The Rods are an American heavy metal band formed in 1980 by David "Rock" Fe… Read Full Bio ↴The Rods are an American heavy metal band formed in 1980 by David "Rock" Feinstein (guitar, vocals), Steven Starmer (bass, vocals), and Carl Canedy (drums, vocals). After the first album Starmer was replaced by Garry Bordonaro. Feinstein had first come to mainstream attention after playing in Elf with his cousin Ronnie James Dio. The Rods' sound differed considerably from Elf, adopting a more traditional heavy metal sound compared with the blues rock sound that Elf preferred. Their first album was originally released independently as Rock Hard in 1980 and the following year the band was signed by Arista Records, who reordered the album tracks and released it simply titled The Rods. Their second album Wild Dogs followed in 1982 and was re-released in 2004.

The Rods' third album, released 1983, was entitled In the Raw. In 1984 Canedy and Bordonaro played on Jack Starr's album Out of the Darkness with Rhett Forrester of Riot and Gary Driscoll of Rainbow. Then in 1984 the Rods released their fourth studio album Let Them Eat Metal and recorded the album The Rods Live. Their album Heavier Than Thou was originally released in 1986. An album was also released the same year, entitled Hollywood under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle (all of the band members). Rick Caudle handled lead vocals on that album, with Feinstein only playing guitar. Following poor sales of their final two albums the group split up.

Canedy is also a producer of heavy metal bands, and his credits include Anthrax's Armed and Dangerous and Spreading the Disease, Exciter's Violence & Force, Overkill's Feel the Fire, Possessed's Beyond the Gates and Roxx Gang's Love 'Em and Leave 'Em.

In 2008 the Rods announced that they were reuniting with the line-up of Feinstein, Bordonaro and Canedy, and in August 2008 they played at the Metal Rock Fest in Lillehammer, Norway. The album Vengeance was released in 2011 to positive reviews, and The Brotherhood of Metal was released in 2019.

Discography
Rock Hard (1980), reissued as The Rods (1981)
Full Throttle (EP) (1981)
Wild Dogs (1982)
In the Raw (1983)
The Rods Live (1983)
Let Them Eat Metal (1984)
Hollywood (1986) – released under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle
Heavier Than Thou (1986)
Vengeance (2011)
Brotherhood of Metal (2019)
Rattle The Cage (2024)

Born To Rock
The Rods Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you think I'm crazy
By the look that's in my eyes
When it comes to the metal man
You'll know I'll do or die

No more changes, no more compromise
No more people fooling you and I

If you think I'm caught up
In a race then you'll agree
Heavy metal thunder
Is what's inside of me

All the time my pedal’s to the floor
Finding ways to even up the score

I was born to rock
I was born to rock
I was born to rock
I was born to rock

Pounding rhythms deep inside
Flying through my brain
Screaming for the one escape
It's driving me insane

No more changes, no more compromise
No more people fooling you and I

I was born to rock, born, born, born to rock
I was born to rock, born, born to rock
I was born to rock, yeah, born, born to rock
I was born to rock, born to rock
I was born to rock, born to rock

I was born to rock, yeah
Born to rock

Overall Meaning

The Rods's song "Born To Rock" is a passionate ode to heavy metal music and the unbridled dedication of its fans. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and commitment, as if the singer is imploring the listener to embrace their inner metalhead and not look back. The opening verse sets the tone with its bold declaration: "If you think I'm crazy / By the look that's in my eyes / When it comes to the metal man / You'll know I'll do or die." The singer is not afraid to be labeled as "crazy" or "obsessed" by those who do not understand the allure of heavy metal. He knows that his love for the genre is unshakeable and he will stand by it no matter what.

The chorus repeats the phrase "I was born to rock" several times, underscoring the idea that this is not just a passing phase or a hobby, but a core part of his identity. The heavy drum rhythms and guitar riffs contribute to the song's anthemic quality, reinforcing the message that metal music is not just a sound, but a way of life. The second verse adds more detail to the singer's experience, describing the adrenaline rush and sense of empowerment that comes from listening to heavy metal. It ends with a vow to never compromise or be fooled by anyone who would try to dissuade him from his passion.

Line by Line Meaning

If you think I'm crazy
If you believe I'm irrational

By the look that's in my eyes
Judging by the expression on my face

When it comes to the metal man
Regarding the topic of heavy metal music

You'll know I'll do or die
I am committed to the cause and won't give up easily

No more changes, no more compromise
I refuse to alter my beliefs or make concessions

No more people fooling you and I
I won't allow others to deceive us anymore

If you think I'm caught up
If you believe I am overly involved

In a race then you'll agree
That I'm fiercely competitive

Heavy metal thunder
The powerful and intense sound of heavy metal music

Is what's inside of me
It's a major part of my being

All the time my pedal’s to the floor
I'm always pushing myself as hard as I can