Beyond The Beat Jared Linnen

Def Leppard is known for spending years to record their albums. So when it came to recording guitars for their masterful "Hysteria" record in 1987, the guitar tracks were no different. Phil Collen and Steve Clarke's approach to a more 'MELODIC' guitar sound was unique for rock in the 80's, but was a main factor is "Hysteria" becoming one of the best selling rock albums of all time.

In the late 80's, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on the search for a new drummer for the 4th time in their young history. During the audition process, you'd think they'd gravitate towards someone more like-minded in their high energy, punk-funk, wacky style. Yet, it was a guy that initially appeared to be the antithesis of everything they stood for, who blew them away with his chops and how he fit in with Flea on bass and John Frusciante on guitar.

In 2008, Slipknot was known as one of the heaviest bands on earth. But with heartbreak all frontman Corey Taylor could think about after a gruelling break up, they decided to stay true to themselves and not limit their sound to just "heavy and scary". The risk led to one of Slipknot's biggest hits and most enduring to this day.

By 2001, Blink 182 was know as the 3 goofy naked dudes from the "What's My Age Again" video. But it was then where Blink's songwriting went to the next level and they started writing about topics more authentic to their background. "Stay Together For The Kids" was singer Tom Delonge's lash out against a broken childhood. And evidently, it connected with a generation of kids who now felt like they weren't alone in that struggle.

It's hard to believe, but releasing an album that went top 5 in the Billboard charts didn't make Def Leppard any money. Hell, it didn't even pay off the recording debt to their record label. So about a year after releasing what normally would be a "smash hit" album in Hysteria, the British five-some were happy to hear the rumblings of one song in particular being requested in America. It wasn't one of their 3 previous singles released, it was a mid-tempo party song that was being "danced" to in Florida. This is the story of how those "dancers" would help that song become one of the 80's most defining hair-metal anthems.

As a Beatles fan, Kurt Cobain wanted to steer Nirvana's songwriting in a new direction ahead of their album Nevermind. Yet, he knew he couldn't completely move away from the big, brash, heavy guitars. That beautiful contradiction led to the Gen-X anthem, Smells Like Teen Spirit.