<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Mark A. Galang]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://markgalang.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Mark A. Galang]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://markgalang.wordpress.com/author/markgalang/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Billy Joel Was in a Metal&nbsp;Band]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m pretty sure that hardcore Billy Joel fans already know this, but I only found out about this tidbit early this morning. And so, out of curiosity, I found out about this silly looking band called Attila. It&#8217;s an organ and drum duo. Here&#8217;s a YouTube clip showing the duo&#8217;s fondness for barbarian outfits and tons of meat going hand to hand with some of the silliest lyrics on the planet:</p>
<span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe class="youtube-player" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ScIWg0iOxUw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation"></iframe></span>
<p>Okay, as far as my limited knowledge goes, three men spring to mind as individuals who properly used a Hammond organ in a heavier rock kind of context: Jon Lord, Keith Emerson, and Rick Wakeman. Billy Joel&#8217;s attempt was laudable although it seemed like there was too much processing going on that it sounds like a lot of noise most of the time. Perhaps he should have listened to stuff like &#8220;Tarkus&#8221; or &#8220;Highway Star&#8221; to figure out how organ in a heavy rock context should be done. Coupled with those atrocious lyrics, I&#8217;m not surprised why Mr. Piano Man called it &#8220;psychedelic bullshit&#8221;. Attila&#8217;s album though is remarkable as a sort of template for keyboard and drum duos. Perhaps Billy Joel in a proto-metal band sounds and looks so kitschy and so bad that it can actually be like a pug or a bulldog and end up being cute.</p>
]]></html></oembed>