80’s at 8 Rockturnal With Scotty B Friday 06- 23-23
Tonight’s 80’s at 8 was a Rock theme. The first track was “Rock You’ by Helix. “Rock You” is an electrifying hard rock anthem that has solidified its place in rock music history. Released in 1984 as the opening track on Helix’s album “Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge,” this song immediately grabs your attention with its catchy call and response refrain of “Gimme an R, O, C, K.” Penned by songwriter Bob Halligan, Jr., “Rock You” became one of Helix’s signature songs and a fan favorite.
The origins of “Rock You” can be traced back to when Bob Halligan, Jr. presented the song to the band while they were seeking additional material for their album. The track was tested in concert and made its live debut at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. It quickly became a crowd-pleaser, showcasing the band’s ability to ignite audiences with their high-energy performances.
Over the years, “Rock You” has not only made its mark on the music scene but has also ventured into other realms of popular culture. Prior to the official release of the album and single, Helix struck a deal with the Labatt Brewing Company to use the music with new lyrics for a beer commercial. This version can be heard on the DVD “30 Years Of Helix: No Rest For The Wicked.”
In a surprising twist, “Rock You” received a cover version by Canadian rockers Sum 41 for the movie soundtrack to “FUBAR.” This rendition showcased the song’s enduring appeal and introduced it to a new generation of listeners. However, a controversy arose when the members of Sum 41 seemed uninterested in meeting or talking to Helix, leading Brian Vollmer to occasionally refer to them as “Scum 41.”
“Rock You” by Helix stands as a testament to the power of hard rock music. With its infectious chorus, powerful instrumentation, and captivating live performances, the song has solidified its place in rock ‘n’ roll history.
The music video for “Rock You’ was banned from MTV due to nudity and I can not put it up here. For some reason I can not share the uncensored version on here. So, I found a nice gem. Helix performing “Rock You” live in 1985. Check it out below;
The second track in the Rock themed 80’s at 8 was “The Right to Rock” by Keel. “The Right to Rock” is the title track of the self-titled second studio album by American glam metal band Keel. Released in 1985, the album marked a significant milestone for the band as it was their first collaboration with legendary Kiss member Gene Simmons, who produced the record under their new label, Gold Mountain Records.
“The Right to Rock” album showcased Keel’s ability to deliver hard-hitting, melodic glam metal anthems. The title track, written by Ron Keel, Marc Ferrari, and Kenny Chaisson, sets the tone for the entire album with its energetic and catchy hooks. It became one of the band’s most recognized songs and a concert favorite among fans.
During the recording process, Keel experienced a change in drummers. Bobby Marks, the band’s original drummer, left the group, leading to the inclusion of several different drummers on the album. Fred Coury, who later joined Cinderella, Barry Brandt of Angel, and Steve Riley, who went on to join W.A.S.P., all contributed to the album. Ultimately, Dwain Miller became the band’s permanent drummer shortly before the album’s release.
The album’s track listing featured a mix of original songs and cover songs. Keel covered three Gene Simmons demos and re-recorded three tracks from their debut album, with “Tonight You’re Mine” being renamed “You’re the Victim (I’m the Crime)” for this release. The song selection demonstrated the band’s willingness to infuse their sound with elements from their musical influences while maintaining their distinctive style.
With production by Gene Simmons and a lineup of talented musicians, including Ron Keel, Marc Ferrari, Bryan Jay, Kenny Chaisson, and Steve Riley, Keel’s “The Right to Rock” remains a standout album in their discography. Its catchy hooks, energetic performances, and memorable songs solidified Keel’s place in the glam metal scene of the 1980s, and the title track continues to resonate with fans of the genre to this day.
The music video for “The Right to Rock’ by Keel is a 80’s low budget comedic cheezy music video. It has a metal head teen getting arrested for listening to Rock music. He blows the doors open from the van they put him in and he escapes and it cuts to Keel performing the song to a crowd. It wasn’t easy being cheezy in the 80’s! You can check it out below:
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