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). They met through friend, guitarist and neighbour Marty Hoffman, but "musical differences" caused his departure after their first show. The roots of Anvil began in April 1973 in Toronto, when Kudlow began playing music with his high school friend Robb Reiner. Kudlow's mother was unsupportive of his ambitions and according to Kudlow himself, she was more concerned about her self-gratification and "how she'd look to her friends" than her children's happiness. In fact, even some of my decisions, the way I wrote some songs, maybe could have even been to make sure of that… It wasn't about writing a hit single for me it was about making music that people really dug." I was set on having a long career in rock 'n' roll I didn't want to be an overnight sensation. Speaking of his music during this time, Kudlow has stated that his focus was primarily on writing original material, elaborating with "I made sure it would consume all my time. Kudlow's father bought him a guitar at the age of nine, leading him to become involved in playing music, with the intention of starting a lifelong musical project. He co-founded the band with drummer Robb Reiner in 1978, having played together since 1973. The Story Of Anvil is a damn fine DVD, and carries a nice message of believing in your dreams, no matter what the odds are.Steven Barry " Lips" Kudlow (born March 2, 1956) is a Canadian musician, who is the guitarist and lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Anvil. If jaded old rockers like Ulrich can still get excited about Anvil, there is hope yet. He really dug Anvil back in the day, and still does. Over the course of this 30 minute segment, Ulrich goes from the bored rock star we all have grown tired of, to the 18 year old metalhead he once was. The interview with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is really worth seeing though. Producer Sacha Gervasi gets the gift of a lifetime when he is invited onstage in Japan to drum on “School Love.” ![]() There are some deleted scenes featuring interviews with former band members, Lips’ brother, and more of Lips’ co-workers at Choice Children’s Catering. The bonus features on the DVD are fairly minimal. And that is a heart warming turn of events. With the release of The Story Of Anvil, the band have received more attention than ever before. The story of boyhood pals Lips, and drummer Robb Reiner refusing to stop pursuing their dream is downright inspirational. The Story Of Anvil is a great documentary, whether you are a metal fan or not. The movie ends on an up note, with Anvil playing another metal festival in Japan, to an adoring crowd. ![]() It has just been reissued by the VH1 Classic label, and is a surprisingly good metal album. The resulting album, This Is Thirteen was originally sold on the band’s website, after some humiliating turn-downs from record labels. After Lips spends some time in a hellish telemarketing center, his sister loans him the money. They get a call from a big time record producer in London who wants to work with them, the catch is they need $20,000 to do it. We follow the band on a disastrous tour of Europe, booked by their inept groupie/manager (who wound up marrying the guitar player). Rather you come to root for these 50-something rockers, who refuse to acknowledge the painfully obvious fact that the train left the station years ago. If you are looking for Spinal Tap type yuks, The Story Of Anvil does not really deliver. But Lips’ heart and soul is in rock and roll.Īnvil’s first album was released in 1981, and the beauty of The Story Of Anvil is in how it shows the guys still believing in the dream all these years later. Apparently Lips is a pretty good worker, according to the testimonials from his fellow employees. The next scene shows Steve “Lips” Kudlow at his day job, delivering food for a catering company, on a cold Canadian winter’s day. All are united in their belief that Anvil should have made it. ![]() Cut to some interview segments with famous fans including Lemmy of Motorhead, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, and Slash of Guns And Roses. The DVD opens with footage from the 1984 Super Rock Festival in Japan, a huge event that Anvil played along with metal titans such as The Scorpions, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi. ![]() The band wholeheartedly believe that their big break is just around the corner, even after some 30 years of slogging it out. Like Mickey Rourke’s fictitious Randy “The Ram” Robinson, Anvil exist in a state of pure denial. If you liked The Wrestler, you will love Anvil: The Story Of Anvil.
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