Called 'Radon' in Japan, Rodan is one of the big four Toho Studios kaiju. The several-hundred foot tall flying giant monster, a cross between a pteranodon and an archaeopteryx, can topple buildings with only the shockwaves from flying overhead. In the original movie, there were two Rodans, and when one died in a volcano the other suicided in mourning for its mate. Since then, a single Rodan has often teamed up with Godzilla, King of the Monsters, usually as air support.

Rodan is also the name of an incredible band from Louisville, Kentucky (who took their name from the Japanese monster), the home of Slint among other greats. Rodan broke up (or rather, went supernova) in 1994, having released only one album... but oh, what an album. "Rusty" changed the way I though of music, changed what I thought music was capable of, rearranged everything. Intense screaming rock-outs merging seamlessly with soft refrains, intricately interwoven guitar lines, owerwhelming emotion, desperation, screaming at the sun. After breaking up the ex-members channeled their genius into other musical projects such as June of 44, Sonora Pine, Retsin, Rachel's and Shipping News, all very much worth checking out. See http://www.southern.com/southern/shop/ for some home pages.