christmas rock

We always try to do classic tune during the holidays. For Holloween we did Monster Mash. But we alway add a twist. Distortion, power chords, silly loud backup vocals. We call it KA CHUNKIN a song. Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, we just jam cool old school tunes like that and everyone loves it.

 

This will get more looks in Misc. Off it goes.

 

I noticed that Brian Setzer has a Christmas album out. It might be worth picking up to learn some tunes. I'd guess it's got some rockin' ones.

brad cook

 

You can always do death metal covers of christmas tunes. A band at my school once did "Santa Claus is Coming to Town...to Kill You"

Many of the 7th graders went home crying.

 

"No presents for christmas" from King Diamond

 

It don't have to be death metal. Just think of Jingle Bells beefed up with distortion and a little faster. "Dashing throught the snow, in a one horse open sleigh"....it's really cool live.

 

This topic might get more hits in "Recordings" because that is where we talk about specific songs and recordings.

That said, some songs easily converted to a rock style (most have been done that way on one CD or another) include:

Little Saint Nick
Happy Christams (War Is Over)
Run Rudolf Run
Jingle Bell Rock
Blue Christmas
Drummer boy
I Saw Momma Kissin' Santa Claus
Rockin' Around the Christams Tree
Rock 'n Roll Christams
Rudolf the Red- nosed reindeer
Here Comes Santa Claus
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Frosty the Snowman
Sleigh Ride
Winter Wonderland

One fun idea would be to do a medley of some of your band's favorites in the list above or others you know and like.

 

Im kind of amazed that no one has said Merry Xmas Everyone by Slade. In all fairness Slade were a big British band, i don't know if they made it big over in the US but it's gotta be the best rock and roll Christmas single of all time.

 

About a million years ago Bing Crosby did a Christmas special in which some 'genius' thought it would be a good idea to spread some appeal to younger audiences by having Bing do a duet with someone more familiar to the young fans.

The producers picked a rock artist whose career was in the toilet at the time, talked him into doing the show, and brought him on...



And it went surprisingly well.



The coolest Christmas cover (if you have two singers with the harmony/counterpoint chops to do it) is Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth by Bing Crosby and David Bowie.