The Official King's X Thread (v. Three Sides of One)

[LithoJazzoSphere]

A traditional metal band.  I haven't seen it, but I know they had a documentary which painted them as a band that never quite "made it", so I could see the parallel there. 

[LithoJazzoSphere]

I used to compare King's X as the less successful mirror image of Alice In Chains.  Theoretically both should be heavy enough for metalheads, but not too heavy for rock fans, skilled enough for musicians to appreciate, but not too technical to turn away those who aren't, and catchy and accessible enough for pop appeal, but unique and innovative enough to appeal to those with less mainstream sensibilities.  Somehow AIC became huge and KX didn't. 

[bosk1]

That's a pretty good take.

[jammindude]

I don’t know who would buy any form of movie about King’s X besides King’s X fans though. Oh well.

I thought that would be the case for Anvil as well, but boy was I wrong.

What is Anvil?

Seriously?

They were an underground metal band in the 80s. They come up alongside the whole independent label movement alongside a lot of other Metal Blade acts (Omen, Hallow’s Eve…etc etc) they opened up for world famous acts and seemed like they might make it…but they never did.

Then a 2008 documentary made them worldwide darlings (it sort of had the “little band that could” theme to it) the documentary won a bunch of awards and still has a 98% rating.  It’s become almost as infamous as the Spinal Tap movie. (Almost)  They even got to be on the Conan O’Brian show.

I was a bit shocked because I never thought they were all that great (I still think they’re kind of lame) but for a couple of years, they were suddenly everywhere.

[bosk1]

I remember hearing about them, but only because of this forum.  Neither that documentary nor their music have ever popped up on my radar through any other source. 

[HOF]

I don’t know who would buy any form of movie about King’s X besides King’s X fans though. Oh well.

I thought that would be the case for Anvil as well, but boy was I wrong.

What is Anvil?

Seriously?

They were an underground metal band in the 80s. They come up alongside the whole independent label movement alongside a lot of other Metal Blade acts (Omen, Hallow’s Eve…etc etc) they opened up for world famous acts and seemed like they might make it…but they never did.

Then a 2008 documentary made them worldwide darlings (it sort of had the “little band that could” theme to it) the documentary won a bunch of awards and still has a 98% rating.  It’s become almost as infamous as the Spinal Tap movie. (Almost)  They even got to be on the Conan O’Brian show.

I was a bit shocked because I never thought they were all that great (I still think they’re kind of lame) but for a couple of years, they were suddenly everywhere.

Huh, no I never heard of them or that documentary. But 2008 would have been a time when I was not plugged into the metal scene at all anyway (much less in the 80s themself).

[jammindude]

One of the things I thought was kind of dumb about was I was thinking the whole time… “Why them? Why Anvil of all bands?” I heard several tracks of theirs from various Metal Blade compilations I had picked up. Their stuff was OK, but nothing that made me want to run out and buy their albums. They were Canadian, and had more success in their homeland than in the US. But that movie could have been made about almost anyone. Heck, RAVEN would have been the perfect subject for a movie like that. Headlined for Metallica, influenced Metallica, signed to a major label, toured the world opening for Judas Priest…but nothing. And they are a much better band than freakin Anvil.

But I digress. The point is that a movie like that could have been made about someone like King’s X as well.

[Samsara]

I used to compare King's X as the less successful mirror image of Alice In Chains.  Theoretically both should be heavy enough for metalheads, but not too heavy for rock fans, skilled enough for musicians to appreciate, but not too technical to turn away those who aren't, and catchy and accessible enough for pop appeal, but unique and innovative enough to appeal to those with less mainstream sensibilities.  Somehow AIC became huge and KX didn't.

Agreed with bosk -- that is a great take on KX.

[HOF]

King's X were a little too intellectual for the lase 80s hair metal scene and didn't quite fit the early 90s angsty/depressive zeitgeist like AiC did (at least before Dogman, which did get a little more traction in that scene). They were just always a little too out there for the general public. Too heavy for the pop world, to happy for the grunge world, too intellectual for the metal world. 

[cramx3]

Jerry Gaskill and his wife (I assume) were standing next to me Friday night watching Last in Line perform. I shook his hand after the set was over. He's a local and not the first time being spotted at this venue watching a show.

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

never seen this before.

Alternate Video for Black Flag. Way different, artsy, etc...like something out of Mad Max., lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTjXXVyQXMM

[ytserush]

bump.

never seen this before.

Alternate Video for Black Flag. Way different, artsy, etc...like something out of Mad Max., lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTjXXVyQXMM

Nice.

What a trip!  Hard to say if it would have made any difference.

[Samsara]

Really dig this version. Thanks for sharing it. Man, I love King's X. I really can't get into the latest -- not sure what people are hearing, because I don't hear it. But one of my favorite bands of all-time. Their stuff from Out of the Silent Planet through TapeHead was amazing. Ear Candy and Dogman remain my favorites, but I love that entire era of them.

Here's hoping they get back to the West Coast at some point.

[fivestring]

.... Man, I love King's X. I really can't get into the latest -- not sure what people are hearing, because I don't hear it. But one of my favorite bands of all-time. Their stuff from Out of the Silent Planet through TapeHead was amazing. Ear Candy and Dogman remain my favorites, but I love that entire era of them.

Here's hoping they get back to the West Coast at some point.

"Back in the day..." I saw so many ads for "Gretchen Goes to Nebraska" in all the guitar and music magazines I read. It really got my interest. But I didn't pick up an album until "Faith Hope Love" I was hooked right away! (I eventually got "Gretchen" and "Silent Planet" much later in life). King's X is the band I've seen the most times (besides DT), and yeah, like you, I just don't get or particularly enjoy "Three Sides of One. I can think of many things/elements that would make it better (IMO), but who am I? Nobody. I can't say what they should do. I just hope there IS more as this was rumored to be a double album. Anyway, always a great live act and cool guys. See them when/while you can!

[jammindude]

I haven’t heard BLS, X, or Ogre Tones either.

They lost me with MM, and even though their follow ups were supposed to be a return to their core sound, the over all feedback on all of these were so lukewarm that I would almost call them tepid. So I never went out of my way to check them out.

[HOF]

I haven’t heard BLS, X, or Ogre Tones either.

They lost me with MM, and even though their follow ups were supposed to be a return to their core sound, the over all feedback on all of these were so lukewarm that I would almost call them tepid. So I never went out of my way to check them out.

I like Manic Moonlight well enough, but the last 4 have all been pretty lackluster. Ogre Tones has its moments though.

[SoundscapeMN]

I love Manic Moonlight and XV especially. OT has some nice stuff much like the new record III Sides of One.

But I know I'm 1 of the only fans of Manic Moonlight.