Let’s look at the three things that really reignited my interest in metal music in 2006. For context, I started back listening to rock music in 2004 via Fuse TV covering the “Van’s Warped Tour”. That led to me discovering Uranium hosted by Mistress Juliya. Uranium introduced me to a lot of modern metal and metalcore bands but I wasn’t getting that history of the genre.

I was purchasing metal compilations through mail order in 2005 but I was listening to a lot hip-hop and the pop punk bands Fuse had in heavy rotation. When VH1 began pushing “Metal Month”, my interest was piqued and I would be tuning in.

Re-Airing Headbanger’s Ball

While not the biggest factor in me diving into metal, the re-runs of Headbanger’s Ball introduced me to a lot of bands from the 80s that caught my imagination. I remember staying up late and writing down band names even though I had classes to instruct the next morning.

It was in those airings that I first discovered Judas Priest and Dio through the videos for “Breaking the Law” and “Rainbow in the Dark”. Hearing their vocals made me a vocals-first fan since I love storytelling and imagery.

By the next month, I had Metal World ’73-’93 and checked out a bunch of Dio and Black Sabbath albums from the library. So, it was pretty effective in getting me interested.

Heavy: The Story of Metal

I’m a documentary fan and a metal documentary is something I’m going to set time aside for. Narrated by MTV OG and 120 Minutes host Matt Pinfield, Heavy covered the major bits of metal history.  The short of it is a focus on the hard rock influence, a little bit on punk, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the 80s boom period, thrash, glam, and the 90s.

The major bits since it only had four 40+ minute episodes to get it all in. Hell, the 90s episode (the last in the docuseries) focused more on the rise of alternative and grunge before getting into nu metal.

At time, I found it to be an engaging film but I was pretty new to metal, so I learned a lot. Looking at it more recently after listening to a lot of metal over the years and reading biographies, it was more of a decent crash course.

Think of it as a cheese sample at the supermarket. Technically barely a bite but who knows, you might just stick around.

Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey

While Heavy was a sample, Sam Dunn’s Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey was more like a two or three plate run at the buffet. There was still that “this is a good starting place to learn” factor that I get from Heavy years later but there was more of a dive into the history and origins of the genre.

The addition of the metal family tree was very helpful because it introduced bands not shown in the Headbanger’s Ball re-runs or in Heavy. It introduced a couple of subgenres, featured interviews with musicians of varying levels of success and influence, and gave us the filmmaker’s story of his love for metal.

It was an honest documentary that spawned Global Metal which explored more of the international metal scene and history and the series Metal Evolution.

Supergroup

While it didn’t have an impact on me diving into metal and becoming a fan, I guess we can’t end this with discussing Supergroup. I watched it in the first run of the show and  it was…reality TV.  It wasn’t exactly Rock of Love (which probably also aired during “Metal Month”) or Flavor of Love but more like Real World with old rockers.

It featured drama in form of stress over making new music with a band including Sebastian Bach formerly of Skid Row, Jason Bonham son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and formerly of UFO and Foreigner, Ted Nugent, Evan Seinfeld of Biohazard, and Scott Ian of Anthrax.

There was also some drama around Bach’s drinking in the show but he came through at end during the band’s debut show. That was the show. It was entertaining at times but it wasn’t worth the watch then or worth a rewatch now. If anything, I checked out Anthrax and early Skid Row while learning about the band members.

Do you remember VH1’s “Metal Month”? What were your favorite or least favorite parts of it? Pick your memory and share in the comments!

It’s never been particularly difficult to mix in funk with rock or metal to get a good mix. Living Colour, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Faith No More all did this and produced legendary bangers. As far funk taking in elements of rock, it’s been done with the likes of War, Mandrill, Funkadelic, Prince, and Rick James. We’ll definitely get into Funkadelic because their sound mixed psychedelic rock and their brand of P-funk wonderfully.

Rick James and His Street Funk

However, Rick James—who had a rock edge to his funk since 1979’s Fire It Up—had been considered one the main names in early funk rock. One way to describe it that I really liked was “funk straight from the street”. That’s actually very accurate because even in metal now, having a sound that has a street-wise edge—especially in speed metal—tends to add some character to a Motorhead, Hellhammer, or early-Venom-inspired band.

While his tales of street life, sex, and sleaze predated the L. A metal likes of Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat, and W.A.S P, it was that extra rock bite that made that took his funk from the jam-like enclosures of Parliament and Bootsy Collins and actually saw him become a name in the early MTV age. His funk and later Prince’s were marketable to the mainstream. It wasn’t dated and was right at home alongside Madonna, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, and so on.

Street Songs was the approach of Fire It Up revisited and sharpened. Released in 1981, Rick James had dropped an album loaded with memorable bangers, MTV and radio-ready, and headed up with four very strong singles. The other eight tracks that weren’t singles were no slouches either!

He had found a formula that would work for this period and simply had to stick with it. Of course, those in funk or with funk roots regularly experiment and aim to evolve their sound to some degree. While we might hear some funk acts in a form they’ve been in for 10 to 20 years now, it took them years to get their sound to that point and decide “This is it, this is the sound.”

Plus, you have to hear a funk band live to really hear them go through different influences, sounds, and tempos. Yes, even on records funk can be wild and unchained but even those releases see the acts take the best, most cohesive tracks for a release meant to make a profit. Once they’re live, you get a mix of promo and the band in their natural environment.

Rick James was no different despite the decade. Even when he made a comeback with the momentum from his Chappelle’s Show appearances, there was still a fast and loose approach to his performances as he touched on the classic bangers that brought him to the dance. That approach is why the star of Street Songs, “Super Freak” has an amazing 7-minute version—which could’ve been longer, honestly.

Looking at it now, it would’ve been interesting to see how his sound would’ve evolved in the early 1980s with the rise of the glam metal bands—some of which had a very Rick James-approach to their lyrics and showmanship. Could he have gone in a faster, harder direction as many acts do with age and seniority in the industry or would he have kept his approach in full and become eclipsed by his contemporaries who surpassed him before the decade was out?

Staff Writer; M. Swift

This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.

That being said, the order of this specific post is to concentrate on one in particular. If you’re currently unfamiliar with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, be sure to lock him into your list of indulgences. You’ll be anything but disappointed. Already acclaimed as the pinnacle of Delta blues aristocracy, Kingfish has dropped two sensational albums to date. His sound is a superb fusion of blues antiquity, and contemporary allure. Timeless blues conventions are repackaged without being relegated to the tacky and unrecognizable.

Throughout this post, the plan is to walk you through five of the most captivating Kingfish songs. Having said that, immersing yourself in the entirety of his albums is far more satisfying. The songs of Kingfish are all a magical blend of impeccable guitar and rustic songwriting. Combined with solid aesthetics and production on both his albums, Kingfish’s place in music history is solidified.

Let’s Start With A StereoType – “Hard Times”

Shortly before being given the privilege of writing this post, a wise man remarked, “I thought the blues was about struggle, women, and so on?” To be fair, there isn’t a modicum of inaccuracy in this sentiment. The blues was initially a channel for people to express their dismay.

Kingfish pays homage to this melancholic musical tradition with the gentle chant “Hard Times”. A simple entourage of acoustic chords paves the way for the storytelling lyrics that follow. Transforming a cliche into something cleverer is something of a specialty for this young legend. During the second verse, he makes a reference to inflation that absolutely anyone could comprehend. Whilst remaining joined at the blues’ hip, Kingfish has no struggle with being universal.

The Inside Story: “Outside Of This Town”

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi. As fate would have it, this dusty town is home to the infamous crossroads where Robert Johnson was transformed into a blues deity. Thus, it’s fair to say that Kingfish bathed in the blues his entire life. He was addicted to blues music by the tender age of five and was educated at the Delta Blues Museum.

The above being said, it’s impossible to keep musicians like Kingfish tied down. The song “Outside Of This Town” is the rambunctious opener to his self-titled debut album. Rugged guitar strumming and punchy vocals characterize this song. A sprinkling of sexy licks and soloing reassures you that you’re firmly in the realm of blues royalty. Strap in, because the rest of the album is a rollercoaster!

Don’t Believe Me? Fine, “Believe These Blues”

In time, it’s a sure bet that Kingfish songs will be known for their longevity, among other things. The tune “Believe These Blues” also gravitates around the topic of timelessness. His vocals are armed with enough soul to occupy a Memphis recording studio. But hold on, that’s just the half of it. The jaw-dropping guitar embellishments on this song are among the greatest on the album. In short, they could quite easily galvanize an impotent militia.

I’m “Not Gonna Lie”, Kingfish Songs Are Epic!

One of the more fiery numbers from his second studio album, 662, “Not Gonna Lie” has a terrific, chuggy authority. It’s aggressive. It’s flamboyant. And it’s masculine!

Laced with wah-wah muted strumming, Kingfish tackles a number of topics throughout the verses. From toxic friendships to juvenile frivolities, this number is both diverse and delectable. There’s even a splash of girl trouble in the lyrics, retaining the more novel aspects of the genre. If that wasn’t enough, the guitar solos induce more goosebumps than a Siberian winter.

Here’s A Slow jam: “Rock & Roll”

Given the orientation of the rest of the album 662, the song “Rock & Roll” is an elegant, blissful sidestep. In tribute to his mother, Princess Latrell Pride Ingram, this slow-burner brims with eternal beauty.

After passing away at the end of 2019, the young Kingfish was forced into grievance by the pandemic. He used this time to reflect on the sacrifices his mother had made before collaborating on this stunning song. Soft strumming, and carefully placed guitar solos gradually intensify throughout the song. The result: a true masterpiece filled with love, courage, and admiration.

Are There More Kingfish Songs On The Horizon?

Since we’re now adapting to post-pandemic life, Kingfish has made it abundantly clear he plans to stay on the road for a while. Touring Australia and Europe seem to be on his agenda, whilst obviously returning home on occasion too.

During the infamous closing set at Woodstock in 1969, Jimi Hendrix went berserk. His impromptu performance of the American National Anthem took the audience into a sonic interpretation of battlefield carnage. This four-minute monsoon of noise practically reshaped the counterculture movement. Perhaps one day, Kingfish might also transform into a politically-charged vehicle of sound. Whatever his aspirations, his career is certain to raise eyebrows, shake buildings and ignite souls.

Staff Writer; Steven Brooks

This talented writer is the founder of Banter Shack, a young music magazine dedicated to unearthing and promoting talented musicians and unique musical concepts. He spends the majority of his free time playing the guitar, searching for new artists, and reading and writing top-notch musical content.