UFO with Michael Schenker (UFO was considered progressive rock back in the day). Schenker definitely qualifies as your metal god. It was funny when I saw Blue Oyster Cult with UFO as the opening act. UFO blew BOC away! I kinda felt bad for BOC...

Schenker w/UFO influenced everyone from Aerosmith to Def Leppard to Metallica. If you don't have the live album 'Strangers in the Night' then you must immediately add it to your metal collection.

I agree with Randy Rhoads, he is right up there. He, like Schenker, had that perfect combo of feel with speed. Saw him w/Ozzy and was completely satiated...

I find it somewhat sad that you consider influencing Def Leppard as some sort of a merit. The faster the drummer loses another hand, the better...

Culture, alienation, boredom and despair

By the way, does Buckethead count as metal? I love that guy. He wears a KFC bucket on his head to concentrate the souls of dead chickens, yet I find him to be less ridiculous than most metal bands :)

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Heaven is a place where
Nothing ever happens

Buckethead? I wonder if he's related to the finnish phenomenon Ämpäripää (also literally "buckethead").

"You don't Nomi."

Well, they certainly look like relatives!

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Heaven is a place where
Nothing ever happens

I hesitated to mention Faith No More as I'm not sure they really count as metal. However, since numerous people have mentioned them, I'd definitely have to change my initial vote and say they're my favourites. Sorry, Pantera.

I'm a kid
And I love CANDY!!!

I like the more alternative heavy Rock more than Heavy Metal people like The Datsuns, and Audioslave .

though at the moment my tastes tend to be focused on downtempo and chillout

my site - updated Oct 06

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In fact, if you asked me to pick the coolest band right now that I would classify as metal, I'd pick Evanescence. Would you classify them as metal?

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I think Evanescence could pass as metal - some kind of emotional, girlie metal. A lot of things pass as mainstream metal these days. The essence of True Metal can and will be debated until the end of the world.

For my money metal is more or less about fuck-the-world-nihilism, not giving a shit and of course above all groovy gutbusting heavy guitar.

I can't think of a really good definition.

Anyway, rock and metal genres are quite bendy around their edges. Especially on media like MTV and such. I guess it comes down to the individual rocker to yell "Fuck no!" every now and then.

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How is In Flames' live set? Their last album was sellout city but they have been known to bring it in the face in years past.

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I don't know their catalogue enough to be able to tell if they we're selling it out or not, but they certainly made me do some serious moshing. And since they were loud as hell I might have some serious internal bleeding.

Buckethead could most certainly be considered metal on, say, "Robots and Monsters." However, if you REALLY wanna trwist your noggin' check out his "Colma," some of the most lovely and laid back guitar stylings you might find.

Buckethead's a genius and he hails from the SF area, which has allowed me more than one opportunity to see his brilliance in the flesh.

It is my opinion and I am unanimous in this, because it is my opinion, which is, in fact, mine.

Yeah, I've got him quite covered (except for the live shows - envy!). Love his style and music.

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Heaven is a place where
Nothing ever happens