sing a long

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Leo once again. This time he covers Metallica’s “Battery” turning the guitar, bass, and drums over to his friends: Trey Xavier, Noah Martin, and 66Samus.

Again, if you are a fan of this style of music, especially “classic” Metallica (1986), you will love this. And if not… well, let’s just say “I warned you.”

Personally, I don’t know how this cover could be improved upon. Seriously. The only thing “missing” was that they didn’t go right into “Master of Puppets” after.

(My wife was quite accurate in her assessment of my musical tastes. She listens to everything and knows a lot about music and she has met many famous musicians and celebrities. Her “ex” was a guitar player in an Indianapolis based band, they split largely due to his drug and alcohol abuse. Anyway, she had this to say about my own preferences: “You like that crazy, loud, heavy shit and you like whatever your girls do. Everything else you think sucks.” What could I say? )

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I’m sure most of you will recognize this one. The original was performed by Gorillaz in 2005 and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks.

Best YouTube Comments:

“I love how everybody is so nonchalant about a heavy metal guitar playing rabbit running around.”

“Please cover Slayer Raining Blood.”

“Idk how i feel about it but i think its growing on me.”

“Great cover man, I love the heavy guitar on this track, it brings power to the original song!”

“WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THE DRUGS AT ONCE.”

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Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics live! From 1980. Before my time, I credit my older cousins for introducing me to lots of good music much to my parents’ shock and anguish. I have an original pressing of “New Hope For The Wretched” on vinyl—but nothing to play it on… “Tight Black Pants” is the first track.

Wendy is really cute here. She was one of the earliest pioneers for women in modern rock. Especially punk and hard rock. Her stage act often consisted of using a chain saw to cut a guitar in half, smashing a TV with a sledgehammer, and blowing shit up.

Wendy took her own life in 1998. From what I know she suffered from depression for many years. You can read about it on the Internet. I think Wendy would rather we celebrate her life and enjoy her music.

Here is a review from Instant Karma Records:

This is a 2014 remaster of The Plasmatics Earth Shaking 1980 debut album "New Hope For The Wretched" Right when you thought Punk was dead Fuck You!!! Along cums the Plasmatics sticking it in your eye with "Butcher Baby." The first catchy tune to utilize a chainsaw on a hit record. This edition includes a second album of live performances of some wonderfully sick shit This double album has been pressed with some baby vomit colored vinyl. The songs on this sonic disaster are: Tight Black Pants,Monkey Suit, Living Dead, Test Tube Babies, Won't You, Concrete Shoes, Squirm (Live), Want You Baby, Dreamlover, Sometimes I, Corruption, Butcher Baby, Sometimes I (live) Tight Pants (live), Butcher Baby (live), Corruption (live), You Think Your Comin' & Fast Food Service.

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August 14, 2001. Nu-Metal was at its peak. Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, a relatively unknown band, at least compared to Slipknot, Korn, Godsmack, and Disturbed, came out with their second studio album “The New Release.” It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #102 on the Billboard 200.

The album was shelved by their record company after the attacks of “9/11.” If you are too young to remember that tragic day, or weren’t born yet, one of the dumbest things that occurred afterward was the infamous “Clear Channel Memo” banning over 150 songs including everything by Rage Against the Machine. Snopes however claims this was more of an "Advisory List" for radio stations. The perception at the time among people my age was that this amounted to a "ban." A search will quickly find this memo.

“This Life” is very intense, the subject was someone the singer knew who was in an abusive relationship:

Bruises on your face, I guess you fell down the steps again
that's such a shame, cause you let it,
you let it happen over and over again

This isn't what you wanted
someone to break you down every motherfucking day
it's not the life you wanted
someone to break you, someone to make you

It's just another day, the last day he touches you again
but there’s a price he'll pay
pull the trigger…

“55” refers to Interstate 55 which runs from Chicago to St. Louis to Memphis. Listening to this album again in 2019 I couldn't help but think of “This Life” as the Metal version of “Face Down.” Although “This Life” preceded that song by at least 3 or 4 years. No one should have to suffer abuse, verbal or physical. I’m glad that music often speaks to that. Maybe more people will pay attention.

Like many of the songs from this era, this was always on my “pre-game” football playlist.

RIP Jason "J-Sin" Luttrell (1978-2018)

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From their album “IV” released in 2006. This was the first “CD” that I purchased on-line and downloaded in its entirety (from iTunes). Can’t imagine why I like this video… There’s enough Testosterone here that I won’t need to inject tonight.

Shannon Larkin (drums) is a God. I’ve seen them perform both with Tommy (their original drummer) and with Shannon.

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Years ago at a motorcycle rally I heard a band playing this in a bar. Thought it was a cool jam. The crowd, almost all of whom were older than me went wild.

Using the phrase “rock bottom” looked it up when I got back home. Of course that’s the song’s title. From 1974. The guitarist is Michael Schenker, younger brother of Rudolf Schenker from the 80’s band Scorpions. Looked him up. He’s only 19 here.

In 1975, UFO released a followup album called “Force It.” Below is the “censored” cover. You may have to look closely…

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My friend Leo is up to it again with a little help from his wife, Stine.

Best YouTube Comments:

“This is like Static-X meets Die Antwoord and I love it!”

“This is literally the coolest thing I've ever heard in my life.”

“They are made by a company called DR. You can get em at any Guitar Center in the US.” (Me: Glow in the dark strings.)

“Oh my fuckinggod!!!!”

“This is the best cover I think he's ever done. ❤️” (Me: It’s already on my workout playlist.)