Indies Hall of Fame strikes a blow for Anvil

Anvil, the Canadian heavy metal band that has survived three decades in some of rock's hardest places, is about to be given its time in the spotlight.

The group that sailed back from obscurity with the documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil will be inducted into the Indies Hall of Fame in March 2009.

Anvil had its roots in Toronto in the 1970s and its greatest successes were the classics Metal on Metal and Forged in Fire in 1982 and 1983.

Vocalist and guitarist Steve (Lips) Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner first started making music together in 1973.

In 1978, Dave Allison, on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Ian Dickson, on bass, joined them. The group changed its name to Anvil in 1981.

In the mid-80s, the group toured with Motorhead in the U.K. and at the Super Rock festival series a massive Japanese festival circuit with the Michael Schenker Group, Scorpions, Whitesnake and Bon Jovi.

Anvil, with Reiner and Kudlow asanchors,have continued to tour and record: their most recent album, This is Thirteen, came out in 2007.

But the group really returned to the public consciousnesswith the Sacha Gervasi documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil, which chronicles years of struggle and the tenacity of the quest for stardom.

The film debuted at the Sundance Festival in January 2008 and made its Canadian premiere as the opening night gala at Hot Docs.

The induction ceremony for the band will take place March 14 at the Annual Independent Music Awards in Toronto.