The undisputed heavyweight kings of Canadian metal, Anvil have been pounding the pavement for 30-plus years. But it wasn’t until the release of their 2008 documentary that the Canadian trio got a hug from their homeland.

It’s was 9:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, I think. My interview with Bach had been scheduled for something like six hours before, but when I couldn’t reach through to his line in New Jersey, Bach’s publicist told me to “just keep trying.” I did.

Kim Mitchell has managed to hold on to his retro roots and steadily evolve without the hair plugs, new-age tie-died t-shirts or rocker-fitted Crox shoes. But he has watched the rock world change after decades in the game.