Heavy Metal Mount Rushmore: Judas Priest, Papa Roach, Damn Yankees (Ted Nugent)

"SCARS"                                    PAPA ROACH

Jacoby Shaddix, lead singer of Papa Roach, says this song saved his life.   The message behind "Scars" is trying to help someone who doesn't want to be helped.    The video tells the story well but it's the power of the lyrics that really moves me.


I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel


I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you're drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassions in my nature
Tonight is our last stand

"DON'T GO"                                     JUDAS PRIEST

Rob Halford is the Metal God and if you made a Mount Rushmore out of Heavy Metal vocalists, he'd be there with Ozzy, Robert Plant, and ????     His vocal range and his powerful stage presence is in full glory on his video from the 80's.   "Don't Go" is from 1981's Point of Entry and it has one of the best rhythm sections of any song in the Judas Priest catalog.  

"COME AGAIN"                            DAMN YANKEES

Take the lead singer from Styx, the lead singer from Night Ranger, and add in the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, and you get one Super Group that released two great CD's in the 80's.    "Come Again" is sexual, flirty, and a power ballad supreme.   Lead vocals go to Tommy Shaw on this one, it features a great guitar solo, and filming the video in black and white gives it a classic feel.   I've always loved the song but I don't remember ever seeing the video before.