Inspiration on my commentary pieces come from strange places, and usually it’s because my blood is boiling in anger. Recently the news was announced that Glenn Five or G5 the long time bassist for ANVIL has quit. He claims he was held back creatively. I’m sure the truth will come out eventually, but the simple fact is with the level of talent G5 has shown ANVIL is the best gig he is ever going to get. Glenn managed to be around when Lips and Rob finally got the break and made the band famous and popular once again. Glenn was in the famous documentary that put ANVIL back on the map and did write and provide vocals on the awesome new album Juggernaut of Justice. Obviously I don’t know the details, but when we were back stage with Rob and Lips for an interview Glenn was very stand offish and really didn’t want anything to do with us. If legends like Lips and Rob can be polite I think the least Glenn could do was say hello! Although he seemed to fit in fine on stage my personal observations was he just didn’t jive with the boys now that the band had reached a level of success. I have to wonder if he understood that the hard work begins once the pressure of fame is placed on you. Good luck Glenn, I don’t expect to hear your name again!
This little rant led me to other cases where this has happened. Dan Nelson of Anthrax. Dan was pretty much fired after a lot of back and forth garbage between the singer and the band. Some feel Anthrax got rid of him to make room for John or Joey. Having seen the band with Dan live in Montreal I tend to disagree. Nelson was fine on vocals and his youth did add a certain momentum to the band I hadn’t seen in quite sometime, so what really happened? I really think the blame likely falls back on Nelson. Everyone has been fairly tight lipped about the situation, but when a band is willing to record over your vocals something really bad must have happened. A whole band decided they didn’t want you anymore. Dan should have taken the Glen Five and cited creative differences.
Than you go back many years to Motley Crue. Vince says he was fired, Nikki says he quit. Even now that they are back together they can’t agree what really happened. How about Black Sabbath. Ozzy walked out, or Ozzy was fired. Depends on who you want to believe. Along these same lines we have two LA Guns and two Great White’s running around. Someone needs to step up and explain to the fans what really went down to cause these historic cluster fucks.
Over the years every band has its bumps in the road, but overall they refuse to take the high road and share what really happened. For an industry that is based on passion and baring your soul to the world you would think musicians would understand that fans don’t want to take sides in disputes. They want to know the truth and accept it for what it is.
If both sides came out and said we simply don’t get along anymore I think that would be better for the people that put you in this level of fame then mud slinging and the ultimate fuck off: creative differences.
Metal on,
Martell
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There are now two versions of the black metal group Gorgoroth, why?
Musicians that get fired or quit the band on their own terms need to face the truth and stop living in denial by forming another version of their previous band with a whole different line up.
This is just a bunch of childish behavior on the part of musicians claiming to be professional, but really focus should be on the music and not what happened within the band.
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