composer during there heyday until his exit Michael MacNeil. The band formed after the punk era and new wave was taking over the airwaves.
The band went through many personnel and name changes before settling on Simple Minds as this was taking from a David Bowie lyric on Jean Genie. The 1980s were beginning to be a period of success for the band. The early eighties saw the release of 3 albums in 2 years these were Empires and Dance, sons and fascination and Celebration. It was a mixture of new wave, kraut rock and a hint of prog rock. The albums delivered success but not ultimate exposure on the TV and airwaves.
It wasn't until a appearance on Top of the Pops and the release of New Gold Dream 81 82 83 84 that the hard work paid off. Promised you a miracle became a big hit and in turn generated interest in the forthcoming album. this spawned some great material such as big sleep and someone somewhere in summertime. They had incurred an uphill struggle to convince record labels and the general public that this was a band who had a message and an image to match.
It wasn't until the release of there 7th album Sparkle in the rain that progress moved up a gear. The album generated the songs Waterfront, East at Easter, speed your love to me and up on the catwalk and soon this was band that was moving on up and they further cemented the global success with the release of the critically acclaimed album Once upon a Time which had anthems such as Alive and Kicking, Jungleland, Ghostdancing and All the things she said. Prior to that but didn't feature on the album was the huge hit don't you forget about me. A number one in the USA as this was the soundtrack to Brat pack film The Breakfast Club.
Following this success the groups act had now become a stadium show, records were topping the charts and fans from all over the world wanted to see them. Such was there powerful live shows that they released a double album of a live show from Paris, again the album was a huge hit and help further cement there dominance. However, in some misguided corridors playing to audiences of 50, 000 was deemed a sell out or unfashionable but the songs were so good that they could be effective in a small theatre or a football stadium. The bands live showings were on display at Live aid in 1985 and the Mandela concert in 1988 where they could have played it safe and showcased there old material but instead wrote 2 incredible songs for the occasion Mandela Day and Biko.
After that Wembley appearance they released the Ballad of the Streets EP which featured those 2 Wembley songs and the powerful song Belfast Child. Finally, they got a UK number one single with a 6 minute long folk song. Following they released the final album of the 1980s Street Fighting years which had a duet with Lou reed on This is your land and Kick it in. The 1980s saw the gradual success of Simple Minds and although all good things come to an end for what ever reason, the music still holds relevance now with many bands citing them as a big influence or even using or sampling there music. Quite simply they were the ultimate stadium rockers.
For further listening
Thursday, February 2, 2012
80s Music Revisited: U2 - Boy to Rattle and Hum
80s Music Revisited: U2 - Boy to Rattle and Hum: Starting from humble beginnings in Dublin U2 began push there way through the ever changing music scene. The band consisted of Bono, The Edg...
U2 - Boy to Rattle and Hum
Starting from humble beginnings in Dublin U2 began push there way through the ever changing music scene. The band consisted of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton and the 5th member Paul McGuiness who was there advisor and manager.
However, the 1980s would see the stock of this band go from nothing to global superstars mainly due to there commercial output and a iconic supremacy that still holds relevant in the 21st century. The band has delivered some of the most sophisticated work and still want to push barriers. The glory days was after the bands appearance at Live Aid in 1985 and the global Zoo TV tour up to 1993.
It was fair to say the early days of U2 were middle ground. There work seemed to not convince the post punk or synth pop audiences. They released albums Boy (1980) and October (1981) although successful it didn't break the mainstream and there was at some point considerations that the band would break up. The band stuck at it and were rewarded with the success of the WAR album in 1983 which spawned the there first UK top 10 hit New Years Day. A UK and smallish America tour help propel the band and U2 had the instinct to take the right creative and commercial decision which saw a huge transformation of the band musically.
They set to work with Brian Eno and produced the album Unforgettable Fire in 1984 and with a cold wave gloom feel. It was starting to get attention in America mainly due to Pride, MLK, A sort of homecoming which all had references to America. Shortly after that release U2 were playing at Live Aid and they gave one of the most compelling performances of the day, Bono literally conducted the whole band with his mesmeric display and this reflected in the audience spellbound by the display. Melodramatic maybe but it did bring alive the whole day and set up even greater performances by the likes of Queen. They were fast becoming the stadium giants.
Finally, The Joshua Tree in 1987 and America had succumbed. The album was masterfully put together by Eno and his team and the result was some of U2 best work featuring With or without you, where the streets have no name, I still haven't found what i am looking for you, bullet the blue sky and one tree hill. Soon everyone wanted to see and be U2.
The success continued and the band decided to do the whole lot, release an album, a book and a film to document the whole crazy period. IT was of course Rattle and Hum and this saw there first UK number one called Desire. The album represented a change in direction and was a more blues type of album with covers of Beatles, Dylan and playing with American legends such as BB King. The band was very diverse and not afraid to experiment and play different types of music. There was a real mixture on the album from Blues, Gospel, ballads to rock.
The 1980s represented a busy period for the band and this footprint put them onto greater success from the 1980s and beyond. True stadium rock giants.
However, the 1980s would see the stock of this band go from nothing to global superstars mainly due to there commercial output and a iconic supremacy that still holds relevant in the 21st century. The band has delivered some of the most sophisticated work and still want to push barriers. The glory days was after the bands appearance at Live Aid in 1985 and the global Zoo TV tour up to 1993.
It was fair to say the early days of U2 were middle ground. There work seemed to not convince the post punk or synth pop audiences. They released albums Boy (1980) and October (1981) although successful it didn't break the mainstream and there was at some point considerations that the band would break up. The band stuck at it and were rewarded with the success of the WAR album in 1983 which spawned the there first UK top 10 hit New Years Day. A UK and smallish America tour help propel the band and U2 had the instinct to take the right creative and commercial decision which saw a huge transformation of the band musically.
They set to work with Brian Eno and produced the album Unforgettable Fire in 1984 and with a cold wave gloom feel. It was starting to get attention in America mainly due to Pride, MLK, A sort of homecoming which all had references to America. Shortly after that release U2 were playing at Live Aid and they gave one of the most compelling performances of the day, Bono literally conducted the whole band with his mesmeric display and this reflected in the audience spellbound by the display. Melodramatic maybe but it did bring alive the whole day and set up even greater performances by the likes of Queen. They were fast becoming the stadium giants.
Finally, The Joshua Tree in 1987 and America had succumbed. The album was masterfully put together by Eno and his team and the result was some of U2 best work featuring With or without you, where the streets have no name, I still haven't found what i am looking for you, bullet the blue sky and one tree hill. Soon everyone wanted to see and be U2.
The success continued and the band decided to do the whole lot, release an album, a book and a film to document the whole crazy period. IT was of course Rattle and Hum and this saw there first UK number one called Desire. The album represented a change in direction and was a more blues type of album with covers of Beatles, Dylan and playing with American legends such as BB King. The band was very diverse and not afraid to experiment and play different types of music. There was a real mixture on the album from Blues, Gospel, ballads to rock.
The 1980s represented a busy period for the band and this footprint put them onto greater success from the 1980s and beyond. True stadium rock giants.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Beastie Boys - Brat Rap
80s Music Revisited: Beastie Boys - Brat Rap: The band emerged in 1986 to a chorus of bad publicity in the media where the line up of Mike D, MCA and Ad-rock would encourage audiences or...
Beastie Boys - Brat Rap
The band emerged in 1986 to a chorus of bad publicity in the media where the line up of Mike D, MCA and Ad-rock would encourage audiences or anyone who would listen to Fight for your right to party. The publicity as a result got them on the front pages and intrigued interest in the band because up to this point, Hip-Hop and White people wasn't the norm.
The band started life in 1979 as a hardcore punk band, but after many personnel changes and a change in music direction saw the line up trim to down to a trio. By the mid 1980s they found themselves a mentor by the name of the legendary Rick Rubin who was a rap producer and boss of Def Jam records.
Following that meeting they set to work and the result was the first hip-hop album to top the American charts. The album was named Licensed to ill which you could describe as an unprecedented white rap set which capitalised on Americas interest in urban black music. Suddenly as a result this opened the doors for others to follow and repeat that success from the 1980s and beyond. Around the same time as the Beastie Boys was Run DMC who enjoyed similar success to the Beasties.
Crucial to the Beastie Boys success was the sampling of hard rock songs incorporated into there brand of music. None was better than the sampling of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin on the opening of the song Rhymin & Stealin. The biggest hit from the album was Fight for your right to party which saw the yelling of lyrics and the whining of Adam Horovitz's voice complement each other. Other hits followed such as Shes on it and No Sleep til Brooklyn. Suddenly the band were international and breaking down divides.
Following the success of that album, they split from Rick Rubin and teamed up with the Dust Brothers and Produced Paul's Boutique. Although commercially not a great success it was considered a industry changing album with its large array of sampling and multi layering, the album spawned the hit Hey Ladies.
Since there arrival in the 1980s the band have become resilient and now are the elder statesmen for hip-hop. The band are still going and have come a long way since there riotous arrival in 1986. Boys have to grow up at some point.
To enjoy the Beasties click on the link. Enjoy!
Fight for your right to party
No Sleep til Brooklyn
Shes on it
Hold it now, hit it
To Purchase the 1980s albums or need further information click on the album title
Licensed to ill
Paul's Boutique
The band started life in 1979 as a hardcore punk band, but after many personnel changes and a change in music direction saw the line up trim to down to a trio. By the mid 1980s they found themselves a mentor by the name of the legendary Rick Rubin who was a rap producer and boss of Def Jam records.
Following that meeting they set to work and the result was the first hip-hop album to top the American charts. The album was named Licensed to ill which you could describe as an unprecedented white rap set which capitalised on Americas interest in urban black music. Suddenly as a result this opened the doors for others to follow and repeat that success from the 1980s and beyond. Around the same time as the Beastie Boys was Run DMC who enjoyed similar success to the Beasties.
Crucial to the Beastie Boys success was the sampling of hard rock songs incorporated into there brand of music. None was better than the sampling of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin on the opening of the song Rhymin & Stealin. The biggest hit from the album was Fight for your right to party which saw the yelling of lyrics and the whining of Adam Horovitz's voice complement each other. Other hits followed such as Shes on it and No Sleep til Brooklyn. Suddenly the band were international and breaking down divides.
Following the success of that album, they split from Rick Rubin and teamed up with the Dust Brothers and Produced Paul's Boutique. Although commercially not a great success it was considered a industry changing album with its large array of sampling and multi layering, the album spawned the hit Hey Ladies.
Since there arrival in the 1980s the band have become resilient and now are the elder statesmen for hip-hop. The band are still going and have come a long way since there riotous arrival in 1986. Boys have to grow up at some point.
To enjoy the Beasties click on the link. Enjoy!
Fight for your right to party
No Sleep til Brooklyn
Shes on it
Hold it now, hit it
To Purchase the 1980s albums or need further information click on the album title
Licensed to ill
Paul's Boutique
Friday, January 27, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Public Enemy - Black Power Icons
80s Music Revisited: Public Enemy - Black Power Icons: Public Enemy were a politically conscious band that relied heavily or controversially on the icon of the Black Power struggle. However, ther...
Public Enemy - Black Power Icons
Public Enemy were a politically conscious band that relied heavily or controversially on the icon of the Black Power struggle. However, there was more to this band than just annoying the Police and Authorities, they helped radicalise Hip Hop and taking into the Rock Market.
The band were made up of Chuck D, Watch loving Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Terminator X and the Bomb Squad. The hip-hop and rock crossover reached a peak in 1991 when the long islanders teamed up with thrash metal band Anthrax or a reworking of the 1987 single Bring the Noise. Previously the group had introduced samples from metal bands such as Slayer particularly on the She watch Channel Zero on there breakthrough album Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
Public enemy were at there best when Terminator and Bomb were manning the decks and Chuck D and Flavor Flav acting out the lyrics in there own style. They did get off to a slow start when Yo! Bum rush the Show didn't hit off but when the next album Takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back that they hit the ground running. The album was a mixture of furious, changing beats, siren calls and rock guitar sampling and topped of with Chuck D anger and Flavor Flav minimal interjections, the album was a milestone in the hip-hop genre.
This peaked with the singles Rebel without a pause and Fight the power which had a pop at American icons Elvis Presley and John Wayne set on a James Brown Groove. Whatever you think this sealed the bands reputation as hip hops most explosive act.
A chance to See Public Enemy, click on the song. Enjoy
Bring the Noise
Rebel without a Pause
Fight the Power
The band were made up of Chuck D, Watch loving Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Terminator X and the Bomb Squad. The hip-hop and rock crossover reached a peak in 1991 when the long islanders teamed up with thrash metal band Anthrax or a reworking of the 1987 single Bring the Noise. Previously the group had introduced samples from metal bands such as Slayer particularly on the She watch Channel Zero on there breakthrough album Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
Public enemy were at there best when Terminator and Bomb were manning the decks and Chuck D and Flavor Flav acting out the lyrics in there own style. They did get off to a slow start when Yo! Bum rush the Show didn't hit off but when the next album Takes a Nation of Millions to hold us back that they hit the ground running. The album was a mixture of furious, changing beats, siren calls and rock guitar sampling and topped of with Chuck D anger and Flavor Flav minimal interjections, the album was a milestone in the hip-hop genre.
This peaked with the singles Rebel without a pause and Fight the power which had a pop at American icons Elvis Presley and John Wayne set on a James Brown Groove. Whatever you think this sealed the bands reputation as hip hops most explosive act.
A chance to See Public Enemy, click on the song. Enjoy
Bring the Noise
Rebel without a Pause
Fight the Power
Thursday, January 26, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Metallica - speed and sophistication
80s Music Revisited: Metallica - speed and sophistication: During the 1980s a band emerged from after the furious Punk revolution from the San Francisco underground. Metallica had brought a new tough...
Metallica - speed and sophistication
During the 1980s a band emerged from after the furious Punk revolution from the San Francisco underground. Metallica had brought a new toughness and radicalism to metal with a much faster and heavier sound which was to be defined as thrash metal which boomed in the mid eighties.
Although the band formed in Los Angeles in 1981, the band had moved to San Francisco and by 1983 they became the prime movers in the Bay Area Thrash Scene along with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. There immediate inspiration as per the advert placed by drummer Lars Ulrich was NWOBHM. that said there was an element of LA that rubbed of in there 1983 debut offering Kill 'em All which sounded much more powerful than the British contribution made during that period.
As the band progressed Guitarist Dave Mustaine was sacked (he then went on to former rival band Megadeth) His replacement Kirk Hammett continued in the same style as Dave. Also critical to the sound was Bassist Cliff Burton who's sound complemented the early roar of lead singer James Hetfield's voice.
The appeal of Metallica was they were not the bubble permed hair metal act that were on the screens at the time. Elektra records signed the band in 1984 and gave them the space to develop. That patience paid off when the critically acclaimed album Master of Puppets which spent over a year in the US charts despite the inclusion of some intricate and lengthy instrumentals.
However, tragedy struck when the bands tour bus overturned in Sweden in 1986 and killed Cliff Burton. The band continued manfully in his honour and there progressive style went globally with 1988 release And Justice for All.
During the 1980s the band released 4 studio albums with Master of Puppets just falling outside the top 40 and Justice for all reaching number 4 in the UK album charts in 1988. In terms of singles they only released seven with 3 songs hitting the top 30 with 'one' attaining the highest position of 13 in the UK single charts.
The success of the 1980s saw them reach crowning success with the Black album in 1991 which boasted the Metallica Anthem Enter Sandman. Success has followed the band and all the band started from humble beginnings in the 1980s as we enter 3 decades later the band can still boast massive sales and tours that are sell outs. They care about the music not the image and for that the appeal will always carry on.
For further listening
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Madchester Revivalist
Madchester Revivalist
I recently spent an evening at Manchester Midi School to do a DJ course as I was thinking of getting back into it as the last time I did it seriously was in the late 80's ( apart from a set at a wedding in France in 2003!!)
It has all changed as it is digital for a start but the 2 hour experience whetted my appetite and has given me a drive to get back on the road. Now as with anything times change and music moves on but that doesnt mean everyone has to. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and can provoke feelings and nothing I feel better than music.
For me the whole Madchester experience was a wonderful time. Lots of parties and raves at weekends, baggy clothing, listening to bands and not manufactured groups. Sure it wasn't all rosy mostly hazy, there was a lot of being skint as clothes and music went hand in hand so I decided that if I was to DJ then this type of genre is what I would play. You had the wonderful bands of Joy Division, The smiths, New order, Happy Monday and Stone Roses fusing with the acid tunes such as 808 state. The feedback I get is looking good so I am now looking for equipment and looking forward to blasting those tunes out in environment it deserves.
For those who need a reminder I recommend a few CDs to remember and for those too young you are never too young. This was a revolution of music at the time when the charts was getting to same state as now with moguls such as stock, aitken and waterman ruling the waves with the safe bubblegum pop of jason and kylie.
I recommend this CD's and I hope you enjoy. Sorted!!
Unbelievable Volume 1 Click here - features the roses and Mondays
Unbelievable Volume 2 Click here - features The Smiths , New Order and Charlatans
Sorted Click here - again features the top bands and also The Farm, prefab sprout, James
Hacienda Classics Click here - features amongst others the legendary Joy division
It has all changed as it is digital for a start but the 2 hour experience whetted my appetite and has given me a drive to get back on the road. Now as with anything times change and music moves on but that doesnt mean everyone has to. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and can provoke feelings and nothing I feel better than music.
For me the whole Madchester experience was a wonderful time. Lots of parties and raves at weekends, baggy clothing, listening to bands and not manufactured groups. Sure it wasn't all rosy mostly hazy, there was a lot of being skint as clothes and music went hand in hand so I decided that if I was to DJ then this type of genre is what I would play. You had the wonderful bands of Joy Division, The smiths, New order, Happy Monday and Stone Roses fusing with the acid tunes such as 808 state. The feedback I get is looking good so I am now looking for equipment and looking forward to blasting those tunes out in environment it deserves.
For those who need a reminder I recommend a few CDs to remember and for those too young you are never too young. This was a revolution of music at the time when the charts was getting to same state as now with moguls such as stock, aitken and waterman ruling the waves with the safe bubblegum pop of jason and kylie.
I recommend this CD's and I hope you enjoy. Sorted!!
Unbelievable Volume 1 Click here - features the roses and Mondays
Unbelievable Volume 2 Click here - features The Smiths , New Order and Charlatans
Sorted Click here - again features the top bands and also The Farm, prefab sprout, James
Hacienda Classics Click here - features amongst others the legendary Joy division
Thursday, January 19, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania: Guns N'Roses - America response
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania: Guns N'Roses - America response: Guns N' Roses had great success in the 1980's and living up to the traditional guitar wielding rock band with a bad boy attitude and enjoyin...
Metal Mania: Guns N'Roses - America response
Guns N' Roses had great success in the 1980's and living up to the traditional guitar wielding rock band with a bad boy attitude and enjoying the excesses of life has to offer.
Guns N'Roses consisting of Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan and Steve Adler had emerged from the nightclub scene in Hollywood by performing in esteemed clubs such as Troubadour and The Roxy. They belted out old Aerosmith material dressed in the traditional leather. The band were not particularly going anywhere and were being compared as the American answer to British Goth-Metal band The Cult.
The 1980s still had a gap in the market for rock 'n' roll that was neither hardcore and fancy perms, the bands record label boss David Geffen took matters into his own hand. He tirelessly campaigned MTV to play Guns N' Roses and soon he enlisted there help when Welcome to the Jungle promo video allerted the attention of the serious rock fan and the song hit the top 10 in the USA. This was the major breakthrough the band had needed. This was followed up by love song 'Sweet child o mine' the song appealed to all genders and the video began to get heavy airplay on the Radio and MTV.
It became clear that this was going to be a band that no-one would forget and the aptly named album release of Appetite for Destruction hit number one. More joy was to follow when Paradise city was released and also hit the top spot. A world tour followed and soon they were the hottest ticket in town for the show these guys would put on. However, Destruction was the key word. The band suffered negative press following deaths at there concerts, heavy use of drugs and alcohol coupled with internal band fighting and the protracted legal issues which prevented the follow up album being released. By then the world had moved on and music changed but the bands image suffered with tantrums, walkouts and the eventual exit of key members such as Slash effectively ended the band.
There influence and music is still proving resilient and if you can ignore the devil in the band they did make fantastic music.
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania: Steel City NWOBHM
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania: Steel City NWOBHM: These boys from Sheffield were instrumental in shaping the sound of 1980s metal by fusing their melodic, twin guitar attack with stadium roc...
Metal Mania: Steel City NWOBHM
These boys from Sheffield were instrumental in shaping the sound of 1980s metal by fusing their melodic, twin guitar attack with stadium rock choruses.
The band formed in 1977 and consisted of Joe Elliott, Steve Clark, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Rick Allen. A statement of intent was made on there 1980 debut album which featured a track ' Hello America' the fantasy was to conquer America with there music.
When 1983 album 'Pyromania' was released in America it earned them a career defining multi million selling album, the fantasy was only beginning.
Def Leppard were prime movers in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and there global ambition was fulfilled when they recruited producer and co-writer Mutt Lange for 1981s High 'n' Dry. There style was a very pop friendly with a tinge of hard rock to keep everyone happy.
The first single from Pyromania was 'Photograph' became an MTV essential viewing and as a result a huge US hit. The defs appearance in America coincided with the infancy stages of MTV and this help catapult them across America. However, all was not rosy. They had a falling out with Mutt Lange and his replacement producer the legendary Jim Steinman also suffered the same fate. If this was not enough then a major tragedy occurred when drummer Rick Allen lost an arm in a car accident. The fantasy was now becoming a nightmare.
Following these issues, the band rallied and Mutt Lange returned to bring order and Rick Allen re learnt how to play his electronic drum kit using his feet. Work was the order and a new follow up album to Pyromania began and 18 months of work was binned as all concerned felt it was not good enough. The band persevered and in 1987 Hysteria was released and topped both sides of the pond and going to eclipse the sales figure of Pyromania and Hysteria had yielded 7 hit singles. The 1980s started well, dipped in the middle but by the end of the 1980s they had painstakingly produced one of the most composed piece of Pop Metal.
During the 1980s the boys released four studio albums debuting with 'on through the night' which reached number 15, the follow up 'high 'n' dry' fared less at 26. Pyromania released in 1983 peaked at number 18 although it hit number 2 in America. The next album hit number one both sides as 'Hysteria' took the charts by storm.
They released 20 singles during the 1980s They didn't get there first top 10 in the UK until 1987 with 'animal' which hit number 6. In America they had enjoyed 4 top 10 hits with 2 number ones in 1983 with 'photograph' and 'rock of ages'. The UK seemed more elusive in terms of top tens and a release in 1988 with 'love bites' was the next best peaking at number 11.
To enjoy more Def Leppard
Monday, January 16, 2012
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania
80s Music Revisited: Metal Mania: The 1970s saw heavy metal dominated by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. The 1980s saw the genre explode and flouris...
Metal Mania
The early 1970s saw heavy metal explode and become dominated by the likes of British acts Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.
The 1980s saw the genre explode and flourish whilst drawing a wide range of influences. Out went the bluesy sound and in came a more dynamic guitar and bass sound tinged with Punk and showmanship that would make the Glam rockers shake in there 10 inch heels. As the decade progressed many different types of genres increased as Metal became more mainstream to the public, it was no longer a kept secret.
The catalyst for the change in Metals fortunes was the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) which emerged along side punk in the late 1970s. Leading the charge were Northern English bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard. They fed of the punk energy with a more grittier guitar sound and these bands caught the attention of the media and the public alike.
Another leading beacon was AC/DC whose high octane sound fed soundly into the early 1980s metal but the leader of the headbanging group was Lemmy who fronted the speed driven group Motorhead. Lemmy thunderous bass playing inspired Metals approach to 'How low can you go' in reverence to the deep frequencies. Guitar and bass were to plat an important part in Metal along with the banging of the drums.
At the other end of the chime was Eddie Van Halen distinctive tapping guitar sound which encouraged the infamous Air Guitar generation, Showmanship at its finest. Also David Coverdale who inspired a Whitesnake revival with there ballad fused metal and the sassy video promo to go with it. The image of metal singers covered by scantily clad girls was the norm.
As post punk faded, Metal took over and made an assault on all fronts. Def Leppard crossed the pond and took the MTV route to ultimate success and Metallica spearheaded the more speed or thrash metal depending on who you talk to. Also Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth played there part in defining the speedster section.
Ultimately any genre is determined by continued success in the mainstream. The guys that emerged on top of the pile were Bon Jovi, Guns N'Roses and Metallica that established themselves as the premier rock forces of the 1980s. Also from a British perspective Def Leppard and Iron Maiden enjoyed success in terms of records sold and sell out concerts and festivals.
Metal has continued it's success well into the 21st Century and although the old guard played there part, the next generation have continued the work and proof is the metal concerts and festivals that exist along with the plethora of groups that now exist.
Heavy Metal classics
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