"Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal"

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Haven't read it yet. Should I bother?

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 13 March 2003 13:20 (twenty-three years ago)

When exactly did Heavy Metal fall? You mean no one told me? Damn...

― Davlo (Davlo), Thursday, 13 March 2003 14:37 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked it a lot even though I've never been a metal fan. The fall part is the best, just all these guys so bitter about grunge. It's really funny.
It's more informative than critical, like the dude is obviously a banger. But it's fun.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 13 March 2003 14:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't know it. Who wrote it?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 March 2003 14:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Some dude wrote it. Like, duh.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 13 March 2003 14:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't we have enough books on the subject already? Do we really need another?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 March 2003 14:56 (twenty-three years ago)

is it about real metal or pop metal?

― j fail (cenotaph), Thursday, 13 March 2003 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm really looking forward to "Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal," by Ian Christe. He's such a great writer.

― Sam Jeffries (samjeff), Thursday, 13 March 2003 15:51 (twenty-three years ago)

is it about real metal or pop metal?
Don't know. Didn't read it.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 13 March 2003 17:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, if they're bitter about grunge, it'd probably be pop metal.

― original bgm, Thursday, 13 March 2003 17:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Its entirely about 80s pop metal. Some reference to Metallica and a couple other thrash bands, about 3 pages on nu-metal, and nothing on metal's underground. About as incomplete as you'd expect. Lords Of Chaos, even with all its errors and inconsistencies, is still the best book about the history of metal.

-
Alan

― Alan Conceicao, Thursday, 13 March 2003 17:53 (twenty-three years ago)

"heavy metal fell in cuba"

― devo q, Thursday, 13 March 2003 20:05 (twenty-three years ago)

how can a book which devotes only its opening two or three chapters to the "history of metal" be the best?

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 13 March 2003 20:09 (twenty-three years ago)

If it's a book on late 90's Post-Grunge...then that would work fine.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 13 March 2003 20:25 (twenty-three years ago)

>>how can a book which devotes only its opening two or three chapters to the "history of metal" be the best? <<

Because in those 2-3 chapters there is more info about the complete development of metal (not just Sabbath to Poison or Metallica) as a genre than in any other book, barnone. Needless to say, I don't think ANY book has done a particularly good job of historically covering the genre (whereas there are an endless list of books about punk rock covering every base from The Ramones to the modern day).

-
Alan

― Alan Conceicao, Thursday, 13 March 2003 20:41 (twenty-three years ago)

"heavy metal fell in cuba"

Nice Devo "Space Junk" allusion.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 March 2003 22:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, heavy metal (in the classic Iron Maiden/Helloween/ Saxon/Manowar/Running Wild sense, arena style loud rock 'n roll with guitar solos, wailing singers, band members headbanging in unison, denim & patches) did fade from view a bit around 1987 or so (the lack of new blood from the underground left only the dinosaurs to play for their ageing fans). At least, until the big revival some three years ago when a shitload of new bands (Rhapsody, Children of Bodom, Hammerfall, etc) got signed to the big labels and the rediscovery/rejuvination of Blind Guardian and Iron Maiden.

― Siegbran (eofor), Thursday, 13 March 2003 22:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Dan Bukzpan (Slow Horse, Vomitorium, Powerful Mach 5, Mister Softee) is doing a encyclopedia of Heavy Metal as well. Crowded field, but that's the one my coffee table might get.

― autovac (autovac), Thursday, 13 March 2003 23:02 (twenty-three years ago)

>>Dan Bukzpan (Slow Horse, Vomitorium, Powerful Mach 5, Mister Softee) is doing a encyclopedia of Heavy Metal as well. Crowded field, but that's the one my coffee table might get.<<

Well, should be better than Popoff's various entries in that same field. Anyone who claims that Sonic Youth is one of his favorite metal acts should be banned from ever reviewing any albums anywhere again. Except maybe southern rock. He can do that pretty objectively when he's not managing the band.

-cue Chuck Eddyisms-

― Alan Conceicao, Thursday, 13 March 2003 23:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyone who claims that Sonic Youth is one of his favorite metal acts should be banned from ever reviewing any albums anywhere again

Haha I first learned about Sonic Youth in a metal mag!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 14 March 2003 08:57 (twenty-three years ago)

Okay, I've started reading. I'm up to the chapter on Kiss. The book has been very informative so far. It spent only about 20 pages total to explain Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, but I guess thatss okay, because Metalheads learned all that already back with their ABC's in Metalhead Kindergarden. Then they spent 30 some pages talking about Alice Cooper. Very revealing.
and heres a nugget of wisdom from the poodle-haired noggin of Jon Bon-Jovi:

"Ultimately, its the kids who make the decision. Not the critics. Record-company guys are paid to tell you how great the record is. Critics are paid to tell you how bad the record is. Both of them get their records for free. It's the kids who're gonna buy it and listen to it."

also, Metalhead Kindergarden would be a great name for a band.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Friday, 14 March 2003 13:01 (twenty-three years ago)

And band-name wise...Wicked Lester is 800x cooler a name than KISS.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Friday, 14 March 2003 13:01 (twenty-three years ago)

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