I’m not much of a metalhead, but I love this song. It reminds me of a good friend from college who opened my perspective both socially and musically.
Penny was the daughter of working class parents, much like myself. While my background was suburbian working class New Jersey, she was a product of the farming and steel communities of Western Pennsylvania. She was a tough chick. Her dad was a founding member of the Oakland chapter of the Hell’s Angels and Penny rode a motorcycle with ease. I don’t remember exactly how we met, but after the first semester in college, she was a good friend. She was smart, articulate and took no prisoners. But if you needed help, she was quick to volunteer.
Through Penny, I learned how much fun it could be drinking beer in a dive bar with a great juke box on a Saturday night. Or how to make Everclear punch for a party. And how to listen, really listen to people and learn their stories, because everyone has one and everyone’s story is different.
Penny was the first woman I met that really liked her rock music hard. She was a huge fan of AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Motorhead. I remember a party when she put AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap on the turntable. My poor boyfriend came through the door of the dorm room to hear 12 drunken college girls singing “I’VE GOT THE BIGGEST BALLS OF THEM ALL”. He turned around and left immediately. To me that was one of the most liberating moments of my college experience and I owed it to Penny.
“Ace of Spades” is one of the songs that remind me of college and her friendship. Its those grinding guitar licks and Lemmy’s voice that really make this song and its definitely a “car blaster” . So to Penny, the “Flying Nickel” this post is for you. I hope life is treating you well.
skullwoman 