The Quiet Van Halen Speaks Of Family, Music, Life, Love And Loss
The band Van Halen share their name with its two founding members. So when speaking of Van Halen sometimes it’s important to distinguish if you are referring to the band or personnel. Frequently it was interchangeable. The band Van Halen or the guitarist Edward Van Halen. Infrequently was the reference to band co-founder Alex Van Halen.
Sitting behind a drum kit for over 50 years made it possible for Alex Van Halen to be in the background rather than the spotlight. Continue reading →
Isolated Vocals On 13 Songs From Classic Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Motley Crue & Other Bands
Ian Gillan, Deep Purple photo: Jan Persson
We will conclude our overview of isolated vocals with a selection of songs from some of the most iconic hard rock and heavy metal bands.
What you may notice in listening to these cuts is that more than other types of rock, heavy metal has people who can sing and others who greatly benefit with the helping hand of compression and echo.
There were many bands to possibly profile and limiting the number of songs to a bakers dozen was a challenge. While we would consider including Metallica, Megadeth, Exodus, Anthrax, Slayer, Testament and other thrash bands, we left them out this time. Maybe we’ll revisit this subject in the future.
Originators
Starting things off is the band that many fans consider the inventors of heavy metal, Black Sabbath with Paranoid (vocals – Ozzy Osbourne)
In music polls, Led Zeppelin is consistently ranked as the one of the greatest bands in rock history. They also influenced practically every hard rock and metal band even if Zeppelin themselves did not call themselves a “heavy metal” band. This is their iconic 1971 song Rock and Roll (vocals- Robert Plant)
Most rock fans can name the song in three notes. If Deep Purple did not Continue reading →
Paul Di’Anno Was Crucial To Iron Maiden’s Rise To The Top Of Heavy Metal
Vocalist Paul Di’Anno (left) & bassist Steve Harris (right) of Iron Maiden photo: EMI
Paul Di’Anno the original vocalist on Iron Maiden’s 1980 eponymous debut album and 1981 follow-up Killers, died today at his home in Salisbury, England at the age of 66. Di’Anno was fired (or quit according to Di’Anno) from Iron Maiden in 1981.
Di’Anno had numerous health issues over the past few decades and for the last several years Di’Anno would sing while seated in a wheelchair.
The first two Iron Maiden studio albums plus a 1981 live EP release, Maiden Japan, showcase the prowess of a young hungry band and the unabashed vocals of Paul Di’Anno. The albums represent the punk-metal hybrid that Iron Maiden was originally producing.
Without Di’Anno the band would jettison the punk edges in lieu of a more polished heavy metal sound.
How much and what Di’Anno contributed is difficult to quantify. Four words come to mind to describe early Maiden. Edgy. Raw. Unyielding. Powerful. It’s best to see and hear Di’Anno live.
Live At The Rainbow December 21, 1980
Post-Di’Anno, Iron Maiden would rise to worldwide fame with their new singer Bruce Dickinson.
During his short time with Iron Maiden, Di’Anno managed to capture a large group of fans who would remain convinced Di’Anno was the not just the preferred vocalist Continue reading →
The Beatles Talent Shines With Vocals Only On Six Of Their Hits
It would be a stretch to say the Beatles are underrated considering they pushed the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll to new levels. But to listen to how incredibly good they were as singers and at group harmonies when you listen to the vocals only, is pretty amazing.
Isolated Vocals Means Hearing A Song You’ve Heard Hundreds Of Times In A New Way
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend The Who photo; London Features, Neal Preston
With these versions where all the other instruments have been eliminated but the vocals, you can hear the singer’s voice as an instrument itself. These songs range from 1969 – 1980, all before the invention of pitch correction (aka auto-tune) which many music purists believe ruined music forever. These songs are from an era when singers actually had to be able to sing. Continue reading →
Brian Tatler Joins Metallica For A Rare Full Length Performance of “Am I Evil” – June 26, 2024
It may be one of the most recognizable opening riffs in all of heavy metal.
But the band who wrote it achieved limited commercial success. They did however influence countless other heavy metal bands – the most important of them being Metallica.
During a concert in Oslo, Norway on June 26, 2024, Metallica brings Brian Tatler on stage and does something they have rarely done: perform Am I Evil in its entirety. Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield sounds absolutely great here.
Diamond Head
Am I Evil was written by Diamond Head’s guitarist Brian Tatler and vocalist Sean Harris. The song was released in Great Britain in 1980 on the album Lightning To The NationsContinue reading →
Jimi Hendrix Closes Woodstock With A Memorable Performance – August 18, 1969
Bethel, N.Y. – August 16: Huge Crowd At Rock Festival Air view shows part of crowd Friday which converged on Bethel, N.Y., for rock festival there. More than 200,00 persons are estimated to be present. photo A.P.
While the attendance numbers have been in dispute, there probably were close to a half million people who attended The Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The concert began on August 15, 1969, and by the time it was over on Monday, August 18, it is estimated that less than 200,000 people remained to see the conclusion.
Peter Sellers & Ringo Celebrate Completion Of “The Magic Christian” 1969
Ringo & Sellers At A Party
Peter Sellers and Beatle drummer Ringo Starr are seen playing roulette at a party at Les Ambassadeurs in London. The party was to celebrate the completion of the film “The Magic Christian” in which they co-star. Among other guests at the party were Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono who have just bought a 72 acre estate and mansion at Tittenhurst Park, near Ascot, Berks. photo:Syndication International (Daily Mirror) May 5, 1969
One does not necessarily associate Peter Sellers with The Beatles. But strange casting for a strange film brought the two stars of different genres together. Continue reading →
“He” Is Mike Chapman, Writer, Producer Extraordinaire
Mike Chapman (wearing sunglasses) in the studio with Blondie photo: GEMS/Redferns
From age 18 to 80 the fact that even novices of melody will recognize many of Mike Chapman’s songs, says a lot about his talent.
Mike Chapman (born in Queensland, Australia, April 13, 1947) is not just a record producer, but also a songwriter of major importance.
He has written and / or produced music with The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, The Knack, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Divinyls, Nick Gilder, Scandal, Billy Squier, Agnetha from ABBA, Lita Ford, Smokie and arguably most successfully, Blondie.
But it’s Chapman’s skill at songwriting that will remain his legacy. Continue reading →
The Beatles “Covering” Enter Sandman Via Artificial Intelligence
As pointed out here previously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in amusing ways. There is another version of this on youtube that is musically virtually the same note for note. But Continue reading →
The band Van Halen share their name with its two founding members. So when speaking of Van Halen sometimes it’s important to distinguish if you are referring to the band or personnel. Frequently it was interchangeable. The band Van Halen or the guitarist Edward Van Halen. Infrequently was the reference to band co-founder Alex Van Halen.
