HEAVY Rotation: Quiet Riot’s “Cum On Feel the Noize”
Quiet Riot may widely be considered a one two-hit wonder, but the truth is, they were one of the most successful metal bands of the ’80s.
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In preparation of their North American debut record, Quiet Riot was told by a record producer to record a demo version of a cover song. He insisted on ’70s glam rock outfit Slade’s hit, “Cum On Feel the Noize” from a decade earlier. “We hated it,” said drummer Frankie Banali in VH1’s 2006 rockumentary, HEAVY: The Story of Metal. “We didn’t want to do it. [Lead singer] Kevin DuBrow was dead set on not doing it.” |
They purposely played the song badly in hopes that a decidedly poor attempt would get the song cut from the demo. But when Banali started with the pounding drum track, DuBrow glared at him through the glass of the studio because it sounded good–too good to be dropped.
Evidently, the producer loved the song and it was kept on their 1983 album, Metal Health. After the first single, “Bang Your Head (Metal Health)”, only reached #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, “Cum On Feel the Noize” was released as a single.
We hated it. We didn’t want to do it. Kevin DuBrow was dead set on not doing it. Frankie Banali
VH1’s HEAVY (2006)  |
It reached #5.
Then, on the last week of November 1983, Metal Health reached the #1 album position ahead of Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down, The Police’s Synchronicity and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. It became the first heavy metal album to peak at the top of the charts, thanks to the success of an unrehearsed glam rock cover.
“What you have on record is the first take,” said Banali. “That was the first time that we had ever played that song.”
Just imagine what it would sound like if they tried to play it well.
HEAVY Rotation: Anvil’s “Metal on Metal”
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Of all the Canadian heavy metal bands, Anvil is the most respected, but was once the least known. Singer and guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner formed the beginnings of Anvil as teenagers in Reiner’s basement. They gained notoriety with their signature song, “Metal on Metal,” off of their 1982 sophomore album of the same name. They toured the world with Bon Jovi, Scorpions and Whitesnake and outperformed the likes of Metallica and Anthrax. Then they faded into obscurity… |
Lips got a 9-to-5 grind driving delivery trucks for Children’s Choice Catering and Reiner took up construction. But in their free time, they kept playing in Anvil, even if that meant performing for empty dive bars.
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Anvil Discography
Hard ‘n’ Heavy (1981) |
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Now we’re getting praise for never selling out and sticking to our guns. Steve “Lips” Kudlow
Exclaim!, 2010 |
Their comeback is documented in 2009’s critically acclaimed Anvil! The Story of Anvil by award-winning director and long-time fan, Sacha Gervasi. The film candidly shows the band’s low and high points, following them from crowds you can count on one hand to sold-out, 20,000-person stadiums.
“Now we’re getting praise for never selling out and sticking to our guns,” said Lips of the film’s reception. “It’s a celebration. We got our notoriety on our own terms. We’ve done what we want, not what someone told us to do.”
Lips is no longer the only one who craves “Metal on Metal.” Since the film’s release, Anvil CD sales have increased in their entire back catalogue of alliterary album titles. The band has played such major rock and metal festivals as England’s Download (120,000 in attendance) and Seattle’s Bumbershoot (150,000 in attendance).
They’ve toured smaller venues in the U.S. and Canada, but are now able to make a living off on metal.
HEAVY Rotation: Warrant’s “Cherry Pie”
To most, Warrant is a one-hit wonder like so many ‘80s Sunset Strip glam bands, but despite other hit singles, their innuendo-riddled “Cherry Pie” is the song the band will most be remembered for.
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As the story goes, lead singer Jani Lane received a phone call from Columbia Records president Don Ienner leading up to the release of their then-untitled sophomore album. Ienner wanted a rock anthem a la Aerosmith’s “Love in an Elevator” to be on the record–something that would get copious amounts of radio airplay. Within fifteen minutes, Lane had written the lyrics to Warrant’s most well-known single–on a pizza box. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Charts and the album of the same name went double-platinum. |
But with mainstream success came accusations of selling out. That three-and-a-half minute song overhauled the marketing of their second album and overshadowed other singles like “Heaven” and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”
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I could shoot myself in the f**king head for writing that song. Jani Lane
VH1’s HEAVY (2006) |
Members of the band didn’t even think it was their best music. In an interview with the VH1 rock doc, HEAVY: The Story of Metal, Lane expressed deep regret for penning the track and giving it to Columbia.
“All of a sudden, the album’s called Cherry Pie, the record’s called Cherry Pie, I’m doing cherry pie-eating contests, the singles ‘Cherry Pie,'” he said. “I could shoot myself in the f**king head for writing that song.”
He later clarified that the producers had caught him on a bad day, but it seems Lane may still have had some resentment for one smash hit almost negating everything else that they ever recorded.
With the recent passing of Lane, hopefully more people will be introduced to Warrant’s music–not just a slice of “Cherry Pie.”
Jani Lane
February 1, 1964 ~ August 11, 2011
Jacob Zinn :: journalist + photographer 
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