Anvil Know Their Identity

There's this metal band you may have heard of called Anvil.

They're generally considered pioneers of the post-new wave of British heavy metal sound and style, thanks to essential albums such as 1981's Hard 'N' Heavy and 1982's Metal On Metal.

Then again, maybe you haven't heard of them because, despite never quitting, they fell into obscurity for the past two decades.

Yet thanks to the keen eye and sensitive heart of Hollywood big-shot Sacha Gervasi, there's a movie about about the lifelong commitment drummer Robb "Geza" Reiner and guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow (aided by bassist Glenn "G5" Five) have made to each other — and to metal. Anvil! The Story Of Anvil is making big waves in the music and motion picture communities.

Anvil talked to CHARTattack about their recent onslaught of attention after years of nothing.

CHARTattack: How do you feel about having a movie about your life generate so much attention?
Rob Reiner: At first I thought, "That's great, but who's gonna give a fuck?"

Steve Kudlow: It's public awareness, which we haven't had for most of our career. How could people possibly... We've lived in the heavy metal underground for most of our career. That's the nature of it. Only the people who are into that genre will know.

What happened to drag you guys down from international status to being virtually ignored?
SK: We were involved with the big machine and they pulled the plug on us. It's fate. The journey ended up this way. We could never walk away from this, though. It's a success to us.

If you wanna be Michael Jackson, that's something else. To us, success is being able to create music, record it and get it to our fans. Every time you do that, it's a success.

RR: We got less and less aggressive about going after anything. We were more concerned with the music. We settled into the fact that what we do isn't for commercialism. We want to make it on our own terms. It comes down to gaining success on your own terms.

Well, at least you've done everything on your own terms.
SK: The movie is a testament to sticking to our guns and never selling out. There wouldn't be a movie if there wasn't music.

You're very humble about the attention being heaped on you after all this time.
SK: Even if those feelings are there and you know it, it's improper to express it.

We wouldn't have done this for long if there wasn't something the self is getting out of it. We're happy to see something from it, but we're not gonna say, "Hey, look at us world! We fuckin' deserve this!"

There are a lot of emotional levels that strike when something like this comes about. You re-evaluate what you know and evaluate everything around you.

Glenn Five: All those baby steps led to this great leap.

Do you think you'll appreciate your success more now than when you were young and stupid?
SK: No doubt about it. The other beautiful aspect is that we didn't make it 30 years ago and blow all of our money.

Now, we have the wisdom to be more responsible. Having this windfall, you look at it in a much more serious way. I'm grown-up. It's a different perspective. I don't take it for granted. It didn't come easy. Not one inch of it is taken for granted. I look at it with such gratitude.

RR: How many musicians get one shot, let alone a second? So many bands don't even get a first crack at it, and here we've got a second one? We don't take that lightly. It's still just all about being able to play music.

What's the reaction now that many industry folk have seen the movie?
SK: The movie has propelled people into action. The biggest agencies and managers are muddling around wondering what to do. How do they help us?

The movie represents the epitome of how the business can fuck up something good. We're what happens when the industry removes their attachment to an artist. In our particular case, the person who brought us to the label was strong-armed out and then his replacements didn't come through. Why? Who the hell knows?

There's a fork in the road at some point and you've got two people standing there telling you to go with them. We went with one guy and Metallica went with the other. That leads us to this point and what we're presented with now.

The film seems to be a testament to the fraternity of Robb and Steve and their concern about the state of Anvil.
RR: I do this because it makes me feel good. It doesn't matter if we're big or small. We still get enjoyment out of it. We're doing what we love through all the ups and downs. What else matters? A lot of people look for something they love and never find it. Music is always the focus... no matter what. When you love what you do and believe in yourself, you just keep going.

SK: What's involved is part of your identity. You can't give up your identity. It's impossible.