Heavy Metal Sunday goes back to the beginning!

[gridlore]

How do you define the start of a musical genre? Who was the first glam artist, or New Wave band? Since styles and trends in rock seem to evolve out of older styles it's difficult to see the moment when one thing becomes another. Such is the case with heavy metal. While any number of bands were experimenting with the new power of their amplifiers by giving the bass guitar more lead work and freeing up the guitarist for exploratory solos, that went in a dozen different directions.

So, who was the first heavy metal act? There are dozens of contenders, but one strong one is Blue Cheer. Blue Cheer came out of the same San Francisco music scene that produced the Haight-Ashbury sound, but they played a harder, more driven style of music. Their songs were also miles from the message being given out by the hippie bands! Blue Cheer lasted through the early seventies before breaking up, but has reformed twice and is currently touring with two of the original three members.

Turn the way back machine to 1967, and enjoy Blue Cheer covering Summertime Blues in what might be the first televised metal performance.

Comments

[onyxlynx (from livejournal.com)]

Blue Cheer also performed "Mr. Blue," which is even more metallish than "Summertime Blues." (It's a Tom Paxton tune that they slowed down and made OMINOUS.)