When He Said began researching the music that came out the year we were born, 1983, we were taken aback by how much of this music has warped, shaped and informed our life. Pretty much all of the albums and bands that were prevalent that year are still on our turntables and playlists. Why just this morning in the shower, we were rocking the first Metallica album while using just this darling facial cleanser we got from Avon. You wouldn't believe how well it invigorates your pores.

Anyway, the year we were born, most people would say the music world was steeped in Michael Jackson, New Edition and the Police. It's funny how popular culture chooses to gloss over the real metal and hardcore potatoes that existed in the '80s. Gaudy Nagel prints on T-shirts and neon headbands sell way better at the mall than leather gauntlets and jean vests, we suppose.

When you ask most younger people to rattle of the music that defined the decade they giggle and name about seven one-hit wonders who are now mixing paint at a Sherwin-Williams in Tallahassee, and a couple of fallen heavy hitters who are either dead or Madonna.

The metal and punk rock released the year He Said was born compliments his lifestyle and personality almost with pinpoint accuracy, not even counting the Depeche Mode and New Order albums that were also out in stores. We could chronicle those as well, but we like working on themes, and "Age of Consent" and "Everything Counts" don't exactly jive well with this rogue's gallery of tattooed scumbags and leather-clad sickos. Sorry Martin Gore, that wasn't a dig at you.

Motorhead, "Another Perfect Day"

Luckily some Motorhead came out in 1983, or else we would have had to have lied about our age in order get still more Lemmy on Rocks Off.

Accept, "Balls To The Wall"

This song pretty much sums up the past 26 years of our existence on Earth. Plus, there's something about having a hobbit as a lead singer that made anything that Accept put out all the more endearing. When he sang about being beaten down, you could imagine him pulling from years of having to get pants hemmed and being scared of tall chicks at bars.

ZZ Top, "Got Me Under Pressure"

This song not only has the sweetest drum beat ever from Frank Beard, but also has dirty girls, bondage, cocaine and museums. All four things we can blame for most of the troubles in our life. Seriously, don't do coke at a museum.

Metallica "Seek And Destroy"

Growing up playing baseball, we always wanted to have a really cool entrance song when we would come up to bat. We used to sit and imagine coming to the plate at the Astrodome with the bases loaded to the strains of either this song or "For Whom The Bell Tolls."

Quiet Riot, "Metal Health"

When we were little our parents owned this album, and the cover scared us shitless for some reason. We didn't play it until we were home alone one afternoon. It cured our crazy, our mad, and was all that we needed.

Motley Crue, "Looks That Kill"

A few years back we read the Crue autobiography The Dirt and it changed our lives and humbled us. The day we were born these guys were probably snorting heroin off a toilet seat at a truck stop, and for some reason that makes us feel warm inside.

Black Flag, "Thirsty And Miserable"

Yes, we know that the Flag didn't record this song in 1983 because it came off 1981's Damaged album. You have to admit this is a pretty bitchin' version, though.

Minor Threat "Out Of Step"

Our tastes generally flow more towards Ian MacKaye's Fugazi, but we don't mind a little straight-edge aggression now and then.

Social Distortion ""The Creeps (I Just Wanna Give You)"

It's amazing how clean Mike Ness used to look as a young punk, before he jumped into a vat of tattoo ink. Yeah, you can pretty much partially blame Ness for all the tats we have now.

Misfits "Devilock"

Late-period Misfits output is always fun because you can just hear and see Glenn Danzig itching to break free and be the Evil Elvis he was born to be.