Steve “Lips” Kudlow of cult Canadian heavy metal band Anvil talks about the documentary that changed everything a decade ago, his life-changing records and lots more with host Christina Rowatt in a new episode of The Void with Christina podcast. Listen/subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. A few moments from the conversation below.
Christina: It is interesting that [the story of band struggle told in] your movie is really the rule rather than the exception. Heavy metal’s this thing that has existed forever, without any support. I love how your story embodies this experience. [Heavy metal] attracts a certain kind of genuine person because everyone is in love with the mythology. What do you think?
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: I think you’re right. I wouldn’t disagree with that. You only find it in this genre. Maybe in country and western but more so in this genre. And the reason that I say that is there are so many levels that a band can exist. But truth be told, Anvil had an existence since the early Eighties because of its initial impact. Metal people don’t go away. You know what I mean? If you’re into that music, you stay into that music so we built a following. And that following was large enough to pay for the recording [of our records] every time around. That makes it possible to be a musician and create music every couple of years, and put it out. And therefore feed the furnace of being able to to go out and play that music.
Christina: What are the songs that changed your life?
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: I would never narrow it down to songs as much as records, entire albums. Certainly a life-changing album was the Jimi Hendrix “Are You Experienced?” album. Certainly Sgt. Peppers.
Christina: It is interesting that they both aren’t heavy metal albums.
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: My listening began before there was such a term. But trust me, I was not of the majority of people by talking about Jimi Hendrix.
Christina: The whole humility of Hendrix is I think one of the most important parts [of his legacy].
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: It is a number of things. [Hendrix] encapsulated an era. And he almost marked the beginning and the end of it. The beginning and end of the summer of love. It lasted about three years, as long as Jimi did. And then once he died, it doesn’t seem like there’s ever been love and peace ever since.
Christina: The “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” documentary is a great story, but it was also told really well … there is a real art into turning one person’s story into an everyman story. It was a really emotional film, and an emotional connection to music is true for everyone making it.
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: You might not know this, but the producer of the film was a woman by the name of Rebecca Yeldham, and she’s actually from Sydney. And actually in fact when I’m talking to you, it is making me think of her because you have the same accent.
Christina: How she put it together was really exquisite. The way it was produced was really exceptional.
Steve “Lips” Kudlow: Her connection was all about portraying emotion. Her take on how the documentary might have been to be shaped or formed was certainly in and around how emotional can it be portrayed. So it was an extraordinary journey for the director and for Rob and I to break down the barriers of “it’s a camera watching me.”
