SPOTLIGHT: MUSIC AND WRESTLING
By Joel C Croyle on 4/6/2008 10:02 AM
I don’t think anyone can deny that music and wrestling have gone hand in hand for a number of years. Many times though, I find myself fast forwarding through those darn Jerry Lawler ads about “This PPV’s theme song is such and such by such a whom”. As a musician I sat back and thought about the reality of that concept. Bands agree to let WWE or TNA or other sports and entertainment establishments use their songs and in exchange they get a fee in many cases but more importantly they get highlighted for their latest efforts. So I decided to go back in the “WWE way back machine” and look up some of the songs and highlight those bands even more. Every single act in this list have some sort of connection to wrestling and there are many more than what I am giving you here. But honestly…pick up some of this stuff at your nearest “record” store or mp3 download site – they have meant a lot to wrestling and so maybe they should mean something to us…
ROB ZOMBIE
Wrestling Connection: Zombie’s music has had a prominent role in WWE. His blazing tune “Never Gonna Stop” was synonymous with the name Edge for a very long time. He also did the theme song “Feel so Numb” at the 2002 No Way Out Pay Per View where Vince K. McMahon finally unleashed the N.W.O. on the WWE.
His Best: Astro Creep 2000 – This actually isn’t a “Rob Zombie” album in that he was with his original band “White Zombie” but it by far is his best effort. Every single song is heavy and danceable which is what Zombie seems to strive for and does well. It features the hit “More Human than Human” which seems to be in every vampire movie created after the album debuted. For a really interesting version of that tune go pick up “The Covenant” soundtrack.
His Latest: Educated Horses – This isn’t his best album but of all the solo albums I think it is very good. The song “American Witch” is a really groove driven metal tune that just pumps one’s blood non-stop. Maybe Victoria should use it as her new theme song.
SEVENDUST
Wrestling Connection: According to several sites (But I don’t remember this at all) they performed a version of “Break the Walls Down”, Chris Jericho’s entrance theme. Several bands have actually covered that theme though. At Unforgiven 2003, where Shane and Kane had one of the most memorable last man standing matches in WWE history, Sevendust’s “Enemy” had the PPV theme honors.
Their Best: Seasons - is the best album in the band’s awesome catalog. “Enemy”, “Face to Face” and “Broken Down” are all highlights of the album and did some chart drive by’s. This changed the bands sound in a lot of ways because there was lighter tones and melodic structure.
Their Latest: Chapter VII - This album came out in April 2008 and had a lot of heat on it because radio stations across the country have been really selling its greatness. It is the best they’ve had since Seasons and could give it a run for its money with a few more listens.
QUEEN
Wrestling Connection – “Another one bites the dust” was the theme song for Junkyard Dog all those years ago. He changed it eventually to another song but you have to admit…those McMahon’s are marketing geniuses.
Their Best: A night at the Opera – It had “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Death on Two Legs” on it…need I really say anymore?
Their Latest: Queen and Paul Rogers - I guess it’s all in how you look at it. Officially with the exception of tribute songs and compilations, this is the last thing that Queen’s done using the Queen moniker. Supposedly there is a new album on the way this year. The last two Freddie Mercury-led albums were Innuendo and Made in Heaven, both of which are great.
DROWNING POOL
Wrestling Connection – Drowning Pool seems to have a home in WWE. Maybe they should get a small room in the Hall of Fame if it is ever really built. Here is just a smattering of the PPV’s, TV Shows, and People they have themed – Wrestlemania XX, ECW, Smackdown, Vengeance 2001, HHH and Summerslam 2001.
Their Best: Desensitized - Everyone will disagree with this as most rock fans would say their debut album, Sinner, was better, but I love this sophomore release. They have had three singers and I really enjoyed the middle one. When a band looses a member as they did when their original lead man passed away, it is hard to make magic happen, but they did with this one.
Their Latest: Full Circle – This album is really not their best however the song “Soldiers” is touching and very well written.
DREAM THEATER
Wrestling Connection – Now this is a pretty far fetch as it really isn’t a significant wrestling connection at all but I like a certain former Undisputed Champion really dig these guys’ music. That’s right; Chris Jericho is a big fan of DT and was even on their latest album in a cameo appearance.
Their Best: Change of Seasons – This album is unlike any other I’ve heard. Many DT fans would more than likely choose “Metropolis Part II” or “Images and Words” as the band’s best effort but I love the ebb and flow of this work and individually the musicians shine better on this album than most. In the last half of the album we also get really cool renditions of cover songs by Genesis, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
Their Latest: Systematic Chaos – This is the album that has the Jericho cameo. It has some really tight tunes, one that is upwards of twenty minutes. These aren’t your mama’s prog-rockers…E.L.P, they ain’t. But they do what they do very well. They also have a greatest hits album coming out soon this year (2008)
METALLICA
Wrestling Connection – They own the original theme songs to Mike Awesome (“Phantom Lord”), AJ Styles (“Wherever I May Roam) and of course The Sandman of ECW lore (“Enter Sandman”). They are also the guys who now get crappy revisionist music played over their anthems whenever we watch backlogged ECW programming on things like WWE 24/7
Their Best: And Justice For All - Well…that is pretty darn hard to decide you have to admit. Kill Em’ All, Ride The Lighting. The Black Album, even St. Anger is pretty darn good but “Blackened” and “One” are masterpieces.
Their Latest: ST. Anger – It didn’t do to well with the masses over time but there are some good moments on this disc and it is worth a listen. An untitled as of yet new album is do out later this year.
OUR LADY PEACE
Wrestling Connection – They wrote a great song that ended up being Chris Benoit’s theme song and I am sad I don’t get to hear it every Monday anymore; it was called “Whatever”. They have been featured in many Superstar promo packages such as Matt Hardy.
Their Best: Gravity – This CD sits in my player almost every day as I drive to work. I love every song on there but if you are in a hurry check out “Innocent” and “Story about a girl”
Their Latest: A Decade – A new greatest hits CD that gives fans an overview of the band’s phenomenal growth and history.
JOHNNY CASH
Wrestling Connection – People in the past have used “Ring of Fire” for several things but one of the best things I’ve seen was when the WWE used “Hurt” as one of the songs for Eddie Guerrero’s passing.
His Best: Live at Folsom Prison – He played in a prison and recorded it…enough said.
His Latest: American V – This was the last one he did before he died but there was another he was supposedly working on. There are also box sets released of this man’s work it seems like every week. The best box I’ve found is called “Unearthed”. It is a 4 or 5 piece set that is mostly unheard stuff and very inspirationally driven.
RUSH
Wrestling Connection – They had at least one theme song in the 80’s but their real wrestling connection came in 2004 at the Summerslam PPV. Earlier that year they had recorded and released a cover tunes album called “Flashback” and the cover they did was “Summertime Blues”. At that event Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit to become the youngest WWE champion in history at that time.
Their Best: A Farewell to King’s – It isn’t their best known effort (That would be Moving Pictures) or their most Progressive (Hemispheres or 2112) but it has the best material that shows the greatness of this Canadian Rock trio. “Closer to the Heart” was the big single from it and fans around the world hum it to this day but if you are after musical perfection check out “Cygnus x-1” and “Xanadu”
Their Latest: Snakes and Arrows – After long years of really trying several new sounds out Rush got back to what they know best, writing good songs with great melodies and grooves and precision time changes and key changes. Alex Lifeson (Guitar) also mellowed the album a bit by using mostly acoustic guitars.
LIL’ KIM
Wrestling Connection – “Time to rock and roll”, Trish Stratus’s theme song.
Her Best: The Notorious K.I.M. – It is Kim at her absolute best. She can do it all, sing, dance a bit, do R and B and of course hip hop. This album shows the world what talent is.
Her Latest: The Naked Truth – She hasn’t done much lately as The Naked Truth came out in 2005. It was a solid effort but nothing to write home about.
Jimi Hendrix
Wrestling Connection – Al snow used Purple Haze for a time as his theme and an alt. version of “Voodoo Child” always let us know when Hollywood Hogan had arrived at the WCW arenas/
His Best – Live at Woodstock – are you kidding?
His Latest – The man is gone, and he was the best…he has several box sets, get one.
Motorhead
Wrestling Connection – They have been used as themes for Batista, HHH, and Evolution.
Their Best: Ace of Spades – To me it is one of the most rebellious, glamorous, in your face, sickly beautiful metal masterpieces of our time.
Their Latest: Kiss of Death – This album dropped in 2006 and many haven’t heard it or of it. It is a fantastic album. If you like the song “King of King’s (HHH)” than you will love the music on this effort.
Closing –
There are a ton more artists I could highlight. These are just some of my favorites and most interesting wrestling connections. I would recommend you fans really look out for some of this stuff. Some of the other bands that have great newer albums or great all time albums that I didn’t go in-depth about are Disturbed, Alterbridge, Korn, John Lennon (Tribute for the Troops a few years back), Snoop Dogg, John Cena (he can rap you know and his album ain’t half bad), Deep Purple, Alice In Chains, Evanescence, Phil Collins, The Pointer Sisters, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, P.O.D., Papa Roach and even Andrew Lloyd Webber (Steve Austin used the Jesus Christ Superstar theme for a short bit). And believe me, this isn’t even half the list. If you’d like a fairly good list you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_in_professional_wrestling it has a great list of theme songs.
