Here’s where I bore you all to death with my daughter Rowena’s wedding, which took place yesterday. It wasn’t a huge spectacle as the only ones in attendance were the two brides of course, both mothers, two friends and me. Eline’s father couldn’t make it due to work. Eline hails from the same country as bands like TNT, Gorgoroth, Dimmu Borgir and Leaves Eyes. Fifty 8osmetalman points if you can guess correctly. So, without any more prattling on, here’s many photos from that very special day.
Pre Wedding Photos
Eline on the left, Rowena on the right
Pre wedding Brunch
The brides with their mothers
More Pre-Wedding photos, from the local park
Eline with her mother, Mona
Proud father of the bride
Proud parents (my ex wife Elisabeth, we’re on good terms)
My big moment in the spotlight, giving my daughter away.
Me telling her Rowena it’s not too late to change her mind, just kidding
The Ceremony:
Signing the register
All of us with the newly married couple
After the wedding: There was no reception but we did go for a very nice meal in the evening.
The pagan custom of jumping over the broomstick but an umbrella had to suffice in this case.
I hope you all enjoyed the photos. It was a great day!
When I posted Bad News’s self-titled debut album and saw that they had another album called “Bootleg,” I was excited and put it on my list for 1989. I never listened to it until very recently and when I did, I got a small surprise. “Bootleg” isn’t so much a music album but an album of outtakes with the band arguing and making all sorts of funny and rude comments.
It starts out with rhythm guitarist, Den Dennis playing his idea for a new song called “Bad Dreams” with the band telling him to stop singing and then stop playing guitar. After that, the band has their AGM, where they discuss the new album. Den suggests they call the album, “Satan Ate My Nob” but bassist Colin says they can’t use it because it’s anti-Christian and violates the Trades Description Act. He then suggests they call it “Paranoid’s Greatest Hits” but the others point out that its already a title for a Black Sabbath album.
The album carries on with much hilarious banter between the band and I can’t help laughing my ass off as I listen to it. I do like the use of double entendre and they do get locked in the toilet. There is some music towards the end we get a sample of “Heavy Metal Farmer,” which is quite good and then at the end, you get the outtakes from “Cashing in On Christmas” from the previous album. Like I said, it’s all done with great hilarity.
Track Listing:
Bad Dreams
A.G.M.
Double Entendre
Locked In
Aids
O Levels
Wedding
Heavy Metal Farmer
Making of Masturbike
Cashing in On Christmas
Bad News
Vim Fuego- vocals, lead guitar
Den Dennis- rhythm guitar
Colin Grigson- bass
Spider Webb- drums
I thought it would be prudent to present the entire album.
This was a good break in the action. “Bootleg” is a hilarious album, no matter if you’re into metal or not. It will have you laughing your ass off.
Next post: Whitesnake- Slip of the Tongue
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
As 1988 was drawing to a close, the winds of change was beginning to blow. Hair metal and thrash might have been at their zenith but other forms of metal were beginning to meta-morph and would eventually change the landscape of heavy metal in general. The lack of radio and MTV airplay would continue to frustrate metal’s legions of followers and would get even worse. However, in spite of one person’s prediction in 1985, metal would never die. However, as I look back in history, although I didn’t see it at the time, there seeds of change were definitely being planted.
There were changes of a different type in my own life at the end of 1988 as my then wife and I were preparing for our first child, who was born six weeks into the new year. At the time, I thought I had ‘grow up’ and music took a back seat in my life. But enough with the gloom and doom, as I hopefully have shown, there was a lot of great music in 1988 which gave music followers a lot to look forward to in 1989.
As we leave the tour of 1988, I leave you with something that was a huge hit in Britain in the year. It comes from the comedy field. Comedian Harry Enfield introduced the country to a very funny character called “Loadsamoney” To me, the character was a dig at the yuppie culture of the late 1980s. Have a look and enjoy.
Next post: I Would Like Your Input
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
I’m beginning to wonder if Denmark is an untapped vein for heavy metal. Of course, we know of the famous Danish band, Mercyful Fate and the solo career of lead singer, King Diamond. The other day, I was listening to another Danish metal band, Fate, and their 2006 “V” album, which is an excellent album. Recently, I have been delving into today’s offering from Denmark, D.A.D. For those who might not know, the initials stand for Disneyland After Dark but the band had to change its name after the threat of a lawsuit from the Walt Disney corporation.
“Special” is a compilation album with songs from their first two albums, “Draw a Circle” and “Call of the Wild.” Now my only experience of this band was their best known song, “Sleeping My Day Away,” which will appear when I post about their next album. Therefore, this was another learning experience for me and what I now know is that there is a bit of humour to these songs and a new genre called cowpunk.
Album opener, “Isn’t That Wild” is done in the style of the Dead Kennedys. I can picture DK singing this tune but D.A.D. do a grand job. If I hear the lyrics correctly, I think the song is about satellite television, which was gaining in popularity at the time. Next comes “Marlboro Man,” which is about cigarettes. It’s done in a neo punk/blues fashion making it a fun song to listen to. Again, I’m not totally clear here but I think it’s an anti- smoking song. Then again, it could be having a dig at the anti- smoking brigade.
If I had heard “I Won’t Cut My Hair” in 1984, it would have been my theme song. It’s what it says in the title, about someone who won’t cut his hair. It’s done in a hard rock/blues fashion and the guitar is brilliant. Best song on the album. I don’t know which of the Binzer boys plays the guitar solo on this one but it’s fantastic!
“Jonnie” and “Trucker” could be almost country songs. There is a twang to both of the songs but with a more harder guitar sound. Maybe that’s what cowpunk is. Furthermore, both songs are derived from traditional country music themes, trucks and going to shoot someone who’s done them wrong. Then again, “Call of the Wild” could have been used in a western movie. When I listen to the beginning, I picture Clint Eastwood walking across the street in an old western town.
Entwined between those three songs is a more commercial track called, “It’s After Dark.” I speculate this was where the band got its original name from. I like the chorus lyrics stating Disneyland is closed, so let’s go out and get drunk. Then we get a very amusing song which proves humour can be effectively used in metal called, “Mighty Mighty High.” Is this song glorifying smoking weed? More likely, it’s taking a poke at being high. Then again, who cares, I love the punk tone the song is done in. This one is the hidden gem for this album.
The humour carries on with the short but hilarious “Counting the Cattle” and the longer but no less funny, “God’s Favourite.” The former is a total piss take of country music. The latter is more punk/metal and there is a good bassline in it and it could be the forerunner to the big hit which would come a year later. There are definitely similarities with those two songs.
Everyone remind me come December when I write a Christmas post to include “Sad Sad Christmas.” While the theme is meant to be sad, a father and son spending Christmas own their on after mother left. It even has a Christmas themed intro and goes more country. In spite of all that, I can stop laughing when I hear the song.
The western theme returns with “Never Never (Indian Love).” Actually, it could have been a good country western song. It’s about a man who is lamenting his love with a Native American girl. Closing the album is a cowpunk song for sure, “Up Up Over the Mountain Top.” Trust me, it’s the best way to end this album.
Track Listing:
Isn’t That Wild
Marlboro Man
I Won’t Cut My Hair
Trucker
Jonnie
It’s After Dark
Call of the Wild
Mighty Mighty High
Counting the Cattle
God’s Favourite
Black Crickets
Sad Sad Christmas
Never Never (Indian Love)
Up Up Over the Mountain Top
Jesper Binzer- vocals, guitar, banjo
Stig Pederson- vocals, bass
Jacob Binzer- guitar, tap steel, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Peter L. Jensen- drums, percussion, backing vocals
I learned something, I learned how that Disneyland After Dark, stuff Walt Disney, are a really good band who write some very amusing songs.
Next post: Hurricane- Over the Edge
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
One question which went around the UK in regards to Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction was whether or not they should be taken seriously. Listening to their album, “Tattooed Beat Messiah,” it is clear to me that the band definitely had a lot of fun recording it. There is a humorous feel to all of the songs and this comes through when Zodiac Mindwarp introduces the album on the “Wolf Child Speech. On the other hand, the band demonstrates that they can play on the big single from the album, “Prime Mover,” which actually broke the top twenty in the UK and New Zealand.
Power chords and humour combine on “Skull Spark Joker.” The power chords reinforce the advice, “Don’t play poker with a skull spark joker, don’t play poker at all.” Then we get to my personal favourite “Backseat Education” and yes, the song infers what you are all probably thinking about but the song just cooks. The same can be said for “Bad Girl City,” another song with some amusing inferences but still rocks out totally. I love the guitar solo and I wish Wikipedia would have been forthcoming on which guitarist plays solos on which song. If any of you out there have knowledge, please share.
“Untamed Stare” is the fastest song on the album and here’s where I sing the praises of Mr. Zodiac Mindwarp himself. He’s no Roth, Coverdale, Dio or other singer from this group you are free to add to the list but he is a decent singer. It’s his more humorous approach to the vocals which sets him apart. I could go out on a limb and call him a heavy metal Weird Al Yankovic but while his songs are funny, they aren’t the parody thought which Weird Al puts into his songs. So, I won’t go out on that limb.
If any song which exemplifies the humour approach to hard rock, then it has to be the cover of the Steppenwolf classic, “Born to Be Wild.” Let’s just say that it’s different and it even has me thinking of a possible ‘Original vs. Cover’ post in the near future. It also sets up the rather amusing “Let’s Break the Law.” No, it doesn’t encourage me to go out and commit crimes, although the PMRC probably said it did but it shapes the mood for most of the remainder of the album. Some amusing, not to be taken seriously songs backed up with some great playing. I think this band has been seriously underestimated. The track “Hey Gasoline” is a prime example. It starts out as if it’s going to be a ballad or a melodic closer but things change and there is some hard rocking to be heard. If it wasn’t for the one minute and ten second “Messianic Reprise” at the end, “Kid Stuff” would have been a brilliant closer. It has the catchy melodic vibe and cool, bring it home, guitar solo to end this album right.
Track Listing:
Wolf Child Speech
Prime Mover
Skull Spark Joker
Backseat Education
Hey Baby
Bad Girl City
Untamed Stare
Tattooed Beat Messiah
Born to Be Wild
Upside Down
Let’s Break the Law
Spasm Gang
Hey Gasoline
Planet Girl
Kid Stuff
Messianic Reprise
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction
Zodiac Mindwarp- vocals
Cobalt Stargazer- guitars
Flash Bastard- guitars
Trash D. Bastard- bass
Siam Thunderhide- drums
Not that I had any doubts that people couldn’t think humour and metal could coexist on the same album but the concrete proof is right here on “Tattooed Beat Messiah.” Well done to Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction.
Next post: Bitch- Betsy
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
First, I’d like to thank all of you out there for showing me the love following my accident. It will probably go down in history as my biggest, ‘You couldn’t make it up,’ events of my life. I took some pics of the aftermath for insurance purposes and I thought I’d share them here.
The rider came clear off the scooter after he hit my car, so he must have been going quite fast. That’s Mrs. 80smetalman with the pink cane. The accident drew a pretty big crowdThe damage to my car
One event in 1988, which many metalheads had a chuckle at, was the downfall of anti-rock music preacher, Jimmy Swaggart. Back during the tour of 1986, I posted about religion’s war on rock music and Jimmy was leading the charge. Have a watch here:
Swaggart’s downfall came in 1988 when he was caught watching porn videos in a motel room with a prostitute. Of course, he cried for forgiveness to his congregation, which you can watch below but he was expelled from his church. While he continued on independently, he never regained the popularity he enjoyed in the mid 1980s.
Served him right, I think.
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
After the critical and commercial disappointment of his album, “Polka Party,” Weird Al thought his career might have been over. As a result, he took some time off before getting back into the studio. It seems that taking his little break paid multi-dividends as “Even Worse” has been his most successful album. Note here, it is typical of Weird Al to call his album “Even Worse” when it was such a good album. Of course, knowing him, Weird Al might have been in the mindframe that if you thought “Polka Party” was bad, maybe this album is even worse. Either way, it had the desired effect.
Track Listing:
Fat- Weird Al was a little reluctant to use this song because he was already being known as that “Eat It Guy” and didn’t want to be accused of riding on Michael Jackson’s coat tails. However, Michael was a big Weird Al fan and encouraged him to record the song. The song is a total parody of Jackson’s iconic song, “Bad” and Michael also let him use the same recording studio to make the video. Only Weird Al used larger dancers in the video. While “Fat” continues to give me giggles whenever I listen to it, I don’t think it would be so successful into today’s ultra-sensitive world.
Stuck in a Closet With Vanna White- This is a true Weird Al original. It doesn’t parody any singer’s song or style but it’s a bit of a rocker as well. I have to admit, guitarists Jim West and Rick Derringer, yes that Rick Derringer, rip a cool guitar solo trade off. The song is about having strange dreams where he’s bowling on the Starship Enterprise and getting pushed through a revolving door by a midget but always stuck in a closet with Vanna White. For those who don’t know, Vanna White is a presenter on the US version of the TV show “Wheel of Fortune.”
(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long: A total parody of the George Harrison single, “Got My Mind Set On You.” Weird Al does try to keep to the spirit of his song as he repeats the lyrics over and over. Maybe that was the point he was trying to make.
You Make Me- From the point of view of my Asperger’s mind, I can see the point Weird Al is trying to make here. Many of us know people who can drive you to wanting to do outrageous things. However, no one has ever made me want to build the Eiffel Tower out of Belgian waffles. Done in the style of Oingo Boingo, it is a bouncy synth pop song but very well done.
I Think I’m a Clone Now- My favourite song on the entire album! It typifies Weird Al at his very best. It’s a total parody of one hit wonder Tiffany’s number one, “I Think We’re Alone Now.” He follows the style Tiffany recorded it but singing about clones is a real hoot. I say I giggle when I hear “Fat,” but I go into total hysterics when I hear this one.
Lasagne- Another funny parody, only this time it’s the Los Lobos classic, “La Bamba” which gets the Weird Al treatment. I have always like how Al sticks to the original music as much as possible but adds his own hilarious lyrics to it. Anyone, like me, who loves good Italian food can appreciate the lyrics here.
Melanie- Another original, “Melanie” is about a love struck teenager who stalks a girl who is not interested in him in the very least. However, if you pay attention to the lyrics, there is a dark message related to teenage mental health as the singer commits suicide at the end because the girl doesn’t want to know him. Some will balk that mental health is no laughing matter but if Weird Al can use his humourous lyrics to address a problem, then why not listen? Sorry, I’ll get off my soapbox now.
Alimony- Weird Al goes live on this one where he parodies Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony.” If Weird Al sounds this good live, then I definitely regret never seeing him. Still, it’s a funny song about a money grabbing ex wife.
Velvet Elvis- For me, this is probably the least strongest track on the album, though it’s not bad. Done in the style of The Police, it does have a good dig at Elvis Presley enthusiasts.
Twister- Weird Al raps here in Beastie Boys style as he pays tribute to the game “Twister.” How many children’s parties have you gone to where they play Twister? It does show how versatile he can be and that he’s not afraid to venture into unknown territories. It also proves that nothing is safe from being a Weird Al parody.
Good Old Days- The album ends with my vote for hidden gem. “Good Old Days” is done in the easy listening style of James Taylor and it’s about a young psychopath reminiscing about his younger days. He begins by torturing rats with a hacksaw and pulling the wings off of flies, then to burning down the local store and bashing in the owner’s head to finally, tying his date to the dance to a chair, shaving off her hair and leaving her in the desert. Only Weird Al can sing songs like that and leave you with a big grin on your face.
Vanna White
Weird Al Yankovic
Weird Al Yankovic- vocals, accordion, keyboards
Jim West- guitar, mandolin, backing vocals
Steve Jay- bass, banjo, backing vocals
Jon ‘Bermuda’ Schwartz- drums, percussion
Rick Derringer- guitar
I don’t think this was an official video for the song as “Attack of the Clones” came out 14 years after the song but I think Mike Ladano will get a kick out of the Star Wars reference.
Weird Al Yankovic was definitely back and on fine form in 1988 as “Even Worse” shows. His album is not only a bowl full of laughs but the musicianship on it is first rate as well.
Next post: Pat Benatar- Wide Awake in Dreamland
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
You know what? The more I reflect back on the music of the 1980s, the more I am convinced of the similarities in the careers of Aerosmith and Alice Cooper. Both were 1970s icons with great albums. Then by the end of the decade and into the early 1980s, they were both nearly destroyed by the excesses enjoyed by many great rock and roll musicians. Aerosmith had become druggies dabbling in music Alice describes the early 1980s as his ‘drunk period.’ Then in the middle of the decade both dried up enough to cut albums which got them back on the rock map. Aerosmith released “Done With Mirrors” and Alice gave us “Constrictor.” But in 1987, both came out with defining albums which stamped their comeback as the real deal. I have already covered Aerosmith’s “Permanent Vacation” and Alice hit us all with this album, “Raise Your Fist and Yell.”
Alice tells us all to “raise our fists and yell” with the opening track and my favourite on the album, “Freedom.” The song is a totally undisguised dig at the PMRC when Alice says, “You want to rule us with an iron hand, change the lyrics and become big brother. This ain’t Russia! You’re not my dad or mother.” Whenever I hear the song, I want to raise my fist and yell. It also helps that with the exception of a new drummer, Alice keeps the same band he had from the last album.
New drummer Ken K. Mary introduces himself with a thundering drumroll on the second track, “Lock Me Up.” That’s followed by spoken word from Freddy Kruger actor Robert Englund accusing Alice of mass mental cruelty. As always with Alice, his sense of humour comes through here when he sings that he’s a criminal and if you don’t like it you can lock him up. Not me, Alice, not me. Guitarist Kane Roberts takes his turn to shine on “Give the Radio Back” as he solos his way all throughout the song. The lyrics have me thinking here. Did someone take Alice’s radio and he wants it back or is he singing out against how crap commercial radio had become by then? Yes, commercial radio did suck back then.
Was Alice at a thrash gig when he came up with “Step on You?” He does sing about sharpening his spikes and strapping up his boots. Anyway, on this track, it’s bassist Kip Winger’s turn to shine as the bass line here is just outstanding. The drumming and guitar get an assist though. More Alice humour closes out side one with “Not That Kind of Love.” He doesn’t favour romantic love on this one but wants to get down and dirty. If there is any song that would have riled the PMRC on this album, it would have definitely been this one. Once again, the band is really tight here.
Side two of the album has a death related theme starting out with my vote for hidden gem, “Prince of Darkness.” This is a song which takes me back to his shock, horror rock days of the 1970s. This is a great metal track with some great changes and no one can make this sound this good like Alice does. The eerie acoustic part at the tail end says it all.
Some great guitar work backs up Alice telling us that it’s time to kill. He’s going to take his fist and make them understand is augmented with some more magnificent guitar work from Kane, possibly his best solo on the album. Once he realizes he only has time to kill, Alice tells us how he’s going to do it with “Chop Chop Chop.” There is some great musicianship all around on this one. I love the intro. Afterwards, we get to know who his victim is, it’s “Gail.” The knife wound on her chest and her blood served time in its skeletal jail lets us know in this slow acoustic ballad. At the end of the album, we learn that Alice loves what he has done because he tells us that blood drops look like roses on white lace. It’s a great closer and with more great metal musicianship, (it’s almost a speed metal song), you definitely don’t forget this album.
Track Listing:
Freedom
Lock Me Up
Give the Radio Back
Step On You
Not That Kind of Love
Prince of Darkness
Time to Kill
Chop Chop Chop
Gail
Roses on White Lace
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper- lead vocals
Kane Roberts- guitar, backing vocals
Kip Winger- bass, backing vocals, keyboards on “Gail”
Paul Taylor- keyboards
Ken K. Mary- drums
Robert Englund- Freddy Kruger on “Lock Me Up”
For all the similarities between Alice Cooper and Aerosmith, there will be one difference. Aerosmith will go onto make a greater album in 1989 with “Pump.” As for Alice and I have already put up the screen to defend against all the rotten vegetables about to be thrown at me, I prefer “Raise Your Fist and Yell” to his next album, “Trash.” Nothing wrong with “Trash,” I know I’ll sing its praises when I get to1989, but “Raise Your Fist and Yell” will be my favourite 80s Alice Cooper album. It could be down to the fact that I finally got to see him live on tour for the album but who’s to say? I just love this album.
Next post: Helix- Wild in the Streets
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
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