I came late to the heavy metal party. When my brother and his headbanging friends, or any guy friend I had in the early 80s, popped an Iron Maiden or Judas Priest tape into the car deck, I’d groan and roll my eyes. My ears were tuned in and turned on by punk, new wave, synth-pop, and the growing goth scene.
Guns and Roses was the band that brought me into the fold. Jane’s Addiction is the band that kept me there. I’m still not keen on the big-haired, satin-pant wearing fashions of metal bands from yesteryear, but I’ve come to appreciate some of the music, and to revel in the sounds of the genre’s earliest influencers including, but not exclusive to, Iron Butterfly and Black Sabbath.
When I first heard “Say Hello” by Fuzz, I was immediately reminded of my former dismissiveness of the genre and its roots, so I’m laying this cool retro-flavored track on you to make up for it.
Follow us here
You can learn more about fuzz here:
About the Curator - Jane Asylum
When my mother wasn’t walking around the house belting out early 60s’ girl-band lyrics, she was collecting compilation albums, specifically from K-Tel. She may not have had the most refined taste, but she enjoyed variety, or at least that’s what I recall. I poured over them all, preferring some sounds to others. And when I found the perfect song, I’d play it over and over until ready to perform my latest theatrical dance incarnation.
With my family all gathered on floral grey sofas in our basement apartment, I’d set the vinyl on the turntable of a brown fibreboard stereo and not-so-carefully lower the needle. It would pop, screech, and crackle before any music spilled from the weaved-wheat speakers. My toes would press, lift, and sweep through the blue-green shag carpet, my arms would flail, and the music would bass and treble through my soul.
I’m no longer that 6-year-old doing private-audience interpretive dance routines, but my passion remains just as intense. I have no special superpowers as a curator — just my love of sounds and lyrics that transport, transform, move, and make your body groove.
