Don Jamieson is a guest contributor to Loudwire. He is the co-host ofThat Metal Show, which recently completed its 14th season on VH1 Classic. You can also catch Jamieson on the stand-up comedy circuit. Keep up with him at hisofficial websiteor hisTwitter page.Please note that Don Jamieson’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Loudwire. Check out his picks for the Top 10 Songs About Angels below:
There are as many versions of angels as there are versions of LA Guns and Great White. There’s Hells Angels, Charlie’s Angels, Desolation Angels, Fallen Angles, Angels in the Outfield and the angels in a centerfold I found while going through my Dad’s sock drawer. But my favorite Angel ever is the band Angel. Frank Dimino, Punky Meadows, Barry Brandt and Felix Robinson were the light to the darkness of KISS while both bands were on Casablanca Records ... and, the only angels with their own groupies.
One of my favorite movie quotes is from Jacob’s Ladder when Danny Aiello says to Tim Robbins, “So if you’re afraid of dying and you’re holding on, you’ll see devils tearing away at your life. But if you’ve made your peace, the devils are really angels freeing you from the Earth.” I don’t know anything about that life and death stuff but those angels in a centerfold took me to Heaven every time.
So grab your guardian angel and let’s check out these 10 celestial classics.
10
"Solar Angels"
Judas PriestAlbum: Point of Entry
Words With Wings: “Glass formations, solar angels spread their wings…”
The mighty Priest opened with this song on their ‘Point of Entry’ tour and my mouth just dropped. I looked at my blond friend Steve Stevenson and said, “Um this is like cool and stuff.” Then he giggled and yelled, “This rules!” Yeah, we were kind of the original Beavis & Butthead.
9
"Angel of Death"
Thin LizzyAlbum: Renegade
Words With Wings: “I foresee a holocaust, an angel of death descending to destroy the human race…”
See AlsoBreaking Benjamin's 'Angels Fall': Embracing Hope Amidst DesolationBreaking Benjamin - Angels Fall Lyrics & Meanings | SongMeaningsThe first of two songs on this list with the same title (you’ll never guess the other band). Nostradamus made this prediction in the 16th century and was dead on. The only thing he couldn’t predict? That Metal Show lasting 14 seasons (he only gave it 1). Dumb Nostradamus.
8
"Angel of Mercy"
Black Label SocietyAlbum: Catacombs of the Black Vatican
Words With Wings: “No angel of mercy to dry the tears that shall not fall…”
Zakk wears his love for God, family and friends on his sleeve (pretend he has sleeves). The Patron Saint of showering, however, gets no Black Label love at all.
7
"Eighteen Angels"
Michael MonroeAlbum: Horns and Halos
Words With Wings: “Coulda been, woulda been, shoulda been dead, eighteen angels circle ‘round your head…”
Michael Monroe is a rock star’s rock star. His band Hanoi Rocks influenced Guns N’ Roses, he can make a saxophone sound heavy and he looks like David Lee Roth’s glammed-out brother from another mother.
6
"Send Me an Angel"
ScorpionsAlbum: Crazy World
Words With Wings: “Here I am, will you send me angel…”
Not only a great rock ballad but what Leonardo DiCaprio says when he calls Victoria’s Secret to send over another supermodel.
5
"She's an Angel"
Love / HateAlbum: Black Out in the Red Room
Words With Wings: “She is a hurricane. They think she’s insane but she’s an angel…”
Life is full of fine lines like Love/Hate, Insane/Angel, BiPolar/Courtney Love.
4
"The Angel Song"
Great WhiteAlbum: …Twice Shy
Words With Wings: “Fly lonely angel, high about these streets of fire…”
This angel may be lonely but it least it doesn’t have to slog through insane, L.A. rush hour traffic.
3
"Angel"
RiotAlbum: Rock City
Words With Wings: “You’re an angel with a broken wing. You’re an angel who was born to, born to sing…”
I dated a gorgeous girl named Angel once. She had me at Halo. Thank you. I’m here all week.
2
"Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil)"
VenomAlbum: Welcome to Hell
Words With Wings: “Live like an angel, die live a devil, got a place in Hell reserved for me…”
If there’s any band that has a VIP section in Hell it’s Venom. Satan, his minions and the dudes from Slayer allowed in only.
1
"Angel of Death"
SlayerAlbum: Reign in Blood
Words With Wings: “Monarch to the kingdom of the dead, infamous butcher Angel of Death…”
I've forgotten some obvious ones on some of these lists but luckily I didn't forget this thrash masterpiece. Worse than being banished from the Slayer pre-show Jäger shot would be every Slayer fan coming up to me and saying, "Guess which Angel tune you forgot?" And then proceed to do the Tom Araya scream from the song directly into my ear.
What Songs About Angels Did We Miss?
So there you have it…some of hard rock and metal’s best songs about the spirits. And if you’d like to give these tracks another set of wings you can hear them on my Spotify playlist.
Which “angelic anthems” did we miss? Let us know in the Comments section below.
