Remember the Pinnacle of Metal Hedonism? Maybe You Wish You Didn't...
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Gary Hoey. I read the name on a promotional flyer for an event. The name rang a bell, somewhere in my long buried adolescent mind. It popped up images of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Yngwie Malmstein. I knew he was a guitar wanker/"god" but I couldn't place the name of the song/video that brought him to my mind, but I could remember the faint whiff of something to do with surfing. When in doubt - wikipedia.
Wikipedia claims he auditioned for Ozzy, but lost the job to Zakk Wylde. You might not be familiar with Hoey's music, and I'm certainly not outside of this one song (and knowing he did the Endless Summer II soundtrack), but you can only imagine what vain of Metal, Mr. Hoey was involved in.
Strangely, in this period (1993) metal hadn't heard the death knell yet. I mean Headbangers Ball was still on the air, and yes, Nirvana was being played on it next to acts like...well, Gary Hoey. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was released in 1991, and if I remember correctly, there weren't full on "Alternative" stations yet. So on "The Ball" you got a sonic merging of the 70's heavy metal influenced "Seatle Sound" band playing with the old stalwarts of The Crüe, and...well people like Gary Hoey.
It's interesting, because in those days there always seemed to be a guitar Moses that would appear every couple of years, with a completely unlistenable (save for one stand out track) album, that would guide us to the Rock n' Roll promised land. If it wasn't a Yngwie Malmstein, it was a Steve Vai, or maybe Joe Satriani would release another album.
Anyway, I probably forgot this track fo a reason, but I love how comically over the top it takes itself. It has almost every metal cliché in it. It's the perfect formula for a one hit wonder . Take a forgotten track (in this case "Hocus Pocus")from a forgotten band (The Dutch Progressive Rock band Focus - I guess Golden Earing was sitting on their catalog) and make it a little more contemporary. And in true 90's fashion, make it sound like an "orchestra of guitars" is playing - but have one, sole, chosen individual with the sheer rockitude, PLAY ALL THE GUITARS! If there is an award for Rock n Roll hedonism, this would surely be nominated for it. I especially love the guitar worship/BDSM gear in the form of a camera rig Mr. Hoey is wearing, because god forbid we miss his finger pyrotechnics or a single hammer on or pull off. I'm sure the Guitar Center sales man in your area was creaming in his jeans as he watched this one over and over again in slow motion.
Comments (15)
I love the whole "Gary Hoey, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Yngwie Malmstein" chain.
Guitar Gods are always appreciated ;-)
I think it was sort of the same vein/chain with Reggae stars in the 90's as well. Every year or so another one would come out, make a blip on the chart, and disappear.
(UB40, Snow, Big Mountain, Ini Kamozze(?), Shaba Ranks) it's still happening, but it never lasts.
I've never looked down at accomplished musicanship. I know it was the "punk" thing to do at times (and I can also appreciate "punk" and DIY and "feel") but to just dismiss an a dedicated musician because he actully took the time and effort to learn how to play his instrument well - I never could get behind that.
I've never really made the claim that these people were un-talented or unskilled. Self indulgent, yes. My post is more about the ineveitable apex or point of no turning back that pops the bubble of any genre or art form. I think when stuff gets too self obsessive, hedonistic, and in a sense parodies itself with it's own extremes. It's a "talent arms race", a kind of guitarists pissing contest. It just gets boring, the same way watching some dudes arm wrestle would.
To me metal got so silly with it's "neo classical" attempts to some how try to draw connections of the virtuosity of metal musicians to that of their more "respectable" classical contemporaries, is just a lame validation of skill. Metal was established outside of "respectable society" for a reason, it was rock n' roll, and it didn't give a shit what those people thought. But this kind of Metal diplomacy is just a lame way to try to justify your "metalness" to people who probably don't give a shit. Rock isn't supposed to be repectable.
Guitar wanker you say ???
Sorry couldn't resist.
Classic horrible cover there!
If I remember right, "Hocus Pocus" was from a band named "Focus". I actually love the original, but Hoey has a way of ruining old tunes. I remember first hearing his take on "Money" by Floyd and thinking it wasn't too bad, until I saw him on some show try to do it live and he mangled it. Oh well...guess he was only a studio god.
Oops, I meant to write "The Dutch Progressive Rock band Focus"). Thanks for the heads up.
Point of Information, Mr Bandwidth. Shabba Ranks had a long history of success in the reggae charts before signing to a major label. His time there wasn't a happy one, as his Biblical homophobia was at odds with most record execs perceptions, so he returned to Jamaica.
Ini Kamoze continues to record both for Fatis Burrell's Xterminator and his own Hottis labels, with a reasonabl;e degree of success.
Snow and Big Mountain had as much to do with reggae as I (49 years old, overweight and with two wrecked knees) have to do with ballet.
UB40 made one decent LP in 1980. So far as the remainder of their career is concerned, boiling in oil seems an appropriate punishment
I would never question your knowledge of Reggae - Baudolino.
I'm sure those artists have chart success elsewhere, and this is my fault for not elaborating, but my point in connecting the single reggae stars to the metal guitar "gods" is more of a sly jab about the commercial end of the record industry's "next big thing". In true record company fashion, these artists were pushed in a more novelty record fashion, which may be why (and I can only speak for the U.S. charts) they're here today and gone tomorrow in the case of most of the American public. It's simply just a pattern I noticed growing up - a pattern that unfortunately never allows the listeners to take into account the rest of these artists body's of work. Sadly, American Pop music does not credit Jamaica or reggae music enough in it's influence on us. We seem more influenced by the little island across the pond's re-interpretation of Jamacain music, rather than the tiny island about 100 south east of us in the Atlantic. For some reason, the American charts still seem rather lacking in representing than the very diverse offerings, and many many talented people that the island has spawned.
I'm a sarcastic person by nature, and sometimes my "all knowing tone" that may be present in a post is more of a tongue in cheek presentation of the facts from my point of view. Sarcasm does not read well on the internet, if it is not seen as sarcasm. I appreciate your input, and am always interested in your seemingly bottomless knowledge of Jamaican Music. No offense was intended.
Its weird because I did not get a true love for metal until I had gone through my punk phase. I am still finding out about bands that have been around for years
" It just gets boring, the same way watching some dudes arm wrestle would. "
I can't believe you're seriously calling this boring ... ;)
Except of course for "Over The Top"!
No, Contra. You're right. This kind on music is so useless. The thing I like about some of the newer metal groups is that there are no guitar solos. I hate them, like cars.