Great Rock Albums of 1981: Grace Slick- Welcome to the Wrecking Ball

In 1981, even after her contribution on the "Modern Times" album by Jefferson Starship, Grace Slick was reported to have said that she was going to blow herself up if she got kept on being asked if she was going back to the Starship. I don't blame her, there was still quite a bit of discord between her and the band at this time. Additionally, it was a month after the release of "Modern Times" that I saw her album "Welcome to the Wrecking Ball" for sale in the shops. This was one of those albums I wanted to listen to but never got around to it. I really liked her more progressive sounding "Dreams" which she put out the previous year so the precedent for buying was certainly there. But I didn't, and now thanks to You Tube, I was able to finally listen to the album and now I'm really kicking myself.

Maybe it was because "Dreams" was more progressive and my musical tastes were becoming harder is why I didn't buy it. Lousy excuse, because "Welcome to the Wrecking Ball" is nothing like "Dreams." This entire album is (and I can't put it any other way) is one hell of a rocking album. It starts with the title track and then avalanches into a thrilling pool of bang your head style rock that some people could mistake for heavy metal. The only reason why I won't call it that is the track "Shooting Star." This song could have been written by Paul Kantner and used on either of Jefferson Starship's albums "Red Octopus" or "Spitfire" from the mid 70s. The song is more of a trippy way out there kind of song but it does fit in well with the album. It's the only song, save for "Lines" that doesn't begin by a pounding guitar riff. "Lines" starts with a reggae sound before exploding into your face in likewise hard manner. One thing for sure is that given Grace's powerful vocals on these songs, it is clear that she definitely can sing hard rock. Just listen to "Round and Round" and you'll see what I mean. Maybe a metal band should give her a guest vocal spot on a song, I know it would sound superb.

The unsung hero on this album is Scott Zito. He wrote all of the songs along with Slick and after hearing what he can do on the guitar on first, "Dreams" and now this album, I'm glad that she kept him on to play guitar because he can play.

Track Listing:

1. Welcome to the Wrecking Ball

2. Mistreater

3. Shot in the Dark

4. Round and Round

5. Shooting Star

6. Just a Little Love

7. Sea of Love

8. Lines

9. Right Kind

10. No More Heroes

[caption id="attachment_1679" align="aligncenter" width="127"] Grace Slick[/caption]

Grace Slick- lead vocals

Scott Zito- lead guitar, harmonica, backing vocals

Danny Guilino- rhythm guitar

Phil Stone- bass

Bobby Torell0- drums

Paul Harris- keyboards

I'm not finished kicking myself for not buying this album but I will start searching Amazon and like places. The problem is that I don't get paid till Friday. "Welcome to the Wrecking Ball" by Grace Slick is definitely the most underrated album that I have come across for 1981, if not for all time. I'm glad she just let herself go on this one for this is a fantastic album.

Next post: Joe Walsh- There Goes The Neighbourhood

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great New Metal Album: Greywind- Afterthoughts

Apologies for all of those who were expecting to be reading my thoughts on the "Fugazi" album from Marillion. Trust me, that will be coming very soon. What has thrown a metal spanner in the works was my getting and listening to the debut album, "Afterthoughts" by Greywind after seeing them dominate the Avalanche Stage on the Saturday and Download. Now, that I've had a couple of listens to it, I am even more impressed and now want to spread the word about this band.

[caption id="attachment_3947" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Greywind making their mark at Download[/caption]

At first listen, one might be tempted to compare Greywind to Paramore and there are similarities in the sound beyond the fact that both are fronted by female lead singers. Only similarities though, as I find Greywind to be much more in your face than what Paramore ever was, no disrespect to that band. There is some powerful forces at work on "Afterthoughts" in between some flashes of prog metal. The best example of this is on the tracks "Circle" and "The Lake." The latter uses a piano in a very seductive way that lures you into a possible mellow out before belting you ear drums with more guitars. However, those aren't my favourite tracks on the album. The title track is a definite candidate as well as being a great opener for the album. I also like the track "Desolate" for its start like a ballad before ripping your head off power chords and then going back and forth between the two and "Car Spins" is a very interesting track to say indeed.

One thing I learned after purchasing the album was that Greywind are actually a brother and sister act fronted by guitarist Paul O'Sullivan and singer Stephanie O'Sullivan. The rhythm section get a mention in the Special Thanks part on the label as they should. Mark Chapman and Adam Perry make a very good one here. Guitarist Paul is a very good guitarist which is paradoxical for me. I usually like ones who do blistering solos ala Van Halen, Nugent, Blackmore, Iommi, Page etc. I had to stop there before I got carried away naming all the great axemen. He does play some intricate little riffs throughout the songs that don't escape your attention.

For me though, it's the dominating voice of Steph that makes this album for me. In comparison to Paramore, Hayley Williams' vocals don't even come close! Steph O'Sullivan can do it all. She can sing soft or belt you with her raw power vocal chords. She did that at Download and she does it here on the album.

Track Listing:

1. Afterthoughts
2. Forest Ablaze
3. Circle
4. Safe Haven
5. The Lake
6. Car Spin
7. Stitch On My Wings
8. Desolate
9. In Autumn
10. Wander

Stephanie O'Sullivan giving it her all.

Stephanie O'Sullivan- vocals

Paul O'Sullivan- guitars

Mark Chapman- bass

Adam Perry- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1AWdF1R0oQ

The whole point of my writing "Rock and Roll Children" and starting 80sMetalman was to get everyone to get out their old albums and listen to them again. I know a lot of you never stopped listening to them. In this case, I'm hoping that you will give a new band a chance and listen to their debut album because I think it's worth it.

To buy Rock And Roll Children go to: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Children-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1609763556/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1499276423&sr=8-8&keywords=michael+d+lefevre

Download 2017: The Sunday

[caption id="attachment_3978" align="aligncenter" width="270"] I wonder if anyone obliged them.[/caption]
Sunday, the final day of Download., we all thought we better make the best of it. Most of the bands I wanted to see this day were playing on the main stage so I didn't have to travel very far, especially with the headache of packing and loading the car. Everyone in my group all wanted to catch the day's opener on the main stage, Fozzy. I had seen them at Bloodstock in 2013 and was very eager to see them again and when they came out on stage, they were determined to impress. Lead singer Chris Jerico, now with darker hair, still was the main attraction to this band. Like when I saw him at Bloodstock, he has a stage presence that singers with greater vocal talent don't. However, he did give his band a little more of the limelight this time around. After all, he does have a good band behind him and I have to say that they seemed to have better material this time around. Check out the new song, "Judas." A great start to the final day.
[caption id="attachment_3980" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Fozzy begin[/caption][caption id="attachment_3981" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Jerico goes to the front[/caption][caption id="attachment_3982" align="aligncenter" width="225"] With the rest of the band behind him[/caption][caption id="attachment_3983" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Chris came my way[/caption]
The rest of my group returned to camp but I stayed because I very much wanted to see the second band of the day, Orange Goblin. I have some of you bloggers to thank for that, I'm looking at Stone and HMO specifically, because what I have read about them made that decision for me. I have been told that while their music was good, they lacked stage presence, however, I saw no evidence of that when they hit the stage. True, singer Ben Ward is not the showman that Chris Jerico is but he sings well and can get the audience motivated behind the band. I thought they had some good stuff with their combination of doom metal and stoner rock. Will definitely be listening to these guys more and I'm serious about that.
[caption id="attachment_3984" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Orange Goblin do have the presence[/caption][caption id="attachment_3985" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Ben Ward serenading the Sunday morning crowd[/caption]
After being wowed by Fozzy and Orange Goblin, it was time to head back to camp, finish packing and load up the car. We managed to do this but because one of the assistants sent us to the wrong car park, we were late in getting back so when only caught the last twenty minutes of Devil Driver on the Zippo Stage. Still, twenty minutes of hard core thrash from Devil Driver is miles better than none at all.
[caption id="attachment_3987" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The closest I could get to Devil Driver[/caption]
After Devil Driver, I headed back to the main stage to see the remaining four bands on the night. The first of these were Australian hard rock band, Airbourne. Remember what I said about Northlane are evidence that not all Australian bands are influenced by AC/DC?  Well, forget about that in this case because the AC/DC influence came through the minute Airbourne was out on stage. The other thing I noticed straight away was that lead singer/lead guitarist, Joel O'Keeffe was the main attraction in the band. Like, Devin Townsend and another artist I would see later on in the day, O'Keeffe was good at both. However, he wouldn't be so great without the rest of the band behind him. Most of the songs they played were from the "Breaking Out of Hell" album but that's not a bad thing. I did like the song "It's All For Rock and Roll, so it's another album on my to get list. Airbourne warmed things up nicely in preparation for the rest of the evening.
[caption id="attachment_3986" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Joel O'Keeffe going straight to the front[/caption][caption id="attachment_3988" align="aligncenter" width="225"] O'Keeffe belts out a guitar solo with rhythm section in support[/caption][caption id="attachment_3989" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The album cover alone is worth getting the album.[/caption][caption id="attachment_3990" align="aligncenter" width="225"] O'Keeffe leading the finish[/caption]
After Airbourne, I was totally pumped for the next band, Steel Panther, and my feelings were justified. Steel Panther were the unsung heroes on the day. I loved them start to finish and let me put to rest any doubts about their ability, these guys can play, they proved that the second they stepped out on stage with "Eyes of the Panther." Sure, there is a lot of humour in their songs and I was quite surprised they played, "Thar She Blows" live but whoever said that there can't be humour in metal? I laughed and rocked out at the same time to the Tiger Woods song. In addition to the great metal, there was some great banter with the crowd and between the band themselves. Bassist Lexxi was the butt of most of the jokes, with constant insinuations he was gay but it was also said that lead singer Mike Starr was 72 years old. If that's true, then all the power to him I say. Besides I believe them when they say the reason all the other bands hate them was because they sleep with all their girlfriends. I only had to wait halfway through the set to hear the famous "Death to All But Metal" and they played "Fuck All Night, Party All Day" straight after. The biggest surprise was when they played "17 Girls in a Row." While playing it, they invited ladies up from the crowd on stage and before you knew it, there was a wall of young women across the entire stage and four deep. Most of the ladies seemed content with taking selfies with the band and giving them kisses, not that they minded. Once the girls were back off stage, they ended with what's for me, the best song possible, "Community Property." You bet people sang along to that one. So, after seeing them, anyone who insists Steel Panther are a joke band can come see me and I'll show them my US Marine Corps training.
[caption id="attachment_3991" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Feel the Steel[/caption][caption id="attachment_3992" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Michael Starr sings while Satchel hammers a solo[/caption][caption id="attachment_3993" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Starr and Lexxi come my way[/caption][caption id="attachment_3994" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The ladies answer the invite to come on stage[/caption][caption id="attachment_3995" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Ladies on stage[/caption]
I only became familiar with Alter Bridge a week before I went to Download but after hearing their mix on Youtube, I made up my mind to go and see them. Myles Kennedy was already known to me on account of his work with Slash so that made me more determined to see them. He is a great singer but what I never knew was that he can play a guitar a bit as well. He really wailed away on quite a few of the songs so I was doubly impressed. While I can remember specific song titles, I can say that the songs I heard were absolutely brilliant. I think that after seeing them onstage, they are quickly becoming a favourite with me.
[caption id="attachment_3996" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Welcome Alter Bridge[/caption][caption id="attachment_3997" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Myles came my way to play a solo[/caption][caption id="attachment_3998" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Don't forget, there are three other great musicians in Alter Bridge[/caption][caption id="attachment_3999" align="aligncenter" width="225"] We all know Myles is a great singer too[/caption][caption id="attachment_4000" align="aligncenter" width="225"] More great guitar work[/caption][caption id="attachment_4001" align="aligncenter" width="225"] They played on til the end[/caption]
Now common sense says that I should have stayed put after Alter Bridge so I would have a spot for headliners, Aerosmith. However, who says I have any sense? What did I do? I went over to the Zippo Stage to catch twenty minutes of headliners Slayer. Sure, I have seen them twice recently but who in their right mind would pass up any chance to see Slayer? I didn't and don't regret it.
[caption id="attachment_4003" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Slaaaayyyeeeerrrrrr![/caption]
I did manage to get back well before the main event and managed to jockey into the best place possible to see the band that helped me through high school. Aerosmith came out to all the royal fanfare a band of their magnitude deserved. While I knew that their set would be a 'greatest hits' one, neither I or any of the tens of thousands there to see them cared. The hits came straight away, their was "Crying," "Love in an Elevator," "Living on the Edge" and "Jaime's Got a Gun" for starters. It was common knowledge that the last song was about domestic abuse but I was a little surprised at Steve's revelation that he got the idea for it while he was in rehab. Sometime in the middle of the set, guitarist Joe Perry was allowed to sing lead on a couple of songs, the first one was a blues number and the second one, Brad Whitford played a guitar solo. I always suspected Brad was capable of such things. After all, he's been a brilliant rhythm guitarist for over forty years! After Joe's spot, Aerosmith went back to the hits starting with the film classic, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." It was here that Steve Tyler introduced guest keyboards player Buck Johnson. Believe me, he went well with the band. Tom Hamilton played a bass solo but there was no surprise which song was to come after when Steve introduced him as Mr Sweet Emotion. This was the icebreaker for more of their 70s and 80s stuff. There was "Dude Looks Like a Lady" and of course "Dream On," which the band left the stage. No fooling they would come out for encores and the audience was treated to a song I can't remember before "Walk This Way." The night ended with confetti and great fanfare. Now, there are rumours that this would be Aerosmith's last tour. If so, they went out on an absolute high.
Aerosmith ended a night and a weekend of great metal! I went home feeling very satisfied and fulfilled. Download was great but I will not enter into any debate as to which is better between Download and Bloodstock. Both offer me everything I look for in metal. One thing, I must do in the future is to save my pennies so I can go to both festivals in the same year.
[caption id="attachment_4005" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Steve and Joe in the front[/caption][caption id="attachment_4006" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Aerosmith rocks![/caption][caption id="attachment_4007" align="aligncenter" width="225"] They rock some more[/caption][caption id="attachment_4008" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Cool lights[/caption][caption id="attachment_4009" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Tom's bass solo[/caption][caption id="attachment_4010" align="aligncenter" width="225"] More Steve and Joe[/caption][caption id="attachment_4011" align="aligncenter" width="225"] A great end to the night![/caption]

Rock and Roll Children is still available on Amazon.