Has It Really Been 36 Years?

Sometimes I forget just how long ago the 80s were. Seeing all sorts of reminders of anniversary albums and tours always jars me, case in point the Tweet below. Heavy Metal Parking Lot is 36 years old today. It's a weird little movie and a definite snapshot in time.

I think the film captures the metal scene pretty well and it's a good anthropological study of teens and college kids at the time. I haven't watched the movie in a few years, but I do a own a copy on DVD. Of course, I haven't used my DVD player in ages either because that's a hassle...

'20 years old...and ready to rock!' 36 years ago today, 'Heavy Metal Parking Lot' was filmed outside Maryland's Capital Centre Center before a @judaspriest /@Dokken concert. Who has seen this classic doc? pic.twitter.com/cHIBdIIbCs

— Metal Edge (@MetalEdge85) May 31, 2022

Comments

[Texjay]

Someone sent me this meme on my birthday last month and it shook me---

1970 and 2022 are as far apart as 1970 and 1918...

ohhh.

[Jeff]

Pretty cool film I've seen multiple times over the years. It's like a time machine back to the glory days of our youth. From the cut-up concert tee's, ripped jeans, high top sneakers, and aqua net; it's all there. I remember seeing this concert in Greensboro, NC. Hell of a show by both bands. I was (and still am) a huge Dokken fan and it was my first time seeing them. They blew me away with their intensity. When the mighty Priest hit the stage to the beginning notes of "Out in the Cold" and Halford slowly descended the steps of the stairs from the back of the drum riser singing "Where are you Now, the tears are coming back to me once again" enveloped in the fog machine mist and laser lights, it was truly a emotional moment that still brings a chill whenever I bring up old YouTube videos if this performance.

[Him]

I love this movie.

The gal in the parking lot who is ready 'to jump Halford's bones'? Priceless! The mystery figure who, once tracked down (in the follow-up), is clearly embarrassed and perplexed that people want to talk to him? Also, priceless!

Both the original and the follow-up are like youth: clumsy, hilarious, disturbing (some age issues in the original that the follow-up follows up on!), but oh so accurate. Metal is great. But we were all awkward once. And, in a parking lot, we are all just waiting for what comes next.

Thing is: you can support the movie in a variety of ways. I bought a poster. It now hangs in my office. It reminds me that, while (my) youth is lost, video is forever. It is also the case that a movie like this supports you (I sound like Yakov Smirnoff) by reminding you that your memories matter.

Gotta' go. My tent beckons.

[Metalboy!]

I saw over 50 shows at Cap Centre, though I regret, not Priest when these different characters were so fortunate to have done.

I, too, have watched both “Heavy Metal Parking Lots” ad infinitum times!

That girl who says, “I’d jump his bones” had know idea she may have had a future in conversion therapy had she succeeded.

Regardless of my politically incorrect comment above, she possesses the quintisseantial Baltimore accent!

Check out “This City is Ours” (or whatever the h*ll it’s called) on HBO … The main character (the name of the dude slips my mind but he was in “Walking Dead”, “The Punisher”, “Ford vs. Ferrari”, “King Richard”) and a few of the others actually bothered to nail that same accent to a “T” on that show!

And whichever one of the writer’s who picked “She’s A Dancer” by Crack The Sky, really knows their Baltimorean texture as that band was mega huge there, the reason why, the craziest story in itself!

[Him]

This is why you need to write here, write often, and just damn write, Metalboy!!!!

Guy's name is Jonathan Bernthal. Show's name is _We Own This City_. He is great at doing rage and stoic, a bit less effective at emotional and plaintive. _The Punisher_ was one of the few superhero shows I actually liked. Glad to hear that it might (might?) come back in some form.

Now, after all that, do I finally get that gift you promised me years ago? Come on, Metalboy!

[Metalboy!]

Maybe … Thanks for the corrections, HIM!

Yeah, Blumenthal is incredible! … And, like I said, flawless Baltimore accent!

And they got Crack The Sky in there!

Now all they need to do is get KIX in the soundtrack, or better yet, playing in a club (a recreation of Hammerjack’s, perhsps?) they gotta shakedown or something!