Music Monday : Bands you’ve never heard of (Part III: Kick Axe)

Songs for a Sunday: m Nov 11: Dulce et Decorum est

Music Monday : Bands you’ve never heard of (Part III: Kick Axe)

Kick Axe. Unless you are Canadian ns was a headbanger in the early 80s, you probably are not familiar with the band.

Originally called Hobbit (really), they were formed in Regina, Saskatchewan in the mid 70s. It wasn’t until their debut album, Vices, in 1984 had them in the spotlight, touring with Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Scorpions, and Quiet Riot (I presume on Canadian dates).

Were they original? Not many heavy rock bands in the 80s were, but I think they did a good job carving out their spot as they were an alternative to the mainstream rockers and glam bands.

There were very few videos available, but they knocked it out with the intro in this one (Remember: 80s, hair rock, MTV/Much Music needed historically inaccurate, budget conscience, Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” rip offs, entertaining content):

I thought that this cover of Humble Pie’s, 30 Days in the Hole was well done. At the time, I don’t think I knew it was a cover.

In 1985 they released their second album. More polished and melodic, it failed to repeat the success of Vises.

If you are going to cover a Beatles song, why not pick one that has been covered 193 time already?

I moved on, so this was my last album from them. Rock the World was their next album and saw them return to a heavier sound. This is the first time I’ve heard this song. Not great but at 2:10 there is some decent guitar work.

Another cover. I like what they did. I always thought the original had potential as a harder rock song.

They were dropped by their label in 1988 and broke up. They did reform in 2003 and released an album, and two singles in 2023.

Proof that 80s rockers don’t die. But you’re not winning me back, boys. Sorry.

-Leon

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/