Manowar, what's the problem people have with them?

[Blazer]

Okay I'll be frank, I'm a metalman, I play in a metal band and attend metal concerts. And I love to share my love on forums like this and see that others share my passion.

But there's one band that everybody seems to agree on that sucks and I never understood why. That band is Manowar, for some reason or another people all turn away in disgust with just the mention of the name of this band.

I wonder why that is, they have an awesome show, really good sing-along metal anthems and they should be right there with bands like Iron Maiden and judas priest as the grandmasters of metal but for some reason everybody tends to think otherwise, what am I missing here? Why is it that way?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQ0iGksgwg
"warriors of the world united" live.
You have to admit that this is a kick ass song.

[missionguitars1]

You are absolutely right...but I think the whole "death to false metal"-thing turned a lot of guys off, and they never came across as humble in their interviews back in the day...and it's just hard to live down the pics with the speedos and lots of chest hair...

I'm being dead serious BTW - I had one friend in high school who was their biggest cheerleader, and NO ONE would give them a chance...just because they couldn't get past their album covers...

[markD]

they just seem to "campy" for me. i never found their music very interesting either. in theory, i SHOULD like their music, but i don't.

[åron]

I find the music more simplistic and less enjoyable than Maiden (a band I love!) or Priest (meh...).

They brought motorcycles on stage, forgive me if I think of them as a joke band. In that sense they're like Jerry Lewis: big in France and Europe, ridiculed by many, enjoyed by many more. They've sold a lot of records, so who cares?

[Ralph E.]

I love them, although I think their older stuff is the best.

[Spivonious]

Your answer can be found in one word: loincloths.

And there music can get kind of boring with very cheesy lyrics. If I want cheesy lyrics, I'll go listen to Rhapsody, since at least the music is interesting.

[toejam]

I've always liked them, too. It would be cool if they played some cool riffs instead of their basic power chord structures, but I guess that's their thing. And Eric Adams has a great voice!
I thought it was funny when they put out the Hail To England album and people thought they were from there when they're really from New York.

[Gartron]

I love them too,

however this does them no favours....

[horns666]

I've been a fan since Battle Hyms..

I saw them with Rhapsody. I think Joey D is an asshole. But they're pretty cool. Ya gotta remember they were doin' Spinal Tap before Spinal Tap. But they're good muscians. Eric Adams is a great singer!!

Not one of my faves but they have their place in my collection.

[thetroy]

I like them well enough.

[Cleveland Metal]

I've seen them live and they pretty much blow.... Dude's bass solo was 10 minutes long and sucked. And then he broke a string made the corwd wait for it to be changed... What a tool.

Sorry... But, they make Spinal Tap look legitimate.

[levantin]

I kinda like their songs but their image is pure cheese. I can't get past that they proclaim themselves to be the greatest metal band in the world. They are so disrespectful to other bands. Did anyone see that DVD where they dissed Slayer? Slayer for chrissakes! They have some anthemic songs but they have basically been making the same album over and over for 20 years. I know, if it aint broke don't fix it, but there is definitely something with this band that is not right, as proved by the loincloth pictures.

[MartinBarre]

I've never heard them. The image put me off. They are the sort of band that make people laugh at heavy metal. Not just the acting like big fantasy heros, but one of them has a fucking MOUSTACHE!

[Dreamland_Rebel]

HE-MAN Metal!

[StukaJU87]

HE-MAN Metal!

Not a big fan but I like this solo. (Starts around 2:31)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf9OnQDhlZA