Heavy Metal is a genre of music most associated with the fringe element of society- and why not? With in your face power chords coupling dark musical overtones, and heck- even darker tee shirts, metal often gets a bad rap from the mainstream.
But on a cool Wednesday evening on a soundstage in Los Angeles, heavy metal made a u-turn in the court of popular opinion on what is considered the most popular television show in the last decade. Metal made its turn on American Idol.
Can you believe it!? Well, we can, and we can thank more than a few people for that. Firstly, James Durbin, the underdog singer on this breakthrough season of American Idol for choosing the classic Sammy Hagar song “Heavy Metal” from the soundtrack of the film from 1982. Also, Steven Tyler, whose mere presence as a judge on the show this year opened the door for a singer like Durbin in the first place.But truly the unsung hero of the moment this riveting spring evening was a rock guitar hero of epic proportions: the indefatigable Zakk Wylde.
It was Wylde’s breakthrough performance in biker boots, a black tee and sleeveless denim jacket that took rock guitar and heavy metal from the background to the front of the consciousness of a country. It’s now up to us to keep it rocking. Great job guys!