ALL: Originality (was: Metallica)

[Richard Lockwood]

>
> But, I do have to argue with you on originality.  Back in the day (about
> 1983 or so), their sound was very original, and they actually made a
pretty
> good effort at saving metal from the hair bands that were taking over.

Their sound *was* original - although still wore its influences firmly on
its sleeve - and Lars always seemd to make a point of namechecking them.
Motorhead, Diamondhead and Venom.  However, (and this is a discussion we've
been having lately in the pub) can anyone out there name me a truely
original and innovative band of the last thirty / forty years or so?  The
vast majority of "new" guitar music has always just put a new twist on Chuck
Berry and Ike Turner - maybe you can count the originators of '50s rock 'n'
roll as original - but then, wasn't that simply speeded up (and in many
cases simplified) delta blues from the 20s and 30s?  (Which in its turn
started out by putting simple guitar lines to vocal spirituals).

The only bands anyone came up with (an I'd thought of them, but kept my gob
shut for fear of accusations of "just because they're your favourite bands)
were Hawkwind (the spacey synth side - the guitar/bass/drum work was hardly
brand new), and Half Man Half Biscuit (again - purely for the lyrical side -
nothing new about jangly indy guitar or skiffle).

Venom?  Maybe lyrically but the music was simply speeded up Motorhead, which
in turn is louder, faster rock 'n' roll.

See my point?  Some folk would cite the early rap/scratch records, with good
reason - but even then the breakbeats were taken from older soul or rock
records.

So there's the challenge - come up with a band who came up with something
genuinely new, not just a new twist.

>
> So, let's give them some credit for their first 2 or 3 albums, but let's
> forever expunge them from our memories for what they did after "Justice".

First three - Kill 'em All, Ride The Lightning, and the wonderful Master of
Puppets.  Justice was (IMHO) bobbins - as was pretty much everything after
it.

>
> And as far as Lars being an intellectual, I argue again.  He's never
struck
> me as being particularly perceptive.  Maybe he just looks smart next to
> Kirk, who has never shown any intelligence beyond that of most unicellular
> life.  Yes, compared to Kirk, Lars could be quite smart indeed...    (I
> still think Jason Newsted was the smartest guy in the band, and really the
> only guy who didn't sell out.)

It's quite scary to think that Dave Mustaine was probably the brightest of
the lot of 'em!

>
> But you're dead right when you talk about Motorhead.  That's the band that
> really deserves to be mentioned when we start talking about originality!
> Let's hope Lemmy continues for many years to come!

Hear hear.  Certainly a candidate for an original band - see above!)  :-)

Cheers,

Rich.