Heavy Metal is a canadian adult animated science fantasy anthology film. It was released on August 7, 1981. The film was directed by Gerald Potterton and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who was also the editor of Heavy Metal magazine, on which the film was based. It starred Rodger Bumpass, Jackie Burroughs, John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Don Francks, Martin Lavut, Marilyn Lightstone, Eugene Levy, Alice Playten, Harold Ramis, Percy Rodriguez, Susan Roman, Richard Romanus, August Schellenberg, John Vernon and Zal Yanovsky. The screenplay was written by Daniel Goldberg and Len Blum.
The film is an anthology of several science fiction and fantasy stories united by the single theme of an evil force that is “the sum of all evil”. It is adapted from Heavy Metal magazine and original stories in the same spirit. Like the magazine, the film contains a great deal of graphic violence, sexuality and nudity. Its production was expedited by several animation companies working simultaneously on different segments. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release, the film was a modest success at the box office and has since achieved cult status. The film’s influential soundtrack was provided by music director Irving Azoff and included several popular rock bands and artists, such as Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Sammy Hagar, Don Felder, Cheap Trick, DEVO, Journey and Nazareth, among others.
The soundtrack was released on LP in 1981, but, for legal reasons, was not released on CD until 1995. The album reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. The film’s title track, Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride), was sung by Don Felder. It was released as a single in the United States and reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Mainstream Rock chart on September 19, 1981.
Legal difficulties surrounding the use of some songs in the film delayed its domestic release. The production company’s use of some songs was limited to the theatrical release and soundtrack only, and did not include the home edition. It took until 1996 for an official VHS release, when Kevin Eastman, who had purchased the publishing rights to Heavy Metal magazine in 1992 and had previously collaborated with the magazine, reached an agreement with the music copyright holders.
Tracklist:
- Heavy Metal by Sammy Hagar
- Heartbeat by Riggs
- Working In The Coal Mine by Devo
- Veteran Of The Psychic Wars by Blue Öyster Cult
- Reach Out by Cheap Trick
- Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride) by Don Felder
- True Companion by Donald Fagen
- Crazy (A Suitable Case For Treatment) by Nazareth
- Radar Rider by Riggs
- Open Arms by Journey
- Queen Bee by Grand Funk Railroad
- I Must Be Dreamin by Cheap Trick
- The Mob Rules by Black Sabbath
- All Of You by Don Felder
- Prefabricated by Trust
- Blue Lamp by Stevie Nicks
