BBC 4: Heavy Metal Britannia/Anvil documentary |
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12816 |
Topic: BBC 4: Heavy Metal Britannia/Anvil documentary Posted: November 01 2010 at 06:50 |
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Rather in the form that Prog Rock Britannia took, I watched with growing delight BBC 4's latest rockumentary Heavy Metal Britannia, last Friday night. This covered the evolution and the first 12-15 years of the development and changes of this form of music, from a UK perspective. I could hardly fault the examples of influential bands sampled although by the time somebody from Diamond Head was interviewed, I was asking "Who?" (thus reflecting the limits of my interest in this genre).
Surprisingly the majority of talking heads said intelligent things and made interesting observations about the music's evolution (note: no modern day Ozzie). The examples of music footage shown were largely very good, starting with Blue Cheer's version of Summertime Blues. And what tickled my funny bone (suggesting I shouldn't take this too seriously) there were numerous sub-1 second sound effects seemingly to emphasis jokingly some point just made. Jon Lord was on good form, citing where Deep Purple had lifted various riffs (although Bombay Calling or Bach weren't mentioned). And even when there was a risk of heavy handedness to make certain points, e.g. Steppenwolf apparently using the term heavy metal first in lyrics (in Born To Be Wild ) 'heavy metal thunder', the repetition was in the recording. No doubt BBC4 will repeat this 90 minutes documentary again in the near future - so strongly recommend you watch it, at least for some unexpected intelligence being spoken............ and some good music.
What rounded off a good evening of music was the repeat of a documentary on Canadian heavy specialists Anvil - "the real Spinal tap" as BBC announced, which appears to be close to the truth. This was a programme about the persistence of hope against the odds, covering 3 or so years of band trying to resurrect and survive whilst holding done jobs, starting from ~2005. The film kicks off with a lot of successful heavy bands citing the influence Anvil had on them. However, we were then taken to a food processing plant outside of Toronto, from where Anvil's founder Lips is found to be driving a van of food to local schools. Then we share moments over the next three years of very bad management, being screwed by venue bookers, record companies etc. as the band tries to tour during leave of absense from work. Very soon you can't help but feel sorry forAnvil since many things have and continue to pass them by, leaving a little fame (and a small devote fan base) but absolutely no fortune - and it continues to happen. A lesson for aspiring new bands..... Edited by Dick Heath - November 01 2010 at 06:53 |
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harmonium.ro
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989 |
Posted: November 01 2010 at 06:56 | |
Sounds interesting, I'm looking forward to seeing it on YouTube
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Snow Dog
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2005 Location: Caerdydd Status: Offline Points: 32995 |
Posted: November 01 2010 at 06:57 | |
That must be a repeat because i'm pretty sure it was on about 6 months or so ago.
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toroddfuglesteg
Forum Senior Member Retired Joined: March 04 2008 Location: Retirement Home Status: Offline Points: 3658 |
Posted: November 01 2010 at 07:02 | |
These two programs was sent in a combo one year ago too. Before those two programs though....... you missed it....... was a program on the making of Black Sabbath's Paranoid album. All these programs explained heavy metal and there is really nothing more to be said. I have always held these musicians in high regard on a personal level and all of them came across as smart, streetwise and intelligent people. I personally think these persons is some of the best humans to ever come out of England. But I believe that is a bit of a controversial view. Anvil..... Well, what can you say ? They have released only one good album and their views on themselves is deranged. But they are still going and never gives up. The movie is incredible and a must-watch. It says a lot about the mankind, that movie. Watching Spinal Tap will never be the same again. All around a very respectful way from BBC to deal with heavy metal. I just wish everyone was as open minded as them. As BBC rightly have conveyed, there is a lot of brain cells in the heavy metal community.
Edited by toroddfuglesteg - November 01 2010 at 07:03 |
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12816 |
Posted: November 01 2010 at 11:45 | |
I think you are right but checking the search engine here didn't produce a strike this morning. I felt this well put together documentary was worth recommending, since for instance the relationship between straight prog and heavy rock/metal is touch upon. However, I do get pissed with the tendency in the scripts here and for Prog Rock Britannia, to harp on about prog dealing with witches and fairies - to which I always ask which prog bands? - when the likes of Black Sabbath singing about the dark arts are surely dealing with wizard- and witch-craft..... and not a murmur of sarcasm
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The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
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Snow Dog
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: March 23 2005 Location: Caerdydd Status: Offline Points: 32995 |
Posted: November 01 2010 at 11:49 | |
I still have it on my hard drive but I've yet to watch it actually. What i saw looks pretty good though. And yes, critics trundle out the old cliches as normal. I have always thought the same thing...the tendency towards elves and stuff in Prog is far and few between .
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
Posted: November 03 2010 at 13:58 | |
Damn, missed it, would have liked to have seen both those programmes. Hopefully catch them sometime soon. I'll go and check "On Demand" on Virgin cable....
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lazland
Prog Reviewer Joined: October 28 2008 Location: Wales Status: Offline Points: 13740 |
Posted: November 03 2010 at 14:02 | |
BBC4 normally repeat these things quite a few times. It is well worth catching. |
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seventhsojourn
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 11 2009 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 4006 |
Posted: November 03 2010 at 15:22 | |
It's available to watch via BBC iplayer.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12816 |
Posted: November 06 2010 at 04:09 | |
Checking the BBC 4 site - the two repeats last weekend were the last for some time - it looks like the show played 6 times between late March and November |
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The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS.
CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
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Nightfly
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: August 01 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3659 |
Posted: November 06 2010 at 09:19 | |
Found it on Virgin Catch up Tv. probably wont be there for long for anyone wanting to see it.
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