ANVIL Frontman Discusses 'Anvil Aid' Christmas Campaign With Swedish Radio Station (Audio)

Guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL was interviewed by Bandit Rock, the biggest rock radio station in Sweden, about the Facebook campaign launched by ANVIL's Swedish fans to put the band's classic song "Metal On Metal" at the top of Sweden's single chart in time for Christmas. Dubbed "Anvil Aid", the campaign was started "out of love for and devotion to the band," and is meant to prevent yet another insipid song from the "Idol" reality show and singing competition from hitting No. 1. You can now listen to the interview using the audio player below.

When asked to give his thoughts about the campaign, Lips said, "It's pretty amazing, really — incredible.

"The song probably should have been a huge song and success in its day, but we were way, way ahead of the curve, so to speak, and the label and the management and everything that was involved around us, it was much like an ant pushing the Empire State Building — it just wasn't gonna happen. So it's extraordinary to hear something like this — it's really fantastic. I don't know what else to say.

"It's not about money. It's really about hard work, determination and getting the reward.

"I think what actually triggered it is... And it's not unusual, in a certain sense. It's sort of an opposite attraction. I think that people get really bored with the mundane aspect of what radio is about, what publicity in general [is like] — for music, for movies, [where] there is a lot of hype and very little substance. And I think what people discovered, particularly through the movie [the acclaimed ANVIL documentary 'Anvil! The Story Of Anvil'], is that we have a whole lot of substance, but not the success that should have come with it. And I just think that people just want to right a wrong.

"You can look at bands that sell millions of records, but for the most part they don't really have the influential edge, and I think that people wanna see something that had an influential edge succeed and go far beyond all the trite kind of music, stuff like Christmas carols and sort of sappy love songs and stuff like that. It's time for something different. Let's shake up the tree."

Interview (audio):

The campaign started on Wednesday, December 15 and ended yesterday (December 22). More than 10,000 people have reportedly already purchased the track, making "Metal On Metal" the No. 1 song in the Swedish iTunes store.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's "Killing In The Name" topped the U.K. chart last year following a Facebook campign which was widely seen as a backlash against the manufactured, disposable pop promoted by shows like "The X Factor" and "American Idol".

ANVIL recently signed a new recording contract with The End Records. The band is currently recording its new album, entitled "Juggernaut of Justice", at Dave Grohl's (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS) Studio 606 in Northridge, California with famed producer Bob Marlette (BLACK SABBATH, AIRBOURNE, FILTER, ATREYU, ALICE COOPER). A spring 2011 relase is expected. Prior to the arrival of the new CD, The End will release the definitive ANVIL anthology. The collection will be comprised of classics old and new, with some surprises, and will showcase the band's entire career spanning back to 1978.