This year we celebrate 50 years of Heavy Metal, whose birth is credited to Black Sabbath, who released their self-titled debut on February 13, 1970 and quickly followed that up with “Paranoid” released on September 18, 1970. “Paranoid” featured the title track, “Iron Man” and “War Pigs”, three of the all time enduring classics. Sabbath did not spontaneously combust out of a vacuum. The 1960’s had many artists who were planting seeds, and cultivating the sounds that would one day become metal. Here are 26 songs that contributed to the sounds that have kept our heads banging for five decades.

Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode – 1/1/59

But he could play a guitar just like a-ringing a bell

Chuck Berry may well have created “The Riff”, kicking off “Johnny B. Goode” with a loud, in-your-face guitar lick. Two minutes later, he shredded what could be considered the first “guitar solo”. It took time to take root, but this legendary burst of electricity was the first heavy metal seed to be planted.

The Animals – The House of the Rising Sun – 1/1/64

Oh mother tell your children not to do what I have done

Eric Burdon and The Animals were the first popular band to play with darkness and loudness. In addition to this classic, featuring funereal organ sounds, they also brought us “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “It’s My Life”. On this one, the vocals are desperate as the music seems to spin out of control. This wild abandonment became a hallmark of metal music.

The Kinks – All Day and All of the Night – 10/2/64

I believe that you and me last forever

The Kinks were masters of the riff, just ask Van Halen, who would later cover several of their songs in spectacular fashion. They were also quite noisy for their time.

The Zombies – She’s Not There – 4/30/65

But it’s too late to say you’re sorry, how would I know, why should I care?

With a name like The Zombies, it is no surprise that they were the forerunners of doom and gloom rock. This song changes pace several times, another strategy that would one day become popular.

The Yardbirds – Heart Full of Soul – 7/2/65

Sick at heart and lonely, deep in dark despair

The lead guitar riff is featured here, throughout this moody tune. Jeff Beck had just replaced Eric Clapton in the band, and they had tried recording a sitar riff, but didn’t like the result. Beck borrowed Jimmy Page’s prototype fuzz box, and played the riff on guitar, bending the strings as he strummed, thus creating a landmark sound.

The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black – 6/20/66

I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

This song was one of the first Stones tunes to explore their dark side. The music sounds evil, and Mick Jagger sings about pushing down his darkest urges. The Stones were never truly metal, but the style of this classic would turn up time and again in the genre.

The Troggs – Wild Thing – 7/25/66

Wild thing, I think you move me, but I wanna know for sure

“Wild Thing” is pretty simple. A few strums, some basic lyrics. This song has been covered numerous times, and is a live favorite. This classic rendition is actually a cover song itself. The Wild Ones had recorded it a year earlier, but it didn’t chart.

Donovan – Season of the Witch – 9/1/66

Oh no, must be the season of the witch

Donovan chunks through a nasty riff, while crooning some strange and chilling lyrics. The song is quite long for its era, giving it space to build and relase tension several times throughout.

Jefferson Airplane – Somebody To Love – 1/1/67

When the truth is found to be lies, and all the joy within you dies

Grace Slick was a true original. Her vocals were passionate and powerful. The influence of “Somebody To Love” can be heard from Heart to Halestorm.

The Velvet Underground & Nico – Heroin – 3/12/67

And then I’m better off than dead

Lou Reed puts on a master class of drug induced depression, with a chaotic musical performance perfectly backing up the darkest of themes. This is subject matter that would be covered time and again, as drug culture continues to be inextricably entwined in music culture.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Purple Haze – 5/12/67

Acting funny, but I don’t know why, ‘scuse me while I kiss the sky

Jimi Hendrix remains one of the most creative and influential guitarists and composers in rock music history. “Purple Haze” is perhaps his greatest riff.

The Box Tops – The Letter – 10/1/67

Lonely days are gone, I’m a goin’ home

This driving tune is full of desperation, and hope. Many soldiers in basic training would sing this song as they were marching, or on the rare occasion that they got leave to go see their sweetie back home.

Cream – White Room – 1/1/68

Lie in the dark where the shadows run from themselves

Eric Clapton’s soloing through a wah-wah pedal is the most distinctive part of this classic. But Ginger Baker’s quintuple meter drumming also was an influence to later bands who played with different time signatures. Bassist and singer Jack Bruce adds an etheeal quality to the lyrics, which came from poet Pete Brown.

Deep Purple – Hush – 1/7/68

Hush, hush, she broke my heart, but I love her just the same

The first incarnation of Deep Purple hit the scene in the late 1960’s. Rod Evans was their lead vocalist and he led the charge on this keyboard and drum driven track. It was in 1970 that singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover joined, and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore steered them down the road to heavy metal history.

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild – 5/1/68

I like smoke and lightning, heavy metal thunder

The ultimate bar band song, complete with the first known combination of “heavy” and “metal” in song. This one chugs along, and makes you want to hit the open road, the ultimate call to freedom that embodies heavy metal.

Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – 6/14/68

Oh, won’t you come with me and walk this land?

Seventeen minutes of pulsating drama, a title that is apparently a slurring of “Garden of Eden”, and a very metal sounding band name. This tune clearly influenced much of the music cranked out in the 70’s, from Deep Purple to Meat Loaf to Rush. Plus, everybody gets a solo!

Janis Joplin & Big Brother & The Holding Company – Piece of My Heart – 8/12/68

But I’m gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough

Janis Joplin was definitely tough, a real badass, perfectly capable of soaring over the cacophony on this classic track. Her untimely death at only 27 is sadly another hallmark of heavy metal, and that particular tragedy has continued to repeat itself.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along the Watchtower – 9/16/68

Two riders were approaching and the wind began to howl

Jimi’s version of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” may be the greatest cover song of all time. It certainly proved that you could take a mellow folk song with pop sensibility, crank it up to 11, and improve upon it. Many have continued to cover this, particularly live in concert, following the path that Hendrix blazed during his short, explosive run.

The Beatles – Helter Skelter – 11/22/68

Well, do you, don’t you want me to make you?

“Helter Skelter” was perhaps the most extreme example of experimentation on The Beatles legendary “White Album”. The vocals were screamed, the guitars were distorted and loud, the drumming intense. They even faded out, then back in, culminating with the yelled line “I got blisters on my fingers!”. Then of course there was something about serial killer Charles Manson adopting this as a theme song, and it doesn’t get more metal than that.

Mott The Hoople – Rock and Roll Queen – 1/1/69

Listen woman you needn’t go to bed with everybody that you meet

Mott The Hoople was a huge influence on the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal in the early 80’s. This sprawling track was clearly one of their most influential, with solos and jams colliding with wild abandon.

MC5 – Kick Out The Jams – 1/1/69

I know how you want it child, hot, quick and tight

This live recording is just raw and in your face, maybe more of a precursor to punk than metal, but an influencer nonetheless.

Led Zeppelin – Communication Breakdown – 1/12/69

Havin’ a nervous breakdown, drive me insane

The first Led Zeppelin album was mostly bluesy and meandering. Halfway through side 2, the boys got loud! The song is full-on electric guitar from Jimmy Page and wailing vocals from Robert Plant. Chaotic drumming from John Bonham and driving bass runs from John Paul Jones. “Communication Breakdown” is 2-1/2 minutes of heavy metal ready to be born.

Spooky Tooth – Better By You, Better Than Me – 3/1/69

Tell her the world’s not much for living for

This song may be more well known from its remake by Judas Priest a decade later, but that only proves its relevance to the metal movement. I will admit I did not know that this version, or even this band, existed, but Spooky Tooth has a killer sound, and I highly recommend checking them out.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Cinnamon Girl – 5/14/69

You see us together, chasing the moonlight

This song stands out in the early part of Neil Young’s career as his loudest and dirtiest musical contribution, proving that even a smooth sounding folk singer could get down and dirty, and make the heads start banging.

The Who – Pinball Wizard – 5/23/69

That deaf, dumb and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball

The highlight of the first “rock opera”, this song is as epic as things got in the 60’s. While not necessarily heavy, it does explore guitar effects, and sound combinations, which would influence many albums to come.

The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog – 8/5/69

So messed up, I want you here in my room

This one was sure to annoy your parents, your neighbors, and most of your friends. Tense piano, crunchy distorted guitar, and disturbing snarled lyrics. Everything that heavy metal was destined to be.

Pre-Metal Sounds – The Seeds of Heavy Metal first appeared on Game On Media.

Yesterday asks us to imagine a world where The Beatles never existed. An event occurs sending Himesh Patel’s struggling musician character to the hospital, where he awakens to discover that he appears to be the only person on earth who knows The Beatles and their legendary songs. He begins to sing them and people believe them to be his own creations. The true stars of this movie are the timeless songs that everyone knows, no matter their age, cleverly arranged and performed brilliantly by Patel. The movie has love, drama, comedy and surprise, taking us on a magical mystery tour of classic music that plays out much better than might be expected.

Spoiler Free Movie Review: Yesterday first appeared on Game On Media.

PAUL McCARTNEY DECADES-SPANNING “LIVE” ALBUM MILESTONE REISSUES AMOEBA GIG PAUL IS LIVE CHOBA B CCCP WINGS OVER AMERICA TO BE RELEASED JULY 12, 2019 VIA MPL/CAPITOL/UMe

Following last night’s kick-off of this year’s North American leg of his record-breaking FRESHEN UP Tour, PAUL McCARTNEY adds to his Summer of LIVE: Paul has confirmed updated releases of four albums capturing performances spanning from his 1975-1976 return to U.S. arenas with Wings to his intimate 2007 set at Amoeba records in Los Angeles. The albums — Amoeba Gig, Paul Is Live, Choba B CCCP, Wings Over America — will be released July 12, 2019 via MPL/Capitol/UMe digitally, on CD and on both black and limited edition color vinyl. AMOEBA GIG: Amoeba Gig is the first full length commercial release of Paul’s surprise free concert at Hollywood’s Amoeba Music on June 27, 2007. To date only four songs have seen wide release as the Amoeba’s Secret EP, two of which were nominated for Grammy Awards in 2008: “That Was Me” for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and “I Saw Her Standing There” for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. A few years later in November 2012, an extended 12-song excerpt of the Amoeba show titled Live in Los Angeles – The Extended Set was made available free to  PaulMcCartney.com premium members for a limited period. And come July 12, 2019, a full 21-song recording documenting possibly the most intimate L.A. show Paul has ever played will be made available to the public for the first time. The millions of people not among the luckier than lucky few hundred rubbing elbows with the likes of Ringo Starr and Woody Harrelson during that once in a lifetime in-store set will be able to experience those performances of Beatles classics “The Long And Winding Road,” “I’ll Follow The Sun” and “I’ve Got A Feeling,” Flaming Pie’s “Calico Skies,” plus Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox,” Jan Garber’s “Baby Face” and an emotional rendition of “Here Today.” Additionally, the LP will include an exclusive soundcheck recording of “Coming Up.” Amoeba Gig has been newly remixed by Paul’s engineer Steve Orchard and will be available in configurations including CD, 2 x 180g black vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 – clear, LP2 – hazy amber transparent). PAUL IS LIVE: Recorded during the U.S. and Australian swings of the tour in support of 1993’s Off The Ground, Paul Is Live is Paul’s fifth live album. Originally released that same year, the album is famous for the multiple meanings and clues embedded in its title and cover art, all of which play on the “Paul Is Dead” conspiracy/hoax. In addition to a wealth of Wings and Beatles classics, covers of Roy Brown’s “Good Rockin’ Tonight” and Leiber and Stoller’s “Kansas City” and more, Paul Is Live also offers a peek behind the curtain: Three songs improvised on the spot and exclusive to the album, all recorded during rehearsals in various locations over the course of the tour. Paul Is Live has been newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios and will be available in configurations including CD, 2 x 180g black vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 – opaque baby blue, LP2 – plush peach white opaque). CHOBA B CCCP: The live-in-studio Choba B CCCP (Russian for “Back In The USSR”) was released in the Soviet Union in 1988, making Paul the first Western artist to issue an album exclusively for that market. In a conscious decision to get back to his roots, Paul spontaneously spent two days covering his favorite hits from the 1950s. The sessions produced 22 songs in total (and one of the outtakes being a version of The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”). Choba B CCCP was a deeply personal album and a way to acknowledge fans who had supported him and The Beatles since the start. “When I was very young I asked my dad if people wanted peace,” Paul explained at the time. “He said to me, ‘Yes, people everywhere want peace – it’s usually politicians that cause trouble.’ It always seemed to me that the way The Beatles’ music was admired in the USSR tended to prove his point, that people the world over have a great deal in common. In releasing this record exclusively in the Soviet Union, I extend the hand of peace and friendship to the people of Russia.” Choba B CCCP was released in the rest of the world following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Choba B CCCP has been newly remastered at Abbey Road Studios and will be reissued as the original 11-track Russian release. It will be available in configurations including CD, 180g black vinyl, and limited edition opaque yellow vinyl. WINGS OVER AMERICA: Rare #1-charting triple live album, Wings Over America is a document of one the most sophisticated and dazzling rock shows of the 1970s or any decade. Paul and the band would eventually perform to more than 600,000 people at 31 shows in the US and Canada, ending with three historic nights at The Forum in Los Angeles. It’s no exaggeration to say that the excitement that greeted Paul McCartney & Wings (Linda McCartney, Joe English, Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch) in the spring of 1976 as they embarked on what would become their one and only North American tour was overwhelming. Having released four consecutive chart topping albums — Red Rose Speedway, Band on the Run, Venus and Mars and At The Speed Of Sound – not to mention 1973’s Academy Award-winning James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” – Wings’ career was in full flight… and as Paul’s first U.S. tour since The Beatles, the sheer joy of both the band and its fans were off the charts throughout the 90 hours of recordings distilled into this triple album. Wings Over America was last reissued in 2013 as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection series winning the Grammy Award for Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. Wings Over America will be available in configurations including double CD, 3 x 180g triple vinyl, and limited edition color vinyl (LP1 – transparent red, LP2 – transparent green, LP3 – transparent blue) both come with original souvenir poster. TRACK LISTINGS: Amoeba Gig (CD) 1. Drive My Car 2. Only Mama Knows 3. Dance Tonight 4. C Moon 5. The Long And Winding Road 6. I’ll Follow The Sun 7. Calico Skies 8. That Was Me 9. Blackbird 10. Here Today 11. Back In The USSR 12. Nod Your Head 13. House Of Wax 14. I’ve Got A Feeling 15. Matchbox 16. Get Back 17. Baby Face 18. Hey Jude 19. Let It Be 20. Lady Madonna 21. I Saw Her Standing There Amoeba Gig (LP) Side A: 1. Drive My Car 2. Only Mama Knows 3. Dance Tonight 4. C Moon 5. The Long And Winding Road 6. I’ll Follow The Sun Side B: 1. Calico Skies 2. That Was Me 3. Blackbird 4. Here Today 5. Back In The USSR 6. Nod Your Head Side C: 1. House Of Wax 2. I’ve Got A Feeling 3. Matchbox 4. Get Back Side D: 1. Baby Face 2. Hey Jude 3. Let It Be 4. Lady Madonna 5. I Saw Her Standing There 6. Coming Up [Soundcheck] Paul Is Live (CD) 1. Drive My Car 2. Let Me Roll It 3. Looking For Changes 4. Peace In The Neighbourhood 5. All My Loving 6. Robbie’s Bit (Thanks Chet) 7. Good Rockin’ Tonight 8. We Can Work It Out 9. Hope Of Deliverance 10. Michelle 11. Biker Like An Icon 12. Here, There And Everywhere 13. My Love 14. Magical Mystery Tour 15. C’mon People 16. Lady Madonna 17. Paperback Writer 18. Penny Lane 19. Live And Let Die 20. Kansas City 21. Welcome To Soundcheck (link) 22. Hotel In Benidorm (soundcheck) 23. I Wanna Be Your Man (soundcheck) 24. A Fine Day (soundcheck) Paul Is Live (LP) Side 1: 1. Drive My Car 2. Let Me Roll It 3. Looking For Changes 4. Peace In The Neighbourhood 5. All My Loving 6. Robbie’s Bit (Thanks Chet) Side 2: 7. Good Rockin’ Tonight 8. We Can Work It Out 9. Hope Of Deliverance 10. Michelle 11. Biker Like An Icon 12. Here, There And Everywhere 13. My Love Side 3: 1. Magical Mystery Tour 2. C’mon People 3. Lady Madonna 4. Paperback Writer 5. Penny Lane 6. Live And Let Die Side 4: 7. Kansas City 8. Welcome To Soundcheck (link) 9. Hotel In Benidorm (soundcheck) 10. I Wanna Be Your Man (soundcheck) 11. A Fine Day (soundcheck) CHOBA B CCCP (CD): 1. Kansas City 2. Twenty Flight Rock 3. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy 4. Bring It On Home To Me 5. Lucille 6. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 7. That’s All Right (Mama) 8. Ain’t That A Shame 9. Crackin’ Up 10. Just Because 11. Midnight Special CHOBA B CCCP (LP) Side 1: 1. Kansas City 2. Twenty Flight Rock 3. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy 4. Bring It On Home To Me 5. Lucille 6. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore Side 2: 7. That’s All Right (Mama) 8. Ain’t That A Shame 9. Crackin’ Up 10. Just Because 11. Midnight Special Wings Over America (CD) CD1: 1. Venus And Mars / Rock Show / Jet 2. Let Me Roll It 3. Spirits Of Ancient Egypt 4. Medicine Jar 5. Maybe I’m Amazed 6. Call Me Back Again 7. Lady Madonna 8. The Long And Winding Road 9. Live And Let Die 10. Picasso’s Last Words 11. Richard Cory 12. Bluebird 13. I’ve Just Seen A Face 14. Blackbird 15. Yesterday CD2: 1. You Gave Me The Answer 2. Magneto And Titanium Man 3. Go Now 4. My Love 5. Listen To What The Man Said 6. Let ‘Em In 7. Time To Hide 8. Silly Love Songs 9. Beware My Love 10. Letting Go 11. Band On The Run 12. Hi, Hi, Hi 13. Soily Wings Over America (LP) Side 1: 1. Venus And Mars / Rock Show / Jet 2. Let Me Roll It 3. Spirits Of Ancient Egypt 4. Medicine Jar Side 2: 1. Maybe I’m Amazed 2. Call Me Back Again 3. Lady Madonna 4. The Long And Winding Road 5. Live And Let Die Side 3: 1. Picasso’s Last Words 2. Richard Cory 3. Bluebird 4. I’ve Just Seen A Face 5. Blackbird 6. Yesterday Side 4: 1. You Gave Me The Answer 2. Magneto And Titanium Man 3. Go Now 4. My Love 5. Listen To What The Man Said Side 5: 1. Let ‘Em In 2. Time To Hide 3. Silly Love Songs 4. Beware My Love Side 6: 1. Letting Go 2. Band On The Run 3. Hi, Hi, Hi 4. Soily

Paul McCartney To Reissue Milestone Live Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

PAUL McCARTNEY
FRESHEN UP U.S. TOUR 2019

SECOND LAS VEGAS SHOW ADDED BY POPULAR DEMAND

FRIDAY, JUNE 28
T-MOBILE ARENA IN LAS VEGAS

EGYPT STATION OUT NOW ON CAPITOL RECORDS

© MPL Communications Ltd // Photographer: MJ Kim

Due to overwhelming demand for tickets to his previously announced June 29 show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Paul McCartney has confirmed a second night at the arena to take place Friday, June 28.

Tickets for the newly added show will be on sale to the public on Monday, March 18 at 10AM.

The June 28 Las Vegas show is the latest addition to the U.S. leg of Paul’s Freshen Up Tour, his first extended stateside run since the One On One Tour that played to some two million fans around the world. Freshen Up kicked off following the release of Paul’s No. 1 charting album, Egypt Station, released September 7, 2018 on Capitol Records to stellar reviews. Rolling Stone raved, “Macca keeps adding new gems to his songbook, with nothing to prove except he’s the only genius who can do this…And, oh yeah — in his spare time, he happens to still be the greatest live performer on Earth,” while Entertainment Weekly described the album as “the still-vital life force of a superstar who has been there and everywhere and is glad just to be here now.”

The Paul McCartney live experience is everything any music lover could ever want from a show: nearly three hours nightly of the greatest moments from the last 50+ years of music, dozens of songs from Paul’s solo, Wings, and of course, The Beatles catalogues that have formed the soundtracks of our lives.

Paul and his band have played an unparalleled range of venues and locations throughout the Americas, the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and all points in between. Among them, the exterior of the Coliseum in Rome; Moscow’s Red Square; Buckingham Palace; The White House; a free show in Mexico for more than 400,000 people; the last show ever at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park where The Beatles played their final concert in 1966; a 2016 week in the California desert that included two headlining sets at the historic ‘Desert Trip’ festival; a jam-packed club gig for a few hundred lucky fans at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace; and one live performance that was broadcast into space featuring Paul’s band of the last 15+ years – Paul “Wix” Wickens (keyboards), Brian Ray (bass/guitar), Rusty Anderson (guitar) and Abe Laboriel Jr (drums). Paul and his team are constantly upgrading state-of-the-art audio and video technology into the live shows that ensures an unforgettable experience from every seat in the house making a Paul McCartney concert never anything short of life-changing.

PAUL McCARTNEY
FRESHEN UP Tour U.S. 2019

May 23 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Arena
May 27 – Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
May 30 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
June 1 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
June 3 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
June 6 – Madison, WI – Kohl Center
June 8 – Green Bay WI – Lambeau Field
June 11 – Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center
June 14 – Arlington TX –  Globe Life Park
June 22 – San Diego CA – Petco Park
June 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena
June 28 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
June 29 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
July 10 – San Jose, CA – SAP Center
July 13 – Los Angeles CA –  Dodger Stadium

Paul McCartney Adds Second Las Vegas Show to Freshen Up Tour first appeared on Game On Media.