#Anvil band 1980s drivers

Raucousness ensued with Lips opting to forego the stage altogether, choosing instead to join the crowd with his signature Flying V. When the lights dimmed to signal it was almost Anvil time, fans jogged to the front excited as teenagers. Occasionally striking slightly over-the-top rock star poses for the benefit of the same old-school Metal spirit on display earlier by our mystery marquee buddy. The frontmen for support acts Midnight Hellion and White Wizzard (Rich Kubik and Mikey Dean, respectively) went to work on the room, skillfully picking their moments to engage. There could not have been more than a hundred people at The Magic Bag that night, and none of them seemed the least bit phased by that.

#Anvil band 1980s drivers

How the hell does a band that directly inspired members from all of “The Big Four,” headlined tours with support from bands like Whitesnake and Scorpions, and prompted Lemmy to attempt recruiting Lips to play for Motörhead end up living in near obscurity as catering delivery drivers and construction workers? What most would perceive as a tragic failure, Lips and his best friend, original Anvil drummer Robb Reiner, have taken all of the punches thrown at them and turned them into good-natured middle fingers they point at anybody who tries to suggest maybe it’s time Anvil call it a day. A documentary that itself seems like a Spinal Tap spinoff, the story of Anvil presented in the film is almost too ridiculous to believe. This short exchange, before even entering the building, seemed like a deleted scene from Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Bassist Sean Awful joked that if the guy wanted to exaggerate his musical roots, “He should have picked a bigger band.”

The guys from Ugly But Proud quickly and politely made it known they had no idea who this dude was. But because my social skills are sickly and lamentable, I didn’t catch his name. He assured me that his band, Ugly But Proud, was a big name in the 1980’s Detroit Metal scene. Meeting people like him at shows featuring older acts really helps preserve Metal’s vitality. I was joined in my disdain by a fellow marquee critic who remarked, “Unbelievable! This is fucking Anvil, for fuck’s sake!” His old-school enthusiasm made up for the lack of outside advertising, and I appreciated that a great deal. Billed above an upcoming “Mega 80’s” celebration featuring the music of Prince, it was a difficult slight to ignore.

Upon arrival, I questioned The Magic Bag’s dedication to championing heavy music, regardless of pedigree, as Anvil’s name took up real estate exclusively on the west side of the venue’s marquee. The Magic Bag is not known for hosting Metal shows, but it was advertised as an “intimate” performance, which gave off a low-key vibe from the jump. This was the second show of a 40-date tour of the States.

All of this would be true with or without any level of success in the music business let alone any longevity in an increasingly picky Metal scene. His natural personality is more likable than half of Hollywood, and it was an honor to be in the same room with the man. Particularly Steve “Lips” Kudlow, who is an inspirational dude. There is something so completely genuine about these guys, it would take a soulless ass hat to want anything but success for them. There are so many roads an Anvil story could travel, and every bump along the way would be interesting somehow. To give you all some idea of the impression this show left, in attempting to discuss the evening, it has taken me the better part of two days to write as many sentences.

On tour supporting their nineteenth studio album, “Impact Is Imminent,” Canadian Metal legends Anvil hit the stage hard last Thursday night in Ferndale, Michigan.