At age 14, Toronto school friends Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner made a pact to rock together forever. Forming their band Anvil, they went on to become the demi-gods of Canadian metal with their acclaimed 1982 album Metal on Metal. The album influenced a generation of rockers that included Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, but despite their notoriety, Anvil quickly slipped from the limelight and into obscurity. Almost 30 years later, Lips and Robb continue to chase their dream. This behind-the-scenes autobiography follows the ups and down of the duo’s career and their volatile friendship, reveals their dedication and unadulterated passion for their music, and leaves no stone unturned along their last-ditch quest for fame and fortune. Based on Sacha Gervasi's award-winning film of the same name, this hilarious yet poignant account is a reminder that dreams really can come true.
Anvil!
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Editorial Reviews
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The book should win the Spinal Tap Award for Rock Book of the Year The Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Anvil are Steve 'Lips' Kudlow, Robb Reiner and Glenn 'G5' Gyorffy. They are currently working on their fourteenth album.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worth a read, but not what you're expecting...,
By
This review is from: Anvil!: The Story of Anvil (Paperback)
I admit that I saw the movie and that turned me on to them. I grew up a fan of hard rock and metal, and I didn't know Anvil. I bought the new Album, (This Is Thirteen) and one of the "classic" albums (Metal on Metal). I liked them both and was happy to put some money in Lips and Robb's pockets.
When I saw that they were also the authors of this book I decided would buy it. Again, I thought it would be great to support these guys and send some money their way. If you've seen their movie, they seem like really great guys who were part of the birth of modern metal music, but somehow when the time came to get to the next level it didn't happen. They stuck together because they loved making music, and they loved each other as brothers. They seem like such good guys that when you watch the movie you want it for them too. They see the good in the people who let them down, because their hearts are in it for the right reason. Lips even says something to that effect when they return from a disastrous tour of Europe. This is what leads to my big disappointment with this book. What happened to those great guys from the movie? The two guys in this book are arrogant blowhards. They bad mouth every musician they worked with on the way up (except original lead singer Ashley). They go out of their way to let the reader know that former members Dave Allison and Ian Dickson couldn't really keep up musically, didn't appreciate the genius of Lips and Robb, and didn't really contribute to what made Anvil what it was. One of the few compliments they give to former bass player Dickson was that he had long hair. Considering how often they "remember" blowing another band off the stage, you'd think that Allison and Dickson would deserve some of the credit for that, so at the very least maybe they should get credit for putting on great live shows, and maybe making Anvil a great live band... but no. They talk about record companies, managers, and promoters not knowing what to do with a band that was changing music. This is really unfair. You can't know that you are changing music until it happens. Also Metallica was already playing on the West Coast and both bands were aware of each other. I'm not trying to take anything away from Anvil here, but the change was happening with or without them, and history has shown us that it did in fact happen without them. Don't get me wrong, I do think they were handled badly, and that they deserved more recognition and more of a push from their management and record companies. What bothers me is that the book is written as if these people all knew how important Anvil was, but just wouldn't do the right thing. Does anyone really believe that if these people "knew" that Anvil was going to change the world of music and be one of the most important bands of all time they wouldn't have done more? Think about it. If they "knew" Anvil was so special they would have recognized that there was money to be made and done everything they could to promote the band and make that money. By the way, does this sound like the guys from the movie? Do you see why I was so stunned? A band that has a similar story if you think about it is The Ramones. They were the first Punk Rock Band. The guys who would go on to become bands like The Sex Pistols and The Clash were at a Ramones show and then decided be Punks. Both bands went on to be bigger than the Ramones, and kicked off the Punk movement. Almost every band that formed after 1977 claims the Ramones as an influence, but went on to be bigger than the Ramones. When you read books about or by The Ramones, they take responsibility for their lack of mainstream success. They pointed at choices they made, and they didn't bad mouth former members. In addition, this book is poorly written. It's set up to look like interviews with Robb and Lips compiled into this book, but it's not written the way these guys speak. Keep in mind there is a movie where we hear them talking, and telling stories. This book was obviously "written" so why not just "write" it? Why make it look like they were talking? Overall, I think it's worth reading, but if you wanted more from the two awesome guys you saw in the movie you are going to be shocked and a little disappointed.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Anvil!,
By Pam S. (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Anvil: The Story of Anvil (Hardcover)
If you enjoyed the movie, you need to get the book! I saw the movie, which, for lack of a better description, was amazing! I listened to Anvil growing up in my teens. I had no idea that they were still playing after all of these years. After seeing the movie, I was really looking forward to reading the book. It begins by describing the life and times, from practically day one, of both Robb and Lips and takes you all the way up to the present. Their story is told in conversational style (i.e., Lips and Robb take turns describing important events in their lives -- the ups and downs of Anvil and their personal lives). It is an easy read. But more importantly, beause the story is told in the first person in conversational style, it is all the more a very personal one. I really appreciate their candor throughout -- especially with regard to all they've endured for last 30 or so years following their dreams. The telling of Anvil's story is hilarious, heartwarming and also heartbreaking at times. Query: I wonder whether they still have the ninety-five pound anvil that Lips threw during a show which bounced off the stage? (That's one of my favorite passages in the book as told by Robb. It reminds me of the crazy stuff that would happen at shows that one just can't make up.) There are some parts of the book that I enjoy reading repeatedly. For those who want to know what really happens on tour, Anvil's story won't disappoint (e.g., antics involving groupies, partying with Motorhead, etc.). After seeing the movie, I can hear Robb's and Lip's voices telling their story as I read. Their story inspires me and I hope others to not give up on dreams (or what is otherwise important in one's life), and to be resourceful and to do whatever it takes to make them come true! The book is just as good if not better than the movie in that, among other things, it is so very candid and personal. It takes courage to write with such candor. I hope Anvil enjoys success in the long-term because they are not only so very dedicated, talented, and deserving, but because they truly are great people. Long Live Anvil -- Forged in Fire!!!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
They vowed to rock together forever....and meant it!!,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Anvil: The Story of Anvil (Hardcover)
Put quite simply, this is one of the best rock autobiographies that I have ever read. Full of emotion and soul, it covers the heartbreaking and often hilarious story of Anvil, one of the more influential yet obscure heavy metal bands of the early 80's. And make no mistake about it, Anvil WAS an influence and inspiration for a lot of artists, as testimonials from Slayer's Tom Araya and Anthrax's Scott Ian will attest to.
But where those bands made the leap to commercial and critical success and went on to sell millions of records, Anvil didn't. Stardom slipped away from them and they fell off of the ledge. But where most bands would have called it a day, Anvil didn't. In fact, they've spent the last 25 years trying to recapture the glory days, financing their own recordings and tours, putting truth to the old axiom, `rock and roll will never die'. `Anvil, The Story of Anvil', tells their tale in all of it's gory glory. Anvil's core is made up of drummer Robb Reiner, and guitarist/ vocalist Steve `Lips' Kudlow, childhood friends who are brought together by a love of hard rock's transformative power. Their friendship is sorely tested in this story, as Anvil catches the early wave of thrash metal only to see itself fall off of the board and get drowned by the very bands that it helped to inspire. This is a deeply personal story, and it's just downright inspiring to anyone who feels like dreams are worth chasing, even when it seems like all is lost and you're playing to an audience of one. It's all here, the tales of road excess, the broken relationships, the bad decisions and the good ones, all told with forthright honesty and heartfelt conviction. These two guys made a vow to rock together until the end, and they absolutely meant it. Lips and Robb, don't ever stop rocking, guys. You've already won the battle and everything else is just gravy. As a 40-something metalhead myself, this book just made me want to throw up the Devil Horns and say `YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!' Highly recommended!
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