Music Monday: Ascended Metal Gods Edition

Before I became a fashion writer, before I was a part of the alternative nation, I was a metalhead. When I finally got my MTV, I split my attention between rap and metal for a year, then stuck with metal up through the unceremonious cancellation of the original “Headbangers Ball.” I came of age not only with Nirvana as the soundtrack, but with bands like Judas Priest, Metallica and Slayer on deck.

Thus, I was completely floored when I heard that Slayer guitarist and co-founder Jeff Hanneman died from liver failure over the weekend after a long illness at the age of 48. Alas, many a metal god has ascended since the first notes were crafted from the British steel foundry 40 years ago. This edition of Music Monday is dedicated to them, with five chosen to represent the best of what metal is all about. Make your way inside, and bring your earplugs as we turn things up to 11 in praise of the ascended metal gods.

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Jeff Hanneman (1964 – 2013), Slayer: Hanneman co-founded Slayer in 1981 with guitarist Kerry King when the latter was auditioning for another band. His family’s history in the military, as well as his own interest in military history and warfare, influenced his songwriting for the San Francisco Bay Area band in live staples such as “War Ensemble” and “Angel of Death.”

Peter Steele (1962 – 2010), Type O Negative: Steele fronted Type O Negative as well as his prior bands Carnivore and Fallout, though those in Brooklyn Heights would have spotted him in his New York City Department of Parks and Recreation uniform driving garbage trucks and supervising maintenance work at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The singer-songwriter died of heart failure at the age of 48.

Ronnie James Dio (1942 – 2010), Dio, Black Sabbath et al: One of the longest active metal vocalists at the time of his passing, Dio’s powerful vocals were heard on albums by Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Heaven & Hell and his self-named group. His use of the corna, or the sign of the horns, to ward off the evil eye during his first outing with Black Sabbath would soon be adopted by the metal world. The singer died of stomach cancer at the age of 67.

Wendy O. Williams (1949 – 1998), The Plasmatics: Williams was known for her fusion of punk rock and performance art, destroying televisions with chainsaws and exploding cars with dynamite. Her band’s 1982 album “Coup d’Etat” heralded the coming fusion of punk and metal, later picked up by bands like Anthrax, Biohazard and Corrosion of Conformity. The singer died from a self-inflicted gunshot shot wound at the age of 48.

Darrell Lance “Dimebag” Abbott (1966 – 2004), Pantera, Damageplan: The guitarist co-founded Pantera and Damageplan with his brother Vinnie Paul on drums, both bands demonstrating the Abbott brothers brand of groove metal to those willing to listen. Darrell also lent his guitar skills to groups and musicians as various as Anthrax, King Diamond and David Allen Coe. The guitarist was killed by a gunman while performing with Damageplan at the age of 38.

Photos: Flickr/Metal Chris, Flickr/NYCArthur and Wikipedia/Dave Tellez.

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