The Top 5 Hidden Gems of the '80s
Nothing too hidden about these guys. Especially not if you've read The Dirt.
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If the phrase "Size matters" could be applied to any time period, it would be the 1980s.
A time of big solos and even bigger hair, the '80s were excessive, to say the least. In the music scene, glam metal was king, and with every new band to set foot on the Sunset Strip, you could bet your 6-inch heels that around the corner was a guitarist who could blow the doors off all the previous trailblazers.
In a time driven by the guitar solo, it's very easy to overlook a lot of phenomenal material. There's an extensive library of music, good and bad, to dig through to really find gold. Luckily, you don't have to. I've done it for you.
Here are my top five hidden gems from the '80s.
05. Shotgun Messiah: "Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll"
Sweden natives Shotgun Messiah originally consisted of vocalist Zinny J. Zan, bassist Tim Skold, guitarist Harry Cody and drummer Pekka Ollinen. After their 1989 self-titled debut album, Tim Skold took over vocal duties while his position as bassist was filled by American bassist Bobby Lycon.
In 1991, the band released their sophomore album, Second Coming. "Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll" is the first track and it features a mean solo by Harry Cody filled with tasteful phrasing and some wicked bends beginning around 2:10. The song in and of itself is what the '80s were all about: sleazy, greasy, mean rock 'n' roll.
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thrasher666
September 22, 2011 at 7:13pm
Shotgun Messiah!! Where the HELL is HArry K. Cody??? He was a f*&kin BAD MO FU!!!
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Matre Carrefour
September 22, 2011 at 5:18am
Winger? This was on MTV every 20 minutes, and still receives radio airplay today.. How about Rough Cutt or Wildside? If we are going to discuss "hidden gems", at least look at songs that never hit high rotation..












