35th Anniversary Tribute to My Favorite Album of All Time: Aerosmith's "Rocks"

Easter, 2001. I was at my grandparents' house hunting for Easter eggs. I come in to find a basket of some goodies on my grandma's couch for me from "the Easter bunny" (of course, not real, like Santa and Slash.) Inside this basket was the album that would rock my world and make me a loyal Aerosmith fan..."Rocks." I was very stoked that day I got that album because it was one of their albums I did not have in my collection yet (I had "Toys in the Attic", "Get Your Wings", and their "Greatest Hits" record.) Another reason I was stoked was because it had my favorite Aerosmith song (and still my favorite to this day), "Back in the Saddle", on the album. But, little was I to know what kind of record this was going to be. I put it on my Discman (yeah, THAT long ago. I'm fucking old.) and first off was "Back in the Saddle." With it's dirty groove, killer riffing, and primal vocals, it really grabbed my 10 year old balls and shook 'em all up! And boy, it felt great! But, after that song, I was about to get my ass handed to me much more...in fact, it would be eight times more since "Saddle" that my ass would be handed to me. "Last Child," well, I definitely heard that many times before, and it wasn't a huge favorite of mine as a kid because I found it to be too funky. But, as I grew older, that song was as sexy and funky as ever...and I LIKED IT. It is such a sleazy song that just moves you and grooves you all the way through. Then, "Child" leads into a song that really kicked my ass hard, and it was my first time hearing this tune...the tune, you may ask? "Rats in the Cellar." Apparently, the song is supposed to be somewhat of a followup to "Toys in the Attic." But, it is apparently about a drug dealer, which I honestly don't know how, lyrically, it can be a followup to "Toys." Musically though, I can definitely see why it would be a followup to "Toys." Such a high energy, hard rocking tune with a killer ending too that has a real nasty riff to it. It is still one of my favorite Aerosmith tunes to this day. Then, there is "Combination." That riff is as dirty, sleazy, and righteous as you can get. I fucking LOVE this riff. Honestly, I LOVE this song. When I first heard it, obviously, I had no idea what the hell they were talking about. "Walkin' on Gucci, wearing Yves St. Laurent. Barely stay on, because I'm so god-damn gaunt." I had no clue what that meant. But, again, as I grew older and really looked at lyrics and understood what they meant, I realized that they were talking about having enough money now to get their rocks off, and more importantly, to get loaded as fuck (which, in their heyday, they did on a regular basis.) I loved how on that tune, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler sang together, which made it that much better. The music on that song is just killer, with a dirty groove that is raw and real. Next up is "Sick as a Dog." One of the two ballads on the record, although this song is more upbeat than the other. The lyrics, well, I was quite surprised to hear that they were about Tyler's first meeting with Mick Jagger, which did not go so hot. I thought that another thing that was cool about this tune was that the band members, save for Joey Kramer (an extremely underrated drummer, in my opinion.) and Brad Whitford, their rhythm guitarist. Tyler played bass and sang, obviously. Tom Hamilton, their bassist, played guitar and bass. Perry also played guitar and bass. Those guys would play a certain instrument during one part and then another at another part (don't know the exact parts off the top of my head at the moment.) It really is a beautiful song with a rocking end that leads into the 2nd most kick ass song on the album..."Nobody's Fault." Starting out with drugged-out drones of guitar, fading in and out, and then...the song kicks in full force with a heavy fucking riff courtesy of Mr. Whitford (who seemed to have wrote more of the heavier tunes for the band.) The lyrics were about an apocalypse of sorts, and are sung in anger by Tyler, whom you would think would have been a victim of the apocalypse, the last man standing. The song is easily Aerosmith's heaviest, and is my second favorite tune of theirs. Then, there is "Get the Lead Out," a number that would get you on the floor and grooving. The nasty ass riff, courtesy of Joesph Perry, is one of his best. It just drives that whole damn song, which is as dirty and sexy as ever. Even if it is their weakest song on their record, it still kicks ass. "Lick and a Promise" is a tune about life on the road and has some killer drumming from Kramer. The song is typical Aerosmith: killer riffing, primal screaming, and grooves all around. Last, but not least, is the best Aerosmith ballad ever (don't you DARE fucking say "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," cause I would certainly not want to miss kicking your ass) in "Home Tonight." Seriously, what a beautiful song it is, again, about being on the road for so long and  missing your lady or family at home, but knowing you will be seeing them real soon. Featuring Perry on steel guitar, the music is very nice and elegant and can really move me. I always get goosebumps listening to this song, especially the ending. After that song ended, my ten year old ears did not know what to do or what to think. But, I KNEW after hearing that album that I had never heard anything like that album before. The album was so raunchy, raw, dirty, sexy, and nasty. The record had swagger written all over it, and still does. No band could have as much swagger as Aerosmith, and no other album could have as much swagger as "Rocks." This album is celebrating its 35th anniversary this month, which is nuts to know it has been out that long! It is definitely an album that does not sound the least bit dated, which is even more amazing. This album has been favorited by people like Slash, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, James Hetfield of Metallica, Dan Spitz of Anthrax, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, and even Kurt Cobain. Every metal and hard rock best of list includes this record very high on the lists. In fact, Rolling Stone (a magazine that is not so hard rocking and metal) voted this as the 176th best album of all time out of 500 albums. Needless to say, this album has been highly influential in the hard rock and metal community. It has been quite influential to me for sure, solidifying my love for Aerosmith, along with their 70s catalog, which is by near and far, my favorite era of the band. The drugs, the debauchery, the madness: it was all in that era of the band. What better album to hear that debauchery and madness than "Rocks," the album that rocked my ten year old world and still does to this day.

Album Info:
Released: May 1976
Recorded: February-March 1976 at the Wherehouse, Waltham, Mass. and the Record Plant, NYC.
Length: 34:31
Label: Columbia
Producer: Aerosmith and Jack Douglas
Billboard Hot 100 Highest Position: 3
Singles: "Last Child" (Billboard: 21)
              "Home Tonight" (Billboard: 71)
              "Back in the Saddle" (Billboard: 38)
Cerification: 4x Platinum (RIAA-USA, February 26, 2001)

Musicians:
Steven Tyler - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Percussion, Bass on "Sick as a Dog."
Joe Perry - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals, Co-Lead Vocals on "Combination", Bass Guitar on "Sick as a Dog", 6-String Bass Guitar on "Back in the Saddle."
Brad Whitford - Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar on "Last Child."
Tom Hamilton - Bass Guitar, Rhythm Guitar on "Sick as a Dog", Backing Vocals on "Home Tonight."
Joey Kramer - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals on "Home Tonight."
Paul Prestopino - Banjo on "Last Child"

Fun Fact:
This album was one of the first albums to ship platinum when it was released.

Choice Cuts:
ALL OF THE DAMN ALBUM IS GREAT. No song is better than the other. My personal favorites? "Back in the Saddle", "Combination", and "Nobody's Fault."

Do yourself a favor and check out this record as soon as you read this. This album is the most bitchin' album to ever be released. Peace and Cornbread,
Bonzo Brad

The Start of the Shit You Hear Today Called Grindcore/Metalcore/Shitcore, etc. : Napalm Death

Lately, I have been trying to find some classic heavy metal albums to listen to and download. I'd find some lists online, and there was one album that kept popping up on these lists, mostly the best 80s metal albums list: Napalm Death's "Scum." I was not quite sure what to think of the band and album based on just the names of the two things alone. But, I figured, what the hell? I'll give this band a shot like I would do any other band.

Well....I downloaded the record and saw that one, this album had nearly 30 songs on it and two, the majority of the songs were under a minute long, save for a couple songs that were over two minutes long (the longest song being nearly four minutes long.) I was like, shit, this must be the most ridiculous music I will ever hear, and boy howdy, was that the case. All I kept thinking the whole time listening to this record was, "This is what started all the (blank)core shit." The music was fast and brutal, and the lyrics were not understandable whatsoever. It was just heavy, crazy, fast music that was, at the time, very extreme and never heard before. But, the one thing that stood out for me that actually made this record somewhat tolerable and not too shabby was the music and instrumentals. It was pretty much taking what the thrash bands were doing at the time, along with the music of Sabbath and Maiden, and just turning it on it's head and pushing it farther out than it already was and making it more extreme. It wasn't just "chug, chug, chug" like the majority of the so-called "metal" bands today. It actually had riffing going on along with some chugging, but the riffing was at hyperspeed. It was like Slayer on steroids and speed. The vocals I could give two shits about. I'm not the hugest fan of the low, growling singing that is not distinguishable. That's just not my bag. I would like to, at least, SOMEWHAT understand what is being said. That was not the case with this band and, in particular, this album. No understanding of the singing and lyrics whatsoever. But, in all honesty, I'm glad I gave the album and the band a chance. I can see why this is such an influential record in the metal world, because it pretty much set the groundwork for the shit today. But, at the same time, it can be a bad thing that this album is so influential on extreme metal bands today, since a lot of the extreme metal bands today are, for lack of a better word, shit. Very cookie cutter to me. Then again, there could be some bands out there today that I haven't heard that I'll discover and may dig. But, this band and this album are way more tolerable than some of the extreme metal today simply because of the instrumentals. It's just full of energy, power, and speed, along with a shit ton of brutality. The extreme bands out today, to me, cannot hold a candle to Napalm Death. Like most music, especially metal and hard rock music, the music of yesteryear is way better than the music of today, and that "older" stuff is Napalm Death. If you are a metal fan in general, you should check out this band just to check them out.

Information:


Classic Band Members:
Lee Dorian - Vocals
Jim Whitely - Bass
Bill Steer - Guitars
Mick Harris - Drums, Vocals

Classic Album:
"Scum"

Classic Tracks Off of "Scum":
"Instinct of Survival"
"Siege of Power"
"Success?"

Take it easy dudes. Until we meet again,
Bonzo Brad

In Memory of the Holy Diver himself, Ronnie James Dio.

July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010

One year ago today, the world lost a very significant voice in heavy metal and hard rock music, and that voice was Ronnie James Dio. He is easily one of the best, if not, THE best vocalist of all time in the metal community. To me, he is definitely my favorite singer of all time. That voice is one of a kind. He can softly croon a tune, or just scream and shout a banger of a song. He could do it all, along with playing some keyboard here and there. The man is just a gifted and talented soul. From the interviews I have seen of his, the man seemed to be the sweetest, funniest, coolest dude anyone could imagine. The man seemed to love to put a smile on people's faces, whether with his actions, or most importantly, with his music. The man has given us so much classic material, whether it be with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, or his solo band, Dio. In fact, my favorite Sabbath record, along with one of my favorites, is the first record that Dio recorded with Sabbath, "Heaven and Hell." Dio's voice on that record was just so powerful and bad ass compared to Ozzy's maniacal vocals he had contributed to Sabbath before. In fact, when he joined Rainbow and Black Sabbath, those were my favorite eras of those bands (even though the other eras of those groups were just as good.) Dio just brought something to those bands that gave them a nice kick in the ass. Hell, somedays, I'd have to say that Dio made Rainbow, not Ritchie Blackmore (even though the man could slay on the guitar.) Basically, this man IS metal. The man helped metal evolve and make it become bigger and better than it was before. He simply is a god who is respected by many of his peers and phrased by many people. Now that he is gone, one of my biggest regrets is that I did not ever get to see the man in action. There was a tour I would have killed to see at the time it went on (2008), the Metal Masters tour. It had Testament, Motorhead, Judas Priest, and Heaven & Hell, the reformed "Mob Rules" era of Black Sabbath. It came to Chicago and I was wanting to go, but with school going on at the time, plus no one to go with, it did not work out for me to go. I keep kicking myself quite a bit because I missed that tour and my opportunity to see the voice of Metal in action and in person (along with three other kick ass bands.) So now, I'll just stick to listening to my records of his, whether it be Rainbow's "Rising," or Dio's "Holy Diver." I can just pretend that Dio is in front of me singing songs such as "Stargazer" and "Stand Up and Shout" and throwing those horns my way. The man helped me get into metal at such a young age when I first heard "Rainbow in the Dark" on the radio (well...nine years old. Still pretty young, eh?) That song rocked like a mofo to me as a kid. I never heard anything that heavy at the time (even though later on in life, I would find other music that would be way heavier than Dio, but not as kick ass.) Then, my uncle had a best of Dio CD that he would jam in his car to when I would stay with him. I remember sitting in his car and hearing a live version of Rainbow's "Man on the Silver Mountain" that really got me all jacked up when listening to it. It was just full of energy and power. It made me real interested in that song, and when I found that it was not him, but Rainbow that did it, I decided to look further into this band, only to find out he was in it. From that day forward, I became quite the fan of Dio's work, getting into his solo songs like "Straight Through the Heart," "The Last in Line," or his tunes with Sabbath like "Neon Knights," and "The Mob Rules." I am grateful of my uncle for really making me a Dio fan ever since I heard that CD of his in his car. If he never played that CD, who knows if I'd even get into Dio today (I might have, but you never know!) Because of my uncle, I know have a grand collection of metal records by this man. The man has been a part of essential work in the metal and hard rock community, and we cannot thank him enough for that. May he rest in peace, and rock on with the best up there, like Cliff Burton, Randy Rhoads, and John Bonham.

Essential Dio Albums:
Rainbow - "Rising"
Black Sabbath - "Heaven and Hell"
Dio - "Holy Diver"

Dio Playlist:
"Stargazer" - Rainbow
"Man on the Silver Mountain" - Rainbow
"Long Live Rock N' Roll" - Rainbow
"Heaven and Hell" - Black Sabbath
"Children of the Sea" - Black Sabbath
"The Sign of the Southern Cross" - Black Sabbath
"Falling Off the Edge of the World" - Black Sabbath
"Stand Up and Shout" - Dio
"Don't Talk to Strangers" - Dio
"Straight Through the Heart" - Dio
"We Rock" - Dio
"Egypt (The Chains Are On)" - Dio
"One Night in the City" - Dio

Dio Quote:
"The lover of life's not a sinner. The ending is just the beginner. The closer you get to the meaning, the sooner you'll know that you're dreaming. And it's on and on and on, it's heaven and hell. Oh well." - RJD ("Heaven and Hell")

Dio Videos

Rainbow - "Long Live Rock N' Roll (Live)"

Black Sabbath - "Die Young"

Dio - "Don't Talk to Strangers (Live)"

Remember that, if you listen to fools, the mob rules.

Much love dudes,
Bonzo Brad

Uberbitchin Song: King Diamond "Welcome Home"

"GRANDMA! WELCOME HOME!"

When that voice kicks in on the classic song by King Diamond, "Welcome Home," you know you are in for a treat that is rarely heard at that time in metal when this song was released, the late 1980s. The subject matter of songs at that time involved boning whatever woman came your way, drinking as many Jack Daniels bottles as possible, or snorting lines of cocaine the size of swords (not like anything is wrong with that. It's just that every big hard rock/metal song at that time involved that subject matter.) But, along comes King Diamond, changing the game with an ambitious concept record about a Grandma who is mentally ill that finally comes back to her home and has her grandson take care of her (who would be King) and pretty much, through all the ordeals he goes through, the grandson turns insane near the end of the record. That record is "Them" and it is one of the more interesting records I have heard in all genres. Music wise, it is a classic metal record, complete with dualing guitars and killer drumming from future Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee. How I heard of this record was because of the single and one of King's most popular songs, "Welcome Home." I saw the video of this song and was...just, wow. I didn't know what to think. King Diamond is quite the character, with his Satanic makeup and unique Metal voice. But, the music. The music was something else, along with the lyrical matter. I really haven't heard such ambitious lyrics before, especially ones about a mentally ill grandmother who is finally coming back to her home. As a drummer, this song is fun to play, especially with that killer intro drum fill by Mr. Dee. It really drives the song throughout. And then there's the guitars. I love the guitars in this song as much as the drums, because I think they compliment each other quite well and play off each other. I love also how the drums and guitars are pretty much playing the same thing too. A real driving musical deal. Around the 2:50 mark is one of my favorite parts of the song, with the dueling guitars and increased tempo. It really drives one to bang their head. This song is one of the most unique in metal and has helped King Diamond become legendary in the metal community, along with his work in the influential black metal band Mercyful Fate (who even influenced Metallica.) I recommend you listen to this whole concept album that is "Them," but if you don't wanna do that, at least check out this classic tune.

FUN FACT:
This song was featured in the movie "Clerks II," along with lyrics from the song "Invisible Guests," also off of "Them."

INFO
Band: King Diamond
Song: "Welcome Home"
Album: "Them"
Released: 1988
Written by: King Diamond
Label: Roadrunner Records

PERSONNEL
King Diamond: Vocals, Keyboards
Andy LaRocque: Guitars
Pete Blakk: Guitars
Hal Patino: Bass
Mikkey Dee: Drums

Here's the music video to "Welcome Home" I was talking about. Very dark, much like the character of King Diamond himself. But, an awesome song and great video. Check it. (Sorry about the subtitles, but hey! It'd be nice for you kids to learn this en espanol. Plus, this was the only video I could find of the actual video to put on this site.)

Later days, my friends,
Bonzo Brad

You Think THIS Is Hard Rock? You Bet Your Ass It Is! - Billy Squier's "Don't Say No"

When I think of hard rock, I don't just think of bands like KISS, Van Halen, and AC/DC. I also think of real commercially successful bands like Journey, Foreigner, and Styx. Billy Squier is what I like to think of as the perfect median between these two kinds of hard rock. Billy had some grit and power to his music, much like Van Halen and AC/DC, but also had the slick production and melodies of bands like Journey and Foreigner. That's what I always loved about him ever since I heard him on classic rock radio as a kid. He pretty much took the best of both worlds of hard rock and made it into his own. Nothing shows this off better than his masterpiece and classic rock radio staple, his 1981 album, "Don't Say No." I feel like this album is just as important an album as say, Van Halen's first record, Journey's "Escape," or AC/DC's "Back in Black," when it comes to classic rock radio airplay. I still hear over half of this album on the radio today, and not just once in awhile either. The reason why this album is still so popular today on radio is not just the hits, but how powerful, yet melodic the album as a whole is. That is why the album was so popular back in the day too and made him the best forgotten rock star there is. This guy opened up for big names such as Queen and Foreigner and had bands like Def Leppard and Ratt opening up for HIM. He does have a solid body of work outside of this album, especially his follow-up "Emotions in Motion." But, everybody seems to come back to this record when they think of Billy Squier, and so do I. The album is timeless and I always love listening to it, even though I got into the album around my sophomore year of high school, despite hearing over half the record on the radio already. "Don't Say No" is one of those albums to me that I will listen to no matter what phase of music I'm in at the time (although it's safe to say I found my home musically now.) It's also one of the best albums from start to finish, with not one weak track. Anytime I listen to this album, I always feel like I'm in my car with the windows down and the sun out with my speakers cranking out this record. The album also seems to bring me back to my childhood, hearing songs like "In the Dark," "My Kinda Lover," "The Stroke," and "Lonely is the Night" on the radio in my mom's car. It always makes me feel happy, as corny as that sounds, when I listen to the album. It always gets me pumped up too when I listen to it, whether I put it on before a party I'm going to, or just to wake my ass up. This is an album that will stick with me forever, and I feel like it'd do the same for you if you listened to the record. I suggest you go pick up the record someway, somehow, or go download it, whatever floats your boat, right now! (Hell, I'll provide you with a couple of download links so you can get a hold of this grand record.) Since summertime is coming, this would be the perfect album to crank from your speakers if you people are sick of hearing GaGa or Usher being cranked out of senseless people's car speakers. This album will sure shut them up.

Billy Squier - "Don't Say No"

Released: April 13, 1981
Length: 38:11
Label: Capitol
Producer: Mack and Billy Squier
Engineer: Mack
"Billboard" Peak Position: 5
Copies Sold: Over 3 Million
Singles: "The Stroke"
              "In the Dark"
              "Lonely is the Night"
              "My Kinda Lover"

Personnel:
Billy Squier: Vocals, Guitars, Percussion, Piano
Cary Sharaf: Guitars
Alan St. Jon: Keyboards
Mark Clarke: Bass, Backing Vocals
Bobby Chouinard: Drums

Bonzo Brad's Killer Songs:
I really love ALL the singles off of this record, and recommend those to you to listen to, but, the album tracks on here are just as killer as the singles. These are the 3 album tracks that really were a treat to my ears:

"You Know What I Like"

"Too Daze Gone" (A minor rock radio hit I feel should get more airplay.)

"Whadda You Want From Me"

Download Links (If You're Into That...):

http://www.4shared.com/file/118881474/1761ae61/Billy_Squier-_Dont_Say_No.html (zip file)
http://www.mediafire.com/?tkvgb5dzyqr (rar file)


Rock on dudes,
Bonzo Brad

Southern Fried Hard Rock - Blackfoot

When people seem to think southern rock, they automatically think Skynyrd or the Allmans (both great bands, as a matter of fact.) But, nobody thinks of them rockin' Native Americans from Jacksonville, FL that go by the name of Blackfoot (the FIRST all Native American band). Perhaps the heaviest of the Southern Rock bands of their time, these guys could kick lots of ass live, and kick the headliners asses as well. The band has been known to steal the show from many bands they have toured with like the Scorpions and Ted Nugent. These guys simply smoke, on stage and in the studio. The band's heyday was between the years 1979 and 1981, where they released 3 kick ass, but somewhat successful albums here in the States, but in Europe, these guys were hot shit. In fact, the band played the much talked about Monsters of Rock festival in 1981 with bands like AC/DC (whom Blackfoot opened for the year prior), Whitesnake, and Blue Oyster Cult, and them boys in Blackfoot stole the damn show from the other performers, according to many festival goers that day. Now, before Blackfoot even started up, lead singer/guitarist Rickey Medlocke was a drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd before they hit it big time (the band was trying a Allman Bros. two drummer type of deal at the time.) The band let Medlocke go, so Medlocke decided to get his own group going, and that is when Blackfoot got started up. The band released two albums on Epic Records, but were not real successful (in fact, they are extremely hard to find these days.) In 1979, the band got a new deal with Atco Records, along with new management. Also that year, they released their most successful album at the time, "Strikes," that had two major radio hits in "Train, Train" (later covered by Warrant) and "Highway Song", but the album also features such classics as "Road Fever" and a cover of Free's "Wishing Well." Many regard this album to be their best album. After "Strikes" was released, the band went on tour promoting the record, ending their tour for the album supporting the Who in Detroit, MI at the Pontiac Silverdome. After their show with the Who, the band went back into the studio to record "Tomcattin'", which would come out in 1980. This album was when they really started to crank it up a notch and in a way start to sound like a southern fried Maiden. These dudes could easily be as metallic as any of them metal bands out at the time. I mean, again, these dudes did open up for Maiden and the Scorps, so that goes to show you how metal these dudes are. In support of "Tomcattin'", the band hit the road with AC/DC on their tour in support of "Back In Black", along with supporting the Who again on their tour. The band also supported the Scorpions in Europe at this time, and that is when their European success shot through the roof. The band would go back to the studio to record "Maruader" in 1981, and they would hit the road yet again, doing big festivals in Europe, doing an headlining American tour with Def Leppard (what a tour THAT would have been to see, given Def Lep released "High 'N' Dry" at this time), supporting Iron Maiden in Europe, and supporting the Scorps again, but this time in Germany. But, it was around this time that the band's popularity was starting to decline, with their record label wanting them to move towards a more mellower direction friendly enough for radio, along with changing their style. Since then, it has never been the same for Blackfoot, leading them to dissolve after the release of their 1984 record, "Vertical Smiles." Rick Medlocke kept trucking with the Blackfoot project, putting out records, even though he was the only original member in the group. But, Mr. Medlocke has found himself some very sweet success with his old mates in Lynyrd Skynyrd, whom now he plays guitar for. The other members got Blackfoot up and going again with a different lead singer, but unfortunately, drummer Jakson "Thunderfoot" Spires passed on in 2005 due to an aneurysm (a very underrated, four on the floor, kick ass drummer, who remains one of my favorites and also remains missed). The band has soldiered on though with an Austrian drummer by the name of Christoph Ulimann, but has been replaced recently with Scott Craig taking the drum throne.

These boys deserved much, much more success than they got, especially here in the States where they were not known as well besides "Train, Train." The band were road warriors. They lived to show their stuff on the road to all the beautiful people who were willing to listen. These boys were a live band, and proud of it. They made killer studio records, don't get me wrong. But, these boys just KILLED it in concert. They were just four good ole' Native American boys from Jacksonville, FL who were wanting to have a good time playing their metallic southern rock for everyone. I think these dudes are criminally underrated, and will more than likely remain that way. I would have loved to have seen them in their heyday, whether it be them opening up for Sweaty Teddy Nugent, or them headlining with Def Leppard, it would have been one of the most kick ass shows I would have ever witnessed. But, since that can't happen, I'll just stick to YouTube videos and listening to bootlegs of theirs. These boys would go on to influence such bands like Raging Slab and Pride & Glory (Zakk Wylde's first side project. I always felt Zakk sounded like ole Rick when he sang on the P&G record, and was also very influenced by this band.) These guys will never get the respect they deserve, but god damn it, I will love these boys no matter what. One of my favorite bands of all time, for sure. If you like your metal from the South, I'm sure as hell you'll dig these boys.

Classic Lineup:
Rick Medlocke - Guitars, Lead Vocals
Charlie Hargrett - Guitar
Greg T. Walker - Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Jakson "Thunderfoot" Spires - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Bonzo Brad's Album Pick:
It is honestly very tough for me to pick between their three albums, "Strikes", "Tomcattin'", and "Marauder." I highly recommend all three and suggest you listen to ALL THREE. But, if I had to pick just one, I'd have to say..."Marauder." That albums kicks ass all the way through, from the high-speeding, adrenaline rush of a opener in "Good Morning" (a song classic thrash band Exodus covered) all the way to their "Free Bird" esque closer in "Searchin'". "Rattlesnake Rock 'N' Roller" is a really kick ass song, with a killer banjo-pickin' opening by Rick's grandfather and hero Shorty Medlocke (who was a big contributor to Blackfoot, supplying memorable intros to "Strikes'" Train, Train and "Tomcattin's" Fox Chase on his harmonica, along with writing "Train, Train.") "Too Hot to Handle" is also quite the rad little song, with a totally unexpected calypso style breakdown near the end of the song. Honestly, every song on here is amazing, with not one weak song on the album, let alone not one weak track on either of the three albums I mentioned.

Killer Tunes:
"Rattlesnake Rock 'N' Roller"

"Gimme, Gimme, Gimme"

"Train, Train"

All of these songs are their LIVE versions, and all of them absolutely SMOKE. Check this shit out with no hesitation.

Rock on you crazy mammajammas,
Bonzo Brad

Hard Rockin' Seger

Hello beautiful people. It's been quite sometime since I have updated this deal, and I figured, why the hell not do it today? Especially since today is the day I be heading to Conseco Fieldhouse to catch my man Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band. I am quite stoked for this show, especially since he is one of my top 5 favorite non-hard rockers, although he can rock just as hard as any hard rocker. A lot of people who know of Seger would not know that because of his most popular songs, but god damn, the man can rock! So, in tribute to my kick ass time I will be having today, I have decided to post a few Seger songs that I think rock pretty damn hard. I only hope he plays these tonight in Indy! But, if he doesn't, I know he'll put on a hell of a show. So, here you go with the Seger:

"Her Strut" - A classic on rock radio, but not recognized as one of his major songs, so unfortunately, not as many people know this as, say, "Against the Wind" or "Night Moves" (Both great, classic tunes)

"Get Out of Denver" - A concert staple in his early days and featured on his breakthrough live record "Live Bullet" (one of the great albums of all time), this tune just rocks and rolls with grit and is a very killer tune. (Check out the "Live Bullet" album when you get the chance. You will not regret it!)

"Sunspot Baby" - Another tune that has been played on rock radio a bit, it is a great rockin' tune off of his popular "Night Moves" record. One of my favorite Seger tunes ever since I was a kid.

"Feel Like a Number" - A concert staple during the most popular period of his career, as well as another rock radio hit, this tune from his 1978 album "Stranger in Town" is just straightforward, kick ass rock n' roll that has lyrics that them misfits can relate to and connect with.

"Betty Lou's Gettin' Out Tonight" - Last, but certainly not least, is another rollicking tune from the 1980 album "Against the Wind" (my first Seger album I heard) about a little lady who likes to have herself quite the time, because her momma said that it was alright. This song live is just full of energy, especially when he played it when I saw him 5 years ago at the same place I'm seeing him again tonight!

Now, I'm not the only hard rocker that digs Seger. In fact, many hard rockers dig him, in particularly Metallica and Thin Lizzy, who have covered Seger tunes in their career that have actually done well for them. Here they are below:
Metallica's version of the Seger classic, "Turn the Page"

Thin Lizzy's version of Seger's early career hit, "Rosalie" (Yes, I know I posted this earlier, but it kicks ass.)

Well, I shall go get ready for this kick ass concert I'll be attending tonight! I'm really stoked about seeing him again and felt I should share my excitement here on this blog.
Later my friends, and enjoy the tunes,

Bonzo Brad

Top 5 Killer Live Albums

After doing a post on Tommy Aldridge yesterday, it got me thinking about some of the best live albums in the hard rock and heavy metal community, since the man I just mentioned has played on a fair share of them. Live albums have always been a big favorite of mine. I feel like live albums REALLY show how a band is compared to a studio recording. Live albums seem more free spirited, rawer, and more untamed than studio recordings. People hear these songs the bands have released before in a totally different light, whether it be faster or slower, or perhaps with new lyrics. Perhaps the bands add additional parts to songs and jam out on them a bit, or they have a kick ass extended drum or guitar solo. Or, the frontmen of these bands are rapping to the audience, asking them if they are having a good time or if they are going to get crazy tonight! Live albums are so spontaneous and crazy, and that is what makes them so killer. Not only is the music really cool, but the artwork for these albums are even cooler. Bands can go quite some way to include posters, booklets, and full out color picture gatefolds of them in action on stage with these albums. It just leaves me mesmerized anytime I'm in a record store and look through the vinyls and see some of these live albums and their elaborate artwork. Even the booklets for the CD versions include the artwork and it can still leave me mesmerized. Basically, live albums are an amazing piece of art, musically and visually. They are not quite popular anymore, but in the hard rock and heavy metal community in the 70s and 80s, live albums were the "it" thing. It could make you or break you, or make you legends in some cases. I have decided to compile my 5 favorite live albums of all time and include what I feel is the best song off of the album. Enjoy kids, and please check out these albums, whether you download it or actually go buy it. You will not regret it. 

1. KISS - "Alive!"
There was no doubt or question in my mind that this is not only my favorite live album of all time, but also one of the best live albums of all time. This is the album that made KISS one of the hottest live acts of the 70s and of all time. This is also the album that introduced me to my childhood heroes in KISS. The album showed how their songs really sound like compared to their great, but weaker, studio versions of these songs. Songs like "C'Mon and Love Me," "Strutter," and their famous single "Rock and Roll All Nite" seemed to have more of a ballsy, raw sound compared to their studio versions. All the songs on this album were given a bit more "umph." Not only can you hear the rawness of the songs, but you can hear the craziness and insanity of their live shows. From the cracks of the flash bombs to the cheers of the audience, you feel like you are actually THERE. You can smell the weed, babes, smoke, and fire and see the flashing lights, pyrotechnics, and KISS just up there rocking their balls off. This album gets some flack for the studio overdubs, but it is still a killer live album, with versions of the songs easily better than their studio counterparts. Easily their best album and one of my top 3 favorite albums of all time, I highly recommend this to everyone and their grandmother.

Killer Track: "100,000 Years"

*So epic, it needs two parts! Killer drum solo, guitar solo, and rapping from sir Paul Stanley. No need to say more.

2. UFO - "Strangers in the Night"
An underrated live record, to say the least. This record finds UFO at their scorchin', hard rockin' best. Every song on here is killer and full of energy, especially the version of "Rock Bottom" on this album. This was my introduction to UFO and I could not believe, after I heard this record, that I have never heard of these guys before! This guys tear it apart on stage, and this album proves that. Michael Schenker is just ripping it up on guitar, while Pete Way and Andy Parker (bass and drums) hold down that rhythm section and keep it chugging along. Phil Mogg is in top form on this record, with his raspy, raw vocals soaring to new highs, while Paul Raymond tears up them ivories. The production on this album is very superior, and the track list is full of gems and hits. A non-stop tour de force of a record. Non-stop rocking.

Killer Track: "Rock Bottom"

Easily the most epic song on the album, as well as the climax of the record. While I could put every single song as a killer track for this record, I chose this one because of Mr. Michael Schenker's fucking mindblowing guitar solo on this track. He pretty much makes the guitar his bitch. This track also shows why Schenker was such a huge influence on Kirk Hammett, guitarist for Metallica. The energy on this song is off the charts, as well.

3. Judas Priest - "Unleashed in the East"
Not a lot of people think of this album when they think of Priest. They usually think "Screaming for Vengeance" or "British Steel." But, by God, this album is as killer as live albums can get. Kicking off with "Exciter," one of my favorite Priest songs and one of my favorite vocal performances of Halfords, they go full force and high speed and never let up. The album is fucking loud, heavy, and raw, and I would not want it any other way. The uberbitchin' guitar duo of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton is in top form on this record, busting out solo after solo and riff after riff of excellence. Ian Hill is in top form, with his bass perfect in the mix, driving the band through all of their classic early tunes. This is also drummer Les Binks last album as a member of Priest, going out in top form on this record. And the audience. That fucking Japanese audience is crazy! Singing along to every word, shouting at the top of their lungs. They can be pretty mental, and that makes the album even more energetic and awesome. A lot of people criticized this album for being mostly studio overdubs, but the Metal God himself, Rob Halford, says that the whole album is live besides the vocals, which got fucked up in the process of getting ready to mix the album. Classic metal live record, by far.

Killer Track: "Victim of Changes"

The guitar intro in the beginning is a cream dream for many guitarists when they hear it. It is so beautiful, yet raw. Then, there's those vocals. Halford really shines on this song, busting out a ball-crushing high note near the end of the song that will make everyone shit their pants when they hear it. The song is a lot heavier on this album than the "Sad Wings of Destiny" version, which makes it even better. One of my favorite songs by the band.

4. Thin Lizzy - "Live and Dangerous"
Again, another album that gets flack for studio overdubs. Some sources have thought that this album is either 75% live or 75% studio. No one knows. But, I DO know this. This album kicks ass over, under, sideways, and down. Like "Strangers in the Night" and "Alive!" above, this was my introduction to this classic and underrated band. I definitely think this is mostly live, especially after comparing the tracks to YouTube videos of them live and seeing that they are extremely similar. The album has all of the definitive tracks of Thin Lizzy on it, along with some killer versions of some of their best known tunes. The guitar duo of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson are firing at all cylinders, turning out killer guitar performances on tracks like "Massacre," "Emerald," and "Still in Love with You." Phil Lynott is also quite epic on this record, with his vocals in top form. The man was sounded very energetic on stage and you can really hear it on this record. Brian Downey also turns in a stellar performance, especially when it is his time to shine on his drum solo on "Sha La La." An all out killer live record, and one of the all time classic live records, regarded as a classic in all genres.

Killer Track: "Rosalie/Cowgirl's Song"

It was quite hard to pick between this tune and "Cowboy Song," but I always keep coming back to this song everytime I listen to this album. Lynott's vocals are awesome on this track, along with the guitars of Robertson and Gorham. The transition from "Rosalie" to "Cowgirl's Song" is so effortless and makes the song even better than it was. One of the many highlights on the record.

5. Motorhead - "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith"
The energy on this record and the loudness on this record cannot be beat whatsoever. Motorhead simply kick ass, and this album proves it. It's so fast, so loud, so untamed, so raw. It's like sex with a jaguar. Yeah, that's right. This album is THAT kick ass. Every song on here is as good, if not better, than the studio versions (mostly better.) You can just feel the sweat coming off of your turntable as you play this record. Lemmy and crew are in top form and ready to kick major ass. The filth and the fury are in full force on this record. Do I need to say more? No. Actually, yes...go BUY THIS FUCKING RECORD!

Killer Track: "Overkill"

This song is as breakneck as breakneck can get. So loud, so intense, and so filthy. I love the version of this song on this album more than the studio simply because of the speed and energy of the song. It makes it even crazier and cooler than it already was.

Honorable Mentions:
Aerosmith - "Live Bootleg"
Ozzy Osbourne - "Tribute"
Rainbow - "On Stage"
Ted Nugent - "Double Live Gonzo"
Cheap Trick - "At Budokan"
AC/DC - "If You Want Blood, You've Got It"
Iron Maiden - "Live After Death"
Slayer - "Live: Decade of Aggression"
Scorpions - "World Wide Live"
Metallica - "Live Shit Binge and Purge"
Deep Purple - "Made in Japan"
Led Zeppelin - "The Song Remains the Same"
Black Sabbath - "Live Evil"
Rush - "All the World's a Stage"
Humble Pie - "Rockin' the Fillmore"
Pat Travers Band - "Live! Go for What You Know"

Enjoy this fuckers and keep on bangin' them heads!
Bonzo Brad

Unsung Hero - Tommy Aldridge

Tommy Aldridge...man, oh man, this dude does not deserve as much credit as he should in the hard rock and heavy metal drumming community. As a drummer myself, I find him to be not just a huge influence on my playing, but also a huge part of a lot of hard rock and heavy metal drummers' playing today. The man perfected the double kick playing to a tee and also took John Bonham's bare hands playing to a whole new level in his drum solos. The man is a god damn monster on the drum kit, plain and simple.
Tommy was born on August 15, 1950 in Nashville, TN. His main influences in drumming were Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Ringo Starr and Joe Morello. His first band he played in and started getting attention in were southern rockers Black Oak Arkansas (a badass band in their own right, heard quite a bit in the movie "Dazed and Confused.") He recorded 3 albums with them, including the bitchin' live album "Raunch 'N' Roll Live" and played with them between 1972 and 1976. After Tommy stopped playing with Black Oak, he got put on board to play drums for the extremely underrated blues hard rock band Pat Travers Band, recording 5 albums with them, including, again, another bad ass live album "Live: Go for What You Know!" It was after he departed Pat Travers Band that he started to get noticed big time in the hard rock and heavy metal drumming community, playing with Ozzy Osbourne in his classic "Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman" lineup. After playing with the Oz man and blues guitarist and ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore (RIP), he got picked up to play for Whitesnake at the height of their popularity. He played with them up to 1990, right when the band broke up, but then played with them again in 2002 up until 2007 when the Snake reunited. When Whitesnake disbanded, he started playing with everyone from Motorhead to Ted Nugent, just playing and playing, trying to keep himself busy. In 2007, he played in Thin Lizzy for a bit up until last year. At this moment, Tommy is just trying to find himself yet ANOTHER band to play with. But, while he finds another band to play with, he has been known to be an in demand drum clinician and goes around the country giving drum clinics at music stores, so that keeps him busy most of the time.
Basically, Tommy is the shit and urine when it comes to drums. He has influenced many hard rock and heavy metal drummers, from Tommy Lee to Brian Tichy. The man's resume is beyond stellar, and he had set the bar for many hard rock and heavy metal drummers to come after him. It is a shame that hardly anybody in the hard rock and heavy metal drumming community mention him when it comes to influential drumming. People go on to mention drummers like Bonham, Bill Ward, Lars Ulrich, and others as influential, but dare do not mention Aldridge. The man practically got the double kick drumming going for many of them thrashers and metalheads. No matter what though, this man remains in the my top 5 favorite drummers of all time and is highly influential to me, especially when it comes to my double kick drumming.

Tommy Aldridge endorses:
Yamaha drums
Paiste cymbals

Recommended Listening:
Pat Travers Band: "Live: Go for What You Know!"
Ozzy Osbourne: "Tribute"
Black Oak Arkansas: "Raunch 'N' Roll Live"
Whitesnake: "Slip of the Tongue"

Here's a clip of Mr. Aldridge beating the shit out of them drums and showing them who's the boss. It is certainly not Tony Danza!

Rock On Brothers and Sisters!
Bonzo Brad

Rad Playlist of the Day - New Wave of British Heavy Metal

One of my favorite styles of hard rock and heavy metal that I really dig is the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that came around between the years 1979 and 1981. So many classic bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard came out of this genre, along with underrated bands like Raven, Saxon, and Tygers of Pan Tang. These bands that came out of this genre took elements of the "happening" punk movement in Great Britain during the late 70s, took the blues influences of bands like Zeppelin and Sabbath down a notch, kicked up the tempo, and adapted a tougher, more rugged sound. These bands would go on to be a very big influence on the thrash metal genre, especially on the big 4 thrash bands. Below here are songs I feel people should check out as an introduction to get a feel of the genre. Check these badass songs and start throwing up those devil horns!


Iron Maiden - "Sanctuary"

Def Leppard - "Answer to the Master"

Saxon - "Stand Up and Be Counted"

Motorhead - "Stone Dead Forever"

Angel Witch - "Angel Witch"

Tygers of Pan Tang - "Love Don't Stay"

Blitzkrieg - "Blitzkrieg"

Avenger - "Run for Your Life"

Raven - "Don't Need Your Money"

Sweet Savage - "Eye of the Storm"

Girlschool - "Demolition Boys"

Jaguar - "Back Street Woman"

Demon - "Ride the Wind"

Diamond Head - "Helpless"

Samson - "Vice Versa"

Tank - "Filth Hounds of Hades"

Venom - "Angeldust"

And...a couple of big influences on the bands above:

Budgie - "Breadfan"

Judas Priest - "Sinner"

This type of hard rock and heavy metal will always be one of my very favorites and it should be yours too, because, basically, it kicks ass majorly. Check ALL of these songs out because they ALL fucking rule.

Love, Peace, and Elbow Grease,
Bonzo Brad