Anvil

Anvil
at the Independent Spirit Awards in Los Angeles on March 5, 2010. l-r former bassist Glenn Five, Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner
Background information
Also known as	Lips
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Speed metal, heavy metal, thrash metal
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Attic Maximum Massacre Hypnotic Metal Blade The End
Website	anvilmetal.com/

Members	Steve "Lips" Kudlow Robb Reiner Sal Italiano

Past members	Ivan Hurd Sebastian Marino Ian Dickson Dave Allison Mike Duncan Glenn Gyorffy

Anvil are a Canadian heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1978. The band consists of Steve "Lips" Kudlow (vocals, guitar), Robb Reiner (drums) and Sal Italiano (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 both major heavy metal festivals, including Download, Bumbershoot and Loud Park, and independent music festivals like SXSW, also followed the release of the film.

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] In 2012, during an exclusive interview with Metal Shock Finland's Chief Editor, Mohsen Fayyazi, Steve stated the following when he was asked about David Krebs:

“

...David had little or no knowledge of metal music. He managed Aerosmith and thought we were a great opener, but beyond that he couldn’t find us a deal without including our first three albums in a deal. The company Attic refused to license or release those recordings in the USA. This made it impossible for David to go forward with us. He pulled us out of the contract with Attic and left us to die or what ever!! We wrote Strength of Steel and recorded it on our own and released it through Metal Blade. Unfortunately this was 4 years after Forged in Fire which made the album 3 years too late...

”

[6] [7]

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 No. 191 on the Billboard 200.[8] 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.[9] According to Lips, without the german fans and the german contract, today there would be no ANVIL. Germany was the only market for reasonable sales in that period, so it kept the band running and gave them the opportunity to do more records.[10] 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,[11] and was available exclusively from the band's official website.[12]

The band's history has been documented in the documentary film Anvil! The Story of Anvil released in 2008.[13] The film has received high praise[14] which has put Anvil back into the public consciousness,[15] propelling them to play several festivals including the Download Festival in 2009 at which they headlined the Tuborg stage.[16] Rolling Stone called the movie "the year’s most praised rock doc."[17] The band played “Cat Scratch Fever” with Slash and Anthrax’s Scott Ian at the Sundance Film Festival where the movie premiered.[18]

Regarding the movie, Kudlow states:[19]

“

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."[20]

In 2009, Bantam Press released the book Anvil: The Story of Anvil authored by Kudlow and Reiner with a foreword by Slash.[21] 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 on October 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".[22]

On October 8, 2009, Anvil filmed a cameo performance in a rock club for The Green Hornet.[23] On October 18, 2009, Anvil headlined the Sanctuary Stage at the Loud Park Festival in Chiba, Japan.

Juggernaut of Justice

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 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.[24]

They released Juggernaut of Justice, their 14th studio album, on May 10, 2011.[25] Lips stated that the band drew from "about 20 songs written".[26]

Following the release of the album the band completed yet more tours in Europe and North America often playing alongside legends Alice Cooper & Saxon. The band released a new greatest hits album Monument of Metal: The Very Best of Anvil. Anvil also started re-releasing their old material starting with Strength of Steel, Pound For Pound and Worth the Weight later that same year.

In January 2012 Glenn Gyorffy quit Anvil citing creative differences. Lips confirmed that another player has been found to fill in on the remainder of the their tour dates.[27] Anvil embarked on their 2012 Winter Tour of the US with Sal Italiano on bass, formerly a bassist for an Iron Maiden tribute band. During Steve's interview with Metal Shock Finland, he stated:

“

We hired an old friend to do the tour and are currently working with a new, improved bassist. There was no major issue in fixing this at all, and in fact, everything was sorted out within a few hours of Glenn departing. Glenn tried to make it difficult by leaving without proper notice, but we've been preparing for this for quite some time. This did end up for the better, as it is a huge improvement with our new guy, both musically as well as personally.

”

[28] [29] [30]

Hope in Hell

May 2013 saw the release of "Hope in Hell", a new Anvil studio recording again produced by Bob Marlette, who - according to Lips - contributed a lot to songwriting skills and arrangements. The whole album was written by Lips and Rob alone. In some songs Lips was inspired by his love of heavy "rock'n'roll", which made him feel he "found his way home"[10] to the time when they did their first record. The band will be touring to promote that album - in fall 2013 they plan to play Europe, and in summer of 2014 they are supposed to play some european festival gigs.[10]

Discography

Studio Albums

1981: Hard 'n' Heavy (Attic)
1982: Metal on Metal (Attic)
1983: Forged in Fire (Attic)
1987: Strength of Steel (Metal Blade)
1988: Pound for Pound (Metal Blade)
1992: Worth the Weight (Maximum Records)
1996: Plugged in Permanent (Hypnotic/Massacre)
1997: Absolutely No Alternative (Hypnotic/Massacre)
1999: Speed of Sound (Hypnotic/Massacre)
2001: Plenty of Power (Hypnotic/Massacre)
2002: Still Going Strong (Hypnotic/Massacre)
2004: Back to Basics (2004) (Attic)
2007: This Is Thirteen (Independent)
2011: Juggernaut of Justice (The End Records)
2013: Hope in Hell (The End Records)

Live Albums

1989: Past and Present – Live in Concert (Metal Blade)

Compilation Albums

1985: Backwaxed (Attic)
1999: Anthology of Anvil (Metal Blade/Hypnotic)
2011: Monument of Metal (The End Records)

Members

Current members

Steve "Lips" Kudlow – lead vocals, lead guitar (1978–present)
Robb "Geza" Reiner – drums (1978–present)
Sal Italiano – bass guitar (2012–present)

Former members

Dave "Squirrely" Allison – guitar, vocals (1978–1989)
Ian "Dix" Dickson – bass guitar (1978–1993)
Sebastian Marino – guitar (1989–1995)
Mike Duncan – bass guitar (1993–1996)
Ivan Hurd – guitar (1995–2007)
Glenn "Glenn Five" Gyorffy – bass guitar, backing vocals (1996–2012)

Timeline

Media

Books

Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3

Film

Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers: beginning credits contain the Anvil song "Straight Between the Eyes" playing, and "Wild Eyes" is also heard (both from their Strength of Steel album).
Anvil! The Story of Anvil, a documentary by Sacha Gervasi, filmed from late 2005 to 2007.
The Green Hornet features Anvil performing at a club.
The Final Destination, Anvil are heard playing "Burning Bridges".

Video games

Brütal Legend, their songs "March of the Crabs" and "Tag Team" are featured in the game.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a dedicated radio station in the PSP version.
Rock Band 2, their songs "666", "This is Thirteen" and "Metal on Metal" are available as downloadable content.

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".
Simpsons: A clip of "Metal on Metal" plays in the episode "Lisa Simpson, This Isn’t Your Life".
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.
Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: Their song "Metal on Metal" can be heard playing in the episode "B.Y.O.B.O.P.E.".

References

^ Rodman, Sarah (April 12, 2009). "Metal band Anvil lives!". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ a b c "Anvil a hard act to follow". Jam!. March 15, 2001. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 12
^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 151
^ Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 187
^ "Exclusive Interview With Legendary “LIPS”, ANVIL: Glenn tried to make it difficult by leaving without proper notice but we’ve been preparing for this for quite sometime.". Metal Shock Finland. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
^ "ANVIL Frontman: GLENN FIVE 'Tried To Make It Difficult By Leaving Without Proper Notice'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
^ Charts, Allmusic
^ "Anvil Massacre Releases". Massacre Records. 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ a b c ""Interview with Lips: Without Germany – NO ANVIL"". entertaim.net. Retrieved may 20, 2013.
^ "ANVIL In London: Interview, Performance Footage Available". Blabbermouth.net. February 20, 2009.
^ "This is Thirteen". www.anvilmetal.tk.
^ "Movie Review: Sweetness and humor lighten load of 'Anvil'". Sacramento Bee. May 1, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009. [dead link]
^ "'Anvil': For Heavy-Metal Vets, It's A Hard-Rock Life". NPR. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ Anderson, John (May 18, 2008). "Heavy Metal, Light on the Success". New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ "Rock band Anvil on a roll as docu hits theaters". Reuters. April 2, 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ "Anvil Exposed: Canadian Metal Vets Rock With Slash, Talk Doc". Rolling Stone. January 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ ""Anvil! The True Story of Anvil": The Year’s Great Rock Movie?". Rolling Stone. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ Poseur, Nameless (2010-10-21). "Anvil's Steve "Lips" Kudlow". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
^ "News". Anvil band. 2009. Retrieved 2009. Unknown parameter |accessibility= ignored (help)
^ ""Anvil! The True Story of Anvil" Book". www.anvilbook.co.uk. May 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ "Tonight show". www.anvilmetal.tk. 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009. [dead link]
^ "Anvil to Appear in Green Hornet,". News in Film. 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
^ [1][dead link]
^ "This Is Anvil!". Slate (magazine). April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
^ bravewords.com. "ANVIL - 20 Songs Written For New Record". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
^ "ANVIL's Longtime Bassist GLENN FIVE Quits". BlabberMouth.
^ "Exclusive Interview With Legendary “LIPS”, ANVIL: Glenn tried to make it difficult by leaving without proper notice but we’ve been preparing for this for quite sometime.". Metal Shock Finland. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
^ "ANVIL's Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow On Departure Of Bassist Glenn Five - "It Is A Huge Improvement With Our New Guy, Both Musically And Personally"". bravewords.com. January 17, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
^ "ANVIL Frontman: GLENN FIVE 'Tried To Make It Difficult By Leaving Without Proper Notice'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 31, 2012.

External links

Official website
Anvil Movie Website
( http://www.friendburst.com/anvilips/ )

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