Anvil

After years of mediocre tours and a middling career, heavy metal act Anvil caught the limelight after the release of the 2008 documentary, Anvil! The Story Of Anvil. Ironically enough, the surprise hit documentary chronicling Anvil’s decades-long history of obscurity relaunched the band’s career. The band, led by perpetually optimistic dreamer/frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow, now headlines packed houses and opens for acts like AC/DC. Although the fairly straightforward metal group—with 2011’s Juggernaut Of Justice—is still chasing that rock ’n’ roll fantasy, these days that seems to be a bit less elusive.

Updated 01/17/2012