For over 30 years, metal has been a very controversial form of music. It has been protested, banned, charged criminally and brutally attacked. It has been celebrated, praised, loved and it has saved. I recently purchased a DVD called "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey". It is a documentary about metal music and the experience one particular man named Sam Dunn had with it. This documentary opens up alot of questions about metal music, but before we get into that, I should tell you why I like metal.
I love metal music. All kinds of it. Heavy metal, Glam metal, Power metal, Death metal, Black metal and my personal favorite, Thrash metal. You might be asking, whats the difference between all of these sub-genre's of metal? Well there is a big difference but all metal music comes from the same abckground, the early-metal bands like Zepplin, Blue Cheer, and Black Sabbath. All the sub-genres (there's 19 i think, not sure) stemmed primarily from these bands, Punk bands, and, believe it or not, Heavy Classical music (yes there was such a thing). So the main reason I love metal music is because of the feeling I get from it. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up. It makes me want to just go berserk, this helps alot when Im gettting pumped up for a hockey game. And its just an intense kind of music that's really fun to listen to.
So metal music has been persecuted for many many years for it's affect on kids. It has been accused of causing teens to murder or commit suicide over the songs. First of all, if you are crazy enough to murder someone, a song is not going to be the decidin factor in your final decision. Same goes for suicide. It got to the point where Tipper Gore (famous for her persecution of metal music in the mid-eighties) called on the front man of Twisted Sister, a member of the Glam sub-genre, to testify before the supreme court to defend metal music and all of it's practitioners. He gave a speech that the coucil was not expecting, shocking everyone with his articulate defense of the music he grew up on. Metal has never been proven to be the cause of violent acts in teens but has been accused of it many times.
When asked about what he thinks makes metal so huge and so important to people, Lemmy of Motorhead said "It gives them something to belong to. Metal heads are one big family, no matter what kidna s%$t you're into, if it's metal, it's metal, ya know?" Wise words from a hardened metal head.
I may not dress all in black, or wear studded silver belts or bracelets, this doesn't validate me as a metal head. I know that the 'uniform' is an important part of meatl culture, but it's just not my thing. Isn't metal music all about being your own person and fuck anyone else who doesn't like it? Well just because I don't dress in black Band-T's and wear studs doesn't mean Im not a metal head and fuck anyone who doesn't like it! I have all (minus 1) of my favorite metal groups records (Metallica, Im missing St Anger but Im not missing much) and I am an avid fan. Metal isn't just a musical taste either, it's a lifestyle. I live it. Metal music in the morning, on the bus, at jams with my band, before a big game, after a hard night at work, when I go to sleep at night. Metal isn't just music, it's a way for people to connect with eachother. Long hair and leather jackets are optional, though I wish I had long hair, I can rock the jacket and fuck anyone who doesn't like it :D.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Human music
I recentlyhad a revelation about music and its effect on people as a whole. Music has such a profound effect on some people, it changes some lives even. I realize now, as a musician, that the music that is written and produced today is not some form of life-changing art but just words. Just words from other human beings. Yet there is something about the words from the souls of others that captures the imagination and emotions of us all. Im saddened a little bit at the realization that every song that had an impact on me wasn't just a message for me and me alone but an anthem put out to the masses. Its a somewhat depressing thought to understand and I hope I don't ruin anyone's musical adventures out there but Im glad I came to this realization because it puts the world into a little bit more fo a focus. I know now that you shouldn't always just take a song at it's face value. When a song is played, the person listening should do more than just 'hear' the song, but really 'listen' to what's being said and the emaning behind it. This isn't to say that a song can't have a personal effect on people's lives but just to bring awareness to some messages that may or may not be in the music you listen to.
As I went through this phase of eye-opening discovery, I came to yet another realization (Im a pretty un-enlightened guy aren't I? lol), another realization that this is what I want my music to accompish. I want people to hear the music me and my friends make and I want it to have an impact on them, but I want them to really grasp the meaning of the songs. To not just understand the words, but to understand WHY those words were chosen and why the artist used them. So next time you hear a song that moves you a little bit, listen closer....you may be surprised of the extent of the message the artist is trying to convey.
As I went through this phase of eye-opening discovery, I came to yet another realization (Im a pretty un-enlightened guy aren't I? lol), another realization that this is what I want my music to accompish. I want people to hear the music me and my friends make and I want it to have an impact on them, but I want them to really grasp the meaning of the songs. To not just understand the words, but to understand WHY those words were chosen and why the artist used them. So next time you hear a song that moves you a little bit, listen closer....you may be surprised of the extent of the message the artist is trying to convey.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Six Speed Coffin - First Gear
Okay, so What is Six Speed Coffin? Well, it is the name of the band I am currently enjoying life with. It consists of my good friend Graeme (drummer) my good italiano friend Guiliano (Lead guitar) Myself (Bass/guitar/vocals) and sometimes this Ian guy (guitar) but I dunno, he's never there. So, I should probably give you a run down on how we got started....
About 3 months ago, a friend of mine, graeme, approached me about being the bassist for a new group he was putting together. I was happy to sign up, since I had played in a band-ish deal with his brother and was looking for another group of people to jam with. This is just where I came into the picture, if you want a prolouge and, I must say, a really good telling of our story so far, visit http//:www.grimhippie.blogspot.com and read the 'Rock the world' blogs.
So, I come in and we jam for a few weeks then I get us a gig at the Picnic in the Park at my high school, those of you that know, know, those that dont.....its a huge picnic in a park with BBQ's and live bands...pretty simple. So we start preparing for the show when all of a sudden, Jay (Guiliano) goes M.I.A for a week. So it's me and graeme (Ian goes to another highschool in another part of town, graeme goes to SJHS right down the hill from my STMHS) and we start to perpare what we can do just the two of us. We had a line up of four songs,
1) I love rock and roll - Joan jett & the Blackhearts
2) N.I.B - Black Sabbath
3) God of Thunder - Kiss (Supergroup version)
4) Six Speed Coffin (Our original)
Though, due to our lack of italians, we had to drop the first two song and go with God of Thunder and 6SC.
Day of the concert comes, we get up on 'stage' (Under the shade of the 2 story fountain in this square) and Rcok the World. drums were stellar, guitar was good on my part, vocals can use work but hey, they could barely hear me anyway. All in all, it went swimingly. We even got a follow up show later on in October.
In the mean time, I have been grounded for reasons Im choosing not to disclose, until October 1st. In my period of incarceration I have managed to write another song and learn 2 more. So, I'll post some more updates as they come in. Who knows, this could be the start of soemthing great...or nothing at all
About 3 months ago, a friend of mine, graeme, approached me about being the bassist for a new group he was putting together. I was happy to sign up, since I had played in a band-ish deal with his brother and was looking for another group of people to jam with. This is just where I came into the picture, if you want a prolouge and, I must say, a really good telling of our story so far, visit http//:www.grimhippie.blogspot.com and read the 'Rock the world' blogs.
So, I come in and we jam for a few weeks then I get us a gig at the Picnic in the Park at my high school, those of you that know, know, those that dont.....its a huge picnic in a park with BBQ's and live bands...pretty simple. So we start preparing for the show when all of a sudden, Jay (Guiliano) goes M.I.A for a week. So it's me and graeme (Ian goes to another highschool in another part of town, graeme goes to SJHS right down the hill from my STMHS) and we start to perpare what we can do just the two of us. We had a line up of four songs,
1) I love rock and roll - Joan jett & the Blackhearts
2) N.I.B - Black Sabbath
3) God of Thunder - Kiss (Supergroup version)
4) Six Speed Coffin (Our original)
Though, due to our lack of italians, we had to drop the first two song and go with God of Thunder and 6SC.
Day of the concert comes, we get up on 'stage' (Under the shade of the 2 story fountain in this square) and Rcok the World. drums were stellar, guitar was good on my part, vocals can use work but hey, they could barely hear me anyway. All in all, it went swimingly. We even got a follow up show later on in October.
In the mean time, I have been grounded for reasons Im choosing not to disclose, until October 1st. In my period of incarceration I have managed to write another song and learn 2 more. So, I'll post some more updates as they come in. Who knows, this could be the start of soemthing great...or nothing at all
Music & Me
Music has had a profound effect on my life. From good ole rock n' roll to modern hip hop and rap, its all had its influences on me.
Throughout my life, music has been my escape. From either hard times or immense feelings of love, angry rages or sad mellow-outs i've always had music by my side and playing. Who knows what makes music such a powerful medium for humans to communicate emtions to eachother? Music was first thought to be a gift fromt he Gods....maybe the ancient greeks were right..
Through music, I have grown. I've learned about different cultures and kinds of life I would have never known about. It's helped me through the bad times and been with me through the good times and this blog is dedicted to music as a whole. No matter what kind of music you're into, most people can appreciate all kinds of music. Those who can not, are unfortunatley missing out on some awsome stuff. Some people just like Rap, others Country, others Blues and Jazz, Me?? I love them all.....though good ole rock n' role will have to take my number 1 spot, sorry reggae and opera, you came close but no cigar.
So what Im trying to say is, give other kinds of music a chance, you never know what you may discover!
Throughout my life, music has been my escape. From either hard times or immense feelings of love, angry rages or sad mellow-outs i've always had music by my side and playing. Who knows what makes music such a powerful medium for humans to communicate emtions to eachother? Music was first thought to be a gift fromt he Gods....maybe the ancient greeks were right..
Through music, I have grown. I've learned about different cultures and kinds of life I would have never known about. It's helped me through the bad times and been with me through the good times and this blog is dedicted to music as a whole. No matter what kind of music you're into, most people can appreciate all kinds of music. Those who can not, are unfortunatley missing out on some awsome stuff. Some people just like Rap, others Country, others Blues and Jazz, Me?? I love them all.....though good ole rock n' role will have to take my number 1 spot, sorry reggae and opera, you came close but no cigar.
So what Im trying to say is, give other kinds of music a chance, you never know what you may discover!
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