Posted on 07/25/2019 1:45:11 PM PDT by Mariner
“Bang that head that doesn’t bang.” – R. Burch ‘83
Thus reads the quote on the back sleeve of Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All, which was released on July 25th, 1983. It stands as one of the earliest documents of thrash metal, a pivotal album that explored artistic extremes and set the foundational archetypes of thrash as a sound, image, and lifestyle. At a time in heavy music when record labels were starting to embrace super-produced glam-metal bands that would go on to dominate radio and MTV for the remainder of the decade, Metallica literally said: “Metal up your ass.”
Ironically, that was meant to be the original title for the album, but the label execs decided it was too profane for the sensitive tastes of American consumers and suggested the band change it. So Metallica picked the arguably more aggressive title of Kill ‘Em All, ostensibly in reference to those very consumers. That is metal. And there are so many moments on the album that warrant that remark. You listen to it and you throw up the horns reflexively at various moments: the chorus of “Jump in the Fire”, the intro chugs on “No Remorse”, the opening riff of “Seek & Destroy” — just to name a few.
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Metallica certainly was ahead of its time bringing on thrash metal into the public consciousness in 1983. But I don’t think they invented thrash.
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We had our own ‘metal’ band in 1981, “Alexis” ( hence, my screen name ‘AlexisHeavyMetal1981’. Our lineup:
From Pico Rivera
Alfred (me) - Rickenbacker 4001 bass+Sunn amp
Ray - TAMA drums
Downey
Frank - had the PA system.
South Gate
Blake - Gibson Flying V + Marshall amp.
We were gigging around in Pico Rivera, Downey (James Hetfield’s neighborhood), South Gate, Huntington Park (Slayer’s neighborhood) to a vastly growing audience. We did the usual metal covers, but then we started composing our own metal tunes. Everything was coming together quite nicely.
Then came Gazzari’s and in Santa Barbara.
Fun times for all. I had my black ‘69 Chevy Malibu with my personalized CA license plate “KHMR”, for mythical radio station ‘Heavey Metal Rocker’.
At the time, we had our hopes and dreams, but the band broke up in late 1981. I went on to a career in IT. Our guitar player went on to bigger and better fortune in the metal scene.
In the spirit of that time-honored lament “Legend in my own mind”, I’ve occasionally had that fleeting thought that if we had succeeded, it would not be the ‘Big Four’ of heavy metal, but the “Big Five’.
Fond memories.
Whiplash
How is Lars able to keep that pace after all these years?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6eh06Vd-ws
Nice story. I am from So Cal and was living in the area in 1981! Never caught you, though...
John Deacon from Queen used Sunn bass amps and speaker cabs in the ‘70’s when Queen was more of a hard rock band than in their later career. Great amps!
Did Lemmy drink all or most of the absinthe on the spot? ;)
That would’ve been an epic tale. But no, he was under the weather at the time, having just gotten home from the rigors of the tour they’d been on. So he said thanks and shook my hand and I left him to have some peace and quiet. No idea if he ever drank it.
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