# Classical & Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Music- together **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595 "2002-09-01T19:48:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/1 "2002-09-01T19:48:19Z")
Can anyone tell me if there has been a merge of Classical Music & Heavy Metal/Hard Rock have come together, played and recorded a CD. I know of two: Metallica and San Francisco Symphony - S&M CD, which I have. and The Scorpions and Berlin Orchestra/Symphony - I don’t know the title, but I’m interested on how this sounds, I limke the Scorps. I always thought the Classical and Heavy Metal/Hard Rock would sound good together. Any more. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/2 "2002-09-01T20:06:34Z")
I wouldn’t call it “Heavy Metal” but there was a symphonic Pink Floyd album I saw once… Never heard it though… quick amazon search yields… [Us and Them](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000040UZ/qid%3D1030910380/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-5696644-4291852) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/3 "2002-09-01T20:40:58Z")
The album _Dead Winter Dead_ by **Savatage** has a lot of classical interludes, and metal/orchestra songs. When looking at the music structure of (mainly prog) rock, there are a lot of similarities with classical music. It’s no wonder the two mix well. Listen to Beethoven: he was the metal composer of his time. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/4 "2002-09-01T21:28:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*When looking at the music structure of (mainly prog) rock, there are a lot of similarities with classical music. It’s no wonder the two mix well. Listen to Beethoven: he was the metal composer of his time. \*\* Definitely. Prog metal is alive and well, if a little hard to find. The only two bands that I know of that I would put in that genre are **Tool** and **The Dillinger Escape Plan**. Although they both use typical instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums, and vocals), they have very complex song structures. There’s a symphonic album of Led Zeppelin songs as well. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/5 "2002-09-01T23:12:02Z")
Well, well, last I heard bands like **Rush** and **Dream Theater** were still rocking hard, and they’re definitely “prog” in my book. Of course, **Tool** is awesome. Gotta check out those Dillinger guys, I suppose! ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/6 "2002-09-01T23:13:47Z")
You obviously need to check out [**Apocalyptica**](http://www.apocalyptica.com/). These guys cover Metallica, Pantera, Sepultura, and some others with some seriously plugged-in _cellos_. I think you’ll really enjoy it. Plenty of full-song samples on their website. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/7 "2002-09-01T23:22:49Z")
Ah, good suggestion! Their Metallica covers are just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/8 "2002-09-02T01:14:58Z")
What about G’N’R’s “November Rain”? Didn’t they use an orchestra in that? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/9 "2002-09-02T01:20:06Z")
Well, yeah, but if we’re gonna count _every_ Michael Camen orchestration, we’re gonna be here all night! 🙂 I can name Mchael Camen participations in GNR songs, Queensryche songs, Rush songs, Bryan Adams songs… ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/10 "2002-09-02T02:10:56Z")
Another one is Deep Purple and the London Philharmonic’s _Concerto for Group & Orchestra_ (rather you than me) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/11 "2002-09-02T04:59:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Of course, **Tool** is awesome. Gotta check out those Dillinger guys, I suppose! \*\* Definitely. I only have their self-titled EP, but it’s totally awesome, even if it does take a while to get into. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/12 "2002-09-02T14:17:02Z")
Did Robert Plant & Jimmy Page do some Led Zep music with an orchestra? ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/13 "2002-09-02T14:23:54Z")
I wonder how AC/DC would sound played with an Orchestra or Symphony. Always thought Metallica would sound good with their music done with the Symphony, I have heard a couple of Scorpions with a orchestra on “Rock You Like A Hurricane” and “Wind Of Change”, that was really good. I’ve heard “November Rain”, by GnR. But, I’m talking about a whole catalog of music by a band done with a Symphony, or Orchestra. I do like Tool, need to check more on them. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/14 "2002-09-02T14:49:36Z")
At one stage, there were rumours of a full album of classical verions of Rush songs, but I haven’t heard anything about it in a year or two. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/15 "2002-09-02T16:49:21Z")
The merge makes perfect sense, since classical guitar was a major component of metal guitar. Take a close listen to some of the stuff that was big in the early 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Crude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Crude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Crude)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/16 "2002-09-02T19:08:42Z")
Two words. Yngwie Malmsteen. Seek him out, and your question will be answered. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/17 "2002-09-02T19:33:39Z")
In the album **Classic Case** , the London Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Jethro Tull. Since Tull won a Grammy for best heavy metal artist, this fits. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/18 "2002-09-02T20:26:02Z")
One I haven’t heard in years: [Mass in F Minor](http://members.tripod.com/~shadwell/mass.html) by [The Electric Prunes](http://www.electricprunes.com/). I thought it was great back in 1970 or so, but YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/19 "2002-09-02T20:31:54Z")
RealityChuck - I was working for a radio station when _A Classic Case_ came out. We had it labled as “Freight Elevator Music”. ---
**Author:** ![Sacrilegium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2002, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595/20 "2002-09-03T10:42:31Z")
Check out: Therion: “Theli” Sobre Nocturne: “Serpentine Dreamweaver” Devil Doll: any, especially “The Sacrilege Of Fatal Arms” I **highly** recommend that you go to [www.darksymphonies.com](http://www.darksymphonies.com) and sign up for their mailing list. They sell a lot of symphonic and eclectic metal music. Their catalog updates describe most of the releases in good detail and I’m sure you’d find something that interests you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-heavy-metal-hard-rock-music-together/126595.md?page=2)