When Ronnie James Dio felt dissed by not getting invited to sing for “Do They Know it’s Christmas” and “We Are the World,” he organized his own all-star heavy metal charity fundraising song - “Stars”
I'm glad we met. Our musical tastes are probably aligned, although I am a bit older. And I really enjoy a group of diverse guitarists soloing and trading licks. Those days are gone, but not forgotten! Great commenters you have Steve! That Brad guy seems pretty cool. (Sorry I said licks - may have to explain to the kids 😀).
Ha - I have great commenters and silent readers! I don’t think trading licks confuses the younger folks or make them think it’s some sexual exchange. Though maybe both! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Fun column Steve, and thanks for the shout-out! The big thing for metal nerds with this video was seeing who can identify more of the participants on the fly, in real time. Given that they all had the same hair, it's not that easy.
Oned important thing about Hear 'n Aid is that metal has an undeserved reputation in the wider world of being a place for angry misanthropes. But metal started the way the Blues did, as a medium of expression for the downtrodden (in metal's case, the working class of England's depressed industrial cities) and an escape valve. The fact that they did a charity event like this should be better known, it might alter a few peoples' ideas of what metal is all about.
Like you, I was more into punk and New Wave at the time hair metal peaked. I've only rediscovered metal because I found the European and Japanese scenes, which differ a LOT from our scene, such as it is. Especially the leading role of women in both of those scenes, which I guess brings things full circle. It took awhile but women are now having their say!
Great follow up to the Dio doc posting! I too had completely forgotten about Hear 'N Aid and think that the only thing I truly recall about it is how much me and my friends laughed at the somewhat clever, but ultimately cringe-worthy, name of the project. Hair metal was so easy to mock in its time if you were not a fan of it, though I (like Steve) likely had some secret appreciation for metal's
outrageous music and looks that I wasn't able to comfortably express at that period of my life.
I definitely noticed Michael McKean (as David St. Hubbins) in the pic, and also spotted Harry Shearer (as Derek Smalls) in the row in front of him. And I'm pretty sure that Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnel) is just over Michael McKean's left shoulder, though he's turned sideways. That would be all of Spinal Tap (minus whichever drummer they were about to lose from the band at the time), and does make for a fun and interesting inclusion in the group.
Thanks for shedding a light on a piece of heavy metal 80s pop music history I knew nothing about and sitting here with my real hearing aids in my mid 40s (probably connected to all the loud music booming from my Walkman I consumed) and just cracking up shut cheesiness of “hear-n-aid” but man, kudos to those rockers who didn’t have the save “star” power as the live aid crew but still went on to record this for a good cause. Something about reading this also drew parallels with “Pam and Tommy” which I watched a few months back and surprisingly didn’t suck and I rather enjoyed. It also speaks about how Tommy Lee was being pushed out by the growing surge in popularity by grunge and the Seattle scene. While I’m more new wave I also listened to my fair share of pop grunge like Pearl Jam. Also a good high school friend who was an exchange student lived next door to the lead singer for Live. Ed Kowalski (think his name was?)
Great piece, Steve! I also don't recall this effort, but I was smack dab into my 1983-1986 attending-college pop culture black hole at the time. Great Minds Think Alike Dept.: As I was reading, I had the thought you did toward the end:
I love the fact they're wanting to do a metal/hard rock Aid record, but, at some point, won't somebody BE omitted (however unintentionally), if not FEEL omitted? At the same time I was appreciating that they included Spinal Tap, I forgot about all the metal queens you thoughtfully remembered that THEY forgot!
Little-known fact (largely because it never happened!): The Hear-n-Aid Stars originally were funded by AquaNet as a sponsor, in an effort that had the working title, "Heavy Metal's Hear'n'Aid--I Can't Hair You!" I know....shear lunacy, right? See why it never got off the ground (until it underwent a thorough sweeping)?
I look forward to watching the video, however long. Speaking of song length, I used to enjoy playing with callers when I was doing FM rock radio in the mid-'70s: When someone asked me to play "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'd ask, "The single version, the album track, or the 3-day live version?" This was fun, Steve! Thanks!
Ooh, a cutting remark, indeed!✂I forgot to mention that the room in which the historic hirsute horde is huddling was the old A&M main studio (the label has since relocated elsewhere). A&M Records used to inhabit the old Charlie Chaplin movie studios/lot on LaBrea, just behind the Safeway that was at the corner of Sunset @ LaBrea! I had befriended an employee there in the '70s, and he kindly gave me a tour of the plant in '80, after my move to L.A.!
I'm sad that I have zero recollection of this song or event! But man, they have huge powerhouse voices -- love hearing them belt it out!
I'm glad we met. Our musical tastes are probably aligned, although I am a bit older. And I really enjoy a group of diverse guitarists soloing and trading licks. Those days are gone, but not forgotten! Great commenters you have Steve! That Brad guy seems pretty cool. (Sorry I said licks - may have to explain to the kids 😀).
Ha - I have great commenters and silent readers! I don’t think trading licks confuses the younger folks or make them think it’s some sexual exchange. Though maybe both! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Fun column Steve, and thanks for the shout-out! The big thing for metal nerds with this video was seeing who can identify more of the participants on the fly, in real time. Given that they all had the same hair, it's not that easy.
Oned important thing about Hear 'n Aid is that metal has an undeserved reputation in the wider world of being a place for angry misanthropes. But metal started the way the Blues did, as a medium of expression for the downtrodden (in metal's case, the working class of England's depressed industrial cities) and an escape valve. The fact that they did a charity event like this should be better known, it might alter a few peoples' ideas of what metal is all about.
Like you, I was more into punk and New Wave at the time hair metal peaked. I've only rediscovered metal because I found the European and Japanese scenes, which differ a LOT from our scene, such as it is. Especially the leading role of women in both of those scenes, which I guess brings things full circle. It took awhile but women are now having their say!
Great follow up to the Dio doc posting! I too had completely forgotten about Hear 'N Aid and think that the only thing I truly recall about it is how much me and my friends laughed at the somewhat clever, but ultimately cringe-worthy, name of the project. Hair metal was so easy to mock in its time if you were not a fan of it, though I (like Steve) likely had some secret appreciation for metal's
outrageous music and looks that I wasn't able to comfortably express at that period of my life.
I definitely noticed Michael McKean (as David St. Hubbins) in the pic, and also spotted Harry Shearer (as Derek Smalls) in the row in front of him. And I'm pretty sure that Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnel) is just over Michael McKean's left shoulder, though he's turned sideways. That would be all of Spinal Tap (minus whichever drummer they were about to lose from the band at the time), and does make for a fun and interesting inclusion in the group.
That’s right- they were all there! Though the Wiki story only lists McKean as actually singing on the main track.
Thanks for shedding a light on a piece of heavy metal 80s pop music history I knew nothing about and sitting here with my real hearing aids in my mid 40s (probably connected to all the loud music booming from my Walkman I consumed) and just cracking up shut cheesiness of “hear-n-aid” but man, kudos to those rockers who didn’t have the save “star” power as the live aid crew but still went on to record this for a good cause. Something about reading this also drew parallels with “Pam and Tommy” which I watched a few months back and surprisingly didn’t suck and I rather enjoyed. It also speaks about how Tommy Lee was being pushed out by the growing surge in popularity by grunge and the Seattle scene. While I’m more new wave I also listened to my fair share of pop grunge like Pearl Jam. Also a good high school friend who was an exchange student lived next door to the lead singer for Live. Ed Kowalski (think his name was?)
Great piece, Steve! I also don't recall this effort, but I was smack dab into my 1983-1986 attending-college pop culture black hole at the time. Great Minds Think Alike Dept.: As I was reading, I had the thought you did toward the end:
I love the fact they're wanting to do a metal/hard rock Aid record, but, at some point, won't somebody BE omitted (however unintentionally), if not FEEL omitted? At the same time I was appreciating that they included Spinal Tap, I forgot about all the metal queens you thoughtfully remembered that THEY forgot!
Little-known fact (largely because it never happened!): The Hear-n-Aid Stars originally were funded by AquaNet as a sponsor, in an effort that had the working title, "Heavy Metal's Hear'n'Aid--I Can't Hair You!" I know....shear lunacy, right? See why it never got off the ground (until it underwent a thorough sweeping)?
I look forward to watching the video, however long. Speaking of song length, I used to enjoy playing with callers when I was doing FM rock radio in the mid-'70s: When someone asked me to play "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'd ask, "The single version, the album track, or the 3-day live version?" This was fun, Steve! Thanks!
I called dibs on all Aqua Net jokes Brad, so your pun has been disqualified. I give you credit for Shear Lunacy though.
Ooh, a cutting remark, indeed!✂I forgot to mention that the room in which the historic hirsute horde is huddling was the old A&M main studio (the label has since relocated elsewhere). A&M Records used to inhabit the old Charlie Chaplin movie studios/lot on LaBrea, just behind the Safeway that was at the corner of Sunset @ LaBrea! I had befriended an employee there in the '70s, and he kindly gave me a tour of the plant in '80, after my move to L.A.!
This one brought back some good memories. I had to watch the 10 minute version on my TV and it gave me chills 😀
You should check out the 45 minute making of video then! You’ll get super chills! https://youtu.be/0sHaQxEMM_g
I will…thanks