VH1 Press Release

Metal is rocks untamed wild child. Metal is rude, crude, irreverent and irrepressibly loud. Metal is rock and roll just as its supposed to be, which is why everyone from Black Sabbath to Iron Maiden to Motley Crue to Slayer to Slipknot, have been hated by critics, feared by parents, attacked by politicians, and blamed for most of the worlds ills. So how did a combination of the devil and decibels become such an irresistible lure to generations of metal fans around the world?
What Ken Burns did for jazz, VH1 does for heavy metal — only a lot louder. “Heavy: The Story of Metal,” premiering Monday — Thursday, May 1-4 at 9PM* each night traces the evolution of heavy metal music and culture, from its dark, grim beginnings in Birmingham, England to the worldwide force that it remains to this day.
In a series of four themed hours, “Heavy: The Story of Metal,” explores
four decades of music, each hour examining this powerful and often
misunderstood genre, from metals pioneers to its love of glam and excess;
from the fight for metals rebellious soul to its storied flirtation with the
devil: Episode One traces metals roots in the late-60s in the bombed-out
industrial town of Birmingham England to the spectacular rise of Kiss and
“glam metal” in the early 70s.
Episode Two examines metals growing pains during the 70s when both
high-brow rock critics and punk rock threatened its very existence. By
decades end, bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Def Leppard gave
birth to what became known as “The New Wave of British Heavy Metal.”
Episode Three sees metal thrive in, of all places, sunny California. Van
Halen, Poison, Motley Crue — its the world of hair metal. And, keeping
everyones Jacuzzi-soaked ego in check, a little film called Spinal Tap
emerges.
Episode Four takes a walk on the dark side: Guns N Roses, Metallica,
thrash, grunge, and how the music and images of Marilyn Manson became
associated with the Columbine massacre.
Told from the perspective of the musicians, promoters, writers and fans
who have kept metals flame alive for four decades, “Heavy: The Story of
Metal,” contains revealing, hilarious and sometimes shocking conversations.
Interviews include Sebastian Bach, Jerry Cantrell, Phil Collen, Bruce
Dickinson, Fred Durst, Ace Frehley, Rob Halford, Scott Ian, Tony Iommi, Chris
Jericho, Lemmy Kilmister, Chuck Klosterman, Jani Lane, Tommy Lee, Doc McGhee,
Bret Michaels, Dave Mustaine, Vinnie Paul, Mark Putnam, Riki Rachtman, Dave
“Snake” Sabo, Nikki Sixx, Slash, Dee Snider, Geoff Tate, Eddie Trunk, Rob
Zombie and more.
In the same vein as VH1s critically acclaimed, award winning 2004 hip-hop
chronicle “And You Dont Stop,” “Heavy: The Story of Metal,” combines
interviews, verite moments and rare and exclusive footage and photos, to bring
metals history to life while examining the considerable pop-culture impact of
the loudest music that ever was.
“Heavy: The Story of Metal,” is produced by 441 Productions in conjunction
with VH1. Stephen Mintz serves as Supervising Producer. Matt Maranz is
Executive Producer for 441 Productions. Brad Abramson, Shelly Tatro, and
Michael Hirschorn serve as Executive Producers for VH1.