You might think it takes a headbanger steeped in metal to write a book like "Time Files When You're in a Coma: The Wisdom of a the Metal Gods." Well, yes and no. A compendium of metal facts and nostalgia, the tome includes questions, daily affirmations, meditations, and anecdotes from a wide variety of metal bands. But it wasn't written by anyone you've likely heard of -- unless your guilty pleasure is alt-country. "Time Flies" is a labor of love by Mike Daly, who's best known for co-founding the band Whiskeytown with Ryan Adams, but who has a genuine fondness for metal and an even greater love of satire and irony. So, does that make Daly a poser, a dweeb or a false prophet? Read his guest blog about how he discovered metal and decide for yourself.
My older sister bought me a Judas Priest '45 of "Diamonds and Rust" for my birthday... Why Judas Priest? I have no idea. I didn't even have a record player, so I would have to sneak into her room when she wasn't home and listen to it. And that's also strange since older sisters tend to want little brothers to stay out of their rooms yet she got me a birthday present that could only be used in her room. Very strange, indeed.
About a year later, MTV came on the air. Back then, MTV had a Saturday night concert series in which they would play live videos. I used to beg my parents to let me stay up and watch the concerts. I saw AC/DC , Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same and many others. I can't say I totally got it, but I got enough to know I wanted more of it.
I loved the songs. I loved the energy. I loved the ripping guitars. I was young, it sounded angry. I was sold.
At the time, I was just a kid so I didn't care if what I was listening to was "cool." I just liked what I liked. I would listen to Motley Crue's Too Fast for Love then the first RUN-DMC record then my uncles copy of Led Zeppelin's 4. I started playing in a bunch of different bands, but they were always bands that focused on songs more then style. Then I went to music school in Boston for about three hours and I realized I was not going to be the next Eddie Van Halen. That's why I never played in a skull-busting metal band and wound up in Whiskeytown instead.
On a side note, much to some band members' delight and to others utter disdain, there were many nights of listening to Metallica's Ride the Lightning in the back of the bus before going on stage.
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