Confessions of an ex-metalhead

[mark123]

In my formative years my dad always had a record playing. Usually Bob Dylan or Lynyrd Skynyrd or Pink Floyd. In my teens I got into metal and glam and left all that old music behind. Then when thrash hit, that’s all I wanted and everything else sucked.

Honestly, the most popular music really was awful. McDonna and Witney Houston era music production is mind-numbingly amateurish. Unfortunately, I lumped all popular music bands in with the “hits” and dismissed it all.

Last night, I couldn’t sleep and checked out some of the stuff that I ignored. Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran, that sort of stuff. Holy moly, those guys were amazing. The bass and drums on Rio by Duran Duran are superb. I dare say much better than any of the metal players. I’m now convinced that metal musicianship is, in most cases, inferior to many of the pop bands. I used to consider bands like Queen at the top of musicianship but now I’m questioning even that. I think the part that made me ignore a lot of the pop music was that the guitar was usually simple or it didn’t play through the entire song. I can appreciate holding back now.

My world is upside down but now I’ve got an entirely new catalog of music to explore. I’ve been really bored with heavy music lately anyway. This might just get me playing again.

 

[GibsonMarshallGuy47]

 

[Mike_LA]

That's great, you have scads of music to enjoy that I am tired of. Luckily music holds up, I was thinking the same about my son and movies. Sadly quite a few films that we have tried have not stood the test of time very well.
Enjoy

 

[10kDA]

I like a lot of different styles or genres of music and metal is not at the top of the list. Some of the stuff from the 80s - 90s is pretty good, most of it blows. Ex. Angela Bofill, yes, but Whitney Houston - pass, etc. My band has Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" on the to-do list but none of their other stuff is even close to being considered. Some of the songs and arrangements of that era have some interesting features that showed me a lot about harmonic structure. There's always something to learn.

 

[Old Punker]

Most of my life I have been flipping between classic rock, hard rock, punk, and early metal. Weird, seems like what I want to play changes with the seasons.

But one thing that has remained constant is my feelings toward new wave and pop...
Every time I hear one of those songs starting up I get the same familiar feeling in my gut...







Yes, nausea.

Don't worry, what you are feeling right now is probably temporary and may resolve on its own. If not, we are here to help you!

Please don't be afraid to ask for help!

 

[Vinsanitizer]

If you're a good musician, this should blow your mind:

 

[RCM 800]

Dated a couple Duranies. Underneath the weird garb were some naughty women and the music got em going Fond place in my perverted little heart for that band.

 

[GustHFS]

Before I started to hear and dig rock'n'roll, back in late 70's I was a Disco Music freak. I still like Disco, because it brings me many good memories. I was into early thrash/death metal bands for a while too, but my thing was always blues, hard rock and NWOBHM. I think it has to do with my age, but personally I don't like modern metal bands because I just can't stand dropped tunings lower than Eb, and all that dark tone with scooped mids.

Gust

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Before I started to hear and dig rock'n'roll, back in late 70's I was a Disco Music freak. I still like Disco, because it brings me many good memories. I was into early thrash/death metal bands for a while too, but my thing was always blues, hard rock and NWOBHM. I think it has to do with my age, but personally I don't like modern metal bands because I just can't stand dropped tunings lower than Eb, and all that dark tone with scooped mids.

Gust

"NWOBHM". ... does that stand for "New Kids On The Block"?

By the way, to the forum, Gust.
.

 

[mark123]

Before I started to hear and dig rock'n'roll, back in late 70's I was a Disco Music freak. I still like Disco, because it brings me many good memories. I was into early thrash/death metal bands for a while too, but my thing was always blues, hard rock and NWOBHM. I think it has to do with my age, but personally I don't like modern metal bands because I just can't stand dropped tunings lower than Eb, and all that dark tone with scooped mids.

Gust

Bro, the Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards stuff is amazing. I know disco gets hate but those cats were jammin with orchestras long before that became cool for metal bands. Say what you will but disco was the catalyst that improved record production.

 

[clutch71]

Ex-Metalhead? Is there such a thing lol? I look back at some music I scoffed at in the mid to late 80's very fondly and came to a similar revelation going through my wife's CD collection in the early 2000's. She grew up in a very pop centric-top 40 world.

When it comes to the hairband stuff, I am still very much a big 4 metal head and think they are a bunch of pussy's and useless. I would take Duran Duran over Poison, Warrant, or Winger anyday.

 

[mark123]

… Poison, Warrant, or Winger. …

Yeah, I still can’t listen to those.

 

[Sustainium]

Both Durans suck.
Someone had to say it.

 

[GustHFS]

"NWOBHM". ... does that stand for "New Kids On The Block"?

By the way, to the forum, Gust.
.

Hi Vinsanitizer! I already introduced myself the day I subscribe here at MF. But thanx anyway for the welcome!

Nah, NWOBHM stands for New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Venom, Def Leppard, Saxon and Motorhead were some of the main bands.

Regards,

Gust

 

[10kDA]

Both Durans suck.
Someone had to say it.

But they'll do it twice

 

[Geeze]

If you're a good musician, this should blow your mind:

Speaking as a hack level musician - breaking wind was the best I could do...

You are correct on the song / chord progressions and choices. I would like it to be a bit harder though.

Russ

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Both Durans suck.
Someone had to say it.

HEY! You be nice to the Duran Durans.

 

[Sustainium]

HEY! You be nice to the Duran Durans.

No disrespect to you Vin or the forum.

 

[10kDA]

Sort of pre-dates a lot of the stuff previously referenced. I listen to a lot of stuff like this. Mother's Finest is totally kickass. Joyce Kennedy can sing the shit out of anything. I saw them open for Nugent in the mid 70s and they're still touring. BTW this song is awesomely fun to holla back with a female singer and to solo over.

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Personally, never went for the 80's rock, hair, makeup, whatever. Never went for 90's or later music. Can't stand "Heavy Metal", "Metal", "Glam Metal", "Hair metal", etc.

Always stayed with,

Bad Company
ZZ Top
Van Halen
Led Zeppelin
The Doobie Brothers
The Beatles
The Allman Brothers
Peter Frampton
Humble Pie
Free
Kansas
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Marshall Tucker Band
.38 Special
Thin Lizzy
Grand Funk
Boston
Blue Oyster Cult
Foghat
Fleetwood Mac
America
Chicago
Yes
The Moody Blues
Aerosmith
Steve Miller Band
J Geils Band
Heart
Pat Benatar
Three Dog Night
Rush
Derek and the Dominos
Buffalo Springfield
The Byrds
Cream
The Yardbirds
CSN
America
Simon and Garfunkel
Steppenwolf
SRV
Jimi Hendrix
The Band
The Cars
Steely Dan
Genesis
Van Morrison
Paul McCartney
Jim Croce
The Mamas and the Papas
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
The Guess Who
Sam and Dave
Jeff Healey
John Denver
Sam Cooke
Otis Redding
Queen

98% of music made by someone other than those on this list is something I won't listen to. This has been enough to last me a lifetime, and will continue to do so.