Tribute to Beru Revue- A Great Philadelphia Band

 [caption id="attachment_4551" align="aligncenter" width="328"] Beru Revue[/caption]

Living in Southern New Jersey, I was very much influenced by what was happening in Philadelphia which was fifty miles away. I rooted for their sports teams, most of the time, except when the Phillies played the Dodgers, the Eagles played the Steelers or the 76ers played the Celtics. However, I have always been a die hard Flyers fan. Most importantly though, Philadelphia was where I went to see most of my concerts. Which is why most of the concerts in "Rock And Roll Children" take place at the Spectrum. Furthermore, Philadelphia radio stations were far superior to the one in Atlantic City, also I got treated to some of the bands coming out of there. One of these bands was Beru Revue.

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Philadelphia Spectrum, now sadly torn down.[/caption]

Back in the mid 1980s, Beru Revue made several trips to South Jersey clubs and I was lucky enough to catch them three times. Their brand of rock, considered new wave by most was definitely unique. They combined great musicianship and if you listened to the lyrics, keen political awareness while maintaining a sense of humour. This gave them a pretty large cult following around the clubs of the Delaware Valley, (comprising Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.) One of their songs, "Hoods A Go Go For the 80s" got airplay on local radio, unfortunately, their fame never spread much beyond that. Although I did take two friends who were visiting from Rhode Island to see them and they were so impressed, they bought Beru's EP.

Beru Revue:

Bob 'Beru' McCafferty- lead vocals

Greg 'T-Bone' Davis- guitar

Gerry Healy- guitar

Johnny Sacks- bass

Buzz Barkley- keyboards

Tommy 'Sir Francis Drake' Pinto- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP3kvxEnhC0

This is my favourite Beru Revue song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhREhk4sqIs

Hopefully, you've had a listen and agree with me that Beru Revue were far too good to be just a locally known band. Even to this day, I have cool memories of them. Maybe one reason they never made it nationally or internationally was the fact that Philadelphia has produced so many great musical acts over the years. One such band would get national attention in 1985, you'll read about that in the near future and a year later, a Philly metal band would do the same. However, I lament as to what a great contribution to the music world Beru Revue would have been if they had been luckier.

Next post: 1985- The Backlash Begins

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

1984 Ends in Metal Tragedy

 [caption id="attachment_2403" align="aligncenter" width="292"] Hanoi Rocks[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2427" align="aligncenter" width="290"] Motley Crue[/caption]

History can never debate that 1984 was the golden year of heavy metal. So many great albums from so many great bands and they even played metal on the radio and MTV. Never again would the genre get so much commercial exposure. However, even with all the great metal, the year would end in a very tragic anti- climax and mean the death of a drummer and his band and another similar tragedy would nearly claim the life of another drummer.

On December 8, members of the bands Hanoi Rocks and Motley Crue had been engaged in a massive drinking binge that had been going on, according to reports, for four days. More booze was being called for so Motley Crue's Vince Neil, eager to show off his new 1972 Ford Pantera, volunteered to make the run even though he was well over the legal drink drive limit and took Hanoi Rocks drummer, Razzle, with him. At 6:38, Neil lost control of his car, (driving 65 in a 25mph zone might have had something to do with it) while swerving around a stationary fire truck and careered into oncoming traffic hitting two other cars. The driver and a passenger in one of the cars was seriously injured and taken to hospital while the driver of the second was miraculously uninjured. Vince himself only suffered cracked ribs and cuts to his face. Things weren't so fortunate for Razzle, he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The loss of Razzle would spell the end for Hanoi Rocks, the band would break up shortly after. Vince Neil's troubles were only beginning as he would have to pay $2.6 million in compensation to the victims, do 200 hours of community service and serve time in prison, albeit a mere 30 days! People are still talking about the leniency of that sentence still. Like I said when I posted about Hanoi Rock's last studio album, I got the chance to see this band about three weeks before the tragedy happened at a small New Jersey night club. That's why this tragedy continues to weigh heavy on me.

If the loss of Razzle compliments of Vince Neil wasn't bad enough, further tragedy would happen on the final day of the year. Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen would lose his arm in car accident. While trying to overtake another car at high speed, Rick lost control of his car, hit a dry stone wall and entered a field where he was thrown from his car because he didn't have his seat belt properly fastened. His left arm was severed and though doctors reattached it, had to re-amputate it on account of infection. Rick's girlfriend also suffered head and neck injuries as well as a concussion. Although this was a tragedy at the time, Rick would be one of the greatest 'overcoming of adversity' stories in all of music.

When 1984 proceeded to 85, a few misguided individuals used these tragedies as some sort of symbol that heavy metal was on its way out. Fools! Yes, heavy metal would never again enjoy the commercial airplay it had in that year, but it would never go away. The lack of radio and MTV play would do nothing to halt record sales and sold out concert attendances.

Next post: My 20 Favourite Power Ballads- 11-20

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Hanoi Rocks- Two Steps From the Move

 

Coming to the final month in 1984, just when I thought that the year of metal might be coming to end, I get news of a band shown on MTV coming to a local club. That band just happend to be, yes you guessed it, Hanoi Rocks. Previous to their appearance, I did happen to catch the video to their single, a cover of the CCR classic, "Up Around the Bend." The video impressed me enough to go to the club and to make a long story short, I was rather impressed. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I should have included that gig in "Rock and Roll Children." My reason for not doing so was because KISS came to Philadelphia that evening and I concluded that the main characters would have gone to see KISS instead. However, I do mention in the story that Bob's older brother Mitch goes to see Hanoi Rocks.

Hanoi Rocks's performance on that memorable evening further motivated me to get their then latest release, "Two Steps From the Move." Another decision I have never regretted because this album is very good. I would be lying if I didn't say that "Up Around the Bend" is my favourite track on it. I had always liked the original version and what Hanoi Rocks did was take a great classic and totally metalize it. However, the album is full of great metal jams. The ones which stick out especially are: "I Can't Get It," "Underwater World, which has a good guitar solo and "Million Miles Away" is as good a power ballad as any. The hidden gem on the album has to be "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." The energy on that song is simply phenomenal! Definitely one to blast driving with the window down and "Boiler" is quite amusing. On the other hand and as cliche as this sounds, all the songs really kick ass. If I were to nit pick, it would be that "Don't You Ever Leave Me" should have been the closer of the album but that's a tiny technicality.

Track Listing:

1. Up Around the Bend
2. High School
3. I Can't Get It
4. Underwater World
5. Don't You Ever Leave Me
6. Million Miles Away
7. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
8. Boiler (Me Boiler 'n' Me)
9. Futurama
10. Cutting Corners

[caption id="attachment_2403" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Hanoi Rocks[/caption]

Michael Monroe- lead vocals and saxophone

Andy McCoy- lead guitar, vocals

Nasty Suicide- guitar, vocals

Sam Yaffa- bass, vocals

Razzle- drums, vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9qHE9P8tHE

In 1984, Hanoi Rocks were on the threshold of international stardom. Unfortunately, just a few short weeks after I saw them obliterate a small club in New Jersey, tragedy would strike the band which would lead to their eventual break up. While it's no secret what that tragedy was, I thought it would be better to go into more detail next post. Right now, focus on the band's happier times with this great album.

Next post: 1984 Ends in Metal Tragedy

To get Rock and Roll Children: email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Triumph- Thunder Seven

 

Just when I thought that 1984 was becoming all metaled out towards the very end of the year, along comes a great album from Canadian greats, Triumph, to continue the metal mayhem that was that year. By then, both commercial radio and MTV was starting to suck, so when the first single, "Spellbound" came blasting over the airwaves on Thanksgiving Day, I was truly psyched. I was already a Triumph convert by then thanks to their previous albums, "Never Surrender" and "Allied Forces" so I welcomed the new "Thunder Seven" album with open arms and ears.

"Spellbound" is my second favourite Triumph song of all time. I just love how Rik Emmett uses his guitar on the song and the harmonizing on the chorus, just great. There are keyboards but unlike the trend in the 1980s, they simply support and not take over the song. Full marks to Mike Levine, he does a good job with them. With the keyboards in that great song, one might be tempted to think that Triumph had gone the same way as their fellow Canadians, Rush, had done earlier in this year. Trust me, they don't.

Not many songs do what they say in the title but the second song does "Rock Out and Rock On!" Not really much more I can say about it than that, except it's a cool track. Then, I really do like the cowboy type vibe on "Cool Down." I don't know if the song really is about cowboys but what I do know and like is how Rik lays down some really cool guitar work on it. "Follow Your Heart" was the second single from "Thunder Seven" and everything about the song says "single." It's a slightly lighter than the other songs but you can still feel Triumph's energy with it.

The rockingest song and my vote for hidden gem is definitely "Time Goes By." While this song is harder than "Spellbound," there is some great harmonizing vocals on it as well. Another song that has Triumph being at their best, especially Emmett's guitar solo. Following "Time Goes By" are two songs which are less than two minutes, the first one being an acoustic instrumental, done well. The second, sounds like a church choir but it does show the vocal ability of Rik Emmett and Gil Moore in a different light. Their vocal abilities also come through very well on the next track, the ballad, "Killing Time." However, things pick up with the penultimate rocker, "Stranger in a Strange Land" before going out an a mega high with the blues based instrumental, "Little Boy Blues," where once again, Rik shows his guitar prowess.

Track Listing

1. Spellbound
2. Rock on Rock Out
3. Cool Down
4. Follow Your Heart
5. Time Goes By
6. Midsummer's Daydream
7. Time Cannon
8. Killing Time
9. Stranger in a Strange Land
10. Little Boy Blues

[caption id="attachment_1547" align="aligncenter" width="262"] Triumph[/caption]

Rik Emmett- guitar, vocals, synthesizers, bass pedals

Gil Moore- drums, vocals, percussion,

Mike Levine- bass, keyboards, synthesizers, bass pedals, organ, clavinet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-znWVHQA7Aw

It was great to see that when people thought that metal was fizzling out in 1984, Triumph kept things going with this great album.

Next post: Hanoi Rocks: Two Steps From the Move

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com  

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Loudness- Disillusion

 

No further proof is needed to support the fact that heavy metal had the world by the balls in 1984 than the album from Japanese metal greats Loudness, "Disillusion." As far as I know, this was the first Loudness album to be sung in English. All previous albums had been sung in the band's native tongue although that did not make them any less kick ass.

Thinking about the above statement, that leads to the one small problem with the album. Minoru Nihara's vocals are sometimes difficult to hear. This is a shame because it is true he sings better English than what he speaks. I've heard interviews with him. What is a further shame is the fact that you can't hear what a great voice he has. Some of you might remember that when I've posted about previous Loudness albums, I compared Minoru Nihara to the likes of Ronnie James Dio, Klaus Meine and Ian Gillan. He certainly belongs in the same league as those just mentioned.

While not being able to fully appreciate Nihara's vocals on "Disillusion" is a little frustrating at times, it is only a small inconvenience because what does obscure the vocals is the brilliant guitar playing of Akira Takasaki. From the first note of the instrumental opener, he just shreds and riffs all over the album. The solos are superb and even his rhythm guitar parts are done amazingly well. He shines extremely well on the tracks "Butterfly" and his instrumental solo "Exploder." However, my vote for the favourite track is still "Satisfaction Guaranteed" because Nihara's vocals come through the clearest on it and he does a good job with them. Of course, Takasaki's guitar playing guided by a good rhythm section help as well.

Track Listing:

1. Anthem
2. Crazy Doctor
3. Esper
4. Butterfly
5. Revelation
6. Exploder
7. Dream Fantasy
8. Milky Way
9. Satisfaction Guaranteed
10. Ares' Lament

[caption id="attachment_2906" align="aligncenter" width="278"] Loudness[/caption]

Minoru Nihara- lead vocals

Akira Takasaki- guitar

Masayoshi Yamashita- bass, taurus pedals

Munetaka Higuchi- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA2YRcgJfc4

"Disillusion" put Loudness on the metal map in the West and set the stage for the following album which would propel them to greatness. It also proved that culture, race, or national borders had nothing to do with enjoying great metal.

BTW, I will be purchasing my tickets for Sunday's Download tonight.

Next post: Triumph- Thunder 7

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Venom- At War With Satan

 

Everybody probably all knows the stereotypes of all heavy metal bands. They can only play four chords, they scream because they can't sing, etc. Well, when I came upon the third album from British death metalers, Venom, I thought that they had a point. My first thoughts of "At War With Satan" was that it was loud, it was brash and it sounded like the whole album was recorded in somebody's basement. Yes, the album ticked all the boxes of the opinions many non-metal people have about heavy metal. But guess what? I couldn't have cared a monkey's about what they thought. I liked this album on account of all that.

For those who have or listened to "At War With Satan" on either cassette or vinyl will know that the entire first side is comprised by the title track. Therefore, you get nineteen minutes of Venom viciousness in one song. The song itself is meant to tell the story of how Hell revolts against Heaven and God is thrown into hell, all centered around the keeper of the gates of Hell who shares his name with Venom's drummer. While a very long concept song, it does keep you on your toes with the various changes throughout so you don't get bored with it. Plus there's some interesting guitar soloing from Mantas. Back in the day, if I had listened to the track on CD, I might have thought it was different songs as opposed to one long one.

Side two consists of the remaining six songs whose combined length equal that of the title track on the previous side. If anyone had problems with Venom stretching out like they did on side one, then they'd be rest assured that Venom return to their more traditional roots of short, sharp headbangers. "Rip Ride" starts things off well enough but is quickly superseded by "Genocide." That is a cool track. "Cry Wolf" actually is slower than what was considered traditional Venom but the band pull it off. The joke at the time was that you could actually make out what Cronus was singing here. Maybe it was meant to be a single. Following, "Stand Up (And Be Counted)," another song whose lyrics you can understand after the initial growls, comes my all time favourite Venom song, "Women, Leather and Hell." This song typifies what I have always liked about Venom. It's loud, ferocious and about some of my favourite subjects. I was rather disappointed when they didn't play it at Bloodstock, 2016. That leads to the very amusing closer, "Aaaaarrrghh."

Track Listing:

1. At War With Satan
2. Rip Ride
3. Genocide
4. Cry Wolf
5. Stand Up (And Be Counted)
6. Women, Leather and Hell
7. Aaaaaarrrghh

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="209"] Venom[/caption]

Cronus- bass, lead vocals

Mantas- guitar

Abaddon- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weXJZ5iVd9o

Critics back in 1984 mostly agreed that "At War With Satan" catapulted Venom into the world of mainstream metal. Maybe it did but those of us who liked this album didn't care about that. What was good was the fact that the band was able to write more mature songs without losing any of their edge.

Next post: Loudness- Disillusion

It is also my displeasure to announce that due to the events of the past month and a half, I will not be going to the full Download Festival. The good news is that I will attend the Sunday where I intend to see, Kreator, Marilyn Manson and headlining will be Ozzy.

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1984: Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers

Destiny brought them back together again. At least that was the big advertising plug for the "Perfect Strangers" album from the newly reformed Deep Purple. Back in the day, this album split opinion among many metalheads. Older ones like me, (I was 23 then), embraced this album immediately. However, there was some dissent from many teen metalheads at the time. Some even said that Deep Purple never should have reformed. To them, "Perfect Strangers" was a disappointment.

Let me add my theory to why teen metalheads might have been disappointed with the album. See, all these youngsters ever heard about in regards to Deep Purple was the classic "Smoke on the Water." For many, this was their only experience with the legends. Therefore, they expected the entire album to be like that classic and when Deep Purple showed their more progressive rock side, which they do on the album, these youngsters were put off.

My experience with Deep Purple, although late, was full on. Of course, I knew of "Smoke on the Water" but I also enjoyed their more progressive songs like, "Wring That Neck" and there's my favourite, "Woman From Tokyo" which incorporates both the prog and hard rock they were famous for. While none of the songs on "Perfect Strangers" quite match up to my fave, they do a rather good job of fusing their progressive and hard rock sounds. I think what these young people didn't understand was that the band couldn't help but add a little prog rock into their music when they had one of the best keyboard players of all time.

Deep Purple try to explain to their listeners that they had progressed from the days of "Smoke on the Water." The closing track and my pick for hidden gem, "Hungry Daze," states this clearly with the lyrics:

"We all came out to Montreax, but that's another song." 

The opening track, "Knocking At Your Back Door" pretty much shapes the entire album. You have some killer guitar work from Blackmore, great keyboard wizardry from Lord, Ian Gillan's vocals were as sharp as they had been ten years earlier and the bombarding rhythm section of Glover and Paice holding all together. It' s a great song to begin the album with. Things just go on from there with the slightly harder "Under the Gun," then the more progressive "Nobody's Home"  which shows off Jon Lord's best keyboard work and the more bluesy sounding "Mean Streak.

One of my biggest regrets after writing "Rock and Roll Children" comes with the title track. When I saw Deep Purple live in early 1985, there was a phenomenal light show accompanying the song. I loved how the lasers shot across the length of the Philadelphia Spectrum making different patters with the notes. I don't think I did it justice in the story. It was the first single and an okay song. "A Gypsy's Kiss" remind me of the old DP classic, "Burn" with Ritchie belting out a blinder of a solo as well as the trade-off with Jon Lord where guitar and keyboards go back and forth. Okay, there are two hidden gems on this album.

In regards to the other gem, I don't think "Hungry Daze" should have been the closer on the album. It's a good track but everything about the penultimate track, "Wasted Sunsets" screams closer! Just listen to the opening guitar solo and the way Gillan's voice just takes over before relinquishing again to another blazing Blackmore solo. The slower blues beat with it bears even more witness that it should be a closer. Hell, even the title suggests it! Other than this track misappropriation, "Perfect Strangers" was a good album for them to come back on.

Track Listing:

1. Knocking At Your Back Door
2. Under the Gun
3. Nobody's Home
4. Mean Streak
5. Perfect Strangers
6. A Gypsy's Kiss
7. Wasted Sunsets
8. Hungry Daze

[caption id="attachment_4515" align="aligncenter" width="330"] Deep Purple[/caption]

Ian Gillan- lead vocals

Ritchie Blackmore- guitar

Roger Glover- bass

Jon Lord- keyboards

Ian Paice- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xuBw63xj00

Was 1984 the right time for Deep Purple to return? I've always thought so. I admit, "Perfect Strangers" isn't exactly "Machine Head" but it's a good album. The musicianship of the five members is outstanding, proving that there's more to them than "Smoke on the Water."

Next post: Venom- At War With Satan

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com