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By: Mavehe Etal
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| Monday, 27-Sep-2010 06:08 |
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New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Memories.
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Do you remember the new wave of British heavy metal. A musical movement originating in the late 1970s which almost overnight catapulted a seemingly endless supply of British heavy metal bands on the road to either superstardom or obscurity.
If you were a teenager in Britain during the late 1970s or early 1980s with a fondness for rock music you surely must remember as it gathered momentum and became affection ally known as NWOBHM.
The new wave of British heavy metal saw the emergence of bands which went on to become global stars of their craft. Examples including Iron Maiden and Def Leppard who even now some thirty years later continue at the top of their game selling millions of albums every year.
Some other NWOBHM stalwarts still recording or touring today include Saxon, Motorhead, Girlshchool , Diamond Head and Praying Mantis. And not forgetting the much missed White Spirit. Band personnel were reasonably fluid and interchangeable as well as I recall. Like Janick Gers starting out as a Ritchie Blackmore impersonator with White Spirit before getting the call to join Gillan and then ending up in Iron Maiden. Long time Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson used to ply his trade singing with another NWOBHM act by the name of Samson.
Many bands associated with the new wave of British heavy metal had their fifteen minutes of fame before disappearing in to smoke as quickly as they burst on to the scene. Some examples here being Mythra, Varis, Zorro and literally hundreds of others.
Early recordings by NWOBHM bands are these days extremely collectable if you can find them. Way back in my youth my record collection was full of singles and albums by many NWOBHM bands most of which have been lost or otherwise misplaced over the subsequent decades. If only I still had them.If, like me, you do recall NWOBHM and are still slightly stuck in the past I wager your CD collection is sprinkled with reissues from the good old days which when played bring back hazy memories of nights spent in obscure venues watching equally obscure bands trying to make it big.
We probably will not see the likes of the new wave of British heavy metal again. The mid-1980s saw the decline of NWOBHM with the emergence of the glam rock scene epitomised by the likes of Motley Crue, Ratt and others. But it wasn't quite the same was it. Glam rock had its moments though could never match the earthy grit of the new wave of British heavy metal.
Some of my earliest recollections of those ways are seeing Iron Maiden open for Judas Priest, Def Leppard supporting Sammy Hagar and travelling quite some way to watch Praying Mantis on a support slot with Gamma fronted by the great Ronnie Montrose.
I hope this short article has triggered a few NWOBHM memories for you and sent you scurrying up to the attic to see if you still have that rare pressing of Death and Destiny by Mythra.
Want to know more about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal including news, reviews and also classic rock please visit http://www.newwaveofbritishheavymetal.com
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
British Heavy Metal
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| Monday, 27-Sep-2010 06:05 |
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Who remembers Neal Kay and the Soundhouse?
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One of the early NWOBHM phenomena’s and driving forces was Mr Neal Kay. He was a leading light of the movement and set up what because something of a true Mecca for the fans.
The Soundhouse, as it was called, was basically the headquarters for the New Wave of British Heavy Metal music. The Soundhouse began in the Prince of Wales pub in London in the mid 1970s. The popularity of it really took off when Kay was hired to be resident DJ.
Kay had a fantastic style of showmanship which he used to promote the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. If you wanted to hear the latest NWOBHM band you went to the Soundhouse, had a few beers and frantically played your air guitar.
Eventually Neal Kay’s promotional flair saw the Soundhouse experience and fame to spread and The “Heavy Metal Crusade” tour was formed. It featured bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon in many different venues.
The Soundhouse burned fast and bright at various host venues around London pretty much fizzling out at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote
Being from “ooop North” and a skint, out of work teenager in those times I never made the pilgrimage to a Soundhouse. Along with passing up a ticket to see the classic Black Sabbath line-up live (by “classic” I mean a-la Ozzy) back then not getting to the Soundhouse probably one of the great NWOBHM experiences not have have been, er, experienced.
Want to know more about the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal including news, reviews and also classic rock please visit http://www.newwaveofbritishheavymetal.com
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
British Heavy Metal
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