Episode 20: BulletBoys

When BulletBoys crashed onto the glam metal scene with their self-titled debut in 1988, they were already late to the party. By the time their third album Za-Za arrived in 1993, the grunge wave crashed over them, and that was pretty much it. Singer Marq Torien has kept some version of the band going over the years, but BulletBoys never came close to matching their early success.

But those first two albums, man. Both BulletBoys and Freakshow were fantastic glam/hard rock albums.

Seriously, Marq Torien is one of those vocalists that I'd put in with the likes of Dee Snider, Geoff Tate and Micheal Sweet--singers who elevated the band with a voice that was as powerful as any instrument. In fact, one of the things i love about Bulletboys--especially their first album--is just how big their sounds is. Rolling bass lines, raw guitars and great percussion, all led by Torien's larger than life vocals.

Tonight we look back at five videos from the first two BulletBoys albums.

Smooth Up In Ya


F#9


For the Love of Money


Talk to Your Daughter


THC Groove


BONUS: Bulletboys did a well-received cover of Tom Waits' "Hang on St. Christopher" for their Freakshow album. It's a bit of a mellower tune, but it features some great percussion. Here's a live performance of it.



That wraps up the first season of Sunday Night Videos! We'll be back on August 31st at 7PM EST for the second season. You can follow me on Twitter (twitter.com/seebrianwrite) for updates and catch up on back episodes here on the blog. Rock on!

Episode 19: Def Leppard--The Pete Willis Years

Def Leppard is without a doubt, one of the biggest rock bands of all time. They've sold over 100 million records over their four decade-spanning career. They have two diamond-certified albums (Pyromania and Hysteria). They've overcome tragedies that would have completely derailed lesser bands. And they're still selling out arenas today.

But for a lot of old school Def Leppard fans like myself, the evolution of Def Leppard's sound over the years has made a lot of us lose interest in the band. Hysteria was the turning point, and it's really the last Def Leppard album that bears any resemblance to their early stuff. I would even take it a step further and say that Pyromania was the last album from the original Def Leppard.

I think a couple of things contributed to the change in Def Leppard's sound. One was their work with Mutt Lange. His obsession with creating the perfect sound for the band and on endlessly polishing every facet of a song led to a very over-produced sound that only got worse when he left.

But the biggest reason I think Def Leppard's sound changed was the departure of Pete Willis. He was kicked out of Def Leppard after recording the rhythm tracks for Pyromania, and was replaced by Phil Collen, who wrote the solos for Pyromania and then became Def Leppard's full-time second guitarist.

But man, those early years with Pete Willis saw a Def Leppard that was a kick ass rock 'n' roll band. Heavily influenced by AC/DC, Def Leppard songs featured great riffs and ripping solos. Pete Willis and Steve Clark were a great duo, and Def Leppard's first three studio albums (On Through the Night, High 'n' Dry and Pyromania) were killer.

This week we celebrate the Pete Willis era of Def Leppard with six videos from their first two albums.

Hello America


Rock Brigade


Wasted


Let It Go


High 'n' Dry


Bringin' on the Heartbreak


BONUS: Here is a segment from the Ultimate Albums show that talks about the making of Pyromania, as well as the departure of Pete Willis.


Tune in next Sunday night at 8PM EST on Twitter (twitter.com/seebrianwrite) for another episode of Sunday Night Videos, and right here on the blog for the episode notes, which will go up shortly after 9PM EST. You can tweet me recommendations or get in on the discussion every Sunday night by using the hashtag #SundayNightVideos. Rock on!