The Met March 12, 1997 sound check pg. 29 Jay Webb The hair-band hits of the '80s are back, and their return is intended to help those suffering from cancer. Dallas' Steve Records is assembling a double-CD of North Texas bands doing covers of heavy-metal classics, all in an attempt to benefit the American Cancer Society. The CD is appropriately titled Come On Feel the Metal. Hagfish bassist Doni Blair came up with the idea last November during a conversation with Rod Skelton of REO Speedealer. When Skelton mentioned that his band was recording Accept's "Balls to the Wall," imaginations went wild, and the idea eventually became a double-disc. "I've always wanted to do something for cancer," says Doni, whose father died from the disease six years ago. "My brother [and Hagfish guitarist] Zach and I wished back then there was a fund so he could've gotten more surgery to save his life. So hopefully some kid won't have to go through what we did." Sherri Gesin, director of distribution at Crystal Clear Sound, says three local studios have donated recording time for the project, which garnered national attention with the inclusion of the Toadies, Cottonmouth, Tripping Daisy, and Deep Blue Something. Nearly 40 bands have signed on, and about 10 more are on a waiting list. Some expected highlights include Buck Jones covering Kiss' "I Stole Your Love," and Cowboys and Indians doing Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever," the Soup playing Warrant's "Cherry Pie," and Little Jack Melody turning in a polka version of Slade's "Cum On Feel the Noize." "The bands either knew exactly what song they were going to do," Gesin says, "or they had to go home and look through their vinyl for three weeks." Come On Feel the Metal is scheduled for release on April 29.