22/03/16
You may well know Canadian metal music for their legendary hit Metal on Metal. You may know them for their 16 (16!) studio albums. You may know them for the incredible bestselling documentary from 2008, about their struggle to keep the band together. Since then, the band’s fortunes have changed for the better and they’re playing right here in Norwich this month! I spoke to Anvil’s ever-so-charismatic lead singer Lips.
You’re playing here supporting the legendary Udo Dirkschneider from Accept on his tour. Have you known him for long, and when did you first meet each other?
We met a few years ago at a Wacken festival in Germany.
Anvil have been around since the late 70’s. How has the changing world of the music industry affected your band?
Only in the the way business is conducted! We recently did a pledge campaign that did extraordinarily amazing. Generally speaking the entire business has all but gone, with downloading removing the monetary value of music.
One of your most loved songs is Metal On Metal. Can you tell us a little about what inspired it?
We toured with Girlschool across Canada in 1981. I remember watching Kim singing Hit and Run and watching her swaying butt and thought “Wow, what a great beat!” I used the feel and changed all the notes! When hearing the sound it created I thought Metal on Metal would work as the lyric. The song was also written in a very odd key, F with a resolve dropping to E; it sounded like a buzz saw!!
Will you be playing all your hits when we see you?
Hits? I don't know what that means! We play a mixture of old and new songs.
I very much enjoyed the documentary made about the band that was such a success a few years back. What difference has it made to your day to day life?
In my day to day life I haven't worked a regular job since 2009. I'm making a living playing in Anvil now.
If someone asked you what’s so great about metal music, what would your answer be?
Timelessness.
I admire your passion for music and your fellow musicians so much. Who do you particularly respect?
Dave Grohl, Scott Ian, Tom Araya, Lars and James, Ozzy, Biff and countless other wonderful people!
What spurs you on to still make brilliant albums and go on tour? What would you still like to achieve?
Just more of the same for what ever time I have left.
What will be played on your tour bus, and which new bands are you a fan of?
Cactus, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, Montrose, Frank Marino, Uriah Heep, The Sweet, UFO, MSG...I don't listen to new bands! Although we had a support band in the UK that I liked, Dendera.
What would you your best piece of advice for bands who might be thinking of jacking it all in?
There's no way to win if you quit. It's all about enjoyment of your life; you never get enough so stopping is essentially death.
Anvil support Udo Dirkschneider at the Waterfront on 17th April. Tickets available from ueaticketbookings.co.uk