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Holy hell! Two of the most iconic bands to ever come from the UK are taking over the UK. MOTÖRHEAD have invited SAXON to be part of their traditional November tour.
This legendary tour will hit the following cities and venues:
- Weds 13th: November 2013 in NOTTINGHAM Royal Concert
- Thur 14th: November 2013 in NEWCASTLE City Hall
- Sat 16th: November 2013 in LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
- Sun 17th: November 2013 in LONDON Brixton O2 Academy*
- Tue 19th: November 2013 in WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall
- Wed 20th: November 2013 in MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
- Fri 22nd: November 2013 in GLASGOW O2 Academy
This is very cool! According to The Guardian, during the most recent U.K. census over 6,000 citizens of England and Wales claimed Heavy Metal as the "religion" they choose to follow. Wait, there is more. It was also reported that more people registered Heavy Metal than they did Satanism. Actually, only 1,893 declared that they follow the church of Satan.
But who is to blame for thousands of people choosing "Heavy Metal" as their "religion"? We can all point the finger at the great folks over at Metal Hammer! Why is that? Well, three years ago, they launched a campaign urging Metal fans to officially register their faith as Heavy Metal while filling in the census questionnaire.
Additionally, SAXON's own Biff Byford became the proposed faith's "world Metal peace ambassador".
"Like a lot of good ideas, this one came about in a pub and the response online has been overwhelming. It only reinforces the belief that Heavy Metal remains strong in its U.K. birthplace and across the globe. If the Jedi can do it, then we can too. The only requirement to join our campaign is that you listen to Heavy Metal, our commandment: everything louder than everyone else." - Alexander Milas (Metal Hammer)
Byford told Independent.co.uk in 2010 that "heavy metal is a tribal music and everyone is a member of the tribe. The audience is very, very loyal… especially the Germans. It's not like pop music, where if the next song isn't good enough then forget about it; with our music, people will allow you to be shit sometimes, and that's one of the great things."
He added, "The music's not about love. Our songs are more about Richard The Lionheart, steel trains and thunder. But when you do click with a big audience, it can be quite an experience, a massive connection… I suppose you could say it is a religious experience in a way."
The silver eagle has finally landed for audiences worldwide!
After enjoying a limited “Fan Club Only” UK release, "Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie", Saxon’s wonderfully unfiltered and intimate account of their ascent to the upper echalons of Heavy Metal, will finally enjoy an international release this December. The double-disc set features the soon-to-be-celebrated story of Saxon, while the second disc is packed with bonus features including a full-length performance (on St. George’s Day) from April 23rd, 2008. Rivetingly honest, and including the frank memories of every musician who has played in the band, Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie pieces together the earliest incarnations of Saxon, from frontman Biff Byford’s teenage years in the coalmines of Yorkshire and Son Of A Bitch (the first incarnation of Saxon) all the way through to top 10 hits and world tours. “Our music was more sort of machinery banging together, wheels turning, machines making noise,” says Biff of those early, industrial days, “It’s what Heavy Metal is all about. Heavy Metal is all about hard, big sounds bashing your skull in. I used to work in factories where big machinery made lot of noise and I used to sing along to the noises they made.”
It is a documentary which looks for all the world as though it’s a superbly crafted script, as much a tale of pure, honest, working class triumph as just another Rock n’ Roll story. Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie shows every facet of Saxon on their journey without once diluting the true characters who make up the band. “We basically played every dump and shithole that there is in England over a period, probably just short of eight years,” laughs Biff. “You know classic cliché of transit van, up and down and we used to play more or less every night. One gig might be a good paying gig and the other one might be no money or ten quid but it was an obsession, you had to play every day.” These wonderfully naïve young men sought nothing more than a great gig, a good time and maybe a nice girl, before suddenly finding themselves on tour in the US, exposed to the sorts of things which (quite frankly) Barnsley simply didn’t offer in 1980. And from that point, "Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie", takes the viewer on a journey on a Rock n’ Roller of a journey encompassing it all from triumphs to tears to tea-bags and beyond.
Nothing is forsaken and nothing skipped. Despite the fact that to this day there remain problems between the Byford/Quinn and Oliver/Dawson parties, everyone tells the full unedited Saxon story with heartfelt honesty and integrity.
“We do have a great legacy,” says Byford, “whether you joined the band in 1994 or (as) an original member. There’s a legacy there and I’ve tried hard to not let people demean it and to spoil it and you have to look after that thing that is Saxon.”
Heavy Metal Thunder – The Movie will entertain, engage and charm fans and non-fans alike. That’s a truth as honest as the film itself…
VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" has become a staple within the Heavy Music community. Thanks to the well-focused concept of the show, which features Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson, and Jim Florentine, VH1 Classic is currently running the ninth season of the show and have already announced that there will be a tenth season of the show. This past weekend the show featured shock rocker Marilyn Manson and Biff Byford from Saxon. Many are calling the best episode in That Metal Show history. Do you agree? Watch to find out!
Ever since British Heavy Metal band Saxon joined the musical spectrum in 1976, they have continuously been working on their craft by delivering the masses their signature style of Metal without ever losing grip of were they come from. Formed in the small town of Barnsley, Yorkshire (England), they are one of the bands to blame for the rise of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal! With 19 Studio Albums under their Metallic belt, which are prove of the bands perseverance, Saxon are definitely one of the most underrated bands in Heavy Music history.
Saxon recently released their NEW studio album entitled "Call To Arms" via UDR/Militia Guard Music. For this album the band consciously decided to return to their musical roots by including elements of Blues and Punk Rock in a very organic way. Additionally, the band decided to adopt a production process in which "less is more", rather than cutting, splicing and adding a massive amount of effects to every single part of a song within Pro Tools.
Recently, we had the chance to chat with Saxon's front-man and founder Biff Byford about the formation and evolution of Saxon, and of course about the bands NEW album "Call To Arms". Here is what went down!
Saxon is:
- Biff Byford
- Paul Quinn
- Doug Scarratt
- Nibbs Carter
- Nigel Glockler
Saxon's Discography:
- Saxon (1979)
- Wheels of Steel (1980)
- Strong Arm of the Law (1980)
- Denim and Leather (1981)
- Power & the Glory (1983)
- Crusader (1984)
- Innocence Is No Excuse (1985)
- Rock the Nations (1986)
- Destiny (1988)
- Solid Ball of Rock (1990)
- Forever Free (1992)
- Dogs of War (1995)
- Unleash the Beast (1997)
- Metalhead (1999)
- Killing Ground (2001)
- Lionheart (2004)
- The Inner Sanctum (2007)
- Into the Labyrinth (2009)
- Call to Arms (2011)
Facts about Saxon:
- They had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. They also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart.
- Between 1980 and 1987, Saxon established themselves as one of biggest Metal bands in Europe. They also had success in Japan and in the USA. Actually, In Japan, the single "Motorcycle Man" stayed in the charts for over 5 months.
- Saxon have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide and heavily influenced bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Sodom and Running Wild.
- They are renowned for their live act and are considered one of the finest live performers of the Metal genre.
Hey Metalheads and members of the Horns Up Rocks community, are you ready to take a trip back to the late 70’s and early 80’s in Great Britain? We are going back to the primitive to check out some of the most unknown albums of the era, which eventually lead to Thrash, Power, Death, Doom and Black Metal. All this phenomenal albums were written by guys that may have been better known if they had better management. From the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal", only four bands were commercially successful during this era: Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard, yeah their first two albums don’t suck, and Venom.
The first band I’m talking about is Diamond Head, who are the pride of Newcastle and a band well known by fans of Metallica and Megadeth. Lightning to the Nations (also known as The White Album)is considered their best album. Their following album titled "Borrowed Time", is also an underrated classic that is worth to be listened to and purchased. It has a different arrangement of "Am I Evil" and the killer tune "Trick or Treat".
The next band up is Samson. The band that opened the doors of the world for Bruce Dickinson, who was known as Bruce Bruce between 1979 to 1981. Samson was the baby of guitarist Paul Samson and drummer Thunderstick (Barry Graham) and was wearing a mask ala Slipknot, before anybody else.
Musically, they were a mix between Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, and Led Zeppelin. Bruce was not a perfect fit for their bluesier style, but their first albums were incredible. The first album that Dickinson sang on was "Shock Tactics". It was heavy and fast, but very different if compared to Iron Maiden. The best tracks on this album were “Riding with the Angels”, “Nice Girls”, and “Grime Time.” On this albums jacket you can see him with a really crappy mustache.
The second record he did with Samson was "Head On", which followed the same formula as the previous one. Some of the best tracks on this album were “Hammerhead”, “Take It like a Man”, and the majestically Heavy tour de force “Hunted”. Samson continued on with another singer after Bruce Dickinson left the band, but were nowhere as good.
Speaking of unknowns in the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal", there is a band that very few people know of, who rule with an iron fist! We are talking about the band Satan, who were originally from Newcastle. What is with the water or beer in Newcastle when it comes to kick-ass Metal bands? Anyhow, musically they are like late 70’s Judas Priest and DiAnno era Iron Maiden. Some highlights are on their "Court in the Act", are their songs “Trial by Fire and “Broken Treaties.” After this album came out they changed their sound and name to Blind Fury, because they wanted to be on Top of the Pop charts.
There is plenty of other of albums within the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" that must be explored by every Heavy Music fan and I am sure that more albums will come out soon. Meanwhile, here are a few videos you can sink your teeth and clinch your fists to.
