ANVIL's LIPS On Passing Of TWISTED SISTER's A.J. PERO: 'The Saddest Part Is Not Going For Checkups To The Doctor'

Jack Antonio conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metallers ANVIL on March 25 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. You can now listen to the chat using the Mixcloud player below.

Speaking about the recent passing of TWISTED SISTER drummer A.J. Pero, Lips said: "Well, A.J.'s, of course, an old acquaintance. We met the TWISTED SISTER guys going back to 1982… Yeah, it's, like, '82. I've known those guys for decades now. [It's] very sad. I think the saddest part is not going for checkups to the doctor, and that's what really… That would have made a world of difference. We wouldn't be talking about it today if he had. That's what the problem was; he didn't go to the doctor. He had long-term heart damage from heart disease and never went and had it looked after, and he died of a massive heart attack. [It's] very, very sad."

He continued: "Going to the doctor is everything. And a lot of men are very, very, very proud. If I'm not sick and if I can get out of bed, it's a good day; who cares? And until they take me away on a gurney, I'm fine. Most men feel that way. But it's probably not the smartest of options — to ignore what your body is telling you. If you've got some problems, go to a doctor."

ANVIL's latest album, "Hope In Hell", sold a little under 800 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The disc followed up "Juggernaut Of Justice", which opened with around 1,600 units back in May 2011. The 2009 re-release of the band's 2007 CD, "This is Thirteen", registered a first-week tally of 1,400 to enter the Top New Artist Albums chart at No. 19.

Lips told Horns Up Rocks! in a recent interview that the band will spend most of 2015 on the road, but will return to the studio at the end of the year to record the follow-up to 2013's "Hope In Hell". He said: "We have a new album pretty much all written, but we're gonna be busy probably 'till next September. So that's when we plan to go in and record again."

ANVIL last year parted ways with bassist Sal Italiano and replaced him with Chris Robertson. Lips told M.E.A.T.'s Drew Masters that Chris has actually been part of the ANVIL camp for some time now, having been both their rehearsal bassist as well as a member of their road crew. Lips also stated that he's glad the band is, once again, "all Canadian — that is the heart and soul of ANVIL."