Mission For Today
By Mitch Berg
Kool Aid Report is running a poll – “Best Metal Song”.
I nominated “Running WIth The Devil” by Van Halen. If you have a minute or two, run by and give it a vote, if you please. Kid Leo of WMMS in Cleveland – the greatest rock and roll disk jockey of all time – calls it the best metal song of all time, and if Kid Leo and I agree about anything, well, go with Kid Leo anyway. Thanks.
Now, metalheads might ask “is that really metal?”
To which I respond with a thwack upside their fool heads; who cares? The definition of “Metal” has bounced around like a ferret on Jaegermeister over the past 25 years, and all you metalheads better shut up or I’ll sic Wilson Pickett on you.
And you don’t want that.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:11 am
“The definition of “Metal” has bounced around like a ferret on Jaegermeister over the past 25 years,”
Yoou mean bounced around like a Mittens Romney position over the past 24 hours *laughing*
January 31st, 2008 at 9:55 am
I didn’t see my choice in the poll, so I followed directions and passed. I can’t say that I’m a fan of Metal.
“Running with the Devil” — isn’t that the Clinton campaign theme song?
January 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
like a Mittens Romney position
No, no no – I mean like Hillary’s accent.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:19 am
That’s good, too!
As for the Poll, Xanadu by RUSH. Best Song Evah! They were metal before metal was metal
January 31st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Rush is progressive rock, and therefore was not considered.
And Xanadu isn’t even the best song on Farewell to Kings. Except, maybe, live. I’ll give you Xanadu live.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:37 am
What’s the shortest metal song?
Because it’d clearly be the best.
Soonest over means sooner to arrive at blessed silence.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
I was looking for Kinks You Really Got Me
That’s as close as I can come to metal.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:22 am
Van Halen… really?
Gotta be either 2112 or perhaps Run to the Hills… with the strong possibility of Powerslave.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:28 am
progressive rock = They were metal before metal was metal
How much more progressive can you be.
Rush, May 22, Excel Energy Center BE THERE. I will be, AGAIN!
January 31st, 2008 at 11:37 am
2112: my first concert. April Wine opened. Good times. Excel? Certainly a lot more upscale than the joints they played back then.
Early Rush isn’t progressive by any means, it’s metal with actual musicianship. They definitely mellowed as time went on.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Had to go with “Seek and Destroy” there. It’s funny about crunchy-guitar music. I remember when we thought Sammy Hagar was heavy metal (because of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, “Heavy Metal” soundtrack theme song, up through his VOA record, I guess).
Come to think of it, those songs probably ARE heavy metal. Sammy Hagar was, indeed, heavy metal. Correct?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:01 pm
That’s right Flash… I was surprised to hear they were coming back. That last show here was the first Rush show I’ve missed in the Twin Cities since 1986.
I intend to make up for the missed show this time. 😉
January 31st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
progressive rock = They were metal before metal was metal
Well, no – Progressive Rock is “Genesis with louder guitars”.
Nothing against Rush – and their first couple of albums were the arty extreme of “metal” as it was understood in the seventies (the opposite extreme from whatever crap Ozzy Ozbourne/Black Sabbath were doing) – but that WAS like thirty years ago.
“Working Man”, from the first album (with John Rutsey playing drums) sounded like a Black Sabbath song sung by a guy on helium. And I mean that in a good way.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
progressive rock = They were metal before metal was metal
So then the other prog rock acts of the same era – Yes, Genesis, Alan Parsons Project etc. – are also metal?
I disagree. A bright line has to be drawn somewhere.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
checks the timestamps…
January 31st, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” or “The Unforgiven” or…maybe AC\DC “Thunderstruck”. Or maybe…
January 31st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Oh, Colleen. So young…
(I didn’t mean that as a compliment, but you’re welcome anyway)
January 31st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
‘Seek and Destroy’ is also my favorite of the bunch. I understand that there are only so many slots, so I was glad to see Judas Priest on the list, but I liked “Breaking the Law” better. 😉
January 31st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Badda, 18th row main floor last time. The Pre Rush bash was in the garage and we cabbed it to Excell. I plan on doing it again so will keep you in mind.
Flash
January 31st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Steel Monkey by Jethro Tull.
They are “Heavy Metal”, right? The Grammy said so…. Sheesh!
January 31st, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Honestly, this is like listening to people discuss their favorite wine coolers.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Flash,
That’s very kind of you, sir. I might have to accept the offer. 😉
January 31st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Oh, yeah… Breaking the Law and Heading Out to the Highway fit well.