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HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY ANTHONY KIEDIS! PLUS “ONE HOT MINUTE” REVISITED

Posted in 1980's classic rock bands, 1980's rock music, 1980's rock bands, 1990's classic rock albums, 1990's classic rock music, 1990's classic rock vocalists, 1990's college music, 1990's hard rock music, 1990's rock bands, 1990's rock music, 1990's hard rock albums, 1990's hard rock bands, Album Review, alternative rock bands, alternative rock music, alternative rock music albums, classic rock music, essential classic rock albums, essential classic rock songs, essential hard rock albums, essential rock albums, hard rock music, hard rock vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock album review, rock and roll, rock celebrity birthdays, rock guitarists, rock music, rock vocalists with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 1, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Red Hot Chili Peppers logoMetal Odyssey extends a loud Happy Metal Birthday to Anthony Kiedis! Anthony was born on November 1, 1962 and he turns 47 today. Anthony co-founded and is the lead singer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers. My favorite Red Hot Chili Peppers album is one hot minute, (released on September 12, 1995 on Warner Bros). My three favorite songs from one hot minute are Warped, Aeroplane and My Friends. It is surprising to even me, that I really like the song My Friends such a great deal, due to it being a mid paced Rock ballad. Still, this song seemed to capture my attention back upon it’s release, it still does when I listen to it. The presence of Dave Navarro on guitar makes one hot minute a more heavier sounding version of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in my Metal opinion. This is an album that I have to honestly say, bridged the gap between Grunge gradually losing it’s stranglehold on popularity and Heavy Metal making a comeback in the public eye. (That is my Metal opinion, I cannot help myself).

One hot minute made total sense to me upon it’s release back in 1995, it still does. The songs carry out a continuous Rock vibe while not adhering to one specific trend of the day. A very polished album, (produced by Rick Rubin), one hot minute is exemplary of what the mainstream was embracing as acceptable heavy, whenever it came anywhere near Hard Rock or (gasp), Heavy Metal. With a toned down Metallica on the loose in the mid 1990’s, The Red Hot Chili Peppers were not toning it down with one hot minute… based on their style of Rock. Their sixth studio album and a multi-platinum seller, one hot minute obviously had some hot chart success. (With that said, I have never been one to judge an album based on chart positions). I have always appreciated this band, what is there not to like about the musicianship of Flea on bass and Chad Smith on drums as well? A Rock rhythm section solidified.

Getting back to Anthony Kiedis… I have and always will be greatly entertained by his vocals. Anthony also has written some clever lyrics that many times touched on his own inner battles with addictions. The diverse style of Anthony’s vocals make him a Rock singer that is without question, truly one of a kind. From Funk to Heavy Metal and everything in-between, The Red Hot Chili Peppers have touched on it all, with Anthony Kiedis cementing his dynamic vocal stamp on each song in their extensive catalog. From my perception, listening to Anthony Kiedis sing using so many styles, leads me to believe he has an admirable respect for all genres of music. The alternative and artistic overlays of The Red Hot Chili Peppers brand of Rock cannot be discounted… neither can the vocals of Anthony Kiedis ever be denied.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers "one hot minute" large album pic

Watch out Metal & Hard Rock fans – Chickenfoot is coming!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal music, Album Review, classic rock, current hard rock songs, Guitar, Hard Rock, hard rock album review, hard rock guitarists, hard rock songs, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, Metal, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, recent heavy metal albums, Rock, rock music, rock music vocals, van halen, Vocals with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 1, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

9297986Supergroups are not a new concept to the worlds of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Asia, Hellyeah, HSAS and Saints Of The Underground are just a handful of really cool supergroups of Hard Rock and Metal, both from the past to the present. Chickenfoot, however, is a super – supergroup. With the likes of Sammy Hagar on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass & backing vocals, Chad Smith on drums and the brilliant – Joe Satriani on guitar, Chickenfoot is one monster of a legendary lineup of musicians. C’mon, you are looking at half of the Van Halen lineup here, with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. 

I have always admired each and everyone of these guys as musicians, my appetite for Van Halen, Sammy Hagar’s solo material, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joe Satriani has never waned over the years. I have just recently heard three tracks from the upcoming release from Chickenfoot, (due for release on June 9, 2009), these three tunes are really, really, really cool and hard rocking. “Soap On A Rope”, “Oh Yeah” and “Down The Drain” all sound like vintage Van Hagar, (oops), I mean Van Halen with Sammy on vocals, of course. However, this is not a replay of Sammy Hagar fronting Van Halen – no sir. The songs are so vibrant, heavy and unbelievably catchy. Gee, could it be due to Joe Satriani blazing on guitar like his life depends on it? Joe Satriani has finally put his stamp of unreal guitar wizardry, onto a band with a vocalist. When I listen to these three songs, it is Van Halen meets Joe Satriani. I find all three songs to be a bit more edgier than what Sammy Hagar has done with Van Halen, this is a compliment. Trust me, Joe Satriani stands out on these three songs! In my Metal opinion, Joe Satriani does not take a back seat to Eddie Van Halen on any day. 

Michael Anthony lends not only his talented bass skills to Chickenfoot, he also brings to the Metal table his distinguishable backing vocals – (which are currently sorely missed in the new Van Halen). Chad Smith has proved to me, on only these two songs I have heard thus far, from Chickenfoot, that he can play drums like a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal super pro. Chad Smith can play the heavy stuff, you betcha! I actually have shook my head while listening to “Soap On A Rope”, “Oh Yeah” and “Down The Drain”, (in an over impressed/blown away manner), due to the overall musicianship and the way these guys gel together. These three tunes rock hard – period. Metal debate closed, as far as I’m concerned. June 6, 2009 will be just another great and historical day in the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music. For the last few years now, I keep telling anyone who listens, this is truly an unbelievable time to be a fan of Hard Rock and/or Metal music. The vintage & legendary players are still out there, turning out the highest quality of heavy music, Chickenfoot is one great example of what I am talking about. Chickenfoot is going to be very huge, this Summer of 2009!

You too can also check out these three tunes from the forthcoming Chickenfoot album, just go to: http://www.chickenfoot.us

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