Who said metal is for the uneducated?

Well, my parents for two. Anyway, there are numerous reasons to say that this is rubbish – other than the fact that I like it an I iz ded smart, like.

I could point you in the direction of Iron Maiden‘s back catalogue. They’ve got a 13-minute opus based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge‘s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Alfred Lord Tennyson‘s Charge of the Light Brigade inspired “The Trooper“. Sci-fi is embraced with “To Tame A Land“ (Frank Herbert‘s Dune).

Let’s not forget that singer Bruce Dickinson is (as well as a qualified commercial airline pilot and near-Olympic standard fencer) a history student. As a result, a large number of their songs are about historical events and characters. “Alexander the Great”, “Run To The Hills” (the genocide of the American Indians), “Where Eagles Dare” though based on a film and novel is set during WWII – as is “Aces High”.

Anthrax went for the more simply-titled Indians in their work about the destruction of the native American population. Their song “Among The Living” is based on Stephen King’s novel The Stand. “I Am The Law” is based on literature, though that’s the comic book character Judge Dredd! “Black Lodge” was inspired by David Lynch‘s Twin Peaks and which the series’ score conductor Angelo Badalamenti helped write.

Metallica got in on the act with songs such as “For Whom The Bell Tolls” based on the work of the same name by Ernest Hemingway. Slayer are well known for documenting serial killers and war-related atrocities in their songs. Megadeth have tackled freedom of speech.

These are just well-known examples.

Now, however, I give you something new. To me, anyway. Thanks to Andy for sending me the link to this new way for children to be taught Shakespeare – using the power of MMEETTTAAALLLLL!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQkzHU_U45s

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Have I mentioned Steel Panther yet?

I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned this bunch of nutters before but they have a new video out. Steel Panther apparently started off as a parody act purely ripping the piss out of glam bands. They did a show on Broadway or in Vegas or something. Google them to find out. It’s not important.

What is important is the fact that they’re incredibly entertaining, rude and don’t take themselves at all seriously. Very rock’n’roll!

They have also gone down the standard metal road taken by their forebears – Queen, AC/DC, Spinal Tap and Hayseed Dixie amongst others – and released a song about fat birds. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you “Fat Girl [Thar She Blows]” (courtesy of Metal Injection)…

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SOAV

That’s System of a Violin. I made that up, but it works. Anyway, check this out for a pretty awesome cover of System of a Down‘s “Toxicity” by three fairly attractive women as performed on two electric violins and a drum kit.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMKmQmkJ9gg

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A very big toy

I just had to post this on the basis that it’s’ ridiculously cool. And childish. But nevertheless awesome. I’ve not yet visited Hamburg, but this is right up the top of my list of things to see when I do get there – the world’s largest model railway set.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN_oDdGmKyA