I’m often asked what my interests and hobbies are. They include: reading, writing, cooking, sport (spectator mostly), the odd bit of computer gaming, and of course, music.
I’m a muso wannabe with several original compositions under my belt. And I’m not half bad either on drums, rhythm guitar and vocals - if I say so myself.
Music for me is like food; I can consume all of it, just depends what I’m in the mood for.
Of all the genres though, I’m a lover of rock music.
From punk-rock to grunge, from hard-rock to metal, there’s a place for it all (I don’t do death metal though, but only because the lyrics are dodge - not that you can hear them - and I fail to find much-needed melody in most of those ‘songs’, but that’s just me).
Hard rock and heavy metal started in the grimy neighbourhoods of Birmingham and the quainter Hertford, England; with bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Deep Purple.
The first band to really glamorise the new wave of metal music was KISS. They also became the most infamous bunch of sell-outs that rock music has ever known with their range of action figure dolls, a cheesy movie starring themselves dressed-up in their KISS stage gear, and merging their music with the rise of disco during the 70s. Sell-outs! They do have a classic track though in the form of: Rock and Roll All Nite.
Growing up in the 80s, we enjoyed some of the best rock music ever written, performed by some of the most memorable icons of the genre.
Who can forget bands like; ACDC, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Dokken, Europe, Guns n’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Queensryche, Quiet Riot, Scorpions, Twisted Sister, Van Halen, Warrant, W.A.S.P. and White Snake. And of course, Ozzy Osbourne. The 80s Glam Metal scene just wouldn’t be the same without Ozzy.
I have a great collection of some of the classic tunes of this era, filed neatly along with the rest of my digital music genres.
As far as tracks go, some personal favourites include: Thunderstruck – ACDC, Poison – Alice Cooper, Rocket – Def Leppard, Rock the Night – Europe, Guns n’ Roses (various), Queensryche - Queen of the Reich, Scorpions – Rock you like a Hurricane, Whitesnake’s – Still of the Night, and various tracks by legends, Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne, with Ozzy’s – Shot in the Dark, a particular favourite.
Throughout its history, rock music has also spawned some of the most cherished ballads of our time. Songs like: More than words – Extreme, Open arms – Journey and arguably the most beautiful ballad ever written, W.A.S.P.’s – Keep holding on, with front man Blackie Lawless, at his very best.
The whole scene just grew too big, too fast, and it became way too commercial with flaring hair, fast cars, gorgeous dispensable women, and more makeup than any straight man should wear. And so in the end, the 80s Glam Metal era had to die, unfortunately.
I’m extravert by nature, with a conservative edge, and depending on my mood, I might listen to classical, pop, reggae, R&B or even country. But sometimes, just sometimes, I still wanna rock and roll all night and party every day!
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