What bands come to mind when I ask you to think of the beginnings of Metal? For the most part I think the average music fan would say things like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Dio. Maybe even a few obscure bands, but for the most part this seems like the canned answer. Such bands have been surrounded by controversy, plagued by breakups and member changes that either completely destroyed them or pushed them to greatness. Tough circumstances have forged many of the originators of heavy metal into the impenetrable forces they are today.

Their music represented the actually essence of the genre combining a fascination with dark mythological, religious subject matter and love, juxtaposed against the reality of a working class life in poverty during the early 70’s. In the late 70’s metal became less popular with the emergence of other music genres such as punk and disco. However, it gained its popularity again in the 80’s and is taking on a complete life of it’s own today.

The emergence of the “New Wave British heavy Metal” was a transition period that defines Heavy metal today. Bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Motörhead, Def Leppard, Angel Witch, Tygers of Pan Tang, Girlschool, and Diamond Head are often mentioned as the pivotal bands of this genre, but many bands have come before them to pave the way for their popularity and status as the front runners of New Wave British heavy Metal movement.

One such band thought of fondly, but not spoke of often enough, is UFO. UFO was a transitional group between early hard rock, heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Their style and sound have been the influence for many of the bands that rule the genre in the past and today; bands such as, Iron Maiden, Anvil, Metallica, Megadeth, and Mötley Crüe have been cited as mentioning them as a reason for their current work today. The Band was formed in 1969, by singer Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker. Not unlike most of if not all other bands of the era they went through a gamete of changes in musicians and many times touted Michael Schenker guitarist for the Scorpions.

Today the band consists of
:
Phil Mogg

Vinnie Moore

Paul Raymond

Pete Way

Andy Parker
I had the chance, thanks the members of Isaac James, to witness a show by UFO in Des Moines, IA. Mentioning this to a few other people in my close circle might have been a mistake, all I can say is that I was met with mixed reactions of envy and jealousy. Ultimately though, these emotions were overrun by the individuals fond memories of the band, and the excitement that they were still around and out on tour.

I am always a bit leery of performances by bands that have been sited as icons of the past, for fear of age catching up with them and quality being somewhat degraded. But, in the last few years witnessing shows by Ozzy Osborne, Motörhead, Judas Priest, and Alice Cooper has soothed me. A few years back I was deeply impressed by a side project of Pete Way who formed Fastway with Motörhead guitarist Eddie Clarke and then his own band, Waysted. So I was fairly certain that the show was going to be one for the memory books. The bill was forged with a mixture of bands Dark Mirror, Isaac James, East 18 and finally UFO. The line up was almost a chronological history of metal in the last 30 years in terms of style. Dark Mirror is a hardcore old-school metal band with falsettos, riffs and arpeggios that conjure the metal gods of the past, whereas East 18 and Isaac James both have sounds that beckon to the early and late 90’s to the current musical movements in rock. And of course UFO are still holding true to their roots of British Heavy Metal.

Here is the run down on the show. The first band to hit the stage was Dark Mirror. I was immediately thrust back about 20 years into Falsetto hell. Now don’t get me wrong, I respect people that can do that with their voice, ie… King Diamond, Judas Priest, Cradle of Filth etc. Love that stuff. But 30 – 40 minutes of it will give anyone a headache. Despite all of this they are pretty good, they have earned a spot in my iTunes rotation.

Next to hit the stage as Isaac James. Working and listening to this band is always a treat. They have their first album out “Too Much Horsepower” and after extensive touring in the Midwest are in the midst of working on more material presumably for another album. As always an incredible show by some nicest and most professional musicians I have ever met. Particular favorites of mine by them are “Home”, and East18 were next to hit the stage. I had no clue who these guys were. Both Mariha and I looked at each other when they started to play. Surprise struck both our faces. As with any band there are always a few songs that you don’t agree with. I personally never say I don’t like it. But for the most part ever song they played was quite enjoyable and leaving me very interested. It was a particular treat when they did a rendition of “Zombie” by the Cranberries. Great performance.

UFO were definitely older and signs of age were physically present but as musicians they showed very little signs of slowing down. The voice of lead singer Phil Mogg was surprisingly top notch and the band seemed tight and well rehearsed coming off a 17 gig tour in Europe. After some cajoling by the crowd they went into one of their hits, “Doctor Doctor”, which sounded virtually verbatim of the 1974 recorded version off the album Phenomenon . UFO’s contribution to the British Heavy Metal was ear marked by the genre shift and mixture of Blues with “Space Rock” which became the sprout for Metal. Songs Like “Lights Out”

And “Rock Bottom”

As well as “Space Child” directly seems to influence Stoner Rock today and is a strong rival to Zeppelin in the day.

a couple harder song of UFO.

In the mid to late eighties it was almost a staple for metal bands to have the “classic” Rock Ballad on every album. Rock Ballads were a common style for UFO, and they were doing this way before the industry popularity of them.
This performances illustrates the foresite of UFO in the evolution of the “Metal Band” of the future with “Love to Love”.

Lately though I have found that many of my fellow Generation X’ers have focused on older more obscure bands, or the “roots” of metal today. This increased popularity of the old-school bands has brought many bands that didn’t quite reach the level of “Rock Gods” to a place today of admiration and appreciation. In my eyes it is long over due for us to be giving some of the credit for other bands success in the past to bands like UFO who not only have helped forged the Metal scene today but continue to define the word professional rock musicians.