What started it all off for me?

I'm guessing it was seeing Iron Maiden's 'Aces High' video on Top Of The Pops and acting like a loon with my older brother? Maybe it was my mother's fault, constantly listening to the radio and her playing Queen non stop?

Whether I knew it at the time or not, music was always being played around me - my mother, as already described, was a kitchen mother who ALWAYS had the radio on in the background. My oldest brother played Stiff Little Fingers mixed up with a little ska or Adam Ant. My father playing Fats Domino, Donovan or Acker Bilk in the car (my father may be a top bloke and played some classics occasionally but Jesus H Christ he listens to some shite most of the time). I guess at a youthful stage it was a place I could bury my head and be me, what 'me' was at that stage? (I'm sure I'm not alone in that thought).
 

I've never felt massively one of the gang and even now, an enigmatic troubadour sounds way cooler than a gang yob to me.
 

What's my point to all this? I'm getting there...............

My point is that although I watched all music programmes on TV, I buried my head in Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Metal Edge (import mag - must be cool!) and later on RAW. I watched RAW Power on ITV, The Chart Show when it was Metal Week, I got Headbangers Ball recorded for me because we didn't have satellite and, without knowing it, soaked up every little piece of random knowledge on any band that was remotely Metal or Rock.

My moments spent with my head in a magazine grew and I read every single review whether it was Thrash, Glam, NWOBHM or Punk and from that, I come to the point....

By doing that, I discovered some quality albums that I love and came across bands that no one else seemed to be interested in because they just weren't fashionable or popular (and school was a popularity contest, let's face it). Instead of just liking Megadeth and Metallica, I was searching out Sacred Reich and Metal Church. Instead of just liking GN'R, I was developing love for LA Guns and D'Molls. Instead of Maiden and Priest, it was Girl or (at the time) Old Skool unfashionable Whitesnake. I remember where I purchased these albums, what format they were on and memories in my mind that relate to the time of listening - I'm sure alot of you UberCool MuthaFuckers are exactly the same - we still do it.
 

This new Retro Rock feature is here to remind you of some albums or bands that may have simply passed people by and we need to tell you just how fucking great they are. If you've already got them, I'm glad I'm not alone in being a smug git and we can rejoice together. If not, try digging them out - you never know what gems they could be......

I Love You - 'I Love You' ( Geffen Records ) 1991

It's hard to find out why I felt the need to pre order this? 'LA Blues-Rock Band' was certainly not a statement that would have made me jump out of my chair, get the 1hr 30 minute round trip bus into Bath and pre order it at Our Price, only to then go back two weeks later to collect it without ever hearing anything by the band? (Pre internet folks) But, without a shadow of a doubt, I LOVE THIS ALBUM.

Christopher Palmer, Jeff Nolan, Mike Kossler and Tom Sweet created a rock album in the mould of Cream and The Doors mixed with Zeppelin (they covered Cream's SWLABR on their live EP) that was equal parts heavy rock and spiritual guidance all wrapped up in a fuzz rock coat. This was an attitude that the band made - Positive energy will prevail if you will.

They looked like a bunch of hippy stoners being grunge but fuck could they play. Signed to Geffen (who wasn't?) and produced by Geoff Workman (Warrior Soul, Queen) I Love You released this self titled debut and toured extensively with the all the Seattle bands as well as FNM, REM and The Chilis to name but a few. Their video for the first single 'Hang Straight Up' rotated briefly on MTV, yet nothing ever really came good for the band.

This was labelled Alt.Rock by many at the time (whatever the fuck that really is?) but it's heavy rock influenced throughout by the '60s and '70s. 'Hang Straight Up' probably sums up their sound, a seemingly mellow yet edgy Christopher Palmer singing spaced out gibberish over some absolutely blistering guitar work from Jeff Nolan. The whole album sounds like a blissed out trip yet it had such an under current of metal and deviant tendencies that it may just have been too much for a changing grunge-led landscape to appreciate at the time?

Make sense of any of I Love You lyrics and you're a legend in your own right - Virtually every line makes for interesting reading but songs like '2' and 'The Lamb' make abso-fucking-lutely no sense what so ever lyrically yet you'll be amazed at how catchy it all is. 'Jamf' is so down in mood for most of the song that you think they'll commit suicide halfway through yet they rescue their selves with a key change and upbeat ending that hints at The Doors and Jim Morrison at his drunk rambling best. 'Love Is', the third track on this 11 track disc, is another slice of Doors-esque ramblings whilst 'She's The One/I.N.S.E.T.' is Alice In Chains at their melodic Sabbath styling best. 'Jesus' is a great track, sounding like two tracks stuck together with the first half being a mellow, slow ditty that gradually builds before slowing down again and then all of a sudden it transpires Jeff Nolan must be getting bored and looks to Mr Palmer on vocals who gives the band the nod to take it away (that's how it happened in my head!) and giving it a Spin Doctors vibe (I Love You piss on The Spin Doctors without a doubt). 'Fuzz The Whirl' is another track that just makes you sit back and say "What the fuck is that all about?" yet at the same time it'll have you nodding in agreement that these dudes knew exactly what they were doing and what they're talking about (someone had to understand it!).

They recorded one more album, '94's 'All Of Us '(which is a softer, less metal sounding album) before splitting in '95.

There's little on the web these days about this great band but their MySpace page has pretty much all you'll need to get you started, coincidentally stating - If the Doors were a metal band, they'd be I Love You, which I'm not going to argue with.

Random facts that you don't need;

Jeff Nolan played guitar on Screaming Trees track Dime Western' from their 'Dust' album and also Scott Weiland's solo album. Actress Christina Applegate was such a fan she got their song 'Insurrection' played in the background of her hit TV programme, Married With Children.

I Love You. I really do. Maybe you should too?

www.myspace.com/theiloveyouband