Heavy Metal Textbooks

 DOUG PINNICK SAMPLER

I've been a King's X fan since year one (1988).  MTV introduced me to them back when that was a station that played rock music videos.  I own every album, and have seen them live.  And the charismatic frontman of that band is Doug Pinnick, whose 12-string bass playing and forceful, dominating vocals are equally distinctive.  Doug and King's X have contributed something unique to the story of hard rock, and very much deserve to be rich and famous.  

Doug has done some solo work, and has also teamed up with some famous musicians, including this unpublished recording with Dimebag:

Here's a tune from an album with original Trouble guitarist Bruce Franklin.  Trouble's original drummer Jeff Olson also appeared on two tracks, with Jerry Gaskill on the rest.  Here's one of my favorites from the album:

Here's a song from the first of two albums Doug recorded with drummer Thomas Pridgen and guitar player/singer Eric Gales.  Eric's voice is really similar to Doug's, although perhaps not quite as powerful.  His guitar playing is epic here, and this is a tune that will creep up on you: 

And here's an underdog King's X pick, from 30 years ago.  Both seething and melodic, this is clearly a song written by a band that understood what sounds good live.

If you're intrigued about what else Doug has recorded, there is more than thirty years worth of material out there to explore.  Just two years ago, Doug recorded a tune with Zakk Wylde and Ice-T.  

Probably gonna put together a King's X playlist, with one tune from each album.

Hold your breath.

Wait, stop.