1980 Ends in Tragedy

John Lennon

In spite of all of the great rock and metal happenings, the kick ass albums from the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and AC/DC to name just a tiny few, triumphant events like the first ever Donington Festival and even tragic departures in the form of John Bonham and Bon Scott; all of them were over shadowed by an event that not only shocked the music world but the world in general, the murder of John Lennon. Like other infamous tragedies such as Pearl Harbour, the assassination of JFK and 911, many people can remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news that John Lennon and been shot and killed. Personally, I was on the USS Saipan and we had just returned through the Suez Canal and was on our way to Italy when the ship news service told us of the murder. Naturally, we were all shocked and some of my comrades in arms thought it was a joke. However, when we realised the truth, there was much mourning and sympathy, even from those who would have not listened to Lennon's music and it caused what had been a landmark year in music to end on a tearful note.

John Lennon's murder was as unnecessary as it was tragic. If it had been any ordinary Joe or Josephine, I would still say that the way in which he was shot down was completely wrong. Even after all these years, I still fail to see any reasoning behind Mark Chapman's actions other than he simply wanted his fifteen minutes. Now, I am one of the biggest hippy liberals going but I have always maintained that if anyone callously and maliciously takes the life of another human being, then they should forfeit their own. Originally, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and I do feel a slight touch of relief after reading that he has been denied parole seven times.

The Fab Four

I know I'm once again preaching to the choir and stating the obvious, but influence that John Lennon and The Beatles had on music, even heavy metal,  lives on over thirty years after his death. For proof, listen to the Beatles song "Helter Skelter" and then look up the hard rock and metal bands who have recorded covers of said song. I know of at least one metal artist whose album I'll be visiting in the tour of 1981 had a song in tribute to Lennon. I'm sure I'll find others and more will re-emerge from the wastelands of my distant memories. So, in conclusion, as this coming Sunday marks the thirty-third anniversary of the tragedy, take a moment to remember this superstar. But also, as I close the door on the rock and metal of 1980, also remember the great musical triumphs from the year too. I'm not a psychic, but I think that's what John would have wanted us to do.

Next post: Tribute to Blues Guitarists

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Great Metal Albums of 1980: The Scorpions- Animal Magnetism

One major advantage to listening to a band's later material first and then trawling back through their archives is that you get a deep appreciation for where they came from and what they did to get to where they were when you first heard them. This was definitely the case for me in regards to The Scorpions. The first Scorpions album I was treated to was "Blackout" in 1982. While that is my favourite album of theirs, when I listened to the "Animal Magnetism" album, I can say that I was very impressed with that one as well.

"Animal Magnetism" reveals a very hungry group on the album. Each song has the power that I would love so much on the next album. "Make It Real" is a great opener and the third track "Hold Me Tight," reminds me why I have always held the vocal ability of Klaus Meine in such high regard. Then there is the seemingly ballad "Lady Starlight." Yes, it sounds like a ballad and for all purposes it is, but I have to say that Mathias Jabs really nails it on the guitar solo. After that brief slow down, it is back to business with three more hard rocking jams before it gets to the final title cut. That track may appear to be a bit way out there but the riffs laid down by the band on it reassure the listener that it is still the Scorpions all the way.

Tack Listing:

1. Make It Real

2. Don't Make No Promises (Your Body Can't Keep)

3. Hold Me Tight

4. Twentieth Century Man

5. Lady Starlight

6. Falling In Love

7. Only a Man

8. The Zoo

9. Animal Magnetism

The Scorpions

Klaus Meine- lead vocals

Mathias Jabs- lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals

Rudolph Schenker- rhythm guitars, backing vocals

Francis Bucholz- bass, backing vocals

Herman Rarebell- drums, backing vocals

Like so many of the great metal bands back in 1980, The Scorpions would go onto even greater glories. Still, it's good to go back and appreciate where they came from and with "Animal Magnetism," they came from a good place.

Next post: 1980 Ends in Tragedy

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Great Metal Albums of 1980: KISS- Unmasked

This is definitely one album I can blame the military on for letting slip past me. It was released around the time I was floating around the Indian Ocean on a ship. My first indication that KISS had released an album at that time was the news that Peter Criss was leaving the band, which he did shortly after. However, the album never made any waves in the sense that everyone was talking about it and as a result, it passed me by and became one of those many albums I had to discover in retrospect.

Listening to it again, I'm not sure how I would of reacted to it back then. Right now, I am saying to myself, "This isn't the hard rocking KISS I knew from the 70s." Then again, my adolescent experience with religion was still tugging at the coat tails of my consciousness back then when I believed all that Satan worshipper crap aimed at them. So, I might have liked it, but I can't say for sure.

"Unmasked" starts off ok with "Is That You" giving me the impression that KISS were remaining true to their roots. However, when I heard the next two songs, "Shandi" and "Talk to Me," I thought, "What the hell!" These songs make them sound like sound fresh faced top 40 band or a lounge act. "Naked City" is a slight improvement and fortunately the album makes a more traditional KISS return after that for the remainder of the album. It gets more harder with some decent rockers like "Tomorrow," "Two Sides of the Coin" and "She's So European" before going out with an all right closer. Unfortunately, those songs don't fully remove the unpleasant taste in my mouth put their by tracks two, three and four even with some good guitars solos from Ace.

Track Listing:

1. Is That You

2. Shandi

3. Talk To Me

4. Naked City

5. What Makes the World Go Round

6. Tomorrow

7. Two Sides of the Coin

8. She's So European

9. Easy As It Seems

10. Torpedo Girl

11. You're All That I Want

KISS

Paul Stanley- vocals, rhythm guitar

Gene Simmons- bass, vocals

Ace Frehley- lead guitar, vocals

Peter Criss- drums, vocals

Uncredited Musicians

Anton Figg- drums

Vini Poncia- backing vocals

Tom Harper- bass on Shandi

Holly Knight- keyboards

The jury is still out as to whether or not I should regret missing this album back in the day. I'm not saying it's a bad one, there are some good moments on it that remind me of their more golden years. However, even now there are some tracks that don't sit well with me.

Next post: The Scorpions- Animal Magnetism

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

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

Great Metal Albums of 1980: Saxon- Wheels of Steel

Like so many albums, this was yet another one I first experienced after listening to some of the band's later ones. I didn't experience "Wheels of Steel" by Saxon until 1986, when I heard the title track played at Oscar's Night Club in London. Actually it was in Newbury Park, which is officially part of Essex but that's not important. It's also a shame that about two years after I stopped going, it became a McDonald's. Still, on the night I heard the that song, I knew it was a good one. So, it was only natural that I would have to hear the album.

A good friend of mine stated that "Wheels of Steel" used to be his cruising song and I fully see why. However, the same could be said for the entire album. It's just one of those albums that you pop in your CD when you just want to drive. Of course you have to have the windows rolled down and the stereo going full blast. I wanted to do that the other day and the temperature was just above freezing.

"Motorcycle Man" is probably the closest that Saxon will ever get to thrash. It's a good, fast number that you should play with the car windows down, whatever the weather. While the same vibe holds for the rest of the album, I do really like the second song "Stand Up and Be Counted." "See the Light Shining" is also a standout track for me and although the lyrics to "Street Fighting Gang" remind me of what I call the Rumble Fish effect; (Middle class suburban kids who love the idea of urban style gang fights, but would never participate in one), it is still a good song. All in all, I remain very impressed with "Wheels of Steel."

Track Listing:

1. Motorcycle Man

2. Stand Up and Be Counted

3. 747 Strangers in the Night

4. Wheels of Steel

5. Freeway Mad

6. See the Light Shining

7. Street Fighting Gang

8. Suzie Hold On

9. Machine Gun

Saxon

Biff Byford- vocals

Graham Oliver- guitar

Paul Quinn- guitar

Steve Dawson- bass

Pete Gill- drums

If you are ever going on a long drive or just fancy a cruise, then this album in the stereo is a must. "Wheels of Steel" is one of the best driving albums ever no matter what Jeremy Clarkson says. It's a brilliant metal album as well. On a side note, there's much about my exploits at Oscar's in Rock And Roll Children.

Next post: Saxon- Strong Arm of the Law

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Great Metal Albums of 1980: Van Halen- Women and Children First

Another offering from the American side of heavy metal came in the form of the third album from Van Halen. (Although you could say that this was a Dutch-American collaboration since the Van Halen brothers were originally from the Netherlands.) Still what we got in 1980 was "Women and Children First." Now, my alternate mindset is hearing some collective scoffs and sighs from some of you and I know why. In comparison to Van Halen's first two albums, this one doesn't compare. However, if you can divorce yourself from those iconic first two albums and look at "Women and Children First" on its own, you may find that it's really not that bad of an album.

For me, the two best tracks are the first two songs on the album: "And the Cradle Will Rock" and "Everybody Wants Some," the latter being a concert favourite for several albums after. The former song was the one stuck in my mind for most of my first tour of sea duty and it helped get me through it. The spoken David Lee Roth part of the latter: "I like the way the line runs up the back of your stocking" amuses me to this day. While they may be the two strongest tracks, the album doesn't end there. The next song, "Fools" begins with the traditional guitar work that made Eddie Van Halen the principal guitarist back then. The next track "Romeo's Delight" reminds of some of the classic rockers that we got from the first two albums and continues through the next two tracks. While "Take Your Whiskey Home" seems to be an attempt to re-create my all time favourite Van Halen song, "Ice Cream Man," it's still a good jam. However, and this is where things fall down, in my view. The acoustic track "Could This Be Magic?" where the only female singer ever let on a Van Halen album, Nicolette Larson, provides backing vocals. I love a good acoustic jam but this song had me asking myself: "Are they taking the p*ss here?" Still one questionable track does not make a bad album and it redeems itself with the closing song.

In short, except for that one possible track, there is nothing for me to dislike on "Women and Children First." David Lee Roth sings to his capabilities, Eddie shows the world that he still has a trick or two up his sleeve on the guitar, and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony still prove why many people back then considered them to be the best rhythm section around at the time.

Track Listing:

1. And The Cradle Will Rock

2. Everybody Wants Some

3. Fools

4. Romeo's Delight

5. Tora Tora!

6. Loss of Control

7. Take Your Whiskey Home

8. Could This Be Magic?

9. In a Simple Rhyme

10. Growth (Hidden track)

Van Halen

   David Lee Roth- lead vocals

Eddie Van Halen- guitars, backing vocals

Michael Anthony- bass, backing vocals

Alex Van Halen- drums

It is tough for any act to follow up on a great album so imagine how difficult it is two follow up on two. With "Women and Children First," Van Halen make a valiant effort and while it may night reach the dizzy heights of the first two, it is still a good album and should be seen as such.

Next post: Saxon- Wheels of Steel

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Great Metal Albums of 1980: Triumph- Progressions of Power

In 1980, we had metal contributions from Great Britain, the USA and Australia, so it would only be natural that we had at least one from Canada. Of course in this year of great rock and metal albums, there was a brilliant album from Rush, which I have already posted on, but since even they don't want to be called heavy metal, I decided to honour their wishes and not refer to them as such. I'm digressing again, what Canada did give the metal world that year was a brilliant album from Triumph.

When I visited their "Just a Game" album during my tour of 1979, I explained that because heavy metal was still in it's infancy back then, Triumph was still looking for the sound that would stamp them firmly onto the metal monument. I can now safely say that after hearing "Progressions of Power" twice, that they definitely found the sound they were looking for. For me, this is yet another great metal album from the year. Not only did the opener "I Live for the Weekend" had me banging my head away, but that lasted through the second song "I Can Survive." Even the more power ballad "In the Night" didn't lessen my happy mood. Then there were two great back to back rockers, "Nature's Child" and "Women in Love" and I have to really sing the praises of "Tear the Roof Off." That songs really gets me going even if it is followed by a total ballad in the form of "Take My Heart." Finally "Hard Road" that takes the album to it's conclusion in a very well done fashion.

The problem that has always plagued Triumph is that because they're Canadian, the get compared to Rush. Shame on those who do that. They are noticeably different. While Rush likes to go more progressive, Triumph lets you know that they are a hard rocking band and should be seen as such. I'm even going to go out on a limb here and say that I prefer the guitar playing of Rik Emmet to Alex Liefson but that's just me. The solos he performs on this album are just grand.

Track Listing:

1. I Live For the Weekend

2. I Can Survive

3. In the Night

4. Nature's Child

5. Women in Love

6. Take My Heart

7. Tear the Roof Off

8. Finger Talkin'

9. Hard Road

Triumph

Rik Emmet- guitars, prophet 5 synthesiser, vocals

Gil Moore- drums, percussion vocals

Mike Levine- bass, keyboards

Way back when I first began this blog nearly three years ago, I said that Canadian metal doesn't get the respect it deserves. I hope that as people follow me through this journey of heavy metal history, they will begin to give that respect to them. If you want a good place to start, then I can wholeheartedly suggest this album.

Next post: Van Halen- Women and Children First

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

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

Great Metal Albums of 1980: AC/DC- Back in Black

Someone somewhere must have some sort of sixth sense because every time I come around to visiting an AC/DC album here, tribute band Hells Bells comes to town. Therefore, I think that it's only fitting that before I talk about any AC/DC album, I should go and see Hells Bells first for inspiration. That's what I did with my step son last night.

Bombshell

Unlike their last visit, this time Hells Bells brought a support band with them. We were a couple of minutes late and so going up the stairs to the show, I thought it was a bit strange that I was hearing the  Blondie classic "One Way or Another." Once inside the function room, the Stroud audience was being treated to Bombshell. My first thought to this band was on account of their name and the fact they were fronted by a very attractive lead singer reminiscent of Debbie Harry, that they were a Blondie tribute band. The very next song killed that theory. Bombshell turned out to be a very capable cover band playing their own version of some great rock classics like "Black Velvet," "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" and Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone." There was one trick up their sleeve. My first thought was "Why are they playing a Lady Ga Ga song when I recognised "Poker Face." However, their hard rock version totally kicks the pants off the original version. Give me Bombshell's anytime. So Bombshell provided a good opening to the evening's festivities.

Hells Bells at their usual greatness

I would only be repeating myself from the last time I posted about this great tribute to AC/DC if I go into great details about the show. Of course, they played many of the great classics and as always, they were note perfect in regards to AC/DC. The only thing difference was that the entire band is growing moustaches this month for Movember in order to raise money for research for testicular cancer. This means there isn't a whole lot to say about the night that I haven't said before because as always, Hells Bells proved why AC/DC are one of the best loved bands in the world.

I thought I'd take this because I never seem to get the rhythm guitarist and bass in my photos

All of this brings me around to my all time favourite AC/DC album and that is my one tiny gripe about the show. Hells Bells only played three songs off "Back In Black." "Shoot to Thrill," "Back in Black" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" are all great songs, especially the last one, but any song from this album would have had me banging my head in vigorous exultation. Of course, I also would have been over the moon if they had played "Given the Dog a Bone." I have always like that song even before I discovered what the song was actually about. Of course, there are several songs with innuendo on the album. "What Do You Do For Money" and "Let Me Put My Love Into You" are perfect examples, especially with the lyrics in the latter, "Let me cut your cake with my knife."

Stating the obvious here but back in 1980, the big question asked when this album came out was if new lead singer Brian Johnson could fill the shoes vacated by the passing of Bon Scott. For me and many others, there was no question here, Brian proved he's got the goods. Full credit to the band here, they didn't try to go out and find a Bon Scott clone because no such person exists. Brian Johnson is his own vocalist and this album highlights the fact behind the usual great musicianship of Young, Young, Williams and Rudd. This album does have some of my favourite guitar solos from Angus.

Track Listing:

1. Hells Bells

2. Shoot to Thrill

3. What Do You Do For Money, Honey

4. Given the Dog a Bone

5. Let Me Put My Love Into You

6. Back in Black

7. You Shook Me All Night Long

8. Have a Drink On Me

9. Shake a Leg

10. Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

AC/DC

Brian Johnson- lead vocals

Angus Young- lead guitar

Malcolm Young- rhythm guitar

Cliff Williams- bass

Phil Rudd- drums

Thirty million sales world wide can't be wrong. Many, including me, will say that this is the best AC/DC album of all time. Listening to the songs in it, I can see why.

Next post: Triumph- Progression of Power

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book shop in London