Andrei Mihai
Sir Christopher Lee, legendary british actor, who served in WWII is definitely one of the most fascinating people alive. How you can go from serving in the war, to playing Dracula, then Saruman, then to sing heavy metal, all with excellent performances is just beyond me. Did you know he was the only man part of the LOTR movies that actually met Tolkien? Or that he volunteered to volunteered to fight for the Finnish forces during the Winter War in 1939?
So, to add one more to his list of extraordinary feat, Lee announced he will release a heavy metal album on his 91st birthday; seriously. This comes after “Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross,” which came out in 2010 and won him a Metal Hammer Golden Gods award, an event he describes as “the most amazing occasion.” But, according to his own words, the new record is more metal than the previous one.
“The first ‘Charlemagne’ album is metal, of course, but what I sang was more symphonic,” he told Classic Rock. “‘The Omens Of Death’ is one hundred percent heavy metal. I’ve done my bits and pieces, and they are heavy metal. I’m not screaming or anything like that, but it is definitely heavy metal.”
The first album was a tribute to Charles (or Charlemagne) the great, which Lee claims he is a descendant of. He also released another album with Christmas songs, performed in a heavy metal fashion.
The music was arranged by Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner just before he replaced KK Downing in the band.
“Most of the songs were already there,” says the guitarist.
“But they needed riffs, drum parts and musical parts that reflected what the guys wanted – which was a metal record with an aim to be played live by a band. Some of the tracks didn’t have any music at all and were just Sir Christopher singing his melodies. I remember how surreal it was sitting in my place at the time with Saruman blasting out over the speakers! I’ve no idea what the neighbours thought!”
Via UG
