“Whatever else this is, it is no longer rock music”: Ernest Hilbert’s “Heavy Metal Case Study #3, Nitro” on Ryberg, Curated Videos
by Ernie on 04/08/09 at 9:33 am
Trains used to chug along, conductors “high on cocaine,” but still choo-chooing on their mazy way, until Nitro. Nitro confronts us with something altogether different. It’s as though we drifted off on yesterday’s rock rhythms only to bolt awake on the tracks blinded by the lights of an oncoming express. All senses are overwhelmed, and then, before you know it, you’re gone. Whatever else this is, it is no longer rock music.
Nitro is a band (not a rollercoaster or wrestler) almost entirely defined by, and remembered for, gimmicks. The band boasted at least two musicians with super-powers: The lead singer Jim Gillette (Lita Ford’s husband) claimed the ability to break glasses with his voice like an opera soprano of old, and guitarist Michael Angelo Batio was allegedly the “fastest” guitarist in the world (the bass player’s powers seem to consist of his ability to swing his bass in a circle like a Weight-Throw contestant in the Highland Games; the drummer may be merely human).
Read on here or by clicking on the hairiest of hair metal bands below.
Chris Baker
Aug 4th, 2009
What David Lee Roth was to heavy metal, Louis Prima was to swing. DLR’s swing covers (and stage persona) were lifted directly from Prima. Just add longer hair, tighter pants, and more cocaine. (Eddie Van Halen’s update of Keely Smith was inspiring, however.)
Dig the article! It’s an extended “get off my lawn” to heavy metal. Wheedle-wheedle wee!!!
I love train songs. After a songwriter writes a love song, he should write a train song. It’s essential.
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