Motorhead and Anthrax. Each band is a prominent member in the Metal Music world. Motorhead and Anthrax have always hinted, albeit with Metal stylings, their musical taste for Punk Rock Music. Both of these legendary Metal bands covered the Sex Pistols classic “God Save The Queen” from the “Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols” album, (released in October of 1977). This song was written of course, by Paul Cook, Steve Jones, John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) and Glen Matlock. Both cover versions are really cool and heavy, with Motorhead having their unmistakable, heavy coated vocals and bass guitar of Lemmy Kilmister leading the way. You know it’s Motorhead when you hear their cover of this prolific song… no pretensions, no frills, no sugar coating. The Motorhead cover version of “God Save The Queen” can be found on the “We Are Motorhead” album, (released on May 16, 2000). The Anthrax cover version is found on the EP – “Armed And Dangerous”, (released in February of 1985). In my Metal opinion, Anthrax covers “God Save The Queen” with convincing Punk Rock attitude, the reasons for this lays in the lead vocals of Joey Belladonna as well as the backing vocals. Musically, Anthrax is right on the Punk Rock bulls eye, which always led me to believe this particular lineup could have experimented even more with Punk Rock songs.
Anthrax has been a diverse band throughout their career, the same can be said about Motorhead too. Therefore, it is only fitting that these two bands picked up “God Save The Queen” to cover – and cover it well, both of these bands did. Of course, I repeatedly state that there is nothing like the original. I would be hallucinating, if I were to say that there is any cover song of “God Save The Queen” out there, that blows away the Sex Pistols original. Regardless of that mindset, both Motorhead and Anthrax honestly pay tribute to this song and the Sex Pistols with the upmost Metal respect. The proof is in the cover songs themselves, they both pulsate with the Punk Rock angst and anti-establishment message that the Sex Pistols originally created in the first place. I always felt this message in the song’s music, while hearing it of course, in the lyrics.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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