There might be some unintentional similarities between artists from different genres. However, the similarities between Johnny Cash and Volbeat was very much intentional. From particular songs to their overall sound, Volbeat has made it clear that they were inspired by the rockabilly icon.
Early Influences
Being influenced by names like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley helped the band shaped their sound today. But they have some more influences. “Some of my earliest musical influences definitely have to be Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Little Richard, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Maiden… a little bit later on came Social Distortion and some others. And King Diamond and Mercyful Fate,” frontman Michael Poulsen once said.
‘Last Day Under The Sun’
Volbeat’s lyrics frequently explore themes of rebellion, redemption, and personal struggles, mirroring the storytelling tradition of Johnny Cash. ‘Last Day Under the Sun’ was inspired by Cash’s life, particularly his struggles with addiction and his journey toward redemption.
Poulsen was influenced by reading Cash’s autobiography while writing the track. “When I read his [autobiography], he went through tough times with alcohol and drugs,” he said. “He walked into a cave to lay down to die. But he wakes up and feels like he has been given a second chance.”
‘Sad Man’s Tongue’
Poulsen wrote ‘Sad Man’s Tongue’ about a drifter, a lonely guy who travels the world and lives by his own rules as a free sould without any weapons. The song was also heavily inspired by Cash and was a tribute to him. “Yeah, I was listening to the Folsom Prison Blues song and I was just getting into the mood. I said, I’m gonna sit down and write a song that’s halfway Johnny Cash and halfway Volbeat.”
“Somehow I didn’t want to do a full cover song. I was asking myself, ‘Hey, Michael, if you were supposed to write that kind of song, how would you do it?’ So, I borrowed a little bit from Mr. Cash and then turned it into my own stuff. And of course that’s also a tribute to Johnny Cash. That’s just being in the moment and getting something out of it.”
Volbeat ‘Blends Everything’
While the band has openly been influenced by Cash and Elvis Presley, in reality, they try to blend everything, and when no one knew the band, people would call them the metal version of Cash. “We play rock music and we blend everything,” guitarist Thomas Bredahl told Noisecreep. “Back when no one knew the band, journalists were writing about our demo and they’d say it’s metal meets Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley. It’s got those ’50s-era melodies, metallic kick drums, distorted guitars and riffs and it’s old fashioned.”
Though it’s possible to see the influence in the band’s music, Volbeat’s ability to blend classic rock and roll with the intensity of metal creates a unique sound that honors their musical influences.
