(guest post by Chase Squires)
I love live rock and roll, but I’m not a metal head. Never been a fan of Motorhead or Metallica or any of that stuff.
So when a movie came out last summer about an obscure metal band from the 1980s, I can’t say I knew anything about them. After seeing the rockumentary “Anvil: The Story of Anvil,” I fell under their spell.
Anvil is a metal band from Canada. Formed by two high school friends, frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner, in the 1970s, they started out fast.
By the 1980s they were touring the world, on the verge of stardom and sharing the stage with Whitesnake, the Scorpions and Bon Jovi. But it never really happened for them.
And that’s where the story starts.
Former roadie turned filmmaker Sacha Gervasi made a documentary about the band in 2008, following these aging rockers around on yet another disastrous tour. They’re working Joe jobs, but still carrying the dream. Talk about endearing, I dare you not to feel something for them. Just two guys who never, ever give up, even when they should.
The movie gave spark to their career. They’re suddenly, at least for the moment, rock stars, overnight successes after 30 years.
I caught the band live on Sunday (Jan. 31) at the Gothic Theater in Denver. Place was packed, a mosh pit out front, lots of “rock and roll hands” thrust in the air.
And at the center, radiating joy, was Lips. Talk about a guy who looks like he’s having the time of his life. His grin is infectious, his hair – long on the sides but disappearing on the top now – was flying in every direction.
He wades into the crowd, he mugs for pictures, he high fives, screams, rages, wails. And when he took a breather he bellowed into the crowd, “You know what makes us different from other bands? We’re as big a fans of this stuff as you are!! To prove it, after the show, I want to meet every single one of you out front. I’m serious.”
The crowd goes wild.
While some stars seem to forget who made them famous, Lips oozes appreciation. If it’s all over tomorrow, I’ve got the feeling he’ll have had the ride he’s been waiting for all his life.
Thanks Anvil. Rock on. There’s a lesson here for all of us.
(Photo: Steve “Lips” Kudlow belts out a song during Anvil’s Sunday night performance in Denver. Photo credit: Chase Squires.)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh man, I was at this concert, right up by the stage near the stairs. This was a great concert. Lips was flying around the stage, and the floor, in with the crowd. I’ve been to some great ones so far in my life, but Anvil is sitting pretty at the top of the list. There was a crazy mosh pit. And Lips was completely truthful about meeting everyone. About 15 minutes after the show, all 3 of them came out to meet the fans who waited for them. I was there and got pictures with all of them. It was amazing. I hope Anvil adds Denver to their list of future concert dates.
Dude, I must’ve been standing right near you, I was near the stage by the stairs on the right side … over by Lips! Great show! I wasn’t able to stick around for pix with the band, bummed about that, but had to get a bus home … arg. What a cool band.