Archive for March 31, 2009

Women of Hard Rock & Metal: Pat Benatar

Posted in concerts, Guitar, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Music, Rock, Vocals with tags , , , , , , on March 31, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

7717731I have decided to add a special feature to my Metal Odyssey blog, Women of Hard Rock & Metal. As far as I see it, there are many great female vocalists, guitarists and musicians out there in the world of Hard Rock & Metal and I do not overlook them one bit. So, what better platform than right here, to celebrate some of these fabulous female Rockers? The first in this series is none other than – Pat Benatar. Yes, Pat has had her share of ballads and Pop Rock charting singles, yet so has Poison, Warrant, Motley Crue and Van Halen. My point I am trying to make here is, there is Hard Rock aplenty with the catalog of music from Pat Benatar! 

“All Fired Up”, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Hell Is For Children” solidifies my stating Pat Benatar can deliver the Hard Rock goods. “Promises”, “Treat Me Right” and “Shadows of the Night” are strong contenders of musically being Hard Rock as well. I had the opportunity to see Pat Benatar live last Summer of 2008, wow, what a show. I had a really great time. The exclamation point to the heaviness of Pat Benatar’s music is solidified by her husband and lead guitarist, Neil Giraldo. Let me tell you this, I have seen my share of some great Hard Rock and Metal guitarists play live, Neil Giraldo takes a back seat to very few. This guy can jam it out, play the leads and kick into the solo like the best of them! Needless to say, I left that concert being thoroughly impressed by Pat Benatar’s ageless vocals, Neil Giraldo’s guitar playing and the song list as well. This was one of those concerts where if you sat down for one song, well, you might as well just go home then.

I never put much stock into the Grammy Awards, yet Pat Benatar has won four of them. Now that is some bragging rights for any female Hard Rock vocalist. It is refreshing and inspiring to say the least, when a vocalist like Pat Benatar can exceed your expectations live and sound just as great if not better, than she did in the 1980’s.

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Metal facts that might enrich your life!

Posted in Amon Amarth, Death Metal, Drums, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, Power Metal, Rock, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 31, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

4671028Here are five quick and easy to read Metal facts! Who knows when this vital Metal information will come in handy? Might you wind up in the Cash Cab? An inter-office Metal trivia contest? Surprise your spouse or companion with some really cool – hey, did you know that…

*  Krokus – this legendary Heavy Metal band hails from Solothurn, Switzerland.

  •  Helloween – these Power Metal icons are currently celebrating, in 2009, their 25th  Anniversary! It all started back in 1984, thank you Helloween!
  • Scum was the original name for the Swedish Death Metal (Viking) band we all know and embrace as Amon Amarth. The group formed under the name Scum in 1988 and was changed to Amon Amarth in 1992.
  • Black Stone Cherry – drummer John Fred Young’s father – Richard – is a founding member of the Grammy Award winning Kentucky Headhunters.
  • Legendary lead guitarist Brian Robertson is well known for his career with the great Thin Lizzy, Brian also was a member of Motorhead, playing lead guitar on their 1983 release Another Perfect Day.

Well, that is about it for some quick Metal facts. I promise to deliver more interesting and life inspiring Metal facts, on a more consistent basis. I do want to pass along this bit of Metal advice to all Metalheads worldwide – “BE TRUE TO METAL AND METAL WILL BE TRUE TO YOU”

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