Anvil

Anvil Artistfacts

  • 1978-
    Steve "Lips" KudlowLead vocals, guitar
    Robb ReinerDrums
    Dave AllisonGuitar1978-1989
    Ian DicksonBass1978-1993
    Ivan HurdGuitar1995-2007
    Glenn FiveBass1996-2012
    Sal ItalianoBass2012-
  • Anvil was originally formed in Toronto, Canada. Other renowned musicians to hail from the same city include Robbie Robertson, Neil Young, Geddy Lee, Jeff Healey, and Alannah Myles.
  • The producer of such Anvil classics as Metal on Metal and Forged in Fire was Chris Tsangarides, who has also worked with Thin Lizzy (1981's Renegade and 1983's Thunder and Lightning) and Judas Priest (1990's Painkiller). Tsangarides and Anvil would work together again years later, on their 2007 album This is Thirteen.
  • Whereas most guitarists use a traditional metal or glass slide to play slide guitar, Lips has been known to take a different approach on stage: playing with a vibrator.
  • Anvil once opened up several shows for Aerosmith, on the latter's tour in support of Rock in a Hard Place - the only Aerosmith studio album that had no input whatsoever from guitarist Joe Perry. As Lips recounted to Rolling Stone, "We were playing like an hour — in front of Aerosmith fans who had no idea who we were. What was wild about it was as we're playing and rocking out, the tour manager indicates to us, 'You have to play longer — we can't get Steven Tyler out of bed!'"
  • In the video for the Anvil tune, "Mad Dog," Lips dresses up as a sleazy pet store salesman for a skit at the beginning.
  • The group's popular documentary, Anvil! The Story of Anvil, was directed by Sacha Gervasi, who was an old friend of the band, but had been out of touch with its members for quite some time... until they reconnected via the internet.

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