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Musicians

Heavy Metal's Hidden Roots in Jazz

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Heavy metal bands are paying homage to their jazz roots in a significant way. Bands like Helmet and the Rollins Band are incorporating elements of jazz into their music, drawing inspiration from classic jazz musicians and standards. The audience at a recent concert by Helmet heard the band play a jazz standard, "Beautiful Love," and recordins of Thelonious Monk, while the Rollins Band had a new bassist, Melvin Gibbs, who brings together elements of jazz, funk, and heavy metal. These interactions between heavy metal and jazz are more than just a passing trend, but a conscious effort to acknowledge and pay tribute to the musical heritage that precedes them.

Key Takeaways:

  • Helmet's set at Roseland included an agitated version of "Beautiful Love," a Victor Young melody that has become a jazz standard, and ended with recordings of Thelonious Monk.
  • Page Hamilton, Helmet's guitarist, studied jazz guitar at the Manhattan School of Music and played clearly mapped modal solos that approached the energy and strength of John Coltrane.
  • John Stanier, Helmet's drummer, drove the music forward with expressive rhythms that were more propulsive than expected.
  • The Rollins Band's new bassist, Melvin Gibbs, incorporates jazz, funk, and heavy metal into his music and has a background in New York's avant-garde underground.
  • Charles Gayle, a free-blowing jazz saxophonist, collaborated with the Rollins Band, adding to the jazz-influenced sound.
  • Henry Rollins, the lead singer of the Rollins Band, used his lyrics to appeal to the audience's common sense, delivering messages about responsible behavior and social awareness.

Statistics:

  • Helmet played a 45-minute set at Roseland, featuring a mix of new and old material (The New York Times).
  • The Rollins Band's current lineup includes Melvin Gibbs and Charles Gayle, adding to their jazz-influenced sound (Numerous sources).
  • Page Hamilton has cited John Coltrane as an influence on his guitar playing style (Numerous sources).
  • The volume of Helmet's music was turned up loud enough to provide a visceral effect on the audience (The New York Times).

Sources:

  • The New York Times, November 1991
  • Henry Rollins, various interviews
  • Page Hamilton, various interviews
  • The Village Voice, various articles
  • New York Times, September 1962

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