Anvil

Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner are finally gaining the type of success they dreamt about as 14-year-olds in Toronto, Ontario, in 1973.

Credit their new Sacha Gervasi-directed film, "Anvil: The Story of Anvil."

The movie portrays the band as a down-and-out, real-life Spinal Tap, but singer/guitarist Lips, drummer Reiner and bassist Glenn Five are much more than just a made-up movie band. They have talent, humorous songs and musical chops.

Anvil influenced countless musicians, including Lars Ulrich of Metallica, Tom Araya of Slayer and Slash of Guns N' Roses, who give their testimony and kudos to Anvil in the movie.

The trio is getting decent gigs again, most recently the Download and Rocklahoma festivals – even scoring an opening slot for three dates on the AC/DC Black Ice North American tour.

So Lips couldn't be happier for Anvil’s newfound success.

I had a great-but-brief chat with the hard-working leader before Anvil's show at Rocklahoma.

Metal Mayhem: The hype and popularity of "Anvil: The Story of Anvil," sort of paints a picture of a band struggling for success. But I've always thought you were huge. Didn't you achieve success during the years? Or do you feel you're now getting your just rewards?
Lips: I think we achieved a certain amount of notoriety, but success as far as financially, no, never did. We've been struggling for 30 years. As far as notoriety and being famous ... it's always been there ... since 1981. We've continued recording and never broke up, so it's always been there. This isn't a short-lived fame. I've already done 30 years. If I could get another five years and basically create my retirement fund ... hello? That's not such a bad pill to swallow.

MM: You and Robb are such great friends. Are there times that you want to hug each other one moment and beat the crap out of each other the next? What's the final outcome?
Lips: Most of the time we get along. It's usually under extreme duress when we have a fallout, I think that what really holds it together is always having the same goal. The only thing that you ever argue about is your approach to getting there, and there's nothing wrong with that, that's called creative head-butting. I think it's important to always have something to work forward toward a goal. And that needs to be said, not necessarily just between band members, but also if you're married. That means building a family, paying off a mortgage, raising your children. Once those things are all over with, then it really becomes difficult to keep a marriage together. That's why a lot of marriages fall apart after the whole thing is done. You got to keep a sight on a future and a goal.

MM: What does Anvil want to achieve in 2009 and beyond?
Lips: We want to achieve sort of what we've always have wanted ... in a certain sense, we want to be out playing on a consistent basis, which is ultimately, for us, everything. Playing in front of a live audience is why you do everything. Those moments are the most beautiful moments that could ever happen to a human being. Well, it is for me. It might be somewhat of a selfish endeavor in a certain sense. It's certainly not ego-fulfilling. It's actually soul-fulfilling. If you feel you belong on stage, and that's what you do, then that's where you have to be. And that's where I want to be.

Article by Kelley Simms