Archive for the heavy metal music 1993 Category

METALLICA – MY SILENT AUCTION/THRASH METAL WIN!

Posted in 1980's thrash metal bands, 1980's thrash metal music, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's thrash metal, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's thrash metal bands, 1990's metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal legends, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1993, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school thrash metal bands, old school thrash metal music, rock music, silent auctions, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands, thrash metal legends, thrash metal memorabilia, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Oh how I love to stumble upon Metal memorabilia without trying. That is exactly what happened when I glanced upon this particular Metallica lot at a recent, (monthly), silent auction. How recent? It was this past January of 2010. Where was this silent auction? At an antique mall… where else? What is this Metallica lot? None other than the enormously popular – LIVE SH*T: BINGE & PURGE, which was released back in 1993. This version, (see images below), was up for bid as a sealed-in-plastic package, minus the tour equipment transport box version. This package included three sealed VHS videos, a tour program, a copy of an access pass to the Snakepit portion of the stage and a cardboard stencil of the scary guy image on the packaging. I just couldn’t resist my Metal self… therefore… I placed one solid bid on this Metallica bounty. A bid of $3 meager dollars was already put down on this Metallihistory. I grinned upon seeing the other lone and miniscule bid… $20 bucks I wrote down along with my “official” bidders number, too late to recant now… Metal game on.

Did I bid too low? Did I bid too high? The ever antagonistic, self doubting thoughts, seemed to envelope my mind like a cornerback blitz from the Philadelphia Eagles defense. I never owned this piece of Metallica Thrash Metal before… as astonishing as that may seem. Back in 1993, I was very, very, broke… and broke again. My Metal buying habits came very close to a standstill for a few years, back in the early ’90’s. Metal truth be told, I usually get outbid on these silent auctions… I tend to bid low… or so it seems. Approaching a silent auction or any auction for that matter, needs to be done with an open mind… and NOT an open checkbook!

As the days went by, I checked in on my $20 bid on this Metallica item… I was the highest bidder up until the closing yell of – “bidders, put your pens down!”. I was semi-psyched upon learning that the winner for this Metallica lot was me. Why was I semi-psyched? Heck, I always want stuff cheap… real cheap. Free is even better. Regardless, I picked up this now vintage Metallica lot from the antique mall a few days after the auctions close and was Metal smitten about it too. The tour program is worth the $20 bucks alone, in my Metal opinion. This program is chock full of incredibly cool tour photos of Metallica, with reprinted correspondence/letters that have to do with all things Metallica… it’s Metal history. Metallica history is a good thing to feed the Metal mind with.

So, after 18 years of not having LIVE SH*T: BINGE & PURGE in my Metal collection, I finally landed it through a silent auction at an antique mall. Metal be damned, if someone told me back in 1993, that I would one day, 18 years later, win this Metallica package at an antique mall’s silent auction… I would have told that person to go suck an expired egg. Rest assured, I am regularly checking out this silent auction… one of these days I will land the big Metal fish… and you will all know about it on Metal Odyssey.

Here is the copy of an access pass to the Snakepit:

Here are the 3 VHS videos that are still sealed. Don’t worry, I am going to watch them… I still own a, (gulp), VCR. The tour program is also shown at the bottom of this pic.

At the end of the Metal day, I’m pleased to have bid the $20 bucks for this Metallica booty. I still would like to get my hands on the tour equipment transport box version too someday… it has the 3 CD’s as a Metal bonus. I’m not complaining though, I feel fortunate that I have the few extra bucks to spend now, compared to my financial situation back in 1993. Plus I’m just enjoying collecting Metal and Metallica.

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ARCADE – REVISITING STEPHEN PEARCY’S “OTHER BAND” AND 1993 DEBUT ALBUM

Posted in 1990's hard rock music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal guitarists, 1990's hair metal bands, 1990's hard rock albums, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, glam metal, glam metal music, Hair Metal, hair metal albums, hair metal bands, hair metal music, hard rock music, hard to find heavy metal albums, hard to find rock cd's, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1993, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music 1993, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

In recent days, the 1993 debut and self titled album from Arcade found it’s way into my ears. (Thank you Best Metal Buddy Scott). Epic Records released this Arcade debut. You all should be quite familiar with Arcade’s front man Stephen Pearcy… lead singer for RATT and very much a prominent, memorable and flamboyant Hair Metal figure from the 1980’s. Fred Coury, the drummer for still another iconic 1980’s Hair Metal juggernaut – Cinderella, found that one of his Heavy Metal path’s led to Arcade as well. Hair Metal and Glam Metal aside, Arcade was just damn good Heavy Metal – period. In my Metal opinion, if Arcade was to have been assembled around 1985, (instead of the gray lined early ’90’s), they would have had their likenesses adorning highway billboards – all over North America. O.k., that might be of a Metal stretch, nonetheless, Arcade would easily have been bigger and more widely received during an earlier era. Revisiting Heavy Metal Bands from the past that are no longer together, makes for the credibility of just where Heavy Metal is today… these are the bands and musicians that kept the Metal flame burning during a ’90’s decade of Heavy Metal uncertainty. I was never uncertain about my beloved Heavy Metal during the ’90’s… and by the sounds of it, neither was Stephen Pearcy and Arcade.

What this debut album from Arcade shows me, is that Stephen Pearcy acknowledged within himself, that he had all the Metal ingredients and creativity to be a star outside of RATT. And certainly, I would hope the majority of us Metalheads know that RATT was no fluke, their heavy legacy still reigns to this very day. For Stephen Pearcy to be the lead vocalist for two bands of this quality and caliber is not an everyday accomplishment. Essentially, the same can be Metal said for Fred Coury respecively, on drums. Guitarists Donny Syracuse and Frankie Wilsex add credence to Arcade’s own Heavy Metal identity. The only reminder of RATT within the sound of Arcade is Stephen Pearcy’s vocals and he CANNOT be faulted for that.

It sounds very clear to me, that Stephen Pearcy and his Heavy Metal posse called Arcade, knew all along, just how to create and write a ballad. Cry No More, Mother Blues and So Good… So Bad… are extremely tolerable ballads to listen to. I can actually listen to these three ballads repeatedly! (Now, listening to any ballad repeatedly is a rarity in my Metal world). Arcade actually found that semi sappy to sappy lyrics don’t need to be coupled with excessively sappy music, that brings you to the brink of an emotional meltdown. I will admit, Cry No More has an acoustic guitar intro that carries on a very reminiscent tone and mood from Cinderella’s classic Power Ballad – Nobody’s Fool. Mother Blues is an unplugged/acoustic listen in Rock goodness, it really is. Sons And Daughters is the lone instrumental on Arcade. An acoustic instrumental that lends itself as the perfect segue to Mother Blues.

Arcade is one of those albums where it is obviously nonsensical to breakdown each song as a review. Those who have listened and liked this album may understand my point. Outside of the three ballads and one instrumental previously mentioned, the other eight songs are undisputed Rockers. If you are looking to revisit these songs or give them a first time listen, understand that the hard and heavy from Arcade doesn’t give me a moments break… and I like that! I try to steer away from pinpointing what exact genre Arcade belongs to… at the end of the Metal day does it really matter? Arcade is Hard Rock colliding with Heavy Metal, whatever one’s interpretation that differs from mine is a matter of personal Metal labeling.

From the onset, Dancin’ With The Angels is fair warning that Stephen Pearcy and Arcade are NOT about re-treading RATT. Messed Up World is my favorite song from Arcade. The lyrics of Messed Up World could not resonate any more loud and true for me. Relevance? This song is exploding at the Metal seams with it. Messed Up World could have easily been written for today’s nightly news features.

Arcade… they came, they saw, they Metal conquered.

ARCADE, as they appeared on their 1993 debut album:

Stephen Pearcy – lead vocalist

Donny Syracuse – guitarist

Frankie Wilsex – guitarist

Michael Andrews – bass guitarist

Fred Coury – drummer

The Track Listing For Arcade:

Dancin’ With The Angels

Nothin’ To Lose

Calm Before The Storm

Cry No More

Screamin’ S.O.S.

Never Goin’ Home

Messed Up World – *(Metal Odyssey Note: My favorite song, man, it’s a good one)

All Shook Up

So Good… So Bad…

Livin’ Dangerously

Sons And Daughters

Mother Blues

* Metal Odyssey’s Metal research has found there is an additional song on the Japanese version of Arcade – Reckless. No, I have never heard this song… yet.

* To the best of Metal Odyssey’s Metal knowledge, Arcade’s debut album – Arcade is out of print. Used copies are circulating for sale all around the world wide web. (I’ve seen used copies on Amazon Music).

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IRON MAIDEN – 1993 FLASHBACK: “A REAL LIVE ONE” AND “A REAL DEAD ONE”

Posted in 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal albums, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting metal music, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal bands, essential heavy metal albums, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1993, heavy metal bands, heavy metal history, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1993, live heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rock music, scary album covers, vintage heavy metal albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 14, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Iron Maiden was alive and well back in the decade that supposedly ignored Heavy Metal… the 1990’s. The year was 1993 and Iron Maiden released not one but TWO live albums. You read that correctly, two. What a splendid feeling it was, back in 1993, to have Iron Maiden release these two live albums. Oh, yeah, here are the two live album titles: A Real Live One and A Real Dead One. (Yes, I did use the word splendid on Metal Odyssey… two lines ago). You see, Heavy Metal did exist in the 1990’s, it never went away, nor did it hide for cover due to any Grunge Bands coming out of Seattle, Washington either. In my Metal opinion, Grunge only enhanced the diversity of Metal Music… Alice In Chains epitomizes that school of thought. Heavy Metal and Iron Maiden never went astray during the 1990’s, all one has to do is just uncover this decade for it’s bounty of Metal worth… it’s out there. Well, not to get off track here, Iron Maiden quietly released these two live albums during what was supposedly “the heart” of the Grunge Music invasion… and they both are really good too.

I totally disregard any lame reviews that these two live Iron Maiden albums have received over the years, (from of course, professionally paid Rock critics), instead I embrace these two albums as being legit as anything Iron Maiden has ever done. No, I am not ever going to say A Real Live One and A Real Dead One are equal to or better than the Iron Maiden classic from 1985 – Live After Death. What these two 1993 live Iron Maiden albums have accomplished is capturing this band at what they do best, playing fast and non-mainstream Heavy Metal in which proves to be an incredible listen as well as Metal historical. How often are fans trying to find live bootleg CD’s and/or DVD’s of their favorite bands? So many times the notion of bootlegs surfacing is considered cool and “must have”… well here are two live Iron Maiden albums that were legitimately released, (originally on Capitol Records) and are light years better in quality than any bootleg available.

In 1993, Iron Maiden stuck to their Metal guns and released two live albums for their fans to embrace. Regardless of what was the mainstream/Rolling Stone Magazine flavor of the month back then, Iron Maiden provided what they always were known for up to that point in time… real Metal. Real live Metal as well. Lately, I have been on an Iron Maiden kick, Metal be damned I’m proud of it. I bought A Real Live One and A Real Dead One on cassette back in 1993. I still have both cassettes too… in super mint condition. I took really great care of the music I bought, regardless if it was an album, cassette or CD… for the Metal Music I bought throughout the decades has taken great care of me.

A Metal Note: The Iron Maiden Band Lineup For Both A REAL LIVE ONE and A REAL DEAD ONE:

Bruce Dickinson – vocalist

Steve Harris – bass guitarist

Dave Murray – guitarist

Janick Gers – guitarist

Nicko McBrain – drummer

A REAL LIVE ONE – was released on March 22, 1993

The Track Listing for A REAL LIVE ONE:

Side One:

Be Quick Or Be Dead

From Here To Eternity

Can I Play With Madness

Wasting Love

Tailgunner

The Evil That Men Do

Side Two:

Afraid To Shoot Strangers

Bring Your Daughter… To The Slaughter

Heaven Can Wait

The Clairvoyant

Fear Of The Dark

* A REAL LIVE ONE was recorded on the Iron Maiden – Fear Of The Dark Tour 1992. The liner notes of A REAL LIVE ONE, (my cassette version from 1993), contains fabulous full color photos of each band member, (the liner notes fold out into 6 panels, double sided). A detailed equipment list for each band member is shown, as well as the usual credits and a cool thank you from Steve Harris/bass guitarist. These liner notes are done right and are very cool indeed. (I said indeed again, wow).

A REAL DEAD ONE – was released on October 18, 1993

The Track Listing for A REAL DEAD ONE:

Side One:

The Number Of The Beast

The Trooper

Prowler

Transylvania

Remember Tomorrow

Where Eagles Dare

Side Two:

Sanctuary

Running Free

Run To The Hills

2 Minutes To Midnight

Iron Maiden

Hallowed Be Thy Name

* The liner notes for A REAL DEAD ONE, (my cassette version from 1993), do not contain any photo’s or fold out panels like A REAL LIVE ONE does. A REAL DEAD ONE does contain a fold-out mini poster though!! Yeah man!! It came inside of this cassette back in 1993! My copy is in mint shape, with the crispest of edges too! (Save for the original creases from it having to be folded, to fit inside the cassette box). On the front side of this great little Iron Maiden poster are dozens of mini concert photos of all the Iron Maiden members of 1993! At the top/across of this mini poster is the classic Iron Maiden logo in all of it’s vintage Metal glory! The backside of this mini poster has – get this – an Iron Maiden Family Tree!! Yeah Man! It details all of the Iron Maiden members, (up to 1993, of course), with their respective bands they were a part of, both pre-Iron Maiden and post-Iron Maiden! Iron Maiden history, all detailed here on this mini poster gem!

* This mini poster is an oddball piece of Iron Maiden memorabilia… at an oddball size too, it measures approximately 7″ x 11.5″. I really wonder, just how many of these mini posters survived from A REAL DEAD ONE cassettes over the years? How many Metalheads threw them away? How many became ruined from spilled beer? How many were tacked up onto walls and were subsequently faded and torn? I will go out on a Metal limb right here, stating this mini poster just might be… semi rare… to… rare?

For the first time today, I decided to take this mini poster of Iron Maiden from the safe storage of it’s A REAL DEAD ONE cassette box… and finally put it into a thick and sturdy poster sleeve. Now I can better enjoy it, display it and read the Iron Maiden Family Tree whenever I want to! Yeah! From Steve Harris’s first band – Gypsy’s Kiss to Adrian Smith’s band in 1992 – Untouchables, with Bruce Dickinson’s bands – Shots and  Samson in between! Trust me, there is quite a bit involved with this Iron Maiden Family Tree, (and it is only up to 1993), thus making for quite a detailed – future post on Metal Odyssey… that would be a tremendous amount of keystroking!

In Metal summary, I rediscovered A REAL LIVE ONE and A REAL DEAD ONE from 1993, Iron Maiden does not disappoint me. Plus, the rediscovery of the Iron Maiden mini poster and Iron Maiden Family Tree makes this Metal flashback all the more sweeter indeed. (Wow, I said indeed for a third time, as well as the word sweeter… on Metal Odyssey).

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN

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