I'm certainly not the world's biggest fan of The Beatles, but I would never try to deny their incredible impact on music and the place they deservedly hold in its history. Bands from all genres have paid tribute to The Fab Four, and Metal is no different. Here then are some examples of how Metal has paid its dues to the four lads from Liverpool who changed the world, and the face of music as we know it today. After all, to paraphrase John, Paul, George and Ringo...
Naturally, some of the more famous songs have been covered by more than one Metal band, so I've had to choose which might have made the better job of it, depending on whether or not I know the band. In some cases, I've just gone in blind. Note: I know there is a band called Beatallica, who specialise in mashups of Beatles and Metallica songs. I'm not interested in that: these are actual, proper cover versions, one-off tributes or even perhaps in some cases parodies of Beatles songs.
“Come together” by Aerosmith, from the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1978.
Originally on Abbey Road, 1969.
I probably can't comment too much as, like I said, I'm not a fan of The Beatles, but I do know this song and it seems Steve and the boys rock it up nicely. It's taken from an ambitious attempt to pay homage to (read, rip off) the album that is said to have started the progressive rock movement, and features the music of the Beatles from the two albums mentioned. Not really sure what the point was, though surely cash came into it...
“I'm only sleeping” by Quorthon, from the album In Memory of Quorthon, 2006.
Originally on Revolver, 1966.
Bathory's Quorthon recorded this for a compilation called
The Black Mark Tribute Vol 2 and it was later released on his own tribute album after his untimely death in 2004. This is one of the songs I don't know, so I can't tell you whether he plays a good version or not. I guess you can decide for yourselves by watching the video below. Doesn't sound like he metalled it up much though.
“I want you (She's so heavy)” by Coroner, from the album Mental Vortex, 1991.
Originally from Abbey Road, 1969.
Back to
Abbey Road and no, though I of course know the album and recognise the sleeve, I have never heard it. So sue me. Anyway it would appear Coroner are a thrash metal band from Switzerland, and the track is over seven minutes long. Enjoy!
“Help!” by The Damned, from the B-side of the single “New Rose”, 1976.
Originally on the Help! OST, 1965.
This one, of course, I do know. I'm also a little familiar with The Damned, and I must say they do an anarchic version of it here, as you would probably expect. Little point of interest: though the song does not appear to have been on any of their albums it was the reverse of their first ever single.
“We can work it out” by Deep Purple, from the album The Book of Taliesyn, 1968
Originally on the double A-sided single “Day Tripper/We can work it out”, 1965
Odd, isn't it, that two pretty well-known and successful Beatles songs were not on any album of the time, but both released directly as a single --- the same single; the first time ever one was billed as “double A-sided”** --- and both became hits. Deep Purple covered this, but it was not in fairness the band we think of today as Purple, with this coming on their second album (from what I guess is referred to as “Deep Purple Mk I”) before Gillan or Coverdale ever got near the band, and they seem to have been more a progressive/psychedelic/hard rock band. It was also only three years after the single had been a hit, so not really that surprising that the Purples might consider cashing in on one of the bigger hits of the day. Is it any good? Take a listen and judge for yourself. Note: there's a classical piece they call “Exposition” for the first three minutes.
** For our younger readers, singles used always to have an A side, which would be the main, hit song, or the song hoped to be a hit anyway, and the reverse would be the B-side. Usually this turned out to be the case, though occasionally the B-side would become more popular. Such was the case with Thin Lizzy's “Black boys on the corner”, which had as its B-side .... “Whiskey in the jar”!
“Don't pass me by” by Georgia Satellites, from the album Open All Night, 1988
Originally on The White Album, 1968.
Okay, nobody's going to pretend Georgia Satellites are metal, but at least they're not synthpop or Italian disco! Southern Rock is not too far away, and I really enjoyed this track --- truth to tell, the only track I liked on the massively disappointing second album from the boys after the tremendous self-titled debut --- so I'm sneaking it in here, no questions asked. The first song written by, and with lead vocals by Richard Starkey AKA Ringo Starr, it's one of The Beatles' rockier songs, not as sort of bubblegum as the likes of “I want to hold your hand” and “She loves you”: just appeals to me more. Plus of course the Sats really rock it up.