Manowar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Manowar (disambiguation).
Country USA
Years active 1979 - present
Genres Heavy metal
Labels Magic Circle Music
Members Joey DeMaio
Eric Adams
Karl Logan
Scott Columbus

Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York, which formed in 1980.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Joey DeMaio was working as a bass tech / pyrotechnic for Black Sabbath when he met with guitarist Ross the Boss, playing for a group called Shakin Street, a Black Sabbath support band. They later recruited Eric Adams for vocals and Donnie Hamzik for the drums, to create Manowar — a band with an unusual epic sound. Manowar recorded Battle Hymns, their debut album, which featured "Dark Avenger", a slow epic track with narration by Orson Welles (Welles later returned on the Fighting the World album and did the narration on another slow track called "Defender").

Drummer Scott Columbus joined the band for their second album, Into Glory Ride. Their official biography states that custom stainless steel drum kits had to be built for him because his drumming technique was so "vicious" that it ruined standard kits. [1]

Manowar claims the title of "loudest band in the world", and the Guiness Book of World Records has documented them as the holders of the record for the loudest musical performance, at 129.5 decibels. Custom equipment was built for the band by John "Dawk" Stillwell, which helped achieve the massive sound. [2]

The band is also notable for its ownership of their entire operation. Record recording and distribution, as well as merchandise, are all controlled by the band. Singer Eric Adams has said that the reason for this is that the band has received unfair treatment financially in the past, and also to ensure the highest quality production. [3] The band's label, Magic Circle Music, includes other bands such as Rhapsody of Fire. [4]

The release of their next album, which was scheduled for April 3, 2006, was delayed due to severe left arm injuries sustained by guitarist Karl Logan during a motorcycle accident on January 24, 2006. He will be unable to perform for an unknown period of time, but is expected to recover. [5]

The latest Manowar recordings are the songs "King of Kings" and "The Ascension", released in 2005 with their latest DVD Hell on Earth Part IV. A new single, planned for release on February 27 2006, containing the ten-minute unreleased epic "Sons of Odin" as well as a rerecording of "King of Kings", was postponed due to Karl Logan's injuries. "The Sons of Odin" EP was released in Germany on the 4th of October and elsewhere on October 6th. It was then followed by a full length DVD release containing the EarthShaker Fest of 2005. [6] [7]

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[edit] True metal

"'True metal' is music that's true to the style of classic heavy metal. It's not diluted. It's not pussied out. It's not wimped out. It's played from the heart, 100 percent." Joey DeMaio

True metal is a subjective term which is said to have been coined and used by the band in the 1980s.

It is thought that the term was originally a statement against a subgenre of metal, known as glam metal. The term came into wider use during the 1990s as newer subgenres such as nu-metal, alternative metal, and metalcore, came into existence. However, fans of more traditional heavy metal are generally not known to use this term.

Some debate the former understanding, simply because Manowar have never expressed much regard for glam metal bands such as Poison. So, it was suggested that "Death To False Metal!" refers mostly to extreme metal[citation needed], although extreme metal fans and bands view death metal, black metal and similar genres as "true metal."

Other evidence which adds strength to this claim came when Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden, during an internet hosted interview with "The Three Amigos" (Murray/Gers/Smith), was asked if he/they enjoy Norwegian black metal; he replied: "No. Death To False Metal!".[citation needed]

On the contrary, Manowar have shown respect for Venom, Celtic Frost, and Mercyful Fate, three early extreme metal bands, in various interviews from the '80s.[citation needed] Manowar have also taken Immortal on tour with them.[8] Joey DeMaio has stated Immortal play true metal, though "a different kind."[citation needed]

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

  • Guitars:
    • Ross the Boss (1980-1988)
    • David Shankle (1989-1993) played for a while in Chicago (the city, not the band), before he was chosen from about 150 guitarists to replace Ross The Boss. Eric and Joey met him while recording "Kings Of Metal" in Chicago.
  • Drums:
    • Carl Canedy (formerly of The Rods) (1980)
    • Donny Hamzik (1981-1982)
    • Rhino (real name Kenny Earl Edwards) (1992-1995)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Singles/EPs

  • "Defender" (1983)
  • "All Men Play On Ten" (1984)
  • "Blow Your Speakers" (1987)
  • "Herz Aus Stahl" (1988)
  • "Metal Warriors" (1992)
  • "Defender" (1994)
  • "Return of the Warlord" (1996)
  • "Courage" (1996)
  • "Courage Live" (1996)
  • "Number 1" (1996)
  • "Live in Spain" (1998)
  • "Live in Portugal" (1998)
  • "Live in France" (1998)
  • "Live in Germany" (1998)
  • "Warriors of the World United" (2002)
  • "Warriors of the World United Part 2" (2002)
  • "An American Trilogy/The Fight for Freedom" (2002)
  • "Dawn of Battle" (2003)
  • "King of Kings" (included in "Hell on Earth Part IV") (2005)
  • "The Sons of Odin" (First EP) (2006)

[edit] VHS/DVDs

  • Secrets of Steel (VHS) (1993)
  • Hell on Earth Part I (DVD) (2001)
  • Fire and Blood (DVD) (2002)
  • Warriors of the World United (Mini DVD/CD) (2002)
  • Hell on Earth Part III (DVD) (2003)
  • Hell on Earth Part IV (DVD) (2005)
  • The Day the Earth Shook - The Absolute Power (DVD) (2006)

[edit] Quotes

  • "It's a shame that future musicians growing up now are being influenced by trash; it's really upsetting. You are basically formed by what your influences are and if you've got losers for influences, you're going to have a hard time overcoming that." -Eric Adams in an interview conducted in 1988
  • "I believe in the fans, I believe in metal more than anybody you've ever met. And you've known me a long time. I've never pissed on you even though you constantly do it to me. And I don't stab the fan in the back. And another thing, I'm prepared to die for metal. Are you?" -Joey DeMaio during a 2006 interview with the Rock Hard magazine.
  • "If you're not into Metal - you are not my friend!" -Joey DeMaio
  • "Each day, you wake up and get out of bed knowing that there is shit waiting for you. Each day is a struggle, a battle and you must prepare for these battles, these wars. You have to be prepared. That is where the spirit of MANOWAR comes in. It is for everybody, both men and women, who have the fighting spirit. You either fight to win or your throw up your hands and admit that you are fucked." -Joey DeMaio
  • "Heavy Metal will never die!" -Joey DeMaio during the Monsters of Rock in Brazil (2002). Recorded on the DVD Fire and Blood.
  • "I'm sorry, I dont listen to country music." -Joey DeMaio when asked what he thought about Metallica. One possible reason that DeMaio may have shown his dislike for Metallica was that in 1999 there was a Gods of Metal fest, and Manowar played Nessun Dorma for their Italian fans; Metallica had played the night before, and James Hetfield was not happy with the song Manowar decided to play.
  • "This is what we do. And if you like it, good. If not, go fuck yourself." -Joey DeMaio
  • "We play Metal pure, you know. We don't play radio bullshit. We don't suck ass." -Joey DeMaio
  • "We just live the part of Metal, you know. We are here to rock, drink and fuck. And that's it. The power is in the music." -Joey DeMaio
  • "Somebody who never compromised their music and their integrity. And never screwed their fans. Somebody who always delivered Metal, and melted people's faces at maximum power." -Joey DeMaio on how he would like to be remembered.
  • "I know that a lot of people are against us. But they can get fucked and eat shit and die. Manowar are here to show everybody else that Metal will live on." -Joey DeMaio
  • "We care about our bands, the quality of music and the metal fans more than anyone else!" -Joey DeMaio in the Magic Circle Music website.
  • "We have the greatest fans in the world," attests drummer Scott Columbus . "For a long time, our fans have stood by us. They've given everything to the belief that together we are the defenders of the heavy metal faith. That's why we've been able to keep playing our brand of music. That's why we haven't wimped out or bowed to commercialism. Our fans are at the core of everything we do. That's the way it's been done from the beginning."

[edit] External links

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