I wasn't going to comment on this thread. I really wasn't. I swear, I swear, I swear I wasn't.
But...when I read this:
After reading this i can gladly say..thank God Nirvana came along!!
I find that I must say:
As a former musician (semi-pro) who was in a few bands during the late 80's/early90's, all I can say is that I threw up in my mouth a little bit when I read that.
OK, so now that I'm posting, I might as well ruffle a few feathers (friendly like).
Nirvana...Uhg. What can I say? They had a similar effect like the Beatles did on music. With regard to heavier music, starting with Nirvana, it became (once again - as with the Beatles) acceptable to notbe able to play an instrument or sing and yet still become famous. Wait, wait, wait...bear with me here. For a very long time after them, and even to this day, any jackass could/can walk into a pawn shop, buy an old Fender guitar, and think they are a musician worthy of a record deal. To clarify, I am here bemoaning the reality of what happens in the music biz, not what should happen. If you are a good musician, you should get ahead. Sadly, it doesn't happen that way many times. The excellent band, Pearl Jam, not withstanding, it was certainly quite sad that Alternative Metal in general put the nail in the coffin of regular Heavy Metal/Speed Metal. I feel I deserve the right to make those statements based on the fact that I worked and practiced for a very, very long time to get quite good at playing and it offends me what some bands get away with (past or present).
While it is certainly true that old Jimmy H and other (borderline) Heavy Metal acts were creative, many were not actually all that talented. Just....different. And I say borderline, because many bands have been mentioned that can't rightly be called "Metal". I think somebody mentioned Zepplin. Huh? Sorry, that's not metal - but I digress. Steppenwolf was mentioned. I can't even tell you how many times I have had to play "Born to Be Wild" while on some smokey stage in a bar. I cringe every time I hear that song now. Sorry, but from a strictly musical standpoint that song bites. Seriously, no offense, but it really does. But, they (and others) did open some doors of creativity. You get excellent, excellent bands like Iron Maiden coming along after them. Certain Heavy Metal bands like Iron Maiden are a bit like Mozart on crack. (talent level-wise)
Many metal bands from the 80's had a few catchy songs, but you can't rightly lump the Quiet Riots, Motley Crues, Poisons, and Ratts of the world in with bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Queensryche, and Metallica. (rant on) With the qualifier on Metallica of strictly albums 2, 3 and 4 (Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, And Justice for All) being good - and no they have not returned to their roots with St. Anger as was mentioned - they still suck haaaaaard like they have done ever since the black album/hair cutting fiasco. If you don't agree, go back and listen to Ride the Lightning, or even better, Master of Puppets. That was actual musicianship. Not white trash, NASCAR loving, infantile, crap. NASCAR reference is from Fuel (a song I despise). "Gimme' fuel, Gimme' fire, Gimme' that which I desire". Oh...my...frigging...God...vomit. What stupid, stupid, crap. (rant off )
What was my point agsin?...er...I don't remember now.
Damn them dubs for making me quit playing music!
BTW, if any of you get a chance to see Queensryche performing their current Operation Mindcrime tour, it is a cool experience. Be forwarned that it is not a "concert" but rather a rock opera type experience - both of their Mindcrime albums are concept albums. They play both albums all the way through from start to finish with one break between the two albums. I don't recommend it unless you at least own Mindcrime 1 though. It will seem ...."weird".
Good night everybody!
LittleDrummerBoy (of the actual drummer class)