ANVIL BAND ARTWORK FULL

Germany was the only market for reasonable sales in that period, so the country kept the band running and gave them the opportunity to do more records. According to Lips, Anvil would have not continued had it not been for the German fans and the German contract. From 1996 they were signed by Hypnotic Records in Canada and Massacre Records in Germany. Anvil were then picked up by Maximum Records, an independent Canadian label that was formed by Helix's manager-at-the-time William Seip. They released three records with Metal Blade, starting with Strength of Steel, which was the group's most commercially successful record in the United States, peaking at No. 191 on the Billboard 200. In 2012, during an exclusive interview with Metal Shock Finland's Chief Editor, Mohsen Fayyazi, Steve stated the following when he was asked about David Krebs: Obscurity (1987-2006)įree to pursue a recording contract, they were signed by American label Metal Blade Records in 1987, by William Howell (a fan who is now a DJ with KNAC radio). However, after initial interest, Krebs eventually stopped returning phone calls and did not get the band a major label recording contract, but eventually released the band from the managing contract allowing the band to find their own record deal in mid-1986. By 1983, Aerosmith manager David Krebs and assistant Paul O'Neill signed Anvil and convinced Attic to release the band from their contract so the band could sign with a major label. Following its release, Lemmy Kilmister asked Lips to play guitar for Motörhead to replace 'Fast' Eddie Clarke, but Lips declined.

Shortly after they were signed by Attic Records, they changed their name to Anvil and the independent album was released by Attic as their debut album. In 1981, the band released an independent album called Hard 'N' Heavy.

ANVIL BAND ARTWORK FULL

By 1978, the first full line-up of the band included Kudlow (lead vocals, lead guitar), Reiner (drums), Dave 'Squirrely' Allison (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ian 'Dix' Dickson (bass). They met through friend, guitarist and neighbour Marty Hoffman, but “musical differences” caused his departure after their first show. The roots of Anvil began in April 1973 in Toronto, when high school friends Steve 'Lips' Kudlow and Robb Reiner began playing music together. Anvil's antics on and off stage, the setbacks they suffered, and their determination to keep going was compared to the fictional band Spinal Tap. Reviewers described Anvil as a pioneering hair metal band that was popular in the 1980s but then faded into obscurity in the 1990s, while refusing to stop playing, recording and gigging.

Appearances at both major heavy metal festivals, including Download, Loud Park and Hellfest, and independent music festivals like Bumbershoot and SXSW, also followed the release of the film.

Upon its release, the film garnered critical acclaim from many major publications, and has since brought the band renewed recognition, including opening slots with AC/DC and Saxon. The band, in particular Kudlow and Reiner, was the subject of the 2008 documentary film, Anvil! The Story of Anvil, directed by the screenwriter and former Anvil roadie, Sacha Gervasi. Anvil The Story of Anvil documentary and This Is Thirteen 2006 2009.To date, the band has released sixteen studio albums, and has been cited as having influenced many notable heavy metal groups, including Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica. The band consists of Steve 'Lips' Kudlow (vocals, guitar), Robb Reiner (drums) and Chris Robertson (bass). Anvil are a Canadian heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1978.

Anvil band artwork