Left to Right: Dick, Thor, and Max
"We are warriors of the Universe,
we live by the sword,
and die by the edge of the blade."
Saturday, Dick and I were at a party at our buddy Gilby's house. We soon left, temporarily (we would return - more on that in the next post) to go to a concert. More specifically, we were going to see Thor. The Mighty Thor.
Now, Thor is a former Mr. USA who decided in the late '70s that combining the worlds of bodybuilding, heavy metal and norse mythology would be a great idea. And you know what? Somehow, it works. Combine it with the over-the-top stage show theatrics common to metal shows of the '70s and '80s (and sorely missing since) -- the Viking masks, the thrasyhing metal guitars, the macho lyrics -- and somehow, its dominant.
Sounding at its core like '80s metal (think Motorhead or Judas Priest), Thor whips through songs such as "Thunderhawk", "Thunder on the Tundra", "Call of the Triumphant", and "Let The Blood Run Red" with a ferocity that harkens back to that era. His series of masks and costumes run the gamut from Viking Horn (not Minnesota Viking, but real Nordic Viking) to a Mexican Wrestling Mask to what appeared to be The Predator. All the while screaming lyrics and fronting his band of metal men.
I could sit here and tell you all about them all night, but I think some videos we shot on my camera will do a better job of conveying the awesomeness of Thor. Here they are, with comments, on YouTube.
Thor emerges from backstage in Viking helmet, to a cheering crowd.
Awesome clip of Thor beating the crap out of a monster. In an elaborate skit in the middle of the show, Thor searched the venue for a monster who was prowling around. The monster, a guy in a ghost mask and a black hood and cape, ran past us several times in his efforts to elude Thor. When he was captured, Thor brought him onstage and set forth in executing him -- giving the audience the chance to spare his life. Each time he brandished a weapon, he implored the audience to approve. Each time they didn't, he proclaimed, "Fine, but I have other means!" and then proceed to grab a different weapon. Eventually, he bent a metal rod over the neck of the monster. But not before beating him up. That's what you see in this 20 second clip.
This clip features the title track from Thor's new album, "Devastation of Musculation", as well as a passing view of me mugging for the camera. Just to prove we were actually there. I'm still not sure Musculation is a real word. I am sure, however, that Thor is awesome.
Another clip of Thor singing Devastation of Musculation. Nice. You bet.
Leave a comment