ANVIL Frontman: 'It's Never Too Late And Dreams Can Still Come True'
- Nov. 22, 2009
Christina Fuoco-Karasinski of LiveDaily recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
LiveDaily: Did you think "This is Thirteen" was going to be the breakthrough album?
Lips: Hmm. I always hoped that every album I do would [be]. To me, it's been one long album, really, in a certain sense, because, as soon as you finish one album, you're writing another one. It's one long stream. The job never really ends. You're never really done. So it's not ... to me, it's one long stream. I really don't worry about whether I'm going to be big or small, whether it's going to sell a lot or a little. I don't really bog myself down with those thoughts. It's pretty much a waste of time. You can't predict it. It's impossible to predict, totally. To me, the newest record is by far the best thing we've done in years, but it's the first time we've used a producer in years. That makes a huge difference. It really, really does. Anybody thinking differently, they can go try it and they can go find out on their own. I went on a really long journey and found myself sort of the hard way. You can try all you want to produce yourself. You won't get what you would get if you really had a producer. There's just no way. You can't be yourself and outside yourself at the same time. You can't do it.
LiveDaily: So are you working on new material now?
Lips: Yeah, we have 20 new songs. Oh yeah, like I said, it never stops. As soon as we finished recording, when we came home from England, we began writing again. Most of the reason for that is — particularly at this point — we really figured, or I did, that we're not going to have time. That movie was gonna open up and there's not going to be any time. We're going to be on the road, who knows? That's pretty much been the way it is. I'm really grateful that, before the movie even came out, we'd written most of the new songs. Part of it's very frustrating. I've been waiting around for two years to record what I've already written. It's a bit frustrating on that level, and then it's always hurry up and wait. At the same time, "This is Thirteen" just came out now and already everybody's going, "When's the next one?" Now everybody's saying, "Hurry up." I've been ready for two years. Why are you telling me to hurry now? It's really frustrating, actually.
LiveDaily: Do you have a name for the new album?
Lips: "Juggernaut of Justice".
LiveDaily: If there's one thing that you'd like people to take away from the movie, what would that be?
Lips: That it's never too late and dreams can still come true. I think it is true. The only time it's too late is when you're six feet under the ground. Where there's life, there's hope. That's just the way it is. Anything can change for anybody at any time. And you can die tomorrow. Anything is possible and that's why you have to do whatever you can while you're here.
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COMMENT | .. posted by : Pod 11/22/2009 8:19:07 PM
Don't like them much, but it's nice to see hard work paying off after many years.
COMMENT | .. posted by : Pod 11/22/2009 8:19:11 PM
Don't like them much, but it's nice to see hard work paying off after many years.
COMMENT | posted by : syko kyd 11/22/2009 8:29:53 PM
I really wish more people had the same attitude that Lips does. Your never too fuckin old to do anything and don't let anybody tell you otherwise.
I agree,besides,i'm from the old school and i prefer metal to be strong,unlike alot of the newer bands that blow,can't believe some of these bands get labels to back them.And Anvil keeps going,kudo's.
COMMENT | posted by : NoyzRulz 11/22/2009 8:55:52 PM
As an older guy, most people ARE too old. Most are tired, lazy and too stupid to realize their pathetic dreams are a waste of time, when they could have made a good career doing something else. If you can't do what you love, make a good living and do what you love on the side. Movies sucked. Band sucks. You guys are pathetic trying to prop this crap up, where were you when they needed you? Exactly, never heard of them like most of us.
Seem like nice guys, but they are uninteresting, stupid and not talented. Thats ok, most poople go through life like that. If it wasn't for reality TV, you guys still would not be talking about them.
Almost thought their 15 minutes were up.
COMMENT | wow posted by : Hardcore666 11/22/2009 9:03:24 PM
Saw the movie on the weekend... way to go Lips and Rob!
COMMENT | posted by : I Live Again 11/22/2009 9:15:14 PM
Anvil fucking rules! Keep on going guys.
COMMENT | Screw The Haters posted by : Blabberfart 11/22/2009 9:21:58 PM
Screw The Haters, this band worked there ass off to get to were they are, and If its a documentary showing them struggle that f*ckin gets them out there and more exposure, SO be it,
These F&*ckers are getting some attention that they deserve and the materials pretty decent too, which is increasingly hard to get now a-days.
Maybe they won't see a zillion, but from what i've heard there doing better now financially then way before... So good for them...
COMMENT | ... posted by : The Maggotface 11/22/2009 9:28:50 PM
Anvil's great. The song "Game Over" is killer.
COMMENT | The documentary... posted by : Sprytle 11/22/2009 9:32:42 PM
COMMENT | Well posted by : sigmet999 11/22/2009 11:26:29 PM
When they opened for AC/DC in Moncton, and Steve played the "dildo" while playing Mothra, that's when the greater majority of the crowd understood why they never made it.
Sorry guys!
COMMENT | posted by : Skinny Puppy 11/22/2009 11:34:21 PM
Anvil sucks. They need to disappear... again.
COMMENT | posted by : Chainedown 11/22/2009 11:57:53 PM
This is an endless type of "I wish" that goes nowhere, but I wish Layne Staley was around to hear this.
COMMENT | NO, ANVIL RULES posted by : maniacal 11/22/2009 11:59:05 PM
why would any metal head listen to someone with the screen name "skinny puppy"?
COMMENT | Anvil kick arse! posted by : shawnlanewasgawd 11/23/2009 12:18:30 AM
Hey, NoyzRulz, did we watch the same movie and hear the same band? These guys are great!! I hope I get to see them in St. Louis in Jan.
Lips has more talent in his....dildo....than most of these scream-growl-break-down metal bands have combined!
COMMENT | it's a vibrator posted by : maniacal 11/23/2009 1:02:24 AM
not a dildo , even though slash called it a dildo in the movie, he should know the difference
COMMENT | posted by : sjones 11/23/2009 1:48:56 AM
Noyz is obviously jealous. No, you're never too old to go for what you want. There are blues and jazz musicians that released their first albums in their 80's.
COMMENT | posted by : MetalMetalMetal 11/23/2009 6:22:41 AM
ANVIL RULES!
COMMENT | posted by : Ragnarock 11/23/2009 7:20:44 AM
A well deserved breakthrough, i hope JOJ will be released soon.
COMMENT | Doctor Kevorkian doctor of deaaath! posted by : Dr. Mysterio 11/23/2009 9:49:38 AM
That's the same band, right?
COMMENT | Great story posted by : spiderbucket 11/23/2009 11:29:09 AM
Great film. Pretty good band. Certainly better than Bon Jovi or Poison. Theses guys are REAL metal and have worked hard to keep the band alive with their credibility intact. Hats off, hosers.
COMMENT | Comments posted by : NoyzRulz 11/23/2009 12:11:39 PM
"Hey, NoyzRulz, did we watch the same movie and hear the same band?"
Yes, the same music everyone has heard that NEVER sold. I know sometimes good bands sell poorly, but in this case, they really do suck. That's just my opinion, well and the opinion of the buying public for what it's worth.
"Noyz is obviously jealous. No, you're never too old to go for what you want. "
Not really. See, I knew I had no talent as a musician so I tried something else. And again. And again. And now I do very, very well for myself. I am happy and if I wanted to play in a band, I would do a local thingy, but not into it anymore when I can afford to do whatever I want.. And I do. I give them props for continuing to try, but once this buzz from the silly movie dies down you won't hear from them again, unless you go looking.
In closing, I have to send this to Blabbermouth, maybe they covered it already, free song:
COMMENT | Irony posted by : suckingchestwound 11/23/2009 12:44:28 PM
It is too bad that Anvil finally "made it" in the era of illegal downloading. I wonder if Lips can even quit his day job.
COMMENT | It's a Vibra-Do ! (rhymes with bravado) posted by : shawnlanewasgawd 11/24/2009 12:11:30 AM
Whatever that sex toy was, Lips has more talent in it than a lot of bands signed to major labels combined. Whether you like their songs or not, they are talented.
I do very well, too, and traded my rock star dreams for college and white collar work. And I'm not too bad of a musician, either. So I think I can recognize talent, even if shrouded in Spinal Tap antics.
COMMENT | yeah posted by : Hardcore666 11/24/2009 8:24:59 AM
Breakthru movie or album, whats the difference?
Both are about the music and the passion baby!
COMMENT | posted by : AlucardsQuest 11/24/2009 11:49:51 PM
Btw Lips has quit his day job, they've been doing promotion & touring pretty much non-stop since the movie came out in theaters.
People who are criticizing have no idea what a dream is, what it is to chase it and eventually achieve it. They are content in the confines of their boring reality. Irregardless of what you perceive their talent to be, you're probably just jealous that they are getting exposure for it. Now Anvil can actually make a living off of their life-long dream and you can't stand it. They can easily jump onto summer festivals in Europe and giant Japanese theaters with other headliners. Success in the US admitedly won't be easy, but even the big boys of metal are punching it out in clubs these days... but Anvil have their movie in tow which will bring in a lot more people.
I as a fan will amit that they aren't the greatest musicians, but their work supercedes everything on rock radio. So it's better to have Anvil around than another Jonas Brothers or another Miley Cyrus.
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