ANVIL Frontman: 'Writing The New Record Was Much Like Our Moment Of Truth'

May 9, 2011

Ken Kelley of Times & Transcript recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian heavy metal legends ANVIL. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On how the success of ANVIL's documentary, "Anvil: The Story Of Anvil", influenced the creative process behind the band's new album, "Juggernaut Of Justice":

Lips: "We began the writing process for the new record before the documentary came out, but it was while the movie was being edited that writing really took off. My thoughts during that time were that we had better get the greatest record we had ever done completed because I just knew that after the film's release, we were going to become extraordinarily famous."

"Writing the new record was much like our moment of truth. Everything we had worked for was culminating in the making of this record. It took 30 years to get there and we knew the eyes of the world were going to be on us and that we had better be glowing."

On the spontaneity of having to come up with something under pressure:

Lips: "I realized that spontaneity is where it's at because in being spontaneous, you are not confined to your own parameters. As soon as you lock yourself into something, you are not opening yourself to the possibilities that could end up being more impressive. When you are inspired to create something, that urgency is the fire that motivates you."

On how the heavy metal genre allows bands like ANVIL to reap the fruits of their labor despite the fact that they are not spring chickens:

Lips: "I feel that many fans respect the fact that the metal genre is old and that there is no age barrier when it comes right down to it. The music has timelessness to it and garners so much respect because you have got guys like Ronnie James Dio who lived and played heavy metal until he died last year."

On ANVIL's audience in 2011:

Lips: "These days, we find that it is the demographic of the movie coming out to our shows; people that saw the movie that want to see what we are about. I find it incredibly remarkable but I feel a little odd sometimes though, playing to older people and I am swearing throughout the show."

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