KISS. The makeup, the attitude, the stage show, the costumes, the KISS trading cards from the 1970’s, the marketing machine which throws the KISS logo on just about anything. Wait a minute, there is of course… the music, uh, I mean the Heavy Metal. Since about 5th grade, (a long time ago, in a parochial school, far, far, away), I have been a KISS fan. You betcha. I am not a closet KISS fan either. No way will I disregard to anyone, a lifetime love I have for such a behemoth of a Heavy Metal icon, which is KISS. I will not part with my unopened wax box of KISS trading cards from 1978. No sir. What in the world is there to be ashamed of? KISS is the epitome of Heavy Metal success, both commercially and musically, in my Metal opinion.
I have had the opportunity to see KISS live, albeit without makeup. I unfortunately, never had an opportunity to see them live with makeup. Quite honestly, the only drawback about seeing KISS live was… the venue where the concert was. The New Haven Coliseum, (which no longer exists), was by far, the creepiest, most decrepit, armpit of an arena, ever to exist on planet Earth. I mean, this building was not even cool creepy, it was just a plain nightmare gone wrong. This arena was located in New Haven, Connecticut, of course. Alright, enough about that incompetent structure. The KISS concert was loud, bright, festive, loud again and darn right good. I have seen better live shows in my day, yet I am not complaining about anything that KISS did on that stage. It was a night to celebrate Heavy Metal, with a band that carried the flag for Heavy Music since their introduction to the world. This was the KISS “Asylum” Tour, back in good ol’ 1985. I will tell you this, it is a real Metal treat, to see my daughters revel in the KISS tunes, to know and see how much the music of KISS means to them, as it always has for me. My daughters were extremely excited when they saw KISS on television the other night, (I absolutely refuse to discuss this show on Metal Odyssey, let’s just say it is on the Fox Network and is a Pop music show). Hey, anytime KISS can get exposure to a new generation of fans is fine with me.
I remember being in High School, when all of a sudden, it was uncool to like KISS anymore. Well, that was what was happening in the penitentiary like High School I attended. Metalheads were abundant, yet KISS became almost taboo to talk about. So, I took advantage of this situation. I asked all the super cool know-it-alls that no longer liked KISS, if they were willing to sell their KISS albums and anything KISS. I made out like a bandit. I had more KISS posters, albums and fanzines than I knew what to do with. Plus, I acquired it all dirt cheap. Then, one day, in 1982, KISS made a loud and triumphant return with their release “Creatures Of The Night”… all of a sudden, these fair weather KISS fans are asking me, if I would sell them any of my extra KISS memorabilia and/or albums. Go figure. Since the mid ’70’s up until present day, I have embraced the Heavy Metal that KISS has created. Even the ballads and Gene Simmons dating Cher I have accepted. Yes, the made for television movie “KISS Meets The Phantom In The Park” I have always accepted too. The changes in the KISS lineup never has made me flinch either, any KISS fan knows that the original four are the best. I am not ashamed to say this, for once a KISS fan, always a KISS fan. What other reason was there not to believe this, back in the day when I joined the “KISS Army”? I enlisted into the KISS Army decades ago, I have never gone awol since.
Metal Odyssey would like to extend a tremendously LOUD – Happy Birthday! – to legendary bassist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top! Dusty Hill turns a real cool 60 today, May 19, 2009. I have been fortunate enough to see the legendary ZZ Top live in concert, (around 1995 – if I am correct), at the Hartford Civic Center. The opening act was none other than… the amazing George Thorogood! That was one incredible night of Rock N’ Roll! Yes, I did buy a souvenir from that concert, it was the infamous ZZ Top keychain. Man, I loved that ZZ Top keychain, it was made out of pure Metal too. I just lost that wonderful souvenir about two years ago… it is a darn shame. Anytime I held that keychain in view, someone (yes even total strangers) would always say: “Hey, isn’t that the ZZ Top keychain”? It was quite a popular conversation piece for me. 
Today is May 11, 2009 and is also – the birthday for Eric Burdon, the legendary lead vocalist for the (legendary) 1960’s Rock band – The Animals. Eric Burdon and The Animals are deservedly enshrined in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (inducted in 1994). Eric Burdon has turned a rockin’ 68 today! Today is as good an excuse as any to slap on some tunes from The Animals and play them LOUD. The Animals were an integral part of the historical “British Invasion” of Rock & Roll, straight from England, back in the storied 1960’s. Man, the voice of Eric Burdon is just plain timeless, in my Metal opinion. I have always been captivated by the vocals of Eric Burdon, I always wonder how he would have sounded fronting a Metal band today, he has that voice that is deep, cool and ominous. The three tunes from The Animals that I always find stuck in my head are: “House of the Rising Sun”, “Sky Pilot” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. (Now I am gonna have these tunes stuck in my head today, that is cool with me though). The Animals career may have been short compared to many other bands of that time period, however, I always feel it is quality and not quantity that matters most in Rock & Roll. To me, The Animals and Eric Burdon exemplify Rock & Roll quality.
Well, I have finally reached the pinnacle in my decision process for The Greatest Heavy Metal Album Of All Time. Please reference my past posts on this topic, you will find many great & legendary Metal albums that I personally nominated for this prestigious label. Without further delay, in my Metal opinion, and only mine alone, I have chosen: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” 
Anyone who follows Metal Odyssey knows that I like to keep up on the birthdays of legendary Rock Stars. Why? Well, it is a great excuse to write about these dudes and give my opinion on their music. So, without further delay – Metal Odyssey gives out a LOUD Happy Birthday to Peter Frampton!! Frampton turned a cool rockin’ 59 on April 22, 2009. My favorite Peter Frampton album is definitely “Frampton Comes Alive.” Released in 1976, this live album for me, captures the Rock & Roll spirit, talent and energy that Peter Frampton has been exhibiting, going on four decades. “Do You Feel Like I Do” and “Baby I Love Your Way” are true Frampton classics, the live recordings only bring them more to life, in my opinion. I always liked his album “Where I Should Be” – the single “I Can’t Stand It No More” I still find very catchy. Is Peter Frampton Hard Rock? To me, no, if you are going by todays Rock music standards. It was probably easier to categorize Peter Frampton as Hard Rock in the 1970s, maybe. As I see it, Peter Frampton is a Rock legend in his own right, I have always been keen on his brand of Rock & Roll. Plus, for me, the music of Peter Frampton always reminds me of the Summer, being at an outdoor party or just hanging out at the beach. I really cannot figure out why this is, I do recall many outdoor parties in the past, where Frampton was being cranked up loud though. (Maybe that is the reason). All in all, Peter Frampton and his music has been cool for me over the years, I wish Peter Frampton all the best as he continues to tour and write music. Thank you for all the great tunes over the years Peter Frampton!
I really enjoy paying homage to the greats of Rock & Roll music. Especially when the musician is a member of a band that I can never, ever, tire from. Happy Birthday Craig Frost! Craig is the keyboard extraordinaire for Grand Funk Railroad, a true – blue collar, American Rock Band. Craig turned a super cool 61 on April 20th. 
“We Gotta Get Out of this Place” is yet another totally incredible song that The Animals gave to Rock music. Again, Alan Price is unmistakably brilliant on this song playing keyboard. I find it so amazing that these tunes were created in the mid 1960’s and still have a contagious Rock groove illuminating from them! The 1960’s and 1970’s Rock-Hard Rock eras were profound with establishing the importance of the keyboard and organ, as solid and true Rock music instruments. The Animals were an authentic British Rock band that stakes a mighty claim in the well established roots of Hard Rock and arguably Heavy Metal as well. Alan Price with his keyboard playing, gave The Animals an important element to their overall signature sound. Thank you Alan Price for the ever lasting music you created!
Over this past weekend, I stumbled upon the opportunity to purchase (real cheap) the debut release from Bad Company, aptly titled – “Bad Company.” This first Bad Company album I had many years ago, (on cassette tape) and I actually still have it. (I always treated my cassettes like gold, for they used to cost just as much as actual vinyl). Well, this copy of Bad Company I purchased is the CD, a used copy for a meager 4 dollars and 1 penny, total. (That is less money I spend on an average trip to Dunkin’ Donuts).
The voice of Janis Joplin, in my opinion, has never, ever, bean duplicated, nor has any female Rock vocalist even come light years close. The raspy, sand papered and bluesy vocals of Janis Joplin has always sounded magical to me. The raw emotion that Janis Joplin exhibited vocally will always come through to me as honest and true. Janis Joplin was an all encompassing Rock legend – singer, songwriter and guitarist. 
If I could pin point the exact age I was, when I first listened to the Electric Light Orchestra, I would be somewhere around 10 years old – the vintage 1970’s. I have been inhaling the music of ELO for my entire life, safe to say. It does not matter what Metal genre I am currently obsessed with, ELO always gets playing time on my turntable and/or CD players. The Electric Light Orchestra, in my opinion, is one of the original leaders of Progressive Rock. What exactly is it about ELO that gravitates me to their music? Since I can remember, even as a young kid, I always got the biggest kick out of any music that was louder, faster and heavier than what was being played on AM radio. (that is correct, I wrote – AM radio).
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