Anvil

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Biography

Anvil is a Canadian Heavy metal music|heavy metal band from Toronto , Ontario , formed in 1978. The band consists of Steve "Lips" Kudlow (vocals, guitar), Robb Reiner (drums) and Sal Italiano (bass, backing vocals). To date, the band has released fourteen studio albums, and has been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, including Megadeth , Slayer , Anthrax (band)|Anthrax and Metallica .

The band, in particular Kudlow and Reiner, was the subject of the 2008 documentary film , Anvil& #33; The Story of Anvil , directed by the screenwriter and former Anvil roadie, Sacha Gervasi . Upon its release, the film garnered critical acclaim from many major publications, and has since brought the band renewed recognition, including opening slots with AC/DC and Saxon (band)|Saxon . Appearances at major heavy metal festivals, including South by Southwest|SXSW , Download Festival|Download , Bumbershoot and Loud Park Festival|Loud Park , also followed the release of the film.

Their Story

The Early Years

The roots of Anvil began in April 1973 in Toronto , when high school friends Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner began playing music together. They met through friend, guitarist and neighbour Marty Hoffman, but “musical differences” caused his departure after their first show. By 1978, the first full line-up of the band included Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar), Reiner (drums), Dave "Squirrely" Allison ( Singing|vocals , rhythm guitar ) and Ian "Dix" Dickson (bass). At this point, the band was called Lips.

In 1981, the band released an independent album called '' Hard 'N' Heavy . Shortly after they were signed by Attic Records (Canada)|Attic Records , changed their name to Anvil and the independent album was released by Attic as their debut album. Following its release, Lemmy Kilmister asked Lips to play guitar for Motörhead to replace Eddie Clarke|"Fast" Eddie Clarke , but Lips declined. Anvil: The Story of Anvil'' by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash (musician)|Slash ) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 12 By 1983, Aerosmith manager David Krebs and assistant Paul O'Neill (rock producer)|Paul O'Neill signed Anvil and convinced Attic to release the band from their contract so the band could sign with a major label. Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash (musician)|Slash ) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 151 However after initial interest, Krebs eventually stopped returning phone calls and did not get the band a major label recording contract, but eventually released the band from the managing contract allowing the band to find their own record deal in mid-1986. Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash (musician)|Slash ) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3 page 187

Obscurity

Free to pursue a recording contract, they were signed by American label Metal Blade Records in 1987, by William Howell (a fan who is now a DJ with KNAC radio). They released three records with Metal Blade, starting with Strength of Steel , which was the group's most commercially successful record in the United States, peaking at #191 on the Billboard 200 ., Allmusic Anvil were then picked up by Maximum Records, an independent Canadian label that was formed by Helix (band)|Helix 's manager-at-the-time William Seip. From 1996 they were signed by Hypnotic Records in Canada and Massacre Records in Germany. In 2001, the band recorded Plenty of Power and continued touring in which Kudlow remarked "We'll play gigs sometimes where there's no one there".

Anvil& #33; The Story of Anvil documentary, This Is Thirteen

In 2006, the band recorded with Chris Tsangarides , who previously produced their acclaimed 1982 album Metal on Metal . The CD was self-released as This Is Thirteen in 2007, and was available exclusively from the band's official website .

The band's history has been documented in the documentary film Anvil& #33; The Story of Anvil released in 2008. The film has received high praise which has put Anvil back into the public consciousness, propelling them to play several festivals including the Download Festival|Download Festival in 2009 at which they headlined the Tuborg stage. Rolling Stone called the movie "the year’s most praised rock doc." The band played “ Cat Scratch Fever (song)|Cat Scratch Fever ” with Slash (musician)|Slash and Anthrax’s Scott Ian at the Sundance Film Festival where the movie premiered.

Regarding the movie, Kudlow states:

Following the success of the Anvil documentary, VH1 Classic|VH1 Classic Records re-released This Is Thirteen on CD and vinyl on September 15, 2009 with a newly recorded song, "Thumb Hang". Guitarist Ivan Hurd left the band at this stage to settle down with his new wife. The double-vinyl LP contains re-recorded versions of Anvil classics "Metal on Metal" and "666."

In 2009, Bantam Press released the book Anvil: The Story of Anvil authored by Kudlow and Reiner with a foreword by Slash (musician)|Slash . On March 28, 2009 Kudlow and Reiner were the featured guests on VH1 Classic|VH1 Classic's That Metal Show . Anvil played the Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma in 2009, and opened for AC/DC at their first few summer Black Ice World Tour shows (North American leg II). They also supported Saxon (band)|Saxon on a leg of UK shows in November.

Anvil appeared on '' The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Tuesday Oct 6, 2009, the first network television appearance of their career, to coincide with the release of Anvil& #33; The Story Of Anvil on DVD in North America, and performed "Metal on Metal".

On October 8, 2009, Anvil filmed a cameo performance in a rock club for The Green Hornet (2011 film)|The Green Hornet . On October 18, 2009, Anvil headlined the Sanctuary Stage at the Loud Park Festival in Chiba, Chiba|Chiba , Japan.

Juggernaut of Justice

From June to July 2010 the band went on a headline tour of Europe selling out venues in the UK, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands as well as festivals in Finland, Sweden, France, Italy and Germany. Lips confirmed on this tour that he had in fact paid back his sister the loan to pay for the production of This is Thirteen .

They released Juggernaut of Justice , their 14th studio album, on May 10, 2011. Lips stated that the band drew from "about 20 songs written".

Following the release of the album the band completed yet more tours in Europe and North America often playing alongside legends Alice Cooper & Saxon (band)|Saxon . The band released a new greatest hits album Monument of Metal|Monument of Metal: The Very Best of Anvil . Anvil also started re-releasing their old material starting with Strength of Steel , Pound For Pound and Worth the Weight later that same year.

In January 2012 Glenn Gyorffy quit Anvil citing creative differences. Lips confirmed that another player has been found to fill in on the remainder of the their tour dates. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=168361 Anvil embarked on their 2012 Winter Tour of the US with Sal Italiano on bass, formerly a bassist for an Iron Maiden tribute band.

Discography

Studio Albums

'' Hard 'n' Heavy (1981)

Metal on Metal (1982)

Forged in Fire (1983)

Strength of Steel (1987)

Pound for Pound (1988)

Worth the Weight (1992)

Plugged in Permanent (1996)

Absolutely No Alternative (1997)

Speed of Sound (Anvil album)|Speed of Sound (1999)

Plenty of Power (2001)

Still Going Strong (2002)

Back to Basics (Anvil album)|Back to Basics (2004)

This Is Thirteen (2007)

Juggernaut of Justice (2011)

Live Albums

Past and Present – Live in Concert (1988)

Compilation Albums

Backwaxed (1985)

Anthology (Anvil album)| Anthology of Anvil (2000)

Monument of Metal (2011)

Members

;Current

Steve "Lips" Kudlow – lead vocals, lead guitar (1978–present)

Robb "Geza" Reiner – drums (1978–present)

Sal Italiano – bass (2012–present)

;Former

Dave "Squirrely" Allison – guitar, vocals (1978–1989)

Ian "Dix" Dickson – bass (1978–1993)

Sebastian Marino – guitar (1989–1995)

Mike Duncan – bass (1993–1996)

Ivan Hurd – guitar (1995–2007)

Glenn Gyorffy – bass, backing vocals (1996–2012)

;Timeline

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at:05/23/1996 color:black layer:back
at:07/23/1997 color:black layer:back
at:04/22/1999 color:black layer:back
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BarData =

bar:Kudlow text:"Lips"
bar:Reiner text:"Robb Reiner"
bar:Allison text:"Dave Allison"
bar:Dickson text:"Ian Dickson"
bar:Marino text:"Sebastian Marino"
bar:Duncan text:"Mike Duncan"
bar:Hurd text:"Ivan Hurd"
bar:Gyorffy text:"Glenn Gyorffy"
bar:Italiano text:"Sal Italiano"

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bar:Kudlow from:01/01/1978 till:end color:Vocals
bar:Reiner from:01/01/1978 till:end color:Drums
bar:Allison from:01/01/1978 till:06/30/1989 color:Guitar
bar:Marino from:07/01/1989 till:06/30/1995 color:Guitar
bar:Hurd from:07/01/1995 till:01/10/2007 color:Guitar
bar:Dickson from:01/01/1978 till:06/30/1993 color:Bass
bar:Duncan from:07/01/1993 till:06/30/1996 color:Bass
bar:Gyorffy from:07/01/1996 till:01/12/2012 color:Bass
bar:Italiano from:01/13/2012 till:end color:Bass

Media

;Books

Anvil: The Story of Anvil by Steve Kudlow and Robb Reiner (Foreword by Slash (musician)|Slash ) Bantam Press (March 13, 2009) ISBN 0-593-06364-3

;Film

Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers : beginning credits contain the Anvil song "Straight Between the Eyes" playing, and "Wild Eyes" is also heard (both from their Strength of Steel album).

Anvil& #33; The Story of Anvil , a documentary by Sacha Gervasi , filmed from late 2005 to 2007.

The Green Hornet (2011 film)|The Green Hornet features Anvil performing at a club.

The Final Destination , Anvil are heard playing "Burning Bridges".

Video games

Brütal Legend , their songs "March of the Crabs" and "Tag Team" are featured in the game.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars , a dedicated radio station in the PSP version.

Rock Band 2 , their songs "666", "This is Thirteen" and "Metal on Metal" are available as downloadable content.

Television

Pure Pwnage : in episode 4 of the television series, Steve Kudlow cameod as a rocker whom none of the characters knew and was referred to simply as "the rocker dude". He was portrayed as being really bad at playing "Rock Guitar Band Hero".

Simpsons : A clip of "Metal on Metal" plays in the episode "Lisa Simpson, This Isn’t Your Life".

Sons of Anarchy : Steve Kudlow appeared briefly in the episode "Small Tears" as an extra who is seen carrying a bag of firearms out of a kitchen, assisting Opie and Tig.

Todd and The Book of Pure Evil : Their song "Metal on Metal" can be heard playing in the episode "B.Y.O.B.O.P.E.".

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
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Anvil Photo by: www.swedenrock.com


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