it's Friday...let's cool off a bit

The best way to kick off any weekend is with a little smooth music to get you through those last few hours of grinding.  So sit back, relax and start thinking about tonight's misadventures y'all.  Have a blessed and safe weekend and we'll see ya Monday.








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7 from 1987

Wow...that's two NOW covers I've used in the last seven days...I must be getting lazy.  Either way, it's about time to get some classics into your systems.  Here are seven tracks from the glorious year of 1987 to keep you company through the night and into Sunday.  ROCK AND ROLL!








Do you love heavy metal as much as we do??  Maybe you should like our facebook page or perhaps follow our twitter account??  Or you know, go on doing jack shit while sitting on your butt cruising the web...oh well, do as you must.  Just rock the fuck out whilst doing so.


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Happy 25th to Appetite!

Pretty tough to believe I'm sure but tomorrow will mark the 25th anniversary of the quintesential Guns N' Roses album, Appetite For Destruction.  While the band continues to travel the world playing to sold out venues globally, Appetite (which ranks as one of the greatest debut albums of all time) will join the quarter-century club.  GN'R made headlines earlier this year when front man Axl Rose refused to be involved in the bands induction to the rock and roll hall of fame; as a long time fan of the band I can say that Axl never fails to amuse me.  I wonder if there will be any special release to commemorate the anniversary...knowing this band though, trying to get anything out will be a hassle.  Us die hards can only hold out hope that something awesome will happen or just wait around for the 50th anniversary when hopefully all the squabbles will finally be at peace.





Get with GN'R on their Facebook and twitter pages!  And happy birthday to Appetite for Destruction...go drink a bottle of Nightrain on Sunset and pass out in an alley.


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Tom and Katie Splitting Up

from tmz.com

As you probably have heard...Katie Holmes filled for divorce yesterday from Tom Cruise.  Tom was apparently "blindsided" by the news that his five year marriage (his third) was about to end.  Apparently Katie didn't want their daughter Suri to be brought up within Scientology according to TMZ.  It's a shame when things end like this but it seems almost inevitable when two powerhouse personalities come together they can't seem to stay that way for long.  Lots of folks hate on Tom Cruise but I remember the good old days before he went a little nutty.  So here's a few songs from some of my favorite TC films.

from Vanilla Sky

from Interview With The Vampire

from Mission: Impossible II

from Top Gun


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DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE

I know what you're gonna say, "but Ted...I thought you loved hair metal??  this should be like your favorite movie ever!"  FUCK THAT.  This thing looks like a god awful monstrosity that came out of Tom Cruise's anus on a hot and balmy August day in the desert.  I personally blame Glee via American Idol via Beau Fucking Bise via Simon Cowell's ass.  BOYCOT THIS SOB.  It's time to tell the movie studios that--as amazing as Alec Baldwin may or may not be--this shit will not stand!  I wanna throw up just looking at that movie poster.  In protest here are some classic live videos to remind us all how amazing these songs are and as an F-You to these fools for having the audacity to include them in their lip synched shit show.








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MORE Talk Box Love

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Y'all like Talkbox??

RIP Roger Troutman. Heard some talk-box on the radio coming into the studio and thought I'd pose the question to y'all...what you think?? Is this shit rocking?





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Thursdays Are For Covers...GN'R Edition

Given Axl's statement yesterday and today being Thursday, I felt like it would be awesome to feature some of my favorite covers from the controversial LA band. BAM!





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GN'R Fans are in for a Shock

Since the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame announced in September of last year that Guns N' Roses would be included in its list of 2012 inductees, fans have speculated about the possibilities of the so called Appetite-era members reuniting on stage for one blow out performance.  Well ladies and gentlemen, if you haven't already heard, Axl Rose is putting all those hopes to sleep; in a letter to the Hall (along with the fans and "to whom it may concern") Rose stated yesterday:

I won't be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N' Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

This follows weeks of speculation that somehow, no matter what the odds, all parties could set aside the past and make a few million fans long forgotten dream come true.  Wait, did you guys forget this is Axl Rose??  I too had such hopes but in the back of my head knew it would never come true.  In his letter Axl states, "This decision is personal."  I LOVE that!  Lots of friends have called me a fool but to me GN'R IS Axl; so while loyalties are spread between the original members who I also adore, to me personally Axl can do whatever the fuck he wants to.  The man is a genius!  There are glimpses of his psychosis around every corner but I guess that comes with the territory.

GN'R in it's current incarnation is still out playing shows so I side with Axl in his decision to remain absent from the R&RHOF; I agree with him that the Hall (and a lot of fans) are just forgetting the past and completely denying the present.  Do you really think Ron Thal or Buckethead or even Richard Fortus would be anything but a side note in whatever unceremonious plaque or exhibit the Hall enacted?  So while folks are out there criticizing Axl for destroying the band's history or legacy or whatever they wanna call it, to me he's standing up to protect it.  Say what you will about GN'R in 2012 but this band still rocks sold out show after sold out show so I may be among a small crowd of people supporting his decision but I will stand my ground with Axl.


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RIP Jim Marshall

Revolutionary amp maker and business man Jim Marshall has died at the age of 68.  His Marshall amplifiers were essential in the development of the "classic rock" sound of the late 60's with virtuosos like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townsend among many taking up his mantle.  The tones emitted by his solid state amps have transformed the world of rock and roll music, making it louder, heavier, and crunchier than it ever was.  In tribute, here are a few of his machines in action!




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Thursday is for COVERS

Axl v Slash Put To Rest??

Bros R Bros 4 Lyfe

For more than 15 years die hard GN'R fans have longed to see the core Appetite line up reunite but due to personality conflicts within the band, mainly between Slash and Axl Rose, those fans have longed in vain.  Much has been said about how the front man led his troops and much has been said against him for the way it all seemingly came unravelled in the first half of the '90s; but it appears that the olive branch may have finally been extended.  In a piece for Esquire magazine Slash said,

"The split between Axl and I was a quiet one. But because there was so much attention on the breakup — and are we going to get back together? — it got built up into this monster that led to a kind of animosity that wasn't the focus for me. Neither one of us wants to be down each other's throats for no reason. At this point, I'm trying to put it to rest."

I for one look forward to the day when the peace can finally return to this tattered and torn family.  There's so much hate out in the world that it's great to see Slash trying to bring about some love; he's right, it's gone on for so long now it's time for the feud to die.  As the GN'R boys head into the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012 here's hoping they can all work it out for the good of us fans; the world needs great bands like Guns because as Slash put it,

"When I see footage of Guns N' Roses, I see that fucking hunger and attitude. You could not fuck with those five guys. It was just raw. It was this lean, hungry thing on its way up. It was as sincere as any rock 'n' roll that I've ever heard, and I'm proud of that."

LA Weekly's Top 20 Hair Metal Albums EVER

Last Friday LA Weekly posted a top 20 Hair Metal albums list and here are the top 5:

5.  Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil (1983)

4.  Skid Row - Skid Row (1989)

3.  Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love (1981)

2.  Def Leppard - Pyromania (1983)

1.  Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)

Now more than half of these albums were recorded and released before my birth so I can't comment on how the scene lived or how fans reacted when these albums came out.  I also unfortunately can't really comment on how hot groupies were or how gnarly shows were down on Sunset in the late 80s.  But I will say that this list is an excellent read and should be checked out by all who are interested in Hair Metal.  More after the jump!

Heavier Than Most

It was announced earlier today that classic metal group and huge MTH favorite Guns N' Roses will be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame in the first half of next year.  Along with fellow 2012 inductees (white rappers) The Beastie Boys, (English R&B group) The Small Faces, (Beatle amigo) Donovan, and (fellow LA rockers) The Red Hot Chili Peppers; the GN'R fellows will take the stage on April 14th, 2012 in Cleveland, OH to receive this great honor.  Although a performance by the original members seems highly unlikely, it is likely that all will be in attendance to accept the honor.  Slash told Billboard.com, "with Guns 'N Roses, there's really no guessing exactly how it will go. I suppose if it happens, everybody will get some sort of ducks in order."


We here at Metal Top Hat really miss the old days of shirtless Slash and mesh shirt wearing Axl running around stage like in this live video of "Move To The City" from the band's Use Your Illusion World Tour DVD.  But, we're definitely living in the past...