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Anvil (band)

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For other uses, see Anvil (disambiguation).
Anvil
at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles on March 5, 2010. l-r Glenn Five, Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner
at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles on March 5, 2010. l-r Glenn Five, Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner
Background information
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresHeavy metal, power metal, speed metal, thrash metal
Years active1978–present
LabelsAttic, Maximum, Massacre, Hypnotic, Metal Blade
MembersSteve "Lips" Kudlow
Robb Reiner
Glenn Five
Past membersIvan Hurd
Sebastian Marino
Ian Dickson
Dave Allison
Mike Duncan
Websiteanvilmetal.com/

Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band comprising Steve "Lips" Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar), Robb Reiner (drums), and Glenn Five (bass, backing vocals). To date, the band has released fourteen studio albums, and has been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, including Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, and Metallica.[1]

The band, in particular Kudlow and Reiner, was the subject of the 2008 documentary film Anvil! The Story of Anvil, directed by the screenwriter and former Anvil roadie Sacha Gervasi. Upon its release, the film garnered critical acclaim from many major publications, and has since brought the band renewed recognition, including opening slots with AC/DC and Saxon. Appearances at major heavy metal festivals, including Download, Bumbershoot and Loud Park, also followed the release of the film.

Their Story

The Early Years

The roots of Anvil began in April 1973 in Toronto, when high school friends Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner began playing music together. They met through friend, guitarist and neighbour Marty Hoffman, but “musical differences” caused his departure after their first show.[2] By 1978, the first full line-up of the band included Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar), Reiner (drums), Dave "Squirrely" Allison (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ian "Dix" Dickson (bass).[2] At this point, the band was called Lips.

In 1981, the band released an independent album called Hard 'N' Heavy. Shortly after they were signed by Attic Records, changed their name to Anvil and the independent album was released by Attic as their debut album. Following its release, Lemmy Kilmister asked Lips to play guitar for Motörhead to replace "Fast" Eddie Clarke, but Lips declined.[3] By 1983, Aerosmith manager David Krebs and assistant Paul O'Neill signed Anvil and convinced Attic to release the band from their contract so the band could sign with a major label.[4] However after initial interest, Krebs eventually stopped returning phone calls and did not get the band a major label recording contract, but eventually released the band from the managing contract allowing the band to find their own record deal in mid-1986.[5]

Obscurity

Free to pursue a recording contract, they were signed by American label Metal Blade Records in 1987, by William Howell (a fan who is now a DJ with KNAC radio). They released three records with Metal Blade, starting with Strength of Steel, which was the group's most commercially successful record in the United States, peaking at #191 on the Billboard 200.[6] Anvil were then picked up by Maximum Records, an independent Canadian label that was formed by Helix's manager-at-the-time William Seip. From 1996 they were signed by Hypnotic Records in Canada and Massacre Records in Germany.[7] In 2001, the band recorded Plenty of Power and continued touring in which Kudlow remarked "We'll play gigs sometimes where there's no one there".[2]

Anvil! The Story of Anvil documentary, This Is Thirteen

In 2006, the band recorded with Chris Tsangarides, who previously produced their acclaimed 1982 album Metal on Metal. The CD was self-released as This Is Thirteen in 2007,[8] and was available exclusively from the band's official website.[9]

The band's history has been documented in the documentary film Anvil! The Story of Anvil released in 2008.[10] The film has received high praise[11] which has put Anvil back into the public consciousness,[12] propelling them to play several festivals including the Download Festival in 2009 at which they headlined the Tuborg stage.[13] Rolling Stone called the movie "the year’s most praised rock doc."[14] The band played “Cat Scratch Fever” with Slash and Anthrax’s Scott Ian at the Sundance Film Festival where the movie premiered.[15]

Regarding the movie, Kudlow states:[16]

It stands as a prime example of what an industry—particularly the music industry—can put an artist through. At the same time, I take responsibility for our actions in the past. We were just sustaining who we are. Now someone's come along and brought it to a new level. Now we're getting praise for never selling out and sticking to our guns. 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.

Following the success of the Anvil documentary, VH1 Classic Records re-released This Is Thirteen on CD and vinyl on September 15, 2009 with a newly recorded song, "Thumb Hang". Guitarist Ivan Hurd left the band at this stage to settle down with his new wife. The double-vinyl LP contains re-recorded versions of Anvil classics "Metal on Metal" and "666."[17]

Lips from Anvil at the El Mocambo, Toronto 1989

2009, post "Story of Anvil"

In 2009, Bantam Press released the book Anvil: The Story of Anvil authored by Kudlow and Reiner with a foreword by Slash.[18] On March 28, 2009 Kudlow and Reiner were the featured guests on VH1 Classic's That Metal Show. Anvil played the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma in 2009, and opened for AC/DC at their first few summer Black Ice World Tour shows (North American leg II). They also supported Saxon on a leg of UK shows in November.

Anvil appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Tuesday Oct 6, 2009, the first network television appearance of their career, to coincide with the release of Anvil! The Story Of Anvil on DVD in North America, and performed "Metal on Metal".[19]

On October 8, 2009, Anvil filmed a cameo performance in a rock club for The Green Hornet.[20] On October 18, 2009, Anvil headlined the Sanctuary Stage at the Loud Park Festival in Chiba, Japan.

The 2010 European Tour

From June to July 2010 the band went on a headline tour of Europe selling out venues in the UK, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands as well as playing festivals in Finland, Sweden, France, Italy and Germany. Lips confirmed on this tour that he had in fact paid back his sister the loan to pay for the production of This is Thirteen.[21]

They released Juggernaut of Justice, their 14th studio album, on May 10, 2011.[22] Lips stated that the band drew from "about 20 songs written".[23]

Discography

Members

Current line-up
  • Steve "Lips" Kudlow - lead vocals, lead guitar (1978–present)
  • Robb "Geza" Reiner - drums (1978–present)
  • Glenn Gyorffy - bass, backing vocals (1996–present)
    • Note: Glenn Gyorffy often goes as Glenn Five or simply G5 for short.
Former members
  • Dave "Squirrely" Allison - guitar, vocals (1978–1989)
  • Ian "Dix" Dickson - bass (1978–1993)
  • Sebastian Marino - guitar (1989–1995)
  • Mike Duncan - bass (1993–1996)
  • Ivan Hurd - guitar (1995–2007)

Media

Books
  • Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0593063643
Film

Video games

Television

  • Pure Pwnage: in episode 4 of the television series, Steve Kudlow cameod as a rocker whom none of the characters knew and was referred to simply as "the rocker dude". He was portrayed as being really bad at playing "Rock Guitar Band Hero".
  • Sons of Anarchy: Steve Kudlow appeared briefly in the episode "Small Tears" as an extra who is seen carrying a bag of firearms out of a kitchen, assisting Opie and Tig.

References

  1. ^ Rodman, Sarah (April 12, 2009). "Metal band Anvil lives!". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Anvil a hard act to follow". Jam!. March 15, 2001. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  3. ^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0593063643 page 12
  4. ^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0593063643 page 151
  5. ^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0593063643 page 187
  6. ^ Charts, Allmusic
  7. ^ "Anvil Massacre Releases". Massacre Records. 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  8. ^ "ANVIL In London: Interview, Performance Footage Available". Blabbermouth.net. February 20, 2009.
  9. ^ "This is Thirteen". www.anvilmetal.tk.
  10. ^ "Movie Review: Sweetness and humor lighten load of 'Anvil'". Sacramento Bee. May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009. [dead link‍]
  11. ^ "'Anvil': For Heavy-Metal Vets, It's A Hard-Rock Life". NPR. April 10, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  12. ^ Anderson, John (May 18, 2008). "Heavy Metal, Light on the Success". New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  13. ^ "Rock band Anvil on a roll as docu hits theaters". Reuters. April 2, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  14. ^ "Anvil Exposed: Canadian Metal Vets Rock With Slash, Talk Doc". Rolling Stone. January 2, 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  15. ^ ""Anvil! The True Story of Anvil": The Year's Great Rock Movie?". Rolling Stone. May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  16. ^ Poseur, Nameless (2010-10-21). "Anvil's Steve "Lips" Kudlow". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
  17. ^ "News". Anvil band. 2009. Retrieved 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessibility= ignored (help)
  18. ^ ""Anvil! The True Story of Anvil" Book". www.anvilbook.co.uk. May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  19. ^ "Tonight show". www.anvilmetal.tk. 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009. [dead link‍]
  20. ^ "Anvil to Appear in Green Hornet,". News in Film. 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
  21. ^ [1][dead link‍]
  22. ^ "This Is Anvil!". Slate (magazine). April 10, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  23. ^ bravewords.com. "ANVIL - 20 Songs Written For New Record". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
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