247-SPYZ HMS4L:THE MANY LIVES OF WALTER RATTAMUS TFS Release Date:3/15/2006 STUDIO:GUMBO RECORDINGS FORMAT: Color, Dolby, Live, Ntsc Run Time: 120 minutes SOUND: DOLBY Stereo STARRING: 247-SPYZ DIRECTOR: n/a RATED: NR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:USA DISC: 1 CONDITION:NEW STOCKSTATUS:INSTOCK !

24-7 SPYS: HMS4L!: The Many Lives of Walter Rattamus) Jimi Hazel/Rick Skatore Produced by Black Angus Filmworks 2004. The HMS4L! DVD is a documentary combing live club appearances and various interviews that have occurred through out the span of the “heavy metal soul” band 24-7 Spyz. Since its initial breakthrough in ’89, the band has had various lineup changes, but at the core it’s been guitarist Jimi Hazel and bassist Rick Skatore: co-founders and survivors and the authors of this documentary. The acronym means “Heavy Metal Soul for Life!” The term “heavy metal soul” was probably coined in the heyday of the Black Rock Coalition. The terminology makes race less of an issue, as far as black heavy metal rock bands go, and more of a musical statement. In the world of the Spyz it’s means a more melodic kind of rock with vocals that were sung, not screeched, with a jazzier approach from the instrumentalists. Even that genesis was a journey through the lives of Walter Rattamus (Walter is the skull vampire in the band’s logo that symbolizes eternal life and is “the mascot for Black hardcore rockers”). The chapters of the DVD’s main feature are broken up by different lineup changes and each segment has live club footage. Shot over a period of 20 years and compiled for this documentary. Most times, the stage is shot with a single camera and the audio tracking has frequent dropouts or muddy phases. Still, fans of the band and the genre as well, will be delighted at the depth of this overview.

The initial “Kindu Phibes period”, from 1986, features Hazel and Skatore with co-founders Peter Fluid on guitar and vocals and Kindu Phibes on drums. The band is a bit thrashy and punkish with tunes more in the rap-metal arena. Songs included are “Hold My Daddy”, “We Got a Date” and “Kindu’s Knowledge”. This lineup lasted until 1989, when Anthony Johnson replaced Phibes on drums. This lineup is seen performing “Jimiz Jamm”, “Spyz Dope”, “I Must Go On” “Grandma Dynamite”, and a freaked-out cover of Kool & the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” preceded by band members having rowdy fun making wild ape noises. By ’91, both drummer Johnson and lead vocalist Fluid were replaced by Joel Maitoza and Jeff Brodnax, respectively. Interspersed between the club performances are interviews with the band clowning around Electric Ladyland Studios. Skatore shows off his boxers and MC Hammer dance steps and Hazel gives a tour of his guitar rack and pedal board. Also shown is the “Old Guys Going Ice Swimming” Budweiser commercial which featured the band in a cameo. After a hiatus due to label politics in ’93, the band reformed with Fluid and Johnson in ’94. Hazel calls it a reunion of the original members, but seems to have forgotten Kindu Phibes was the original drummer (more later). The band broke up until ’97, but only formed as a trio. Hazel took the lead on vocals and Matt Martin was added on drums. Skatore and Hazel forswore a bond of unity to be together, but a new drummer, Tony Lewis was added in 2002.

Reviewed For TheFunkStore.com..By/Noted P-Funk Scholar&Los Angeles CA. Writer~Clyde"PFunkJazz"Talley **EDITORS NOTE:THE ACTUAL AUDIO & VIDEO QUALITY OF THIS DVD IS SUPERB,THE SAMPLES ARE **NOT** REFLECTIVE OF ACTUAL QUALITY ...

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