First of all, I must implore anyone that has a love for Rock or Metal music to go out an see "Anvil: The Story of Anvil" if you can still catch it in the theater. It is probably the best Rockumentary I have ever saw. As I stated earlier if you click the link in my first post you can find where the band will be playing after a viewing of the movie. Definately worth the ticket price! I got to see a great movie and then a short live concert afterwards (they played 5 songs) for less than $10! You can't beat that with a Hammer!
So here is my personal Anvil story.
In 1987 I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan while serving in the USMC. There was a very cool little music store in Naha that I frequented because they specialized in carrying Metal music. I got to know the owner pretty well (If I remember correctly his name was Yoshii) and he on occassion would suggest certain bands, this is how I discovered many bands such as Accept, the excellent Japanese metal band Loudness and Anvil. I had stopped in and was puchasing some new music, and as I was finishing up Yoshii asked me if I have ever heard of the band Anvil, I told him that I had not. He told me that he seen them play at a huge festival in mainland Japan and that they were excellent. He went out into his store and grabbed a brand new copy of Anvil's Metal On Metal and handed it too me. Yoshii said take it, listen to it and if I liked it then come back and pay for it. Sounded like an offer that I couldn't refuse so off I went with it. As soon as I got in a cab to head back to base, I popped it in my cassette player and was blown away! The album kick off with the title song "Metal on Metal" and I was immediatly hooked.
About two weeks later (next payday!) I headed back to Naha to see Yoshii and thank him for introducing me to Anvil. I tried to pay him for the cassette but he refused, so instead I bought Anvil's Forged in Fire cassette, which rocked just as hard.
Now we flash 22 years forward and I am watching an episode of "That Metal Show" and out comes Anvil! I had forgotten all about them and was so happy to hear that they were still around and making new music. During the show they talked about how the movie came about and I decided that I had to see it. Sadly, my Anvil cassettes had long since left my possession (lost a lot of my music when I got out of the USMC), so I couldn't dig them up to listen to those classics again, but thanks to youtube I was able to find videos there to fill the void.
So I then find out that the Anvil movie is going to be playing at our local independent alternative movie theater in Cincy the Esquire Theatre http://www.esquiretheatre.com/ so one Saturday I head up to catch a 5pm show. When I get to the ticket counter they tell me "Do you know that the band is going to be here to play tonight after the midnight show?" I flipped. I went ahead and purchased tickets to see the 5pm show and watched it. About 3 time during the movie, Rob Reiner (drummer) poked his head in the theatre to say hey and check it out. I returned later that night to see the midnight show, bought the new cd that is featured in the movie, got is signed by the entire band and then got to see them play. After they played, the band stayed in the theatre and talked to everyone, what a great group of guys. It was an amazing night! The new cd by the way is excellent, it is titled "This is Thirteen" GET IT NOW!!! Now I am saving my allowance to re-purchase those first three albums, I must return them to my collection.
SO that is my Anvil story. I leave you with a few Anvil videos and a special request from my best Bro. His request was a posting of Glen Danzig (whose music I love) getting Knocked the Fuck Out! He can be a litte bit dickish.
Here it is the Classic Metal Anthem...Metal On Metal!!!
And Now...THis Is THirTeen!!!
And finally by request, Glen Danzig KTFO!
