Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Christopher Lee: Metal Rocker and total badass

Christopher Lee is perhaps best known for his role as Saruman in The Lord Of The Rings films; lesser film viewers will remember him in the craptacular Star Wars episodes 2 and 3.  He has had a long and productive acting career spanning a range from Wizard and Jedi to Dracula.

But his life is nothing short of astonishing.  He witnessed the last execution via guillotine in France.  He fought in the Winter War in Finland in 1939.  He was in the SAS in North Africa during the War.  He was cousin to Ian Flemming, who tried (and failed) to get him cast as Dr. No (he had to wait until Man With The Golden Gun to play a Bond villain).

But this post is about his musical career which is nothing short of amazing.  He had classical voice lessons to develop a basso profondo operatic capability.  He's continued his recording career, most recently with the Symphonic Metal band Rhapsody Of Fire. 



At 90 years of age, he (and they) have a new Metal album out, Charlemagne: The Omens Of Death. I think that this makes him the oldest Metal recording artist.  As a matter of fact when the first Metal artists were still in diapers he was kicking Nazi ass in the SAS.  The only thing that would make him more badass was if he built motorcycles or something.

And just to show that he refused to get type cast in his music (as he did somewhat in his film career), here he's getting his redneck on with Ghost Riders In The Sky.  Dude - this version's sung by Dracula!


7 comments:

Bob said...

Good singing by Sir Christopher. I always liked how he expressed his friendship for fellow actor Peter Cushing, who he acted with time and again:

In an interview included on the DVD release of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Lee said of his friend's death: "I don't want to sound gloomy, but, at some point of your lives, every one of you will notice that you have in your life one person, one friend whom you love and care for very much. That person is so close to you that you are able to share some things only with him. For example, you can call that friend, and from the very first maniacal laugh or some other joke you will know who is at the other end of that line. We used to do that with him so often. And then when that person is gone, there will be nothing like that in your life ever again."

Chickenmom said...

Great post on a great actor and singer. True talent has no age limit.

Phil said...

I have always admired Mr. Lee but this new aspect just put him over the top.
Fabulous voice, even on the screen his voice is unmistakable.

Ninety years old, The man is just amazing.

Ruth said...

Well how cool is that. I've always thought he had ONE OF THOSE voices that would be awesome to listen to if he'd ever learned to sing....

dehakal said...

First heard is singing on the album "King of Elfland's Daughter" released in 1977, he does the King of Elfland and the narration.

Randallsix13 said...

Like a boss. Ladies and gentlemen, we have found the REAL Most Interesting Man In The World.

Anonymous said...

I always thought him good in a creepy way!
What a terrific career!
Thanks for the added info.

gfa