Front Row Pics: Icons of Rock ‘n’ Roll @ Heavy Montreal

Iggy Pop

There’s no arguing that the word “icon” is pretty objective ~ to each his own, beauty, it’s in the eye of the beholder, etc….kind of like how it’s a little hard for me personally to agree with the reality of some of the world’s legitimately great talents, the breakers of barriers, the trailblazers, the fearless creative spirits who initiated positive change through entertainment  having to share Hollywood’s Walk of Fame with a certain head-shaving pop princess who too was somehow deemed a profound enough talent to merit a star in front of Mann’s Chinese Theatre, yet she is worshiped and considered an uber-icon by waaaay too many people, and not just those who have yet to enter junior high.

Lita Ford

Anyway, before I digress too far ~ Of the many, many bands who took to the four stages at Heavy Montreal this year, there were a number who are legends in the eyes of their fans, whether that status is a relatively new or longstanding one, whether because of their music, their behavior, what have you.

Mention some of the names who anchored this year’s Heavy Montreal festival, though, and suddenly the number of people worldwide who would argue that they’re anything but major icons decreases sharply ~ they earned the title, it’s theirs in the annals of music, and that’s that…

Marky Ramone f/ Andrew W.K.

So here is a glimpse of four of those name who have more than stood the test of time proving in front of legions of welcoming fans (ourselves included ~ it was an honor to cover each and every one) from across several generations that once an icon, always an icon.

 Iggy Pop

Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg (feat. Andrew W.K.)

Lita Ford

Testament

Iggy Pop
Marky Ramone
Andrew W.K.
Lita Ford
Testament

(Editor’s note:  Just a little side comment for those of you who are familiar with my…special…sense of humor ~ it took every ounce of self-control I could muster not to change the title of this piece to “Icons Through Our Nikons.”)