April 1987
RATT
Heavy metal.
Heavy metal. There are virtually hundreds of definitions of the term. Some believe the expression was coined by underground author William Burroughs. Some argue that the late rock critic Lester Bangs was the first to use the term to describe a form of rock ’n’ roll music.
CONTENTS
KISS
Instrumental in popularizing glam and glitter rock, the outrageous theatre and theatrics of Kiss began on vinyl back in 1974 with Paul Stanley (Paul Eisen), Gene Simmons (Gene Klein), Peter Criss (Peter Crisscoula) and Ace Frehley. Their selftitled debut album on Casablanca Records, plus at least 20 releases since then, have earned the once-faceless band 18 gold and 12 platinum albums in the United States alone (some 50 million sold worldwide).
the Kinks
For those who’ve forgotten, the Kinks are included in the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame because this durable band, formed in 1962 and originally part of the first British Invasion, paved the way for the power chords of the next decade’s hard rock explosion.
the Yardbirds
Maybe we’ll never know who wrote the book of love, but when it comes to bluesbased guitar crunch rock ’n’ roll, it was definitely the Yardbirds. Laying the groundwork for heavy metal, the Yardbirds, formed in London in 1963 (Keith Relf: vocals, Chris Dreja: guitar, Jim McCarty: drums, Paul Samwell Smith: bass, Anthony Topham: guitar, and Eric Clapton: lead guitar), are often rumored to be the missing link between the early '70s rock and soul and the dawn of psychedelia.
The Who
From the adolescent rage of “My Generation” to the multi-textured rock operas Tommy and Quadraphenia.
Cream
In 1966, something very important happened in England. Three prototypical blues rock virtuosos left their respective groups (drummer Ginger Baker left the Graham Bond Organization; bassist Jack Bruce left Manfred Mann and guitarist Eric Clapton left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers).
Jimi Hendrix
Although he died just two years shy of his 30th birthday, Jimi Hendrix remains one of the most influential and innovative rock guitarists in the world. A pioneer in the use of electronic sounds, he experimented with feedback and distortion in such a creative way that he was able to turn those sound effects into a fluid and exotic language every bit as conventional as it was unconventional!
Motely Crue Sixx Things You Must Know About!
John Kordosh
I guess I'd like to know if there has been any change in your attitude, and Motley Crue's attitude. Same old band, y’know? What about the alcohol disclaimer on the album? We don’t represent sobriety, we just don’t want to see somebody have so much fun they kill themselves.
Led Zeppelin
Like their ancestors, the Yardbirds, it wasn’t just thunderous volume and a mayhem that turned this quartet into the most influential heavy metal pioneers in history.
Ted Nugent
No one is quite sure what it is about Ted Nugent that flags downs so much interest. A flamboyant mish-mosh of conflicting character traits (savage cave man persona, conservative anti-drug stand, sexist, loner and hunter, party animal, reactionary politics, standard heavy metal guitar antics, destruction derby king, TV actor hopeful, aspiring Detroit SWAT team member, etc.), the self-proclaimed “Motor City Madman” guitarist has even had a pinball game named after him.
Alice Cooper
Having influenced everyone from Ozzy Osbourne to Motley Crue and Kiss, Alice Cooper—who was born Vincent Furnier (Alice Cooper, according to Ouija board legend, was a 17th century witch reincarnated as Furnier)—first launched his band on Straight Records in 1968.
Spot Checking DEFLEPPARD Metal Youths Who Shriek In Shorthand
Dave DiMartino
LONDON—Directly or indirectly, Eric Clapton is responsible for my being here. Eric Clapton—who left the Yardbirds and left John Mayall to form the inescapable ’60s monolith of rock bands, the one that begat a music form that not only outlived the group, but the entire decade, and the next and possibly the ’80s as well.
Blue Cheer
Appearing in the summer of 1968 with a heavy metal version of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” Blue Cheer (Original line-up: Dickie Peterson: vocals, Paul Whaley: drums, Leigh Stephens: guitar) shared the top of the charts with Cream’s Disraeli Gears and Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced?
Iggy & The Stooges
The plain fact is this: all that is currently in thrash vogue is a direct descendent of one album: Raw Power.
Black Sabbath
Formed in England in 1968 with singer John “Ozzy” Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler, guitarist Tony lommi and drummer Bill Ward, Black Sabbath took their ominous gloom and doom lyrics, mixed them with equal parts of volume and speed and sold over seven million records, becoming the undisputed heavy metal kings of the 70s.
Seeking the Porpoise Of Life: Aquatic Secrets From . . .Bon Jovi
Toby Goldstein
It’s 1 p.m. Do you know where your Slurpee is? Never mind that we are 3,000 miles distant from Jon Bon Jovi’s New Jersey roots. Even in Vancouver, B.C. (as in Canada)— a city that’s so clean and fresh-smelling it acts like a rest cure for urban blighted Statesiders—one can probe hard and unearth an "oh thank heaven, it’s 7-11.”
Blue Oyster Cult
Formed in 1969 in Long Island, New York, and signed three years later to Columbia Records, Blue Oyster Cult (originally known as Soft White Underbelly) initially featured Eric Bloom (vocals and guitar), Albert Bouchard (drums), Joe Bouchard (bass), Allen Lanier (keyboards) and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (lead guitar).
Grand Funk
Establishing one of heavy metal's most proven keys to success—continuous touring—Grand Funk Railroad formed in Michigan in 1969 and quickly became the most popular American hard rock band of the early 70s. Although critics and programmers were unfriendly from the beginning, the band earned 10 consecutive platinum albums and set attendance records everywhere, including Shea Stadium when they broke the Beatles record in 1971 by selling out their two day stand in 48 hours.
Deep Purple
Shifting halfway through their career from keyboard flourishes to guitar-dominated heavy metal, Deep Purple is one of the few bands in the world who can legitimately lay claim to having changed the face of the music industry, creating an entirely new style of rock ’n’ roll.
IRON MAIDEN
Aerosmith
In 1970, Aerosmith burst out of New Hampshire bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Rolling Stones. Lead singer Steven Tyler insisted “the only thing Mick Jagger and I have in common is that we both bought our lips at the same store,” but the band’s aggressive hard rock blues style also encouraged comparisons.
AC/DC
Featuring lotsa sex, drinking, raucous lyrics and knicker-clad guitarist Angus Young, AC/DC first formed in Australia in 1973 with Angus’s brother Malcolm (guitar), Bon Scott (vocals), Phillip Rudd (bass) and Mark Evans (drums). Their first albums, High Voltage, T.N.T., Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, Let There Be Rock, Powerage and If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It were produced by ex-Easybeats Harry Vanda and George Young, Angus and Malcolm’s older brother.
Motorhead
Formed in England in 1975 by leader Lemmy (Ian to his mom) Kilmister, the onetime Jimi Hendrix roadie (nicknamed “Lemme” because he had the habit of asking everyone “Lemme a fiver”) first came to notoriety as bassist for the tribal acid goofs, Hawkwind.
Bio
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Ronnie James Dio was raised in Cortland, New York near Syracuse. Having studied trumpet as a youngster, he switched to bass guitar in his teens and formed Elf in the early 70s. The band recorded several albums and toured extensively as an opening act for Deep Purple.
Judas Priest
Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969, Judas Priest consists of Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing on guitars, Dave Holland on drums, Ian Hill on bass and Rob Halford, lead vocals. Wearing lots of leather and chains, the band didn’t get signed for nearly five years.
Features
GIVE US VAN HALEN
Dave DiMartino
“You do it one of two ways: either spectacle or personality.”
Ozzy Osbourne
Born December 3, 1948 in Birmingham, England, the one-time lead singer for Black Sabbath has influenced virtually every heavy metal screamer in rock ’n’ roll. Trading his former band’s legacy of hard, loud rock and occult mysticism for his own outrageous leanings towards grossness, Ozzy has earned four platinum-plus albums in the relatively brief time he’s been a solo artist.
Iron Maiden
Taking their name from a medieval torture device, Iron Maiden was originally formed in 1977 by bass player Steve Harris and included vocalist Paul DiAnno, guitarist Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton and two drummers, Doug Samson and Clive Burr.
Ratt ... HERE THEY COME!
Judy Wieder
On a brain-melting, late summer afternoon, Robbin Crosby, Juan Croucier, Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini and Bobby Blotzer pushed open the heavy glass doors of L.A.’s Village Recorder Studios and swayed in the relentless sun. “Ohh, what a shock!”
Gladiators And Dancers, Too!
Sharon Liveten
Contrary to popular opinion, the center of Hollywood is not exactly a glamorous place. “Sleazy” is the operative word here. Really scummy. And on a corner even hookers avoid after midnight, one will find the building that houses the pride of hard rock L.A.—Ratt Central.
W.A.S.P.
Whenever those middle class matrons, the P.M.R.C., trot out their hysterically harebrained case for censoring rock music, W.A.S.P. usually turns up at the top of their hit list, whether it’s because the band’s name is an acronym of WE ARE SEXUAL PERVERTS or their songs glorify violence, drinking, sexual perversions and drug abuse.
David Lee Roth
The one-time lead singer and ring master for Van Halen—not to mention a number uno sex symbol with a wild blond mane of hair and self designed spandex outfits that barely cover his beautiful body—David Lee Roth was (in his own outrageous words) born “at an early age” to an eye surgeon father and a high school teacher mother.
Yngwie Malmsteen
In 1985, one of the weirdest names in the annals of rock ’n’ roll filtered through a tonnage of critical raves and fan accolades. Yngwie Malmsteen’s first solo album, Rising Force, placed the Swedishborn guitarist at the top of the heaviest string pickers in rock.
Metallica THE FLAME BURNS ON!
Richard Hogan
Metallica’s spirits were riding sky-high on the Scandinavian leg of the Master Of Puppets tour last fall. Drummer Lars Ulrich, the expatriate Dane, eagerly looked forward to a Copenhagen homecoming marked by swarms of fans—their arms open, their pockets bulging.
the Scorpions
Although the Scorpions have proven they can conquer the world with their sting, there were lots of lean years that went into the development of a distinctive style. The band first formed in their native Germany in 1971, with two key members who remain to this day—singer Klaus Meine and guitar Rudolf Schenker.
Cinderella BE A'HAPPENING NOW!
Richard Hogan
At 10th and Arch Streets in Philadelphia stands the Trocadero, once a notorious striptease joint, now a rock club. But maybe what’s happening here tonight isn’t so far removed from the stage scandals that used to smolder in downtown Philly before burlesque went the way of Ben Franklin’s kite and George Washington’s wooden teeth.
OZZY OSBOURNE
RONNIE JAMES DIO