Extreme, 'Save Me' -- New Video

Extreme has released a powerful new video for their track "Save Me" off their album SIX. Of the dark and claustrophobic nature of the video, guitarist (and clip director) Nuno Bettencourt explains:

“This video was shot with a very claustrophobic feel to show the raw emotion of the heavy subject matter of the song. It was important to shoot it this way to create a lack of oxygen in a black void as if 'we' are the voices in your heads… in our own heads, to visually put across the psychological battle of whispers and screams we have all dealt with in coping with life’s challenges.

Gary’s schizophrenic vocals in the verses is the dark narrator in our heads, taunting and pushing us to a dangerous edge… whereas in the refrain, his impassioned plea— 'Save me from myself / Save me from this hell…' —is our voice that is screaming in our heads but often painfully silent on the outside.

The viewer sometimes can’t tell where one face ends and the other begins. Like we are small pieces of a human jigsaw puzzle… with one rule… that we will never see the full finished puzzle. Of our full selves."

'Nothin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal' Part III

"The Final Chapter" is how Nothin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored Story of '80s Hair Metal ends.

There's interviews with Brian Forsythe of KIX (you know I love him), Warren DiMartini, Stevie Rachelle of Tuff and more. This section obviously focuses on the end of the Sunset Strip party, the introduction of grunge to the world and the surprise resurgence of Glam in the early 2000s (this site started in 2006).

Bret Michaels goes over the famous fight he had with C.C. DeVille backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1991 and there's a long look at the drug and alcohol addictions of many bands. Honestly the pre-performance interviews with Bret and C.C. for MTV were cringeworthy because C.C. was so clearly drugged out of his mind. I'm glad the doc included those interviews - the female reporter was frustrated the entire time and getting more so as arguments between the two Poison members raged on.

RATT guitarist DiMartini didn't really want to talk about Robbin Crosby's heroin addiction, but he eventually did and it was pretty heart-wrenching. Fosythe talked about his own addictions, smoking crack ("the worst!"), being arrested and having to get a day job after the party stopped.

My favorite part of this final section of the documentary was Nuno Bettencourt's "Sebastian Bach story." Extreme and Skid Row were on a flight back from playing a gig together. Bach is drunk, the flight attendant cuts him off, he isn't having it and finds more booze... and chaos ensues. There's a fight, a physical interaction with the pilot and an old couple even gets involved. You need to watch just for this story - and the animations - alone, trust me!

Oh and there's a Beavis and Butt-Head Winger section too.

Reflecting on Glam music all these years later - and the rise of grunge - I have pretty much decided that Nirvana didn't kill the scene. The labels killed the scene. Like capitalists often do, they got too greedy and created too many cheap imitations of the real thing, diluted their brand and it all came crashing down.

Hindsight being 20/20, you have to believe big time music execs from that era probably wished they had passed on signing some of the third and fourth tier bands and instead put more energy into the continued creative development of acts like Poison and RATT. The right marketing and songwriting advice could have seen the best bands of the era keep right on plugging with big songs and videos all through the 90s. Instead, the baby was thrown out with the bath water and it was time to chase the latest new trend. Still, remember this: glam had more than a decade and true grunge basically had less than five years. I said what I said.

[RELATED: Part two recap and review]

Extreme, 'Beautiful Girls' -- Official Video

This week, Extreme dropped their official video for the song "Beautiful Girls" from the album Six. It's definitely a laid back, summer tune. I like the nods to Eddie Van Halen and Van Halen in general in the song and vid, too (the kiss at the end!) There's also a reference to the 1990 Extreme track "When I First Kissed You" which was a nice touch. The video is also giving Beach Boys classic fun vibes too (especially with the band's styling) and the car choices. Love it all. Catchy as hell.

Extreme, 'Other Side Of The Rainbow' -- New Track

Extreme will release Six on June 9. That new album features the track "Other Side of the Rainbow" and the band just released a video to support the song. Interestingly, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt directed and edited the video below as well.

Check out the harmonies here, folks! If you click the picture of the vinyl, you can pre-order Six in all formats. 

Extreme Announce New Album, Single

Extreme Six will be released June 9. The first single from the album is called "Rise" and the band dropped a video for it yesterday.

Nuno Bettencourt + an electric guitar = perfection. Seriously, does not disappoint!

You can pre-order Six now via Extreme's website. One of the options is a 180gram special edition vinyl.

The Best Videos Of 1989 - 'Kid Ego'

I swear most people don't even remember that Extreme released an album before Pornograffiti. The band's self-titled debut came out in 1989 and "Kid Ego" was one of the feature songs.

The video for "Kid Ego" may not seem special at first glance, but you have to consider the rest of Extreme's output too. That debut is all Glam and so is the video for "Kid Ego." It's the band rocking out on a sound stage with curly big hair - and headbands! Ripped denim! Nuno Bettencourt shredding! Gary Cherone swinging from a rope! This video is basically a late 80s Glam time capsule and I'm here for it. Truly one of the greats.

Happy Valentine's Day, Hair Metal Fans

Are you going out tonight for Valentine's Day? Perhaps you are staying in. Eric and I don't really celebrate these sorts of holidays, so there is nothing special planned in our household.

Perhaps you'd like to have a throwback Valentine's Day, complete with a homemade mixtape (ok, Amazon playlist) of great power ballads for the one you love. Here's some choices for a great power ballads list.

• Metallica, Nothing Else Matters
• Aerosmith, Dream On
• Whitesnake, Is This Love?
• Extreme, More Than Words
• Bon Jovi, Always
• Van Halen, Can't Stop Lovin' You

"Three things shall last forever — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

From our family to yours: Happy Valentine’s Day! 💕 🐾 🐈 pic.twitter.com/h6jBuDy9ro

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2022