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Hey fellow rivetheads, just wanted to put the word out around here that I'm working on a book that will cover every known 1980s metal demo. Been working on it for about 2.5 years so far. It will probably include upwards of 10,000 different demos. The outline's done (though I'm always adding new bands I find out about), and I've been steadily reviewing every tape I can get my hands on. At the rate I'm going, it probably won't be done for at least a couple of years, but the mighty Bazillion Points will be giving it a good home when it is ready. The book will be heavily illustrated and nicely designed (it won't look the white pages), and will have some juicy interviews and appendices.

I was deeply involved in the tape trading underground back in the '80s, and realized that this book needed to exist, and that someone who was there needed to write it.

I have a blog up where I post requests and occasionally a sample review or (recently) a rare tape from my collection. Please take a look and see if you can help with elusive demos, or location/year/lineup info. I appreciate your attention.

-- Bob Plante

http://demolitionbook.blogspot.com/

I applaud your desire and dedication but I can’t really ever see this book being released, as it will forever be incomplete.

Out of sheer curiosity though, I must ask where you have been sourcing the information for this book? Have you actually listened to all of these demos to have some sort of basis for the existence/accuracy of the material?

Depending on the size and time it takes, we've discussed breaking the book into two parts. I'd prefer a single volume, but we'll see.

Info has been from my collection of tapes, (huge) collection of zines and old trader lists, and sites like Metal Archives, with the caveat that these sites are notoriously inaccurate, so in all cases I've done my best to reach band members themselves to verify info.

The work seems tremendous.

Beside that, I don't know if it is really useful since, even the crappiest bands, or opportunists will be featured as "cult 80's" demo ? It seems that since it is old, it is worth mentioning. Strange way to see things. What do you think?

Great idea, smth like Matthias Her "H.M. Lexikon" vol 1-5 (not perfect but still enjoyable)?

J.K. wrote:The work seems tremendous.

Beside that, I don't know if it is really useful since, even the crappiest bands, or opportunists will be featured as "cult 80's" demo ? It seems that since it is old, it is worth mentioning. Strange way to see things. What do you think?

This is the only kind of book which is actually useful. It's meant to present what happened, not be a "this is cult" list. If people are stupid enough to interpret it like that, surely that's not Plantweed's problem?

And Avenger; no book ever published on history has ever been complete. Yet, would we not be much the poorer had they not been? If Plantweed includes everything he can find at a set date and that includes a significant portion of the demos, the missing ones is not really a big problem, surely? I mean, Malc's NWOBHM book is not complete, but I draw great enjoyment from it anyway.

I welcome the book and would definitely want to read it.

Bob, if you use M. Archives to get some infos you're assured to get wrong facts.... stick to your old mags/ zines and original demos and most of all OLD traders list!

J.K.: it will have everything from the crappiest garbage rehearsals (Checker Patrol, Intense Mutilation) to stone cold classic demos that are better than many LPs (Abhorer, Brocas Helm, Catalepsy). The idea is to be inclusive. Stuff that the Metal Archives rejects as being too punk (many crossover/metalcore/speedcore bands) or too hard rock (tons of NWOBHM) will be included. Basically, if it was reviewed in underground metal zines, it most likely will be in there. One thing I will be rejecting are AOR-type bands, that were heavy on keyboards and sounded like friggin' Foreigner or Toto or some shit. We're still deciding wether to include glam/hair metal. For the time being I'm researching and reviewing them, with the possibility that they will be rejected, since you could almost make a seperate book for that genre. What do you guys think?

Deathster: were those books published in English?

Big Mouth: I found this out very early on!

No, Heavy Metal Lexikon was in German from 1990-1996 and it focused on albums without time tag (from hard rock to black death metal). So demo book is highly welcomed here too (especially on black death metal side).

And little bit of brainstorming: what about overview of zine scene also? Zine name, year, cover picture, featured bands (interviews, articles, reviews).

Great effort!I am curious about it?When it will be released?I will support it.

I think there will be thousands of wrongs or many bands left out but that's normal since year per year more bands discovered or more info is added.

We're looking at 2012 or 2013, but maybe later. I have another book I'm working on also.

As I'm discovering new bands every week just about, I'm sure there will be stuff left out after the deadline. But if it's successful enough, I could always add them in a second edition.

Glad to hear of such a reference book. No history is ever complete and anyone with a mind to think such a thing just kills me. I think I'll go read a book on Roman history. No, wait, I better not since no Roman history book is complete, haha!

Looking forward to seeing this being realized, I'll definitely wait for it no matter how long it takes. Best of luck!

Plantweed wrote:Stuff that the Metal Archives rejects as being too punk (many crossover/metalcore/speedcore bands) or too hard rock (tons of NWOBHM) will be included. Basically

That's a good point.

Hats off for such an ambitious project. I was never a tape trader (too young) but despite of that, or perhaps because of that, i'd love to have a book covering that topic throughout.