Some say that Black Sabbath was one of the most influential metal bands of the 70's. They were crowned second in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock", and defined the 70's rock scene. With over 15 million records sold in the US alone, you'd have to have been living under a rock to not hear about them.
It started when the band's founding members, Tony Iommi and Bill Ward left their previous band, Mythology in 1968. The pair recruited bassist Geezer Butler, and singer Ozzy Osbourne. Butler and Osbourne had been in a band previously, called Rare Breed. Together, they formed the first version of Black Sabbath, called The Polka Tulk Blues Band. Obviously, their style of music was headed in a different direction at that time, as they had another guitarist (Jimmy Phillips) and a saxophonist (Alan "Aker" Clarke). Eventually, the band's name became simply Earth.
Upon noticing how much money people were willing to spend to see horror films, the band got an idea - They decided to try for the same direction that horror films move in, but with music instead. Darker tones, heavier riffs, and horror lyrics were the focus now. Upon discovering that an English band with the same band name existed, they decided to change the name yet again, to the name of the movie they saw people paying to see. The movie was called "Black Sabbath", and the band adapted the name for good.
Finally, they signed to Philips Records in 1969. They released their first single as well, titled "Evil Woman". It failed to hit the charts, and they were given two more days to record their debut album. Deciding to record the album live to save time, they breezed through the songs they had written with minimal retakes.
Their first album, Black Sabbath, was released on Friday the 13th, February 1970. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart, gaining similar popularity on the US and Canadian boards as well. Quickly, they returned to the studio that following year to record another album, one that they had originally planned on calling "War Pigs". However, since the Vietnam War was taking place at that time, they decided to change it to Paranoid, fearing backlash from supporters of the war.
The album hit number 1 in the UK, and reached number 12 in the US. Some cited it as "One of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time", but it received negative reviews as well. The Rolling Stones dismissed the albums as "Discordant jams with bass and guitar reeling like velocitised speedfreaks all over each other's musical perimeters, yet never quite finding synch."
Each album that they released continued to sound better and better, and garnered more and more praise from the critics. One of their memorable breakthrough's include Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, one of their first albums to gain huge success in 1973. The album was the band's fifth platinum selling album in the US.
But not all was well within the band. While in Toronto, Canada, recording Never Say Die!, substance abuse and alcohol ran rampant through the group. "It took quite a long time," Iommi said. "We were getting really drugged out, doing a lot of dope. We'd go down to the sessions, and have to pack up because we were too stoned, we'd have to stop. Nobody could get anything right, we were all over the place, everybody's playing a different thing. We'd go back and sleep it off, and try again the next day." Critics called the album "A perfect reflection of the band's inner workings, the tense personal problems, and the drug abuse."
Due to pressure from the record label, Tony Iommi made the decision to dismiss Ozzy. Mostly, it was due to his heavy alcohol addiction, along with coke abuse as well. Ronnie James Dio was drafted to replace him.
Black Sabbath is a band that defined the genre of Dark metal. Time Magazine placed Paranoid on their Top 100 Albums of All Time, noting that it was "The birthplace of heavy metal." Black Sabbath went on to release several more albums, each of them gaining more attention than the last. Paranoid went on to become Platinum certified by both the RIAA and the UK's BPI.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
1970's Famous Musician
Possibly one of the best adult contemporary artists in existance, Neil Diamond has defined a generation of music unlike any other. Infact, when it comes to the Billboard, he ranks only behind Elton John and Barbara Streisand, both of which are just as talented. His success not only spans through the 60's, but through the 70's, 80's, 90's, and onward. He still tours today, and maintains a large fanbase.
Born in 1941, Neil grew up in New York, where he was born into a Jewish family descended from Polish and Russian immigrants. Although moving houses a few times, he attended Abraham Lincoln High School, and participated in the All City Choir (Coincidentally, with Barbara Streisand.) He was active in fencing, specializing in épée. Even today, before going on stage, he's always sure to warm up with a few fencing exercises, as he maintained the swordsmanship into his adulthood. In school, he studied medicines as he wanted to be a laboratory biologist. Fueled by the passing of his grandmother, he desperately wanted to be the one who found the cure for cancer, but as time went on, he was made an offer he couldn't refuse. During his senior year in New York University, a music company offered him $50 a week to write music, which inevitably set him on his course.
In the 1960's Neil began recording under the label "Neil and Jack". It comprised of himself and high school friend Jack Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful singles, "You Are My Love At Last" and "What Will I Do",
Born in 1941, Neil grew up in New York, where he was born into a Jewish family descended from Polish and Russian immigrants. Although moving houses a few times, he attended Abraham Lincoln High School, and participated in the All City Choir (Coincidentally, with Barbara Streisand.) He was active in fencing, specializing in épée. Even today, before going on stage, he's always sure to warm up with a few fencing exercises, as he maintained the swordsmanship into his adulthood. In school, he studied medicines as he wanted to be a laboratory biologist. Fueled by the passing of his grandmother, he desperately wanted to be the one who found the cure for cancer, but as time went on, he was made an offer he couldn't refuse. During his senior year in New York University, a music company offered him $50 a week to write music, which inevitably set him on his course.
In the 1960's Neil began recording under the label "Neil and Jack". It comprised of himself and high school friend Jack Parker. After releasing two unsuccessful singles, "You Are My Love At Last" and "What Will I Do",
1960's Famous Musician
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley was debatably the most talented individual to come out of the music industry in the 1950's. Moving to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 13, his talent was recognized quickly by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. After realizing his potential, Elvis was signed into a two decade contract with Colonel Tom Parker, who managed most of his career.
Recording his first single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956, it was widely considered a hit. Presley quickly became the new sound of rock, proceeding to release chart-topper after chart-topper, appearing on national television, and becoming famous world-wide. His association with African American music, along with his unmatched style quickly made him popular.
In 1958, Elvis was enlisted in the military for mandatory service. Accompanied by fans and press, he told the recruitment officer that "I don't wanna be treated any differently than any other soldier here." A short two years later, and he was back in the studio, recording songs and albums.
In the 1960's, his agent suggested he took a stab at the movie industry. His movies were moderate successes, but not one of them is particularly noted as a 5-star classic film. Finally, in 1968, he hit the stage once more and went on some more tours, up until 1973 when he aired a broadcast via satellite. It was viewed by about 1.5 billion people across the world, as satellite broadcasting was still fairly new.
Aloha in Hawaii, the concert's name, was the most expensive production for it's time, costing about 2.5 million dollars to put together. The ticket fares were non-existant - Viewers were asked to pay what they could, all of the proceeds going towards the Kui Lee Cancer fund. In total. $75,000 was raised for the fund.
It was noted that by early 1977, "Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopoeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts." For years, Elvis had been abusing prescription drugs. It should also be known that upon meeting Richard Nixon, the current president at the time, he took the opportunity to voice his out-spoken contempt for the pot-smoking, LSD-tripping hippie community. Because he was getting his drugs from a doctor, he didn't view himself as a dirty junkie, getting everything off the street.
Then, on August 16, 1977, he was discovered on the floor of the bathroom in his hotel, unresponsive. He was announced dead upon arrival to a hospital. Many symptoms could have attributed to his death, such as glaucoma, high blood pressure, an enlarged colon, and liver damage.
Recording his first single, "Heartbreak Hotel", in 1956, it was widely considered a hit. Presley quickly became the new sound of rock, proceeding to release chart-topper after chart-topper, appearing on national television, and becoming famous world-wide. His association with African American music, along with his unmatched style quickly made him popular.
In 1958, Elvis was enlisted in the military for mandatory service. Accompanied by fans and press, he told the recruitment officer that "I don't wanna be treated any differently than any other soldier here." A short two years later, and he was back in the studio, recording songs and albums.
In the 1960's, his agent suggested he took a stab at the movie industry. His movies were moderate successes, but not one of them is particularly noted as a 5-star classic film. Finally, in 1968, he hit the stage once more and went on some more tours, up until 1973 when he aired a broadcast via satellite. It was viewed by about 1.5 billion people across the world, as satellite broadcasting was still fairly new.
Aloha in Hawaii, the concert's name, was the most expensive production for it's time, costing about 2.5 million dollars to put together. The ticket fares were non-existant - Viewers were asked to pay what they could, all of the proceeds going towards the Kui Lee Cancer fund. In total. $75,000 was raised for the fund.
It was noted that by early 1977, "Elvis Presley had become a grotesque caricature of his sleek, energetic former self. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopoeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts." For years, Elvis had been abusing prescription drugs. It should also be known that upon meeting Richard Nixon, the current president at the time, he took the opportunity to voice his out-spoken contempt for the pot-smoking, LSD-tripping hippie community. Because he was getting his drugs from a doctor, he didn't view himself as a dirty junkie, getting everything off the street.
Then, on August 16, 1977, he was discovered on the floor of the bathroom in his hotel, unresponsive. He was announced dead upon arrival to a hospital. Many symptoms could have attributed to his death, such as glaucoma, high blood pressure, an enlarged colon, and liver damage.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Song Analysis
A genre of music that people here may have never heard before. However, in a different part of the world, it's embraced as a part of culture and artistic style. It's usually portrayed as a heavier metal grind, with brass instruments and woodwinds backing the sharp metal tones.
The song "Dark Chest of Wonders" is a perfect example of symphonic metal.
The song starts off with a soft voice, that quickly transitions into a heavy metal guitar riff, with a keyboard providing orchestra hits in the background. More guitar follows, a vocal choir joining in as well.
Nightwish, the Finnish Symphonic metal band, specializes in this different style of music. This song in particular is one of their best, which is why I've chosen to write about it.
Dark Chest of Wonders, in comparison to some of the other songs Nightwish has produced, is relatively short. Some of the scores extend for up to 10 minutes in other songs, this song only about 3-4 minutes.
Upon listening, you'll probably be able to tell that it isn't exactly normal music that everybody listens to. It contains a lot of elements that aren't really in modern music. Opera vocals are sung by Tarja Turnenan, only the backing vocals being emulated by the keyboard.
The lyrics definitely apply a fantasy setting to the song, which is fitting for the type of music. There are plenty of songs that make reference to different Scandinavian legends and lore, some more than others.
The drumming is nothing too different from modern metal beats - Prominent, sharp double kick-pedal thumps, hard snare hits, and good technique. The guitar as well emits a common metal riff.
Nearing the end of the song, woodwinds join in as melody, accompanying the guitar riffs, giving the song much more of an epic feel. In the last few seconds of the song, the keyboard delivers a few more orchestra hits, before bringing the song to a close.
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