I've seen a BBC documentary on that sort of topic before, is it called Heavy Metal Britannia or something like that? Early heavy metal (the intentional bands like Sabbath and Priest, not Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple-esque work) and NWOBHM is my favourite period of any genre ever so I found it quite fun viewing.
Also, I will agree on Highway Star: for me Jon Lord is the only rock pianist who could go toe-to-toe with Rick Wakeman.
I've been getting into Vanilla Fudge lately... i'm fascinated with music of that era. very different and cool
Yes, I think that's what the documentary was called. I definitely remember Jon Lord speaking about trying to ensure that he got heard over Ritchie Blackmore's guitar. Other highlights included one guitarist (can't recall which band he was in) playing the Whole Lotta Love riff, Lemmy's model railway locomotive being repainted with Motorhead insignia and a photo of Black Sabbath getting a chicken to smoke a cigarette!
I agree that there is a difference between the intentional heavy metal bands and the hard rock bands which sometimes get mentioned alongside them. I've sometimes seen references to the 'unholy trinity of heavy metal albums' of Led Zeppelin IV, Black Sabbath's Paranoid and Deep Purple's Machine Head when only Sabbath were truly in that category. Having said that, considering that some people think Bon Jovi are a heavy metal band, you could say that by that standard Purple and Zeppelin are metal through and through...
Led Zeppelin IV is not a heavy metal album.
Blackberry Smoke. Awesome band in the vain of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Black Crowes, etc.
"They will never forget you 'till somebody new comes along"
1948-2016 Gone but not forgotten
I've always liked Spandau Ballet, they are an 80s band I grew up with but like so many of the bands of the 80s they too split for a while. But after the last concert and the Meet and Greet I've been checking out more of their music. They are also playing a lot of gigs at the moment - In the States this month - check them out if they are playing near you. You will NOT be disappointed.
They are also very interactive with the crowds and very approachable according to other people I have chatted to on their FB page.
And on a purely shallow note, their vocalist Tony Hadley plays Golf! Now I am imagining a dream celebrity tournament......!!
'I must be leaving soon... its your world now'
Glenn Frey 1948-2016 RIP
I have been really into the Doobie Brothers and not their main stream hits but all the different songs on the albums. Very awesome and if you want a great survey of their variety, get Wolf Trap concert.
Since I won tickets to see Def Leppard in October we have been pulling our DF CD's out and listening to them too