Summer vs. Winter

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer. I always think there are "summer" bands and "winter" bands. This might be ridiculous since most acts tour in the summer, but it's more a vibe I get from music rather than a live show.

I've always considered Cinderella a "winter" band. Maybe it's because of Long Cold Winter - or maybe it's because the band's videos always seemed to have somewhat dark imagery.

On the other hand, I've always felt Poison a true summer band. Many people - including myself - equate parties with summer. Poison is the ultimate party band. If you need a good time, just dial up Bret, Rikki, Bobby and C.C.

Another band I've always considered a "winter" act is White Lion. Again, maybe it's the black and white imagery often used in White Lion videos, but it seems to me Mane Attraction sounds better when I'm locked up inside during a snow storm.

Like Poison, I consider Def Leppard a summer band. While bands like Cinderella and White Lion used black and white film and severe images for videos, Def Leppard pretty much always kept their themes light - or at least in full color. Even the video for "Love Bites" alternated between black background and full color. Plus, the Leps always have a big laser show and that to me is the epitome of summer.

Here's Cinderella "Heartbreak Station"

Comments

[Joe]

Bon Jovi back in the day were summer to me..The songs were about hanging out and having fun.

[don]

if you only judge a band by their videos perhaps you could make this distinction. but if you judge them by their music perhaps you'll have a different idea. i get what you mean about the idea of summer and partying and can kinda agree with that but i've never thought of bands being suited for summer or winter. if i like them i'll go whenever they come around. i mean, if poison came to cincinnati in december are you saying you wouldn't go because they're a summer band? or if cinderella came in june? maybe i'm just playing devil's advocate here, kinda tired and gled to be off work.

[Randy]

I thought I was the only person who thought in the "summer", and "winter" terms. I always thought it was more of an album thing. Not in terms of the time of the year they were/are released, more so in the mood of the album. For example: Theatre of Pain was a fall/winter album, where as Dr.Feelgood was a summer album.

[aXe mAn]

Huh, I never thought of it like that...

[Rhodeislandrock, Heavy Metal Addiction]

Summer vs. Winter always depended on when I bought it. WASP's The Last Command was a winter album because I bought it during a snowstorm in New Hampshire. Judas Priest's Turbo is a Summer record because I used to listen to it walking home from baseball. Appetite for Destruction is a Fall album because I remember all of us gathering around the car on free period and blasting the boombox my Junior Year of high school.

Long Cold Winter is a Fall album for me.

Steve
Heavy Metal Addiction
http://hardrockheavymetal.wordpress.com/

[Shawn]

First I must say thanks for an awsome site but I kinda see where there could be a summer winter distinction I remeneber freezing my ass off in 1985 to see Bon Jovi open for Ratt or nearly having a heat stroke watching the CRUE, Whitesnake, Poison, and Jet boy at the day on the green in Oakland Ca. I remember it being cold when I discovered White Lion on MTV and seeing Cinderella open for AC/DC at the cow palace in San Fran but then again its always chilly in San Fran but to me when I hear the power cord and it resonates through me its always summer and life is good. No matter what the season. I have taken music (glam) around the world with me for the last 22 years. I retire May 31 after 22 years of service to the glam nation and couldnt be prouder. remember its memorial day and we all owe a debt of gratitude to our brothers and sister keeping us free.

[Keith]

I always thought Van Halen was a definite summer band, probably because of their David Lee Roth party image. Even with Sammy Hagar they're still a summer band. I also consider Red Hot Chili Peppers a summer band. I prefer mid-80s thrash in the winter: Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Anthrax & Motorhead are all winter bands to me.