Dimebag Darrell's Lost CD: Hole, Damageplan, and Poison

"PRETTY ON THE INSIDE"   HOLE

"Here's a song about beauty" - In 1994, Courtney Love and Hole released their critically acclaimed 2nd CD, "Live Through This".   But two years earlier, their debut disc was even more unpolished, raw, disjointed, even Courtney 20 years later said the album was "unlistenable".   Even with this great review, give this one a listen, Courtney's punk attitude at its best!  Check out her look at :11

"ASHES TO ASHES"   DAMAGEPLAN featuring JERRY CANTRELL

After Pantera broke up and before the murder of Dimebag Darrell came a one-time CD from Damageplan.  The group featured Darrell, his brother Vinnie Paul, and included guests including Corey Taylor from Slipknot, Zak Wylde, and on this track, Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains.   "Ashes To Ashes" didn't make the U.S. version but was included on the Japanese CD and the Punisher soundtrack.

"I WON'T FORGET YOU"    POISON

Hard rock concerts were predominantly male and then came bands like Poison.    Bret Michaels appealed to the ladies with rock songs featuring more of a groove than loud guitars.  Their neon colored clothes, makeup, and power ballads like "I Won't Forget You" added to their legacy.   While not as popular as "Every Rose" or "Something To Believe In", "I Won't Forget You" is still a MTV favorite of the 80's.  Fun Fact:   Slash was one of the 3 finalists for lead guitar before they chose C.C. Deville, think about how that might have changed music in the 80's!

Queen of Grunge Rock: Courtney Love and Hole, Skid Row, Northern Kings

"18 AND LIFE"                       SKID ROW

From the debut CD from Sebastian Bach and Skid Row, VH1 put this song on their list of the Top 100 Rock songs of all-time.     Skid Row was a New Jersey band who actually got their start when Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi signed them to their new label.    "Living On A Prayer" starts off telling us that Tommy used to work on the docks and Gina works the diner all day.    Tommy had to put his six-string in hock and Gina dreams of running away but they have hope of making it by living on a prayer.   Skid Row tells a different New Jersey tale.  They take it up a notch, telling us about Ricky and how he was just out of school, walked the streets a soldier and fought the world alone. He fired his six-shot in the wind, that child blew a child away.   Great contrast on the two Jersey hair bands!

"VIOLET"   (On Letterman)               HOLE 

Courtney Love, hate her or love her, truly captured the Seattle Grunge sound for me.    Hole was aggressive, raw, you questioned their musical ability but loved their heart and energy.     I first saw Courtney in the Sid & Nancy movie on the Sex Pistols.   Then I was blown away by Doll Parts, Violet, Rock Star, punk passion from a mesmerizing charismatic female rocker.    This performance ends with Courtney chanting, "Then he hit me and it felt like a kiss, never knew it could feel like this".   Powerful! 

"HELLO"                                  NORTHERN KINGS

Northern Kings are from Finland.  They play symphonic metal and are comprised of band members from many big groups of their country.   They do incredible orchestral covers of songs like "Don't Stop Believin'", "Creep", "We Don't Need Another Hero" but my favorite is "Hello".   Couldn't find an official video for this one, thankfully there isn't one of a blind girl sculpting a bust of Northern King's lead singer.