METAL SLUDGE'S ROTTEN ROUNDUP!
Welcome to Metal Sludge's Rotten Roundup for May 2005!
Each month, we ask one ridiculous question to a random assortment of 'rock stars' and Metal Sludge celebrities, and then we'll post all their answers here in one spot. We'll ask the same question to people who have done 20 Questions with us, people who haven't done 20 Questions with us, our past Sludgeaholics and Sludgettes of the Year, and all kinds of other friends of Metal Sludge. Some answers are short, and some go on and on. Some are funny, some are not. You never know what kind of answers we'll get from people, so it'll always be a surprise. Now you have Metal Sludge's Rotten Roundup to look forward to at the end of each month. Hooray!
This month's question is:
"If you could have written and recorded any one song in history (instead of someone else having done it first), which song would it be and why?"
Mitch Allen, SR-71:
2- songs (if you will allow me)?
YESTERDAY - The Beatles: This is a no brainer. There are a lot of great songs that I wish I wrote, but this one speaks to me, and everyone else. It is such a beautiful, simple song that longs to remember life before it got complicated. I live with that idea everyday.
IN YOUR EYES - Peter Gabriel: If you've never been in love, than you won't get it. But for those of us who have loved and lost, there is no more beautiful song than this. I used to play this song for my X after we'd breakup for a period of time. It never failed to get her back into my bed, and me back into my house.
August, Killingbird:
Paint You A Picture by Blackboard Jungle. I just love the guitar work on that song. Not overly technical, but very tasteful and the melody is amazing.
Frankie Banali, Quiet Riot:
"Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin which is the epitome of how a simple groove can make a song great by it's sheer reserve.
C.C. Banana, 2003 Sludgeaholic of the Year:
I'm thinking I'd like to have recorded "Spit," an obscure Kiss tune from 1992 about banging chubby chicks (a subject near and dear to my heart). Of course, the bananimalized version would probably have been called "Split."
Jason Becker, Cacophony/DLR Band:
There are about 50 Bob Dylan songs - Hard Rain, It's All Right Ma, I'm only Bleeding, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Love Minus Zero/No Limit, Desolation Row, Masters of War, man the list goes on and on. Also, a few Stevie Wonder, Cheryl Crowe and Beatles songs. Clapton's River of Tears is also great. But if I had to pick just one, it would be John Lennon's Imagine, because it is so simple and beautiful, but it really says it all. Too bad we don't all think like Lennon.
Steve Brown, 40 Ft. Ringo/ex-Trixter:
"UNCHAINED" by The Mighty VAN HALEN, because it has one of the most bad ass Riffs in Rock history and has so much fuckin' attitude. Still to this day, every time I hear that tune, it gives me chills. Man, just think if TRIXTER had that song for the "HEAR" cd... it would have gone double platinum... he,he,he!!!!
Bunnie Blue, Sixty-10:
Probably Hound Dog, or Magical Mystery Tour or Rapper's Delight... A song that not only changed the face of music but changed the face of culture as we know it.
Eric Brittingham, Cinderella/Naked Beggars:
The original theme song for the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The writer received 500,000 per year for thirty years from ascap alone.
Jacob Bunton, Mars Electric/Lynam:
"Fallin' Apart At The Seams" by Cinderella if it was all about the music. That song is what Rock is all about. Great riff, great melody, great hook, great song. Also, "Bastard" by Motley Crue. That song is perfect. If it was all about the money, my choice would be Yesterday by The Beatles (I'm sure a lot of people said that). Considering it's the most played song in the history of radio, the royalties have got to be insane. I know the question was for any ONE song, but fuck it, I can't pick one.
Billy Childs, Britny Fox:
Happy anniversary, happy anniversary, happy anniversary, haaaaaapy anniversary!
Ethan Collins, ex-White Trash:
"I'm the One" by Van Halen. That song just has it all. It kicks ass! Great groove you can dance too. Great vocals and harmonies and probably the best guitar playing you ever heard in your life. I can imagine when VH heard the playback on that one. They must've then known that they transcended above rock stars and could now be considered "rock gods". Nothing like that song. Nothing will ever top it.
Alice Cooper:
'20th century schizoid man' by king. i didn't think that song could ever be performed live but it was and it was amazing.
Greg D?Angleo, ex-White Lion:
Tough Question - Imagine by John Lennon - or just about any other Lennon song. Whenever I hear his songs I'm blown away. He knows how to cut to the core of me! So wise! Like a hairy Buddah!
Kevin DuBrow, Quiet Riot:
"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who. Pete Townsend spoke for me as a kid and young rock and roll fan.
Jim Bob Dwarf, 2001 Sludgeaholic of the Year:
It?s a toss-up between ABC?s ?Poison Arrow? and ?Gold? by Spandau Ballet. I?ve always been a glutton for a sappy 80s pop song. Plus they both appear on the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City soundtrack! Great music to listen to in a Lamborghini as you plow down pedestrians while being chased by cops.
David Ellefson, F5/ex-Megadeth:
"Victim of Changes" by Judas Priest from their "Unleashed in the East" live album. That version is arguably one of my favorite recordings ever.
Jackie Enx, Rhino Bucket:
Son of a Preacher man... I know it's not a "rock song" but I like the whole concept... Preacher's son... a little sin... yep yep... all good
Troy Patrick Farrell, Fastmaster/Mike Tramp?s White Lion:
Over My Head by Kings X?this song really shines when they do it live..it?s like a gospel, and that?s cool since I?m not a religious person.
Marc Ferrari, ex-Keel:
"Yesterday"... the most recorded song of all time.... royalty checks the size of economies of small countries....
Glen ?Archie? Gamble, Helix/Popjoy:
"The Rainbow Connection" by Kermit The Frog?cause it would be nice to beat Dio at his own game, writing songs about rainbows!
Lizzie Grey, Spiders & Snakes/ex-London:
?I Did It My Way? in a silver space suit with a pony-skin choker. (Eat your hearts out Frank and Sid, wherever you are.)
Alex Grossi, Quiet Riot/ex-Beautiful Creatures:
"Rock-n-Roll all Night" --- then I could sell it to Gene!
Vic Hix, Shok Paris/Aftershok:
That's an easy one, it's got to be "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by IRON BUTTERFLY, I have heard all of the stories about this song, the name of the song and how messed up these guys were at the time...hell, to just be around to experience all that would have been a freakin' trip!!!!
Tricky Lane, ex-Sweet F.A.:
The song.
Imagine by John Lennon.
Why? It's Fucking perfect.
Josh Lewis, ex-Warrant:
"I Wish It Would Rain" by the Tempatations and "Hit The Road Jack" Ray Charles.
Mandy Lion, WWIII:
T.N.T by AC/DC because I don't think that there is another song that rocks as hard.
Lupus, Bloodhound Gang:
Jesus Saves by Slayer. I don't know what it is about that song, but the intro of it always sticks in my mind and I think it sounds so heavy and evil. Then again, I just described every song by Slayer.
Eric Martin, ex-Mr. Big:
?Unchained Melody? by the Righteous Brothers, A song of heartfelt desperation and a longing for love. I sang this song at a wedding (My only time) For my soundman Jerry and his bride Angela. There wasn?t a dry eye in the church including mine. It?s an incredible piece of music, very moving. I wish I wrote this magical song.
Billy McCarthy, ex-D?Molls/author, The Devil of Shakespeare:
"WE WILL ROCK YOU" ? You could feed the world for twenty years and rent Shannon Tweed for a night owning these royaltie$. Queen gets paid when sports fans stomp it on stadium bleachers! Oh to be present in the studio when Roger Taylor said to Freddy Mercury, "Can you sing anything over this stupid-ass drumbeat?"
Kenny McGee, Julliet:
"When the Levy Breaks".....Zeppelin. My all time favorite rock n' roll song. John Bonham says it all.
Chris McLernon, ex-Saigon Kick:
Beatles - She Loves You. Perfect pop song from the opening chorus to the last G major 6 chord. I have heard it all of my life and I still love it.
Matt Mercado, $upermercado/ex-Mind Bomb:
That's a tough one, there's so many great tunes out there that make me feel incompetent as a writer.
I'm going to go with "I Am The Walrus" by the Beatles simply because they were on some pretty pure acid back then, and its hard to score the good stuff these days!
Alexx Michael, Shameless:
Rock?n Roll all nite - cause it?s the ultimate Party Anthem
George Mihalovich, Aftershok:
Difficult question...to frame it and make it a bit easier, since hard rock and metal are what I know best, I guess I will stay within these styles. It's still a tough call, but I guess I'd have to say "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple. It's been played to death, but I still can't turn it off when it's on the radio. It was one of those seminal moments in music that changed everything. Songwriting, instrumentation, guitar tones, riffs, solos- it ushered in a whole era of possibilities for heavy guitar-driven rock and pushed everything in a whole new direction. Besides, who Who doesn't know the tune? It's one of those songs that has become an air-guitar cultural icon, and it's hard to argue with that kind of clout and longevity.
Darrell ?Dwarf? Millar, Killer Dwarfs/ex-Laidlaw:
I would have written "Born To Be Wild" but my cousin beat me to it. Timeless classic still heard today constantly in TV and Radio. Hale Mars Bonfire.
Jason Miller, Godhead:
"Luck Be A Lady" by Frank Sinatra. The lyrics are priceless.
Tony Mills, Shy:
If I could have written any one song in history and recorded it before anyone else, it would have been 'Search and Destroy' by Iggy and the Stooges. Raw Power - literally - Pure energy captured on vinyl. Inspired me to become a vocalist thirty years ago. That inspiration changed my life utterly and sent me round the world and back living a rock 'n' roll dream.......
Amanda Moeckel, 2002 Sludgette of the Year:
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak, so I could roll around on the beach with Helena Christensen in the video.
Pat Muzingo, Junkyard:
?Rehearsal? from Pedro the Lion. Its on the Control c.d. Everything about this song reminds me of where I came from. David Bazan is a genius. C?mon, the chorus is ?Darlin?, you are so unoriginal. Each move more obvious than the one before it?. Pretty much sums up things from 1988 ? 1992.
Wendell Neeley, The Classic Metal Show:
Check It Out by John Mellencamp. It captures life in a nutshell for the average everyday working American, as well as expressing hope for the future generations to follow.
Marty O?Brien, Tommy Lee?s Methods of Mayhem/Static-X/Disturbed/etc. etc.:
"Stripper Girl" by Metal Skool, because it's a timeless classic that will be appreciated and admired by generations to come.
Ted Poley, Danger Danger:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU," BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW PLAYED OUT IT EVER GETS, AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THE ROOM WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY TO HEAR THE SONG AND THE ROYALTIES WOULD BE THROUGH THE ROOF!
Clare pproduct, AntiProduct:
Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones. Perfect in its simplicity. Hey Ho... Lets GO!!!
Rikki Rockett, Poison:
Without a doubt, "Imagine" by John Lennon. I have never, ever heard someone say, "Geez, I hate that song." It is never just a background song, it makes you stop, listen and feel something. It's a gift to able to write a song like that.
Amy ?Stalker Jr.? Romano, 2003 Sludgette of the Year:
Poison - I Want Action. Lyrical genius. Period. End of story. Really though, I don't know. There are so many out there I'd like to choose from and even if I picked one I don't think I could come up with an explanation of why I chose it. Maybe the song meant a lot to me when I heard it, like the person was standing in my shoes. Or maybe "The guy made a million dollars" (Office Space) and I'd like to make that much money.
Billy Rowe, Jetboy/American Heartbreak:
"I Want You To Want Me" ...... because it's one of the greatest pop songs ever.
Jamie Rowe, London Calling/Guardian:
Happy Birthday To You..... and I want the publishing too! Why? Why not!
Acey Slade, Trashlight Vision/Murderdolls:
For the money I would have to say 'Bad to the Bone'. It is one of the most licensed songs in the world. For the love of it...'Truely, Madly, Deeply' by a band (Hows this for you obscure motherfuckers..) by Bakers Pink, formerly 'The Front'.
Smilin? Mike, 2004 Sludgeaholic of the Year:
"You Give Love a Bad Name", by Bon Jovi, and why?... Cuz after Jon Bon Jovi wrote n recorded that song, he got more ass than a fucking toilet seat, thats why... lol
Jaime St. James, Warrant/Black ?N Blue:
A Day in the Life, Beatles. I love that song.
Mike Tramp, White Lion:
Born to run. Because Springsteen's lyrics always bring it home for me. And I simply devour his songs like it's page out of my own life.
Joe Lynn Turner, ex-Rainbow/Deep Purple/Yngwie Malmsteen/et al.:
What is wrong with you Metal Sludge people?!? Did you have some mometary lapse of reason?!? This is a NORMAL question from you people who are known for ABnormal questions You gotta be fucking kidding. If you really must know the truth the song "I Think I Love You" by The Partridge Family has always given me an erection and has made my ass want to burst with emotion.
Brian Vollmer, Helix:
Johnny B. Goode. It was what I consider to be the first rock n' roll song ever.
Zinny J. Zan, Zan Clan/ex-Shotgun Messiah:
I have never been a lover of great symphonies or anything, I?m more of that simple and Raw feeling so I have to name 2 songs that really gets me going and no matter how bad mood I?m in I can always put on any of these 2 songs and there is a happy smile on my face again.
Back In The Saddle(Aerosmith from the "Rocks"album)
Back In Black(AC DC) 2 GREAT SONGS TO START A PARTY with.
I really wish I had written them.