Metal And Me

Cher and I watched Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
last night. A fairly good film for those who love the metal. Because I'm a geek, I would have preferred more of a focus on the power metal bands, like Gamma Ray and Testament, than all the glam rock shit best (or worst?) exemplified by bands like Skid Row and Poison. Fuck, they were terrible. But the film excelled in showing the love metal fans have for their music. It comes as no surprise just how gentle and polite most of the metal performers are: Bruce Dickinson is as eloquent as ever, Tony Iommi is the perfect English gentlemen, and even the bad boys of Slayer...really aren't. Some of the great scenes include Ronnie James Dio showing off his heavy metal swords, then in the next scene is petting his Siamese cat in a to-die for kitchen in his home. Dee Snider seems to be reliving his glory days a wee bit too much--as influential as he may think Twisted Sister was, I still link them with the glam crowd--TS only had a better hit single. Geddy Lee was his usual affable, perfect self, and even the clowns from Slipknot had some fairly decent insights into why it is metal is so popular with the outsiders of society.

Not many people know that Cher is a diehard, devil sign waving metalhead from back in the day. She was the perfect teenage rebel--black eyeliner, black leather jacket, with a collection of Maiden and Sabbath to rival the most dyed in the denim rocker. She has seen Black Sabbath, with Dio on vocals. She adored the film, and has said if Maiden ever came through Ontario again, she would be so there.

Me? I have never considered myself first and foremost a metal fan, but my library often speaks otherwise. I adore System of a Down, which I see as metal being advanced, building on the intelligence of Maiden with more of a political angle being introduced. I love the old Black Sabbath, and have a soft spot for aforementioned power metal bands like Gamma Ray. I've not yet made my peace with the 'growling' form of vocals very popular with metal bands today--I'm trying, but I'm not there yet. My favourite metal albums would include the very rare Music From The Elder by Kiss, Moving Pictures by Rush, and Odin Owns Ye All by Einherjer.

The above pictured album is currently blasting away my foundations. I love the Maiden as well, and Bruce Dickinson's Rock Show on BBC Radio 6 is a constant here in Casa Twist.