Tenology: Songs That Haven't Aged Well

Kicking things off in December is a blog post looking at ten Rock/Metal songs containing lyrics that probably wouldn't fly if released in 2018. These politically incorrect lyrics might not be overtly racist or sexist in their themes but they definitely contain lines that would trigger certain individuals, and with good reason too; after all, the past is a foreign country but unlike how we'd treat foreign countries and cultures now, let's take a humorous look at some of these offensive lines from songs you thought you loved before you realised just how horrible and tasteless some of the words were!

TRIGGER WARNING: This blog post will contain examples of...
Xenophobia
Homophobia
Sexism
Racism
Toxic masculinity/male privilege
And some lesser offences.


1. "Every Picture Tells A Story" - Rod Stewart

"The women I've known I wouldn't let tie my shoe,
They wouldn't give you the time of day,
But the slit-eyed lady knocked me off my feet,
God, I was glad I found her".

The story told in this picture is OFFENSIVE DEPICTIONS OF ASIAN PEOPLE!!!

I love this song for its great guitar-based melody and occasionally witty lyrics, although the lines about the "slit-eyed lady" in this song about a guy travelling the world just to get his end away don't do the track any favours. You could argue that Rod's singing it from the perspective of a young lad who still has a lot to learn about women and life, hence the ignorant views of the world, but at the end of the day, the repeated use of "slit-eyed lady" even after the character's found true love suggests it's not that simple. Factor in that Rod's actually started omitting lines about the Asian female during live performance and you've got a track that even the writer believes hasn't aged well, which is saying something considering that people generally get more racist as they grow old.


2. "Money For Nothing" - Dire Straits

"The little faggot with the earring and the makeup,
Yeah buddy, that's his own hair,
That little faggot got his own jet airplane,
That little faggot he's a millionaire".

The only thing you're getting for nothing in this song is HOMOPHOBIA!!!

Even if this song wasn't eight minutes long, there's no doubt in my mind that the verse about the "faggot" on TV would be cut or at least changed in live/radio play. Mark Knopfler has previously defended the lyric, stating that it's not coming from his perspective as a vocalist but rather the character's perspective in the song; a working man who says it how it is, even if that means using derogatory language. After years of controversy, Mark's changed the lyric to "Queenie" but you could still argue that the notion of a guy wearing earrings and makeup automatically making him homosexual is offensive in its own way. Thankfully, there are multiple edits of this track that remove that lyric so modern listeners who may not have heard the original lyrics can still enjoy the awesome guitar riffs and chorus without being subjected to hate.


3. "God & Guns" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

"God and guns keep us strong,
That's what this country was founded on".

Not exactly a form of prejudice but I don't see as many people cheering for this in 2018

Some people have assumed that "Gimme Back My Bullets" was Lynyrd Skynyrd's attempt at firing back against gun control, although that song was largely in reference to their chart positions with single releases. However, there's no doubt whatsoever that "God & Guns" is the band (not a character, the band themselves) showing full support of Christianity and the right to own things that are literally built to kill people. A decade ago, this song probably didn't raise many eyebrows when it was released. However, flash forward to 2018 where a school shooting happens every week in America and suddenly, the lyrics don't seem that persuasive. They come across as ignorant and repetitive due to lack of convincing arguments for owning firearms, although the music's good.


4. "Don't Try Suicide" - Queen

"Don't try suicide, nobody's worth it,
Don't try suicide, nobody cares".

Yeah, I don't think this one was ever considered for Bohemian Rhapsody...

Of all the songs in this list, "Don't Try Suicide" is the only one that hasn't aged well due to the lyrics AND music. The lyrics may be anti-suicide, which is fine, but the music and bouncing vocal melody of "Don't try suicide" is far too jolly and upbeat for a topic that many nowadays would consider the result of serious mental illness. There's also the blunt nature of the lyrics, claiming that "Nobody gives a damn" if you kill yourself. Whilst I can understand the reverse-psychology nature of the lyrics, surely someone in the band must've pointed out that telling someone who potentially wants to end their own life that they're worthless and unloved is a terrible idea.


5. "Illegal Alien" - Genesis

"The sun is shining so I head for the park,
With a bottle of Tequila and a new pack of cigarettes".

Back to the offensive lyrics with a hot batch of RACIAL STEREOTYPING!!!

There are a few lyrics I could've picked to demonstrate how poorly this song has aged but to me, the ones in the first verse do a good job. All the way through this song about a Mexican fellow who's decided to sneak across the border, Phil Collins sings with a noticeable accent that comes across as kinda off-putting now and then (particularly in the lyrics specified above). This might not be quite as startling as some of the entries on this list but I reckon if a band as popular as Genesis were around the time of this album's release came out with a song boiling a culture down to base-level stereotypes, there'd be at least a bit of uproar on the Internet.


6. "Make Love Like A Man" - Def Leppard

"Make love like a man,
I'm a man, that's what I am, yeah".

How about you make like a dated view of gender norms and get out of here?!

Another song with painfully embarrassing lyrics yet somewhat decent Hard Rock music, making it all the more difficult for someone who wants to listen to this song. Joe Elliott himself has claimed that the song probably hasn't aged too well due to sexist claims of toxic masculinity (not in this exact words, mind) and the band haven't played it live for a while...and yet, it was still included on Def Leppard's brand new compilation album The Story So Far... The Best Of Def Leppard. Also included on this album is the song "Man Enough" off the band's most recent album, not to mention a complete omission of any songs from On Through The Night, the band's first and greatest album to date. Smooth moves, lads!


7. "Island Girl" - Elton John

"Well she's black as coal but she burn like a fire,
And she wrap herself around you like a well-worn tire".

Rock of the Westies? More like Rock of the XENOPHOBIC SEXISM!!!

We've got a combination of triggers right here. A bit of racial stereotyping with the intentionally poor grammar and references to skin colour in the lyrics, mixed with some crass remarks about how she'll "wrap herself around you like a well-worn tire". Once again, it's a shame because the music is quite catchy and the vocal melody in the chorus is great. If the lyrics weren't about an "Island Girl" but some other kind of woman, maybe this song would be a bit more popular.


8. "(You Can Still) Rock In America" - Night Ranger

"You can still rock in America,
Ah yeah, it's alright".

Is Toxic Patriotism a thing? Let's go with TOXIC PATRIOTISM!!!

I could've picked many songs for this same reason. Originally, it was going to be "Born In The USA" - Bruce Springsteen but I feel like Night Ranger's song captures the attitude in a much more ignorant, over-the-top way. In the 80s, the "America, Fuck Yeah!!" state of mind was not only acceptable but also rewarded. Compare this to nowadays where the country is going through transitional period from world superpower to global embarrassment and spouting nonsense about how fucking awesome America is and how great it is to be American is kind of looked down upon, at least by most civilised societies. By the way, this isn't me being specifically anti-America; I think anyone showing the levels of patriotism for their country to the extent that Night Ranger did here also warrants the same reaction.


9. "Dio" - Tenacious D

"It's time to pass the torch,
You're too old to rock, no more rockin' for you".

Yes, THIS is the Tenacious D lyric that I'm picking for possibly causing offence

Tenacious D have written songs about fucking and squeezing out a Cleveland steamer on someone's chest but to me, the song that hasn't aged well is the one about legendary vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Tenacious D may have written it as a tribute to the man but the lyrics about him passing the torch and being taken to a retirement home come across as a little insensitive when you realise that Dio's since passed away. I know it wasn't meant to sound insensitive but they must've considered that Dio wasn't going to live forever and writing a song about him being unable to play music anymore so that Tenacious D can take his place instead would have the unintended consequence of making them sound a little...well, dickish?


10. "In The Summertime" - Mungo Jerry

"Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find".

Advocating the consumption of alcohol whilst operating an automobile? Shame on Mungo Jerry!

The last entry on this list is quite special as it contains two separate lyrics with different reasons to potentially feel offended. First up, we have the ones mentioned above that gleefully advise drink driving for the sole purpose of finding a woman. Not a line that's aged well when you look at the way social attitudes towards drink driving has changed in the last 40 years but the second line is probably more concerning. Shortly after this lyric, we get: "If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal, if her daddy's poor, just do what you feel". Combine this with the fact that we know alcohol is involved and WHAM! You've got yourself a piping hot serving of rape culture, right there! It's an easy lyric to miss when you're busy listening to the jovial melody and "CH! CH-CH!"s but trust me, it's in there and it's not a mindset that's taken lightly in 2018.


Have I missed any Rock/Metal songs with politically incorrect lyrics that need a spotlight shone on them? I've got a couple on the backburner for a sequel to this post but for now, there's your ten! There won't be a Spotify playlist for these songs as it doesn't really serve a purpose that showing and analysing the lyrics doesn't already fulfil.
COMING SOON: About six more posts before the end of the year!

Tenology: Valuable Vocalists In Rock/Metal

Here we are! The end of this four-part Tenology collection looking at impressive musicians who take on the four main roles of any great Rock/Metal outfit. We've covered guitarists, drummers and bassists so far so vocalists are finally getting their time in the spotlight...you know, apart from all the time when they're on stage.
As I feel obliged to mention whenever I write a Tenology post, this is not the equivalent of posts proclaiming that Vocalists 1-10 are THE best in Rock and/or Metal, nor is it my personal top 10 list of all time. There are almost certainly going to be talented vocalists that I overlook when writing this (I'm still kicking myself for completely missing a fucking awesome bassist in my last post. I might go back and edit it soon) but as the name suggests, this is merely a 10-person list of vocalists whom I would place on a pedestal.
If I've missed any shining stars that you believe deserve a space more than some of my other entries, feel free to let me know in the comments or via Twitter. However, if they've appeared in previous blog posts for their talents as a different musician (e.g. Geddy Lee of Rush) then you won't find them here, although chances are I value them as a vocalist if they can play and sing simultaneously. Also, be aware that there are some vocalists I have intentionally left out because I personally believe that when it comes to singing, they're a bit shit (or at best, overrated). Here are some of them!

Ozzy Osbourne
Mick Jagger
Bruce Springsteen
Janis Joplin
Bob Dylan
Serj Tankian
Blaze Bayley
Axl Rose

Right, now that we've got that unpleasantness out of the way, let's look at the valuable vocalists!


1. Paul Rodgers

Largely responsible for one of the best live shows I've ever been to

I don't usually write these posts in order of personal ranking but I felt like I had to start this list off on a strong note, so to speak. Paul Rodgers has been in quite a few groups over the years (notably Free and Bad Company, although he also recorded an album with Queen) but I'm mostly counting Paul's contributions as the Bad Company frontman for his placement here. The man's voice is simply incredible; smooth and soulful but able to fully Rock at the drop of a hat. Some of the bands big hits such as "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Electricland" showcase his ability to flawlessly flip between two different singing styles but if you need even more proof, go and see him perform live. The fact that the man can still belt out the classics after four decades as if he were in the studio laying them down for the first time is the sign of an incredible vocalist.


2. Klaus Meine

No, this isn't Ronnie James Dio

Compared to some vocalists, Klaus Meine probably isn't the first choice for a list of undeniably talented Rock/Metal frontmen but to me, there is no Scorpions without Klaus Meine. His raw vocals are synonymous with the band's own blend of Heavy Metal, whether it's in the band's iconic anthems ("Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Wind Of Change") or lesser known deep cuts ("Catch Your Train", "Another Piece Of Meat"). To me, the sign of a strong Rock/Metal vocalist is the ability to use the sound of their singing voice as its own instrument unique to that band. Some of the vocal melodies sung by Klaus give the songs that extra push that separates them from generic material by other 70s/80s Metal bands, hence his inclusion here.


3. Sean Harris

In an alternate universe, this guy is as popular as everyone else on this list

It's hard to compare the works of former Diamond Head vocalist Sean Harris to the rest of the entries on this list when you factor in that most iconic and well respected Rock/Metal vocalists have had many, many albums to hone their ability and make a splash on the music scene. However, the fact that Sean's only had a couple of albums worth of decent material to show how great he is only adds to my admiration of the man. There was a time when he was hailed as the next Robert Plant and after listening to such tunes as "It's Electric" and "Trick Or Treat", I can understand why. I'm hesitant to describe his singing as "wailing" because it sounds like criticism but if you've ever listened to the band, you'll know what I mean. His vocal work isn't as harsh or aggressive as you'd expect from a Metal band but it still works incredibly well. It's a shame these guys didn't get a bigger break as I imagine we only scratched the surface of what Sean Harris would've been truly capable of.


4. Steve Perry

Not sure if this guy counts as "underrated" but if there's a tier just behind that, this guy's in it

Whilst I'm not the biggest Journey fan on the planet, I would defend Steve Perry's inclusion on this list for one song and one song alone. Naturally he's a great vocalist on a wide range of Journey's material but whenever I think of his work, I always find myself drawn to one clear example of what I would consider his finest hour: "Keep On Runnin'". It's the kind of song that would inspire me to learn to sing just so I could blast it out without sounding like a completely tone-deaf wannabe although I doubt any amount of practise would make me capable of matching his vocals. The verses Rock extra hard because of his singing and the chorus is driven by the sheer power of his voice alone. Your average music fan will probably be impressed by his work on "Don't Stop Believing" and "Open Arms" but seriously, listen to "Keep On Runnin'" if you haven't already and tell me that this guy doesn't have pipes of fucking gold.


5. Stevie Nicks

From Steve to Stevie. If Aerosmith were a bit better, I could've had the hat trick

The first woman to appear on these Tenology posts although she's not the only one worthy enough to grace this list (hint hint). Fleetwood Mac has had a few vocalists but none as significant as Stevie Nicks. Stevie's stage presence and, most importantly, her voice gave the band a specific image; one of mysticism without going into full weird territory like some Prog Rock bands. Female vocalists like Lizzy Hale and Ann Wilson succeed in bringing power to songs through conventional means but Stevie Nicks achieves that same level of pure Rock through her haunting, raspy vocals that were easily responsible for putting Fleetwood Mac on the map. The whole Rumours album is essential listening if you want to hear some of her best work but there's also signature songs from her solo career, even if you think "Edge Of Seventeen" is a bit dull when it comes to the structure.


6. Phil Lynott

Photography 101: black and white makes everything better

I know I mentioned Phil Lynott in the honourable mentions of the bassist blog post BUT he didn't make the main cut so technically he's still a contender for this one. The main reason I didn't give Phil a proper place in the bassist post is because I believe he was a much greater vocalist than a bassist, hence his inclusion here. I mean, his voice was just so fucking cool! When he sung about "the boys" (and let's face it, he sung about 'em quite a bit!), you got the impression that he was not just one of them but one of the more badass ones. At the risk of sounding repetitive, Phil was also skilled at adapting his voice to suit softer or less powerful Rock songs ("Sarah", "Don't Believe A Word") and heavier, fast paced powerhouses ("Cold Sweat", "Angel Of Death"). His voice was so unique, so irreplaceable that his death effectively killed Thin Lizzy once the rest of the band realised there would be no Thin Lizzy without him. Granted they then formed Black Star Riders but if Phil didn't have his incredible voice, you can bet that they would've stuck with the original band name.


7. Biff Byford

Now THAT's a name and a half!

It's no secret that Saxon are one of my favourite bands of all time AND that I feel they're one of the few proper Rock/Metal bands in existence that have only improved with age. If you listen to rerecordings of their classics, they sound so much heavier without losing part of what made Saxon incredible and the main reason for that is Biff Byford's raw vocals. Some of the vocalists here will never be able to recreate the magic they captured in the recording studio all those years ago but to actually surpass it many, many years later is a talent that Biff deserves way more credit for. And yes, his voice is awesome in every single Saxon song that I've heard so far; the perfect Heavy Metal vocals for a band as great as Saxon. I recommend checking out some of the rerecordings on the Heavy Metal Thunder compilation as well as the original recordings to hear how Biff's voice has remained incredible since the early 80s.


8. James Hetfield

Ugh, Metallica. Right? Am I cool yet?

Whilst Hetfield may have gone down in my books on a personal level due to his refusal to flat out denounce Trump (claiming that politics separates people and indirectly stating that he's totally OK with Nazis and shitheads getting joy out of his music), he's still right near the top on a professional level. To me, any vocalist who can play an instrument whilst singing without fucking up either task has a great amount of skill but the fact that James can shred out some pretty fucking heavy riffs from Metallica's back catalogue whilst belting out each line is something I will always admire. James Hetfield is also notable for being one of many singers to be affected by puberty in the 90s, as the rage filled vocals from Metallica's first four Thrash albums gradually sunk into a deeper (but still powerful) tone. However, if you listen to live footage, it's clear that James still has the ability to keep up with his past self so at the very least, he's not the worst member of his own band...aaaand that's all I'm gonna say about that on this post!


9. Eddie Vedder

I'm usually the first to criticise vocalists with an acoustic guitar and stool on stage but I'll make an exception here

I'll admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to choose Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell for this post. Whilst I like both vocalists a great deal, I think I had to give it to Eddie purely because I'd rather belt out Pearl Jam tracks than Soundgarden ones. Both vocalists have a similar 90s Grunge style to their voice but to me, Eddie's classic drones make for more pleasurable listening than Chris' passionate shouting. I also admire Eddie for adapting his voice with the band's sound from typical Grunge based vocals to modern Alternative ones without compromising the overall quality. There's something uniquely primal about some of his vocals in tracks like "Animal" and "Jeremy" that encapsulates exactly what Rock is about; releasing the beast. That's why Eddie's here!


10. Bruce Dickinson

Nearly made it to the end without mentioning Iron Maiden...but that was never gonna happen

If you've been keeping up with these Tenology posts so far, you'll know I've listed at least one member of Iron Maiden in each post so far and with bloody good reason. They are my number one favourite band and I firmly believe that each member brings their own skills to the table to create a unified, incredible sound. However, if you have to single out one driving force behind the band's success (and you don't know about Steve Harris), you'll probably pick Bruce Dickinson due to his operatic, screeching vocals that propelled the band away from the Punk sound they were dangerously close to solidifying with in their first two albums. Bruce has a supreme vocal range, great songwriting talents and knows how to be a top notch (if not slightly outspoken) frontman. Final cherry on top? The guy had throat cancer not long ago and kicked it right in the fucking cunt before releasing a brand new Iron Maiden studio album AND going on tour to promote it. Top bloke indeed.


So those are the ten vocalists I've selected but that's not to say there aren't other great vocalists who leapt to the front of my mind as I was thinking about great voices in the world of Rock/Metal. Here are some slightly fleshed out Honourable Mentions along with reasons why I didn't choose them to be listed up above.

Ronnie James Dio

No, this isn't Klaus Meine

Arguably the greatest voice in all of Metal and quite possibly one of the most talented, considering he's been in three iconic Rock/Metal bands (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio) along with several smaller outfits. Out of the three main bands he's been a part of, I'd rate his tenure with Black Sabbath at number one simply because his vocals had all the power with none of the...hmmm, how should I put this...pomposity? There's something a bit ridiculous about some of his vocals in Rainbow and Dio tunes as if he took himself a little bit too seriously. It takes me out of the music when I hear him trying to vocally simulate the sound of a door slamming or shouting "NO! NO!" over and over again. He was a great vocalist but a little too absurd at times.


Chris Cornell

"Come at me, bruh"

I've already gone into a bit of detail about why I chose Eddie Vedder over Chris Cornell for the main list but come on, I couldn't just completely ignore him. I wrote a Rapid Fire post looking at three albums by three bands/projects Chris Cornell sung in after he died where I praised his voice and songwriting abilities as half the reason why Audioslave are worth listening to. The guy's influence is peppered throughout modern Rock (notably Shinedown) and similar to Anthony Kiedis, Chris' vocals are much better when he's singing softer songs. However, since I prefer Soundgarden to his solo work, I feel like I never got the best out of the guy based on what I've heard.


Brad Delp

Another great vocalist who took his own life

Boston definitely aren't one of my favourite bands but their debut is easily one of my all-time favourite albums. I've talked about why various times but I feel like I haven't really focused too much on Brad Delp's contributions to it. Sure, he had a sweet sounding voice but there's some genuine talent buried beneath the music. Take "More Than A Feeling" and that section before the final chorus where Brad hits that high "slipped away"; that's fucking impressive, especially with how long he holds it for. The main reason he isn't in the list above is simply that I feel other vocalists deserved it more with their wider selection of records and talents that were showcased, but I still think Brad Delp deserves a shout out here.


Grace Slick

Get it? "GRACE this list"???

Similar to Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane also had shared vocalist duties that most people will probably agree was easily dominated by the sheer talent of the female artist. However, whilst Stevie Nicks rocked the mystic, Classic Rock oriented vocals, Grace Slick locked down the psychedelic style and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she helped inspire Stevie's stage presence too. Overall, I couldn't deny that Stevie was the superior vocalist but tracks like "White Rabbit", "Somebody To Love", "Law Man" and even backing vocals in "Volunteers" showcase an incredible voice at work, I felt like this voice didn't quite match some of the others in the list above.


Roger Taylor

Just give me a paragraph to explain myself, that's all I ask!

Yeah, I picked one of the OTHER band members who shared vocalist duties from Queen. There are two reasons for this. 1) We all know Freddie Mercury was an amazing vocalist, probably one of (if not THE) best in this list. I didn't feel the need to place him here when I felt like other vocalists deserved more recognition or my personal take on why they're great although yes, I do think Freddie was a fantastic frontman. 2) Some of you may not know that Queen's drummer, Roger Taylor, took the helm for a few tracks and did a pretty fucking great job. Songs like "I'm In Love With My Car", "Rock It (Prime Jive)", "More Of That Jazz" and (my personal favourite) "Fight From The Inside" all feature Roger on lead vocals and whilst Freddie will always be instantly more recognisable as a vocalist and frontman, I personally believe Roger successfully held his own and provided a more aggressive side to the Rock band that Freddie could never quite pull off to the same degree. However, since Roger isn't exactly the band's main vocalist in the same way that everyone else in the post is, I felt Honourable Mention was the best place to shine a light on Roger Taylor's vocal work.


So that's my list of valuable vocalists in Rock/Metal! I hope you enjoyed reading and waiting two months at a time for each Tenology related to band members. Next year, I might revisit these in some format but for now, all four key band members have been accounted for!
COMING SOON: I dunno, maybe something Christmassy. Probably not though.

Tenology: Brilliant Bassists In Rock/Metal

Continuing my series of Tenology posts looking at skilled musicians, this week's list focuses on bass players who stand out as being particularly memorable or talented at their profession. The bassline in your typical Rock song is usually fairly straightforward, designed to add a bit of extra weight to the music by thudding out a steady rhythm without really contributing anything special. However, some artists choose to shoot for the stars, boasting the technical skill to play bass solos or play bass whilst simultaneously singing.
This opinion based list will look at ten bassists whom I admire for doing more than just...well, playing the bass. As always, this isn't a "Top 10 Greatest/Favourite Bass Players" piece; it's just a sample of ten bassists I would personally rate highly. If there are any bass players that you believe deserve to be here over others who are absent from this list, feel free to let me know in the comments or via Twitter although keep in mind that their absence doesn't necessarily mean I think they're not worthy of recognition.


1. Billy Sheehan

This is the guy The Beatles sung about in "With A Little Help From My Friends"...don't look it up

Whilst there are some famous examples of great bassists who'll be making an appearance a bit later on in the list, Billy Sheehan's technical skill probably surpasses every entry on this list combined. His tapping techniques and all-round versatility even rival most guitarists but sadly, he's one of those musicians who's immense talent never fully made it to the studio. Sure, you've got songs like "Addicted To That Rush" - Mr. Big with exceptional bass but most of Mr Big's better known tracks are usually driven by guitar or vocals. Compare this to live covers of "Burn" - Deep Purple and "Baba O'Riley" - The Who where Billy flawlessly shreds out the organ and violin solos respectively and you'll ask yourself why they never truly utilised his skills off-stage.


2. Cliff Burton

The first of several great bassists who are sadly no longer with us

Whilst Metallica songs are generally known for their epic guitar riffs and diminishing quality over time, their first three albums also contain tracks with surprisingly prominent bass. There's "Orion", a track named due to the spacey bass solo, "For Whom The Bell Tolls" with the creepy bass riff in the intro and of course "(Anesthesia)--Pulling Teeth", a four minute fuzzy bass solo off the debut that could damn near be confused for guitar if not for the vocal intro. Cliff also proved to be capable of keeping up with Hetfield and Hammett, matching and occasionally improving on their guitar riffs for most of their signature songs. Unfortunately, Cliff passed away in 1986 after the tour bus they were travelling in skidded out of control and crashed, crushing him in the process. His riffs may not have stood out in the same way as the guitar melodies but it's fair to say the band's music was never quite the same after his passing.


3. Steve Harris

Obligatory Iron Maiden

Steve's been regarded as the greatest bass player of all time and whilst I don't know if I'd personally agree with that, he definitely deserves a spot on this list. He's the soul of Iron Maiden, not just in his bass playing but in his songwriting and musical knowledge too. He's usually the driving force behind each musical decision the band has made and thankfully, he's still going strong to this date. Whilst Iron Maiden's success is down to a team effort rather than any one member of the band standing out, Steve's bass is always present among the guitars, adding the final puzzle piece to songs like "The Trooper" and "Run To The Hills" that wouldn't be complete without him.


4. Chris Squire

I could've used a picture of a younger Chris but come on, look at that fucking bass!

I'm not the biggest fan of Yes but if you listen to some of their better tracks, one thing's for certain; the bass stands out like a DVD in a game collection. Tracks like "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper" contain basslines almost as complex as the guitar melodies and even though their Pop-Prog phase focused a bit more on the guitar hooks and vocals, you can still hear Chris keeping things steady. His aggressive, dynamic playing style has gone on to influence several of the bassists on this list and even though he sadly passed away in 2015, his work across all Yes albums lives on as a gold standard for Prog Rock (and indeed standard Rock) bassists for the rest of time.


5. Geezer Butler

Real name Terence Michael Joseph Matthew Mark Luke John Napoleon Ulysses Hank "Geezer" Butler

From one of Prog Rock's most influential bassists to Heavy Metal's, Geezer Butler is responsible for giving Black Sabbath the weight it needed to be one of the biggest Metal bands on the planet. His heavy riffs and lyrical influences ranging from religion to dystopian science fiction gave the band the apocalyptic doom vibe that would go on to form the cultural perception of Heavy Metal for years to come. Geezer stuck with Black Sabbath through the Dio years and took part in their recent farewell tour, also contributing to some of Ozzy Osbourne's solo albums in the 90s but nobody really cares about that. The main thing is his work with Black Sabbath, giving us excellent songs such as "Children Of The Grave", "War Pigs" and of course "N.I.B" to inspire generations of bassists for decades.


6. John Entwistle

The Who's secret weapon

Generally regarded as one of Rock's greatest bass players, John Entwistle truly knew how to turn bass up to 11. With full treble and thundering dynamics, every riff and lick laid down by John sounded like a distant roar and when he wanted to shred, boy could he shred. The most common example of his exceptional skills is probably "My Generation" with its iconic bass solo but tracks on the Live At Leeds album showcase his ability to keep up with Townshend and Moon on guitar and drums respectively. Once again, this incredible musician is no longer with us, dying in 2002 due to a drug overdose.


7. Geddy Lee

Give me some credit, I made it this far without mentioning him

The other great Prog Rock bassist on this list and probably the go-to example of everyone's favourite Rock bassist in general. Rush songs are known for their great bass melodies and Geddy's unique vocals that he flawlessly pulls off whilst playing the relatively complex basslines. Not only that but he's also responsible for the keyboard and synth for each track, something the band is equally reliant on for some of their signature hits. Songs like "Fly By Night" and "Tom Sawyer" showcase Geddy's supreme multi-tasking abilities whilst tracks such as "Freewill" and "YYZ" contain multiple bass solos, sometimes underneath the guitar one. He's probably one of my top bassists and there's a strong chance he's one of yours too.


8. John Deacon

For ages, I always confused John Deacon and Roger Taylor

When it comes to the best members of Queen, John Deacon tends to be at the bottom of most conventional rankings (especially when you consider Roger Taylor's vocal work on News Of The World, arguably providing better Hard Rock vocals than Freddie). However, when you actually listen to the bass in most Queen songs, there's a lot to be admired. It may not be technical or balanced with complex vocals but there's something to be said for simplistic yet permanently catchy basslines. Some of Queen's best known tracks like "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Under Pressure" are built entirely around John Deacon with the rest of the band members following his lead. Unfortunately, after Freddie Mercury's death and subsequent tribute show, John retired from music and hasn't played with Queen or been involved in any of their post-Freddie projects for about 20 years now. Fair play, I suppose.


9. John McVie

He's got it all, from the facial hair to the first name John

For the most part, this post has basically consisted of fairly obvious choices that you'd find populating the higher end of most great bass player lists. However, rather than going for one of the bigger Rock/Metal names that everyone already admires, I thought I'd dedicate a slot to classic Fleetwood Mac bassist, John McVie. He deserves a place for co-writing and performing on "The Chain" alone, a song containing one of the greatest bass riffs ever written, but he's also shown off his talents for other great Fleetwood Mac tracks too such as "Oh Well", "World Turning" and "Tusk". All in all, John's probably the most underrated bassist on this list so feel free to blast some Fleetwood Mac with the bass turned all the way up to show him some extra love.


10. Flea

"Flea? He's not Lemmy!"

As always, the last musician on the list is something a bit special. Flea (real name Michael Balzary) has played bass with the Red Hot Chili Peppers since their debut in 1984 and also acted in a few films such as The Big Lebowski and the Back To The Future sequels. However, his work as the RHCP bassist will always reign supreme as his blend of funky licks and heavy riffs have helped put the band on the musical map. You can always tell it's a RHCP song when you hear his soulful, often dominant bass melodies but if you want a few prime examples to check out over the course of their career...well, aside from practically every song they've ever written, I'd recommend "By The Way", "Higher Ground", "Soul To Squeeze", "Walkabout" and "Dreams Of A Samurai".


Even though these are ten bass players whom I've deemed worthy enough to focus specific paragraphs about, there are still some bassists that deserve honourable mentions:
Paul McCartney
John Myung
Phil Lynott
Lemmy
Every Funk bassist

Did I miss anyone out by focusing too much on big name bass players? Let me know who ranks on your personal list with some samples of their work to check out.

COMING SOON: The Salentino Cuts - UFO, an album review or showdown post; I haven't decided yet.

Rock Productions presents...

A while ago, I wrote a blog post about various popular genres of Rock as if they were members of a family, picking similar aspects from both parties and comparing them for shits and giggles. I enjoyed writing it and had a think about similar posts I could write with a familiar theme without just relying on the same observations from the first post.
In the end, I decided to move from using Rock genres to actual Rock bands. However, I won't be comparing bands to family members. Nope, I'll be turning well known bands into films! Not specific films, though. Rather official and unofficial film genres that I would list to give you some examples of what I mean but that'd be silly, considering I have the content underneath this paragraph.
So without further waffling, here's another attempt at music humour that you shouldn't take too seriously (especially the last one, even I know I'm pushing an analogy a bit too far there)!


COMING SOON!

AC/DC
From the makers of "Action Films"

A guns-blazing production with plenty to keep men and young adults entertained. There are plenty of scenes that are memorable and a talented cast who know how to deliver an explosive bundle of action. However, whilst they know how to write a solid fight scene or car chase, you'd be hard pressed to find a fan of their recent work over their classics from the 80's and early 90's. Sure, the new films have their moments but nowadays the majority of their material feels repetitive. With so many other directors making action-packed movies that challenge the viewer with new stunts and visual effects, perhaps it's time for these films to reach their conclusion...especially since the key actor integral to the band's popularity has quit due to age-related poor health and their latest picture is dull as fuck.


Uriah Heep
From the makers of "Sci-Fi Films"

A bizarre genre with stories that might turn the casual cinema-goer off with all the strange creatures on the poster but if you like complexity in your art, these are the movies for you. That being said, there are more complex films from that time and genre that more passionate fans will most likely prefer. Over time, they've become a bit more mainstream and the improved budget has allowed for a stronger quality of production, even if the script has suffered slightly. At the end of the day, both the perplexing films from the 70's and the simpler movies from the 10's are entertaining in their own ways, even if they're not as popular as other flicks.


Foo Fighters
From the makers of "Comedy Films"

Everyone loves a good comedy and time after time, these filmmakers have created a solid hit with lots of quotable moments. It's hard to name the most iconic comedy as there are plenty of contenders for the title but everyone has their own personal favourite which they'll treasure over someone else's. However, for every laugh out loud scene, there's usually a dud moment that will be easily forgotten. There are also comedies that have been repeated in the media too much and are starting to bore viewers...well, most viewers. There'll always be people laughing at the same mediocre jokes out there. Sadly, their latest movie reeks of self-indulgence and whilst it is well made and clearly inspired by early material, I doubt there'll be many more films like this one. I hope not, anyway.


Aerosmith
From the makers of "Romantic Comedy Films"

The wussiest, softest, most wimpy yet simultaneously popular genre of film out there. OK, there are some great ones out there. Ones with balls that aren't all about romantic platitudes but there are way too many soft movies out there to ever consider this an aggressive, cool or even rebellious type of film. To clarify, this isn't a bad genre nor is there anything wrong with liking this genre or enjoying one of these films. They're great filmmakers and all but they also seem like the kind of artists who'd cry during sex or send roses on Valentine's Day. There's just so much that makes you groan with these films that whenever I see a trailer for a new one (or any movie news to do with the individual filmmakers), my mind automatically conjures feelings of fatigue and irritation.


Slipknot
From the makers of "Horror Films"

It'd be very easy to look at trailers for these and think "Ugh, who'd want to see that? Anyone who enjoys this kind of entertainment is stupid" but once you get past all the prosthetic masks and shocking moments, the films are often quite good. The classics are imaginative and well written, occasionally tackling issues other than death in an educated but dynamic manner. Much like other genres, they have scenes that stand out more than others and are renowned in the Horror Film community but these are the kind of movies that you probably need to watch from start to finish to get the most out of. Personally, I'm not into this kind of genre but I have total respect for it and the people who make it...provided they continue to challenge viewers by subverting the tropes surrounding their appearance.


The White Stripes
From the makers of "Buddy Cop Films"

Meet Jack White! He's a stern, serious cop with strong opinions about the justice system and a knack for what he does.
Meet Meg White! She's a lazy, talentless cop who's only there because she has family connections to the station and can just about do what any basic officer would master on day one of training.
Both cops are different...but what happens when you put them both together to solve a series of cases that seem strange on the surface but are actually incredibly basic when you watch them?
Together, these two wild cards will take you on a fun and dynamic journey as one of the officers does all the legwork and the other just shows up.
Jack and Meg star in...White Stripes! Rated PG-13.


Queen
From the makers of "Pixar, Aardman Animations & Occasionally Dreamworks Family Films"

These are your all-round well-made movies that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone with a brain. There's something for young audiences who like memorable scenes they can tell their friends and repeat to themselves for weeks, there's something for old audiences who want non-aggressive, unoffensive material to sit back and enjoy and there's something for everyone in between who appreciates the occasional mature reference and poignant statement about life or politics without hammering it down their throat. Despite the appearance of some of their most popular pieces, these films are indisputably works of art and deserve all the acclaim they're getting.


My Chemical Romance
From the makers of "Every Other Mainstream Animated Family Film"

These are just aimed at children, overly emotional teens, simpletons or all of the above. This wouldn't be a problem & once in a blue moon there's a decent one of these that breaks the mould but this triumph is often cancelled out by the legion of idiots spouting off about a new movie that's just been/will be released for fucking months. Even if you want to avoid these loud and predictable films, it'll be impossible as everywhere will be playing adverts or rapidly tiresome sound bites from this packaged shite. People might defend these films and try to add intellectual meaning to them, claiming that there's actually more to it than superficial shouting about romance problems but chances are they're the target audience and they'll see whatever they want to see in these, regardless of whether it's there or not.


So that's what's on at the cinema for now. I'm unsure if we'll see another preview of upcoming films (as it took bloody months to put these together) but never say never! After all, if Spider-Man can end up in The Avengers, many other bands can end up on this blog!

Shout Out: Deep Cuts Volumes 1-3 - Queen

Apologies for the lack of activity on here. I know I said I was going to do an album review in November (and I do still plan on doing that!) but since I wanted to do at least one more post before 2013 is over, here's something that will possibly become a regular thing along with reviews and opinion posts on certain soundtracks/setlists.
Rather than just review things that have come out and everyone likes, I figure it's a good idea to draw some attention to albums I enjoyed that perhaps aren't as popular as they should be. Kicking us off are three different compilations from arguably the strongest Classic Rock band in the world: Queen.

I don't think it's an over-exaggeration to say that everyone knows who Queen are. You could fly to the furthest corners of the planet, find the ancient crusader from the third Indiana Jones film, ask him about Queen and chances are he'd at least be able to stomp & clap the beat to 'We Will Rock You'. They're a band who are universally adored for their catchy radio friendly tunes whilst still retaining the badass image of a Rock band due to the fact that everyone in the band was great at what they did.
Granted Freddie Mercury (or rather, his pipes of platinum) was the key member who stood out, you can't deny that Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass) and of course Brian May (guitar) played their part in immortalising Queen in the records of Rock. However, their ability to write not just one but a string of iconic songs as easily as you or I would write a shopping list came at a price.
You see, if you asked the average person to name a Queen song, they'd probably have no hesitations before coming out with "Don't Stop Me Now" or "Bohemian Rhapsody". However, if you asked them to name the album it came from, they might have some problems. Chances are they'd have even bigger problems naming any other song that came from the same album, and that's the only trouble with Queen. They're so talented that any song of theirs that isn't on a Greatest Hits album is doomed to obscurity, despite many of them being superior to some of their popular hits.

Fortunately, in the modern age where just about any piece of information you require is no more than a few clicks away, it's easy to listen to entire Queen albums in all their underrated glory. Unfortunately, the modern age has a fatal flaw: laziness. Most people can't be arsed to watch a Youtube video longer than 60 seconds, let alone listen to a band's entire back catalogue, just to find songs they may or may not enjoy...and that's where the Deep Cuts collection gloriously swaggers in.

22 years of "filler tracks" split across three volumes, all handpicked by members of Queen and the Foo Fighters drummer (?). These compilations span Queen's career up until Freddie's departure, so there's none of that Paul Rodgers material from 2008 but I doubt anyone will lose any sleep over that. Anyway, the first volume contains tracks from albums released between 1973 and 1976.
Opening up the album, "Ogre Battle" gets to work in showing you that Queen aren't just a radio band and could write great songs that weren't destined to be played on mainstream stations. The heavy chugging of May's guitar and soulful power of Mercury's vocals drench the first two tracks ("Stone Cold Crazy") with the classic Queen sound, whilst Taylor's drumming and Mercury's ivory tinkling take over on track number three ("My Fairy King").
From start to finish, this volume deals with Queen's earlier fantasy-inspired material. Songs of mystical lands and tales of space exploration that still manage to sound more masculine than your average Metalcore band. If you like songs such as "Seven Seas Of Rhye" and "Killer Queen", I would recommend giving this one a listen. Below is the tracklist and underlined are the songs that are my personal favourites.

1. Ogre Battle

2. Stone Cold Crazy

3. My Fairy King

4. I'm In Love With My Car

5. Keep Yourself Alive

6. Long Away

7. The Millionaire Waltz

8. '39

9. Tenement Funster

10. Flick Of The Wrist

11. Lily Of The Valley

12. Good Company

13. The March Of The Black Queen

14. In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited

And so we find ourselves on the next volume (and my personal favourite), Deep Cuts 2, 1977-1982

Continuing the sound of the first volume, this one opens with "Mustapha", a funny little tune covering the section of Queen's material that show they didn't need to take themselves seriously to be an awesome band, followed by a song that showcases their ability to sing and play with aggression ("Sheer Heart Attack"). Whilst the first compilation featured the band in their early years, the music on this volume sounds more refined and perfected.

However, this album also contains music from Queen's 80s albums, so we get a few tracks like "Staying Power" which experiment with Funk and synth or "Battle Theme" from the Flash Gordon soundtrack. Overall, I would say this volume has the most musical variety whilst still sounding like a collection of excellent Queen songs.

This is the album to check out if you like "Under Pressure", "Fat Bottomed Girls", "Another One Bites The Dust" and songs like that. Same as before, here's the tracklist with my faves underlined.

1. Mustapha

2. Sheer Heart Attack

3. Spread Your Wings

4. Sleeping On The Sidewalk

5. It's Late

6. Rock It (Prime Jive)

7. Dead On Time

8. Sail Away Sweet Sister

9. Dragon Attack

10. Action This Day

11. Put Out The Fire

12. Staying Power

13. Jealousy

14. Battle Theme

Finally, the heaviest one of the three. Deep Cuts 3, 1984-1995

Since the music on this compilation comes from Queen's career after they'd rocked the planet and established themselves as Rock Gods, the songs have a more epic feel. The slow but strong opener "Made In Heaven" comes from Queen's last album so there's a solemn tone behind it, but that doesn't mean the album is all doom & gloom. "Machines (Or Back To Humans)" picks up the pace a little bit with some synth & vocoder action whilst other tracks on the album provide a good guitar & drum combo to dance to ("Khashoggi's Ship").

Despite the fact that most of the tracks on this album are rather slow, there's certainly a noticeable range in how heavy the songs are. Whilst a few are rather soft and feature mostly piano or strings ("A Winter's Tale"), there are a couple of songs that fully cross the line into Metal territory with dynamic riffs, plodding drums and hard-edged vocals ("The Hitman").

These songs are probably to your taste if you enjoy singles such as "I Want It All" and "The Show Must Go On". Here's the last tracklist with highlighted favourites for you.

1. Made In Heaven

2. Machines (Or Back To Humans)

3. Don't Try So Hard

4. Tear It Up

5. I Was Born To Love You

6. A Winter's Tale

7. Ride The Wild Wind

8. Bijou

9. Was It All Worth It

10. One Year Of Love

11. Khashoggi's Ship

12. Is This The World We Created...?

13. The Hitman

14. It's A Beautiful Day (Reprise)

15. Mother Love

Deep Cuts Volumes 1-3 are perfect for someone who likes Queen, Classic/Hard Rock and enjoys listening to music. However, I wouldn't say they're the perfect collection of Queen "deep cuts" (no "Brighton Rock" or "Fight From The Inside") but that's more than likely down to personal taste. Similarly, my recommendations could be completely wrong.

You may love the songs I mentioned but hate the tracks I enjoyed. The only way you'll know for certain is by listening to them yourself and to be honest, if you like the majority of Queen's popular songs, you may as well check these compilations out. All three of them are on Spotify and every individual song is bound to be on Youtube or Grooveshark or whatever. I guess if I had to rate each volume based on my own taste, I'd say:
Volume 1 = 6/10
Volume 2 = 8/10
Volume 3 = 4/10

I doubt I'll get a review or other blog post done before the end of the year but I hope you've enjoyed reading this one. I also hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and minimal stomach upsets from undercooked turkey. Be seeing you!