A while ago I featured a band called Bobaflex. They're a hard rock group from Ohio and West Virginia. Formed in 1998 they've been putting out their brand of classic rock mixed with some metal and nu-metal influences ever since. I stumbled across their rather excellent cover of Pink Floyd's, "Hey You", which I played a few episodes ago. After a bit of listening and viewing I've decided that I think they are definitely worth listening to. The vocals and lyrics are pretty good and the musicianship and production is slick. As for their videos though...not so much. But I'm just a hack behind a keyboard...you can be the judge. This one is good all round.
Bobaflex - Long TIme Coming - https://youtu.be/yoUFJ4U90Bw
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) began in the late 70's. It was a movement that produced well known bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard. Motorhead were sort of around before NWOBHM and you can debate whether or not to include them. The lack of employment for young people in the UK contributed greatly to the scene as it provided mostly young males with an outlet and a community to be part of. NWOBHM drew its influence from punk rock and new wave all wrapped up in a loud, heavy package. My exposure to the music was much later. In 1990, Lars Ulrich (Metallica) and journalist Geoff Barton compiled and released an album called "New Wave of British Heavy Metal '79 Revisited". It was a real eye and ear opener for me. I'd been a metal fan for years but, in the pre-internet days this cassette was a godsend. I'll play you all a few tracks over the next few episodes and on purpose I'm going to avoid the bands that made it big.
White Spirit - Cheetah - https://youtu.be/rZa_A5WiUg4 (featuring Janick Gers who later played with Gillan and is now in Iron Maiden).
Blitzkrieg - Blitzkrieg - https://youtu.be/Ll4Ij58497Q (Lars was such a fan that Metallica covered this on the b-side of the 1984 single, "Creeping Death")
Paralex - White Lightning - https://youtu.be/XLFODk86oOY (You can really hear the bridge between old school hard rock and the newer heavy metal forming with this track)
Here's a song that I've been trying to play on the guitar for a couple of months now. It's not that I can't play the chords or notes, I just can't get it to sound right. Anyway, it's a fantastic song of harsh reality and protest from the 80s. Listen to the lyrics and you'll see what I mean.
John Mellencamp - Rain On The Scarecrow - https://youtu.be/joNzRzZhR2Y
Since Neil Young has seeped into my consciousness this week; here's two of my absolute favourite tracks; one classic and one that should be,
Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl (live) - https://youtu.be/DgDy1SQ6hnw
Neil Young - After The Garden Is Gone - https://youtu.be/zqx0J_YnZvo
Over the past week, in response to a rather interesting radio documentary, I have tried and tried to understand what people like so much about Fleetwood Mac. And I just don't get it. Great voices definitely but everything seems for the most part...bland. I did like this tune though...
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (live 1977) - https://youtu.be/Z6WsaIbpUTE
Well I'm off with H tomorrow night to see Live Evil do their Iron Maiden tribute show. Funnily enough, Iron Maiden singer, Bruce Dickinson, is in Australia doing some spoken word shows. Bit of a shame that he can't come up to little old Canberra to see the locals pay tribute to him and his bandmates.
Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name (live 1982) - https://youtu.be/7vP2hFFV57E
This week I finished my foolish cycling challenge. I managed to climb Black Mountain 38 times. I did that in 12 rides. And I finished off with 7 reps in a row....I can assure you that was kind of silly. But it's done and my hill climbing base is well and truly building ahead of my assault on Mt Baw Baw in November.
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now - https://youtu.be/h-Tagxe70Aw
That Queen song (featuring re-recorded guitar parts) is from the soundtrack of the soon to be released film bio which is imaginatively titled, "Boheman Rhapsody". Apparently there's enough controversy about whether or not the story is sanitised. That alone should be worth the price of admission.
DJ ZedBoots will be home soon. She's stopping in for a few days to hug the dogs and check out the Air BnB (her bedroom is the kitchen!). There's also the small matter of taking in the Taylor Swift concert in Sydney. News reports today indicate that females now make up 50% of those buying and learning the guitar. The article author surmised that Taylor Swift had some part to play in this. Maybe. She certainly can play when the mood takes her.
Taylor Swift - Blank Space (live solo) - https://youtu.be/p1Zt47V3pPw
That's it for this week, Rock on Brothers and Sisters. Your skin colour or DNA results mean nothing compared to what's in your heart.
Rob
Tell me,
It's really up to you.
Have you got the time to find out
Who I really am...", Is It My Body, Alice Cooper, 1971
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