Great Comebacks (Part 1)

There have been many great comebacks/return to form albums over the years. Be it from bands that lost a major/founding member, split up and re-formed, or just released a classic album long after it was considered a viable possibility. I have been thinking about this recently, and have decided to write about the ones that impressed me the most, or even just surprised me.

I have to say, before I continue, that I actually don’t like the term “comeback” and hesitated to use it, as to me, it undermines what may have been achieved in the meantime. It also suggests that I don’t respect experimentation and change, whereas, in fact, the opposite is actually true in most cases. It’s just that the following bands had, for the most part, failed to set the world alight after they lost a member/the plot (delete as applicable).


Iron Maiden

When Bruce Dickinson left the band in 1993, there was an overwhelming feeling of shock and disappointment, but also of excitement within the metal community. Although Iron Maiden were still one of the biggest bands in metal, after the release of  two average albums, maybe this is what they, as a band, needed to reinvigorate themselves. Bruce Dickinson had lost interest in what they were doing, and had already released one solo record, with plans for a second. Besides, there were many great metal singers that could step in to fill Bruce’s (enormous) shoes weren’t there?  Bands have replaced iconic vocalists before, and had continued to be a success (look at AC/DC or Dio-era Black Sabbath for example). Yes, it was a daunting task, but surely whoever they chose would be up to the job?

Well, yes and no as it turned out. Blaze Bayley had already made a name for himself within the ranks of Midlands heroes, Wolfsbane, but was generally considered to be a shock addition to the ranks of Iron Maiden. His vocal range and delivery were (and remain to be) completely different to his predecessor. This would prove to be a controversial choice by Maiden founder/bassist, Steve Harris. The band took on a much darker edge, musically and lyrically, but even then Blaze’s limitations were on display for the world to see. Although, by no means a bad vocalist (in fact, I rate The X-Factor among Maiden’s best to this day), he lacked the flamboyant, over the top style and voice that Bruce brought to the band. For this reason, many fans abandoned Iron Maiden, and they became another great band from the 80’s, seemingly relegated to the B-leagues (at least in the UK and the US). Although they still sold records in respectable quantities and maintained a solid hardcore following, the glory days were, apparently, in the past, and it looked as though it would remain that way. I have to say at this point, for the sake of balance, that myself and many other fans, loved Blaze and the grittier edge he brought to the band.

However, things took an unexpected turn, when it was announced in mid 1999, that Bruce was returning. We, the fans, while being overjoyed by the news, also approached it with trepidation. Was this just desperation? After all a lot of bad blood had been spilled after Bruce quit, and a lot of it very publically. Could they really record another great album? Could the world truly embrace Iron Maiden again? The metal landscape of 1999 was vastly different from that of 1993. Both Grunge and Nu-metal had come and gone, along with a whole host of other sub-genres. Well, as we all know now, not only did the band release a masterpiece in the prog-tinged Brave New World, but for the next 10 years (and counting), they have taken the metal world by storm and have continued to evolve. Once again, they have become the most revered, respected and loved band in the metal genre. Not only have they the regained the adoration of fans and critics alike with their recorded output, but they have also become even bigger than they ever where and have toured relentlessly, always putting emphasis on the newer material over the “classics”. They are, and want to remain, completely relevant and, not, as Bruce has stated in the press, “A cabaret act”. Where many of their peers have become just that, or have faded away into obscurity, Iron Maiden have taken on the world and things still appear to be on the up for the band. In fact, their most recent album, “The Final Frontier”, while not being as world-beating as the previous 3 albums, is the bands biggest success to date. A truly remarkable turnaround for a band that was considered, in the late 90’s, to be “washed up”, and past their best.


Alice In Chains

This is a very different situation, as the band didn’t merely lose a member, but they lost their iconic vocalist in the most tragic way possible. Layne Stayley had been struggling for many years with a very public and destructive heroin addiction. It was this addiction, that would take the life of one of the most unique and passionate singers in the world of rock. Alice in chains hadn’t played together since 1996, and continued to be on a long-term hiatus, when the news broke in April 2002 that Layne had suffered a fatal overdose as the result of a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine (known as a speedball).

Although most fans considered the band to be over long before Layne’s death, it did officially and emphatically put an end to Alice In Chains as an entity and founder member/main songwriter, Jerry Cantrell had already decided to embark on a solo career, which continued in the same vein, stylistically as AIC.  After all that had happened, it came as a huge surprise when it was announced in 2005, that the band had decided to reform, hiring the talents of new vocalist, William DuVall. The news was met with a mixed reception. There as a great deal of scepticism and negativity from many fans, joy from others and also a certain level of apathy.  How could they play again under the name of Alice In Chains, without Layne? It wouldn’t be the same band would it? There were many who thought that they should change the name, but Jerry was adamant. Alice In Chains is his band, and always would be. He had already lost a close friend, and didn’t want to lose his band as well. He decided that the time was right to resurrect the influential and much loved group.

Any dissenting voices were truly silenced when they heard DuVall’s eerily Layne-esque voice on the subsequent world tour. The man was amazing. He combined Layne’s tortured wail and empassioned delivery with a rock star image and stage presence. In short, he was a revelation. Alice In Chains were back, and back in style. It is one thing, however, to play live, but a very different thing indeed to record a album that would continue their legacy and would not tarnish the reputation of the band and the memory of Layne. Well, guess what? On “Black Gives Way To Blue”, the band’s first release in 14 years, they delivered the goods with style. They hadn’t missed a beat. The album was and is a classic release, and let’s hope that the band continue for many years to come. After so much tragedy and frustration, who would want to deny them a second chance? Welcome back guys!


Korn 

After years of albums ranging from lacklustre to forgettable, Korn regained their fire again this year with their new album, the aptly named “Korn III: Remember Who You Are”. In the later end of the 2000’s, many thought that they had lost direction and had completely lost sight of what the band once was. Others however admired the new direction and brave attempt to step away from the ailing (and now dead) nu-metal scene, as The Deftones had deftly done before them. Unfortunately for Korn, whereas The Deftones had successfully transformed themselves effortlessly and without any pretence, into a post-rock giant, their own more commercially-minded approach failed to excite the masses, and the band became lost in the shuffle.

It could be argued that the return to their roots on the new album is a nothing but a cynical, last ditch attempt by the failing band, to regain their popularity, but I think that it is actually a brave move. Let’s face it, how many bands would opt to make a record that sounds like the mid-90’s heyday of the much reviled nu-metal scene? I mean, by the beginning of the new millennium, the rotting corpse of nu-metal had been well and truly put to rest by the return of the face-shredding aggression of metal. To me, this proves that the band has rediscovered their identity and passion for what they did in the first place. The new album is a powerhouse of old-school nu-metal (if that even makes sense?), and has set the band up again as the leaders of the (admittedly rapidly shrinking) pack. When you have a style that is as unique and recognisable as Korn, who needs to experiment? They have been there and done that. Maybe now, they can just continue on with their career. I just think that it is a great, classic, Korn record, and I, for one, hope they don’t do another u-turn on its follow-up. My advice to the band would be to just stick to what you do best, and keep doing it well. Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia sometimes, and although it may have a limited shelf life in the long-term, it beats the forgettable turgid material they have been churning out for the last few years. Bring on the nu-metal revival!  

That’s it for part one, but keep your eyes on this space as I will be back with part 2 during the week. As always, I welcome comments and thoughts