Forgotten Classic Video of the Week

I'm pretty late with this week's video and really didn't have anything planned, so I decided to use the celebrity birthday list for inspiration.

In honor of Ronnie James Dio, who turns 67 (Holy shiii...diver!) today, I'm pulling out that oft-forgotten hair metal contribution to the mid-'80s "feed the world (or at least Africa)" movement, "Stars." Dio was to Hear 'N Aid what Bob Geldof was to Band Aid: organizing and leading 40 headbangers to an L.A. studio to record a charity single that he wrote (with the help of band mates Vivian Campbell and Jimmy Bain). Unlike Geldof, he didn't develop a God complex. He already had some sort of magical wizard complex.

While this may not be as good as "Do They Know It's Christmas," it's miles better than "We Are the World." Sure, it might be a little cheesy and dated, but these dudes ROCK.



But where the hell was Nigel Tufnel?? He really could've taken that to 11.

Comments

God said…
Didja see me in it??? They showed the back of my head right after a shot of Ted Nugent!
Agreed. Nigel makes everything one notch better.
I always thought this was a little stupid, because the idea of altruistic headbangers is just a priori funny. But you're right, it's miles better than "We Are The World".
Also, who let Neil Schon in?
Cheesy and dated-just how I like it!
Nice!
Anonymous said…
I'm just jealous Adam's licking your neck. Damn you!
Cormac Brown said…
I should commend you for actually putting metal on your blog...er, but not this time.
Tony Alva said…
Actually, Nigel and David St. Hubins are featured in the DVD for this project. Stupid? I don't think so at all. It raised money for a decent cause, what's so stupid about that?

Neil Schon, a guy who played Woodstock (the 1st one) at 15 years old as part of Santana's band deserves his time in the spot light for that alone. World class guitar player. I was listening to this without the video while I was working and could pick 9 out of ten just by hearing their solo's. What's cheesy, guys actually PLAYING their instruments? Guys hitting those vocal notes without the assistance of auto-tune and pitch correction? Mock all you want folks, but these hair metal guys have 14 billion times more talent than any artist to release a record in the last 15 years. Wrote their own music and played their own instruments. What fucking concept these days huh.
BeckEye said…
Tony Tony Tony has done it again. What ARE you going on about, dude?

Firstly, you can see David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls (briefly) in the video. If Nigel is on some DVD footage of this event, that's great, but he's nowhere to be found in this vid, which is why I mentioned it. He's my favorite Spinal Tapper.

Secondly, no one's equating "dated" with "bad." Of course these guys can play, but this kind of music is out. It's been out for a long time, except on the rib festival circuit and the neverending reunion tours.

Third, I like this song, but it IS cheesy. (Of course, I happen to like a lot of cheesy stuff.) Seriously, you're gonna tell me that "We can be strong/We are fire and stone/And we all want to touch a rainbow" is not cheesy? I mean, come on. Ronnie James Dio should totally write the next American Idol single.
Malcolm said…
Damn, Ronnie James Dio is 67!! I didn't remember this song being so damn long.

I am curious as to why Nigel Tufnel wasn't in this video. Maybe he was busy with the plans that XTC had for him.
Moxie said…
Things running through my brain after watching this:
1. I don't remember this song at all but man I love these charity songfests!
2. I need a graph to tell me everyone involved in this project.
3. That is a lot of styling product in one studio session.
4. What is up with Rob Halford and Kevin DuBrow? Why all the drama, boys?
5. Who's the hottie with the (relatively) short black curly hair in the beginning?
Tony Alva said…
You should get the "We're Stars" DVD just for the Nigel and David interviews alone. They are well worth the price.

"but this kind of music is out..." To my point, it shouldn't be because even with Ronnie's cheesy rainbow's and tigers it's 1,000,000,000,000 times better than ANYTHING Adam Lambert (fake Rob Halford) et al will produce in his life. Ronnie Dio can sing his songs (ones that he wrote, not Jimmy Ivonne) even at age 67, Vivian Campbell can play the lead work he wrote and played on Ronnie's records (although he's with Def Leppard now).

Sure, there are dingus's in this vid (Kevin DuBrow was an ass, but COULD sing), but what it reminds me of is how absolutely shitty music is today, especially guitar driven rock. Today, hammering away at 16th notes classifies you as the next Jimmy Page. NOBODY plays lead or takes a solo anymore. There are no rib sticking riffs being generated by today's losers. You know why? They can't do it. They don't know how. Why? They never dedeciated themselves to their instrument like each of those dudes in that video did. They don't KNOW what blues are. Guitar virtuosity is dead, and until these kids figure it out and get up to speed, rock and roll is going to continue to suck even worse than it does today.

I'll tolerate lammo Don Dokken singing pointless lyrics to hear George Lynch shredding in the middle eight part any day of the week before even considering spinning a Daughtry record.

The hair metal guys can be fun to tool on and I do my fair share, but like I said, I could name most of those guys by hearing them sing or by each of their guitar solos. Great musicians, very good song writers, poor haircare choices.

Just keeping it real Beckeye...
Soda and Candy said…
I. Do. Not. Get. SpongeBob.

God, it makes me feel old but it's the truth. I'm just like "Really, a flamboyantly gay sponge?" Why can't we go back to the old innocent cartoons like the cross-dressing rabbit... wait a second.
Johnny Gruber said…
And I quote - "we all want to touch a rainbow!"