Book Review: Full Metal Jackie: Certified - the 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the 80's

Pop quiz! What metal song was in response to the widespread disco movement of the 70's? Was the classic "Suicide Solution" written about Bon Scott (as folklore would suggest) or was it written about Ozzy Osborne's bout with the bottle? For heavy metal fans questions about their favorite metal songs, how they rank in importance and what the lyrics were truly about has long been the subject for debate and books of lists. The newest book on the scene, Full Metal Jackie Certified, not only pulls together the fifty most influential metal songs of the 80's but it is also filled with interviews of the musicians responsible for the lyrics of each song.

Jackie Kajzer is the developer and host of Full Metal Jackie, a syndicated radio show dedicated to all things metal. She and her co-author Roger Lotring took it upon themselves to comb through thousands of head banging tunes to come up with their list of fifty of the most influential 80's metal anthems. The criteria used not only included popularity with regards to radio play and/or sales but they also took into account, lyrical content, influence on other musicians and the issues of the day that may have inspired the song in the first place. What may be up for debate (and usually is in the genre) is the idea of what constitutes "metal". The book seems to run the gambit of all things heavy by including a wide range of artists with styles ranging from hardcore (DRI, Suicidal Tendencies), alternative hard rock (Jane's Addiction, Living Colour) and even Christian (Stryper...yes I said Stryper!) Only one artist refused to comment on their lyrics (you will just have to get the book to find out who) so that left the discussion of their influence to the other musicians who were inspired by that band's songs. From Ozzy to Anthrax, Motorhead, Metallica and Priest; all of the heavy weights are represented with a few surprises in between.

One thing is for sure; all of the songs listed have in some way influenced the metal audience and have pushed the genere, to new heights. If you love metal (and you know you do) then check out Full Metal Jackie Certified and let the debate of heaviness begin!

For more information go to www.fullmetaljackieradio.com