Eric Martin is best known as the frontman of the hard rock band Mr. Big. In 1988, Eric teamed up with Billy Sheehan, Pat Torpey, and Paul Gilbert to form the Los Angeles supergroup. The band combined "shredding" musicianship with melodic vocal harmonies. The reputations of the players generated immediate interest from music fans and fellow musicians. The band was signed to Atlantic Records in 1989.
Mr. Big enjoyed enormous success with the release of 9 studio albums, numerous hit singles, and top-selling live albums.
1991’s Lean into It, featured two ballads that established them as a commercial success: "To Be with You" a #1 song in 15 countries, and "Just Take My Heart.”
During Eric's 40+ years in the music business, he has toured with Mr. Big, Avantasia, The Eric Martin Band, Tak Matsumoto Group (TMG) and countless acoustic and rock shows all over the world.
Stevie is the lead singer of Tuff where he replaced Jim Gillette on vocals in 1987. They debuted with Rachelle in August 1987 as a support group for Warrant at the Roxy . Tuff would release ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ in 1991 as well as ‘Religious Fix’ in 1995 as well as appear on several compilations over the years. ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’ was recently released as a remix on RLS Records.
Wayne’s World 2 (1993), The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988), and The Stöned Age (1994) are some of his acting credits. Rachelle is also the founder of the metalsludge.tv site, dedicated to the hair metal scene of the eighties, and is also the producer and owner of the independent record label RLS Records (Record Labels Suck).
Solo, Rachelle has done 3 albums, and performed tracks on several "tribute" albums. He has also appeared on eight albums for the glam rock band Shameless.
Jason McMaster is a vocalist, bassist, songwriter, producer, artist, rock and metal enthusiast, and an ordained, non-denomination minister known by friends and fans as “Pastor McMaster from the Church of Disaster.”
Always busy with a multitude of projects, he is best known for fronting progressive metal pioneers Watchtower, as well as nasty Texas rockers Dangerous Toys and kick-in-the-face riff raffers, Broken Teeth. McMaster has two gold-record sales awards with Dangerous Toys; has been inducted into the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame three times for achievements and lifetime contributions to the music community as a member of Watchtower, Dangerous Toys and solo performer; and has a star on the South Texas Music Walk of Fame in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. For news, discography, photos, merch and more, visit jasonmcmaster.net
Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda was born in New York City. Since 1975, he is famous for being the lead guitarist in the American heavy metal band Twisted Sister, as well as for his performances as a solo artist.
Eddie Ojeda majored in music at Bronx Community College and studied guitar privately under the renowned guitarist, Alberto Valdez Blain, a prodigy trained by Andres Segovia. Eddie’s musical contributions to Rock ‘N Roll are chronicled in the book, “Who’s Who in Rock ‘N Roll.” Eddie has performed with many outstanding groups in more than 9000 live shows throughout the world. He has opened for bands like Iron Maiden, Dio, ZZ Top, Whitesnake, and Motorhead.
In 2006, Eddie released his first solo album “Axes 2 Axes.” That same year, he was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame along with Billy Joel, Joan Jett, and other well-known artists.
Eddie also produced Curbside Hustle’s first album that features his daughter Michelle Ojeda.
Twisted Sister has eleven albums featuring Eddie Ojeda as lead guitarist. These albums combined have earned 25 gold and platinum records. Twisted Sister has performed live on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, The Craig Ferguson Show, "Late Night" with Jimmy Fallon, and had a featured role in the movie “Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure.”
From that first Steeler album to recent releases like “Keeled” and “Fight Like A Band,” Ron Keel’s career in entertainment has taken him from the concrete jungles of arena rock to the dirt roads of country music. Along the way, he has sold millions of albums and toured the world as both a heavy metal screamer (KEEL, Steeler, and a brief encounter with Black Sabbath) and a southern rock/outlaw country artist (with dozens of songs in major films and TV shows). For the past two decades, the Metal Cowboy has combined both genres, establishing a style and a persona which captures the heart and personality of this rock n’ roll outlaw.
Keel’s legendary major label debut album THE RIGHT TO ROCK was produced by KISS’ Gene Simmons – they went on to notch three albums on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as MTV and radio hits “The Right To Rock,” “Because The Night,” “Tears Of Fire,” “Somebody’s Waiting,” and “Rock N Roll Outlaw.”
Opening shows for Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Dio, Y&T, Queensryche, and many more established a hard work ethic that remains strong today; recent tour dates have included the Monsters Of Rock Cruise (Belize/Cozumel), Ron’s first-ever tour of Australia, the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy, the KISS & Rock N Roll Expo in Helsinki, Finland, casinos, fairs, and festivals stateside, KEELFEST (featuring Keel, Ron Keel Band, and Steeler) plus major bike events like the Sturgis Rally and Hot Harley Nights.
After nearly three years hosting the “Streets of Rock & Roll” rock-and-talk syndicated radio show, Keel was handpicked to join a dream team of Midwest rock radio royalty on KBAD 94.5 FM, where Ron’s “Mid-Day Mayhem” show skyrocketed to the top of the Neilson ratings for that region. He’s now back on the “Streets Of Rock N Roll” with weekly broadcasts on KRFK, Total Rock Radio, 97Underground, Philly Rock Radio, RockRageRadio.com, and more.
“The Ron Keel Podcast” features unedited & uncensored interviews from the radio show and is available on all major platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Amazon.
Modern media insists we categorize talent– you know, put folks in boxes according to their entertaining skill set. It works fine for the one-dimensional. He’s a movie star, she’s a singer/songwriter, he’s a comedian, she’s a stripper. You get my drift. Which brings us to the hydra-headed multi-faceted, standup comic, impressionist, actor, renaissance freak (yes, freak) genius, Craig Gass.
His eclectic resume is scripted from two decades of working rooms, following leads, embarrassing and endearing strangers while building a modest and devoted fan base. Craig didn’t pursue a particular career path, the career happened to Craig; in no small way thanks to his uncanny ability to capture the voice and idiosyncrasies of the celebrities he impersonates.
Craig began doing standup in 1993 by hitting the grueling, bumpy comedy circuit road and cultivating his craft in whatever crappy bar or club would have him. Shortly into the new millennium, shock radio kingpin, Howard Stern, took Craig under his massive, media wing. The Mt. Vernon, New York son of deaf parents made frequent, freaky appearances on Stern, blowing listener minds with his uncanny impressions of notorious celebrities like Christopher Walken, Gene Simmons, Gilbert Gottfried, Tracy Morgan, Sam Kinison, Al Pacino and Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich. This platform lead to Hollywood, but not like you’d think.
“I never really had an agent, all my TV roles appeared from people who were supporters of mine,” says Craig. “One of Howard Stern’s writers got me the guest part as Miranda’s overweight glazed donut-eating boyfriend on Sex in the City. Someone from the show called and said, ‘we heard you talking about your relationship this morning and we think you’d play a really good insecure guy for a storyline we’re developing.’ My impression of Al Pacino on Stern was heard by one of the Family Guy writers. All of a sudden, I’m in a recording studio with Seth McFarlane. Peter Griffin says, ‘This is crazier than when Al Pacino was a slum lord Laundromat attendant.’ They cut to me and I’m riffing the classic Pacino line from …And Justice for All (great Metallica record by the way) at this wall of broken washing machines, ‘You’re out of order! And you’re out of order!’”
In 2004, Craig’s unique ability to sound like famous people led to a co-starring role on CBS’s hit sitcom, King of Queens. Kevin James character hires Craig as the new delivery driver who keeps his fellow employees in bellyaching laughs. Hollywood has known some venerated impressionists – Rich Little, David Frye, Frank Gorshin, Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond and Frank Callendo, to name few. While they’re all laudable in their parroting prowess, Craig takes impression a step further. He just doesn’t mirror the sound, cadence and mannerisms – he literally channels the individual into a speaking-in-tongues-esque out of body presentation, frighteningly precise without the aid of a single prop. He just doesn’t do Adam Sandler, he becomes Adam Sandler, every character nuance a laser sharp reflection of the original. Craig owes this phenomenal gift to the force majeure of his birth and childhood environment.
“Neither of my parents could hear, so I couldn’t learn how to talk by listening to them,” he recalls. “I learned words and sentences and sounds by copying the voices I heard on television.” Raised in a household of silence and gesticulation, Craig’s childhood was profoundly marked by his media consumption of 70’s and 80’s Zeitgeist. That unique upbringing held him in good stead as he tested his first audiences when he discovered the joys of being the class clown. Craig is a living, breathing, mimicking product of pop culture and his career is an authentic, modern day grassroots destiny play. Which brings us to the here and now, 2013, and the realization of his personal standup prophecy – The Worst Comedy Show EVER.
The DVD/CD, produced on a shoe string budget (more like the threadbare shoe string off a homeless bum) is an absolute masterpiece of satirical self-deprecation that echoes the shattered heart, tortured soul and cracked insights of Louis C.K’s award-winning FX series, Louie. “How about the Doug Stanhope suicide episode of Louie?” he vibrates. “I ran into Artie Lange from the Stern show a couple months after that aired – Artie who tried to kill himself! Know what he says to me? ‘You think I got a lawsuit there?’”
Shot at the “shittiest” place he could conjure in his 20-year-asphalt-tested imagination, Craig took his cameraman/producer/penniless sidekick, Aaron Anderson, to Dave’s of Milton, a burned-out but beloved hole-in-the-wall diner/bar located (well) outside Seattle, Washington, where stand up comics galore have gone for decades to test their material on the easily amused and endlessly forgiving blue-collar patrons. “The material on the DVD and CD was developed from night after night of near empty rooms in shit hole bars and comedy dives,” confesses Craig. “And now it’s been turned into my dream comes true! I am proud, ecstatic, and terrified – but a good kind of terror.”
Craig spent several years in Seattle. He loves the northwest villagers and they love him, from the drunks at Dave’s to the grunge rock legends like Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready who has a hilarious cameo on the DVD; and Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney who lend their fractured personalities to several news blackouts on the CD, hearkening George Carlin’s post 60s hippy dippy weatherman.
Craig Gass hasn’t cultivated his steady, professional ascension via influence peddling or favors from superstar friends. On the contrary, he’s resisted walking through doors blown wide open by immensely powerful figures like his comic mentor and hero. “When I first started doing standup, I snuck backstage to see George at the Temple Theater in Tacoma,” he remembers. “His long time opening act, Dennis Blair, introduced us. Said, ‘George, you got to hear this kid’s Sam Kinison.’ He started laughing and said to me, ‘You’re a very talented and funny guy,’ then ran off to do his show. I called a buddy and started crying on the phone. That night began a friendship that lasted until the day he died. George offered to help me with my career many times. But I wanted to learn from him not take advantage of his influence. He was my greatest mentor, a father figure who never stopped imparting wisdom on comedy, people, and life.”
Craig Gass will make you laugh, weep, choke, recoil, and most importantly, recognize that the faults, flaws, and freaky behavior that we all possess, do not define us but rather, unite us. “We all have way more in common than we do that divides us,” he delivers as the Dave’s crowd prepares to depart their favorite shit hole post-performance. It’s the perfect postscript for a funny man standing at the crossroads of superstardom – or sitting on the bus stop of professional oblivion. Either way, we’ll be right up front, cheering and jeering.
Don is best known as co-host of VH1 Classic’s hit heavy metal talk show series, That Metal Show where legends of rock hang out to discuss their past and current projects in front of a live studio audience. He also co-hosted Beer Money, a fast-paced, non-traditional sports quiz show airing on SNY (SportsNet NY) and is currently hosting his own rock/comedy hybrid That Jamieson Show on CompoundMedia.com.
Amongst his many accomplishments, Jamieson’s 3 stand-up CD's 'Live & Hilarious’, ‘Hell Bent For Laughter’ and ‘Communication Breakdown’ on Metal Blade Records all hit the Top 20 on iTunes and Top 10 on the Billboard comedy charts. He is proudly sponsored by Monster Energy Drinks and True Religion clothing. Jamieson’s proudest moment is becoming an Emmy Award-Winner for his work on HBO's 'Inside The NFL’.Don and long-time comedy partner, Jim Florentine, lent their brand of humor to the popular sports show; writing, producing, and performing sports-themed comedy sketches. The two have also collaborated on the hidden-camera DVD and Comedy Central web series, 'Meet The Creeps' as well as a series of prank-call CD's, 'Terrorizing Telemarketers’, heard regularly on the SiriusXM comedy channels. He also spent many years as Andrew Dice Clay’s steady opener.
Don's stand-up act brings his everyday take on life with an added dash of sarcasm for good measure. He’s able to make people laugh at things they wouldn’t normally laugh at and then laugh again at that realization.
Besides performing in comedy clubs and theaters all over the country he also performs stand-up on rock tours and at rock festivals such as Rock On The Range, Monsters Of Rock Cruise, and Metallica’s Orion Music + More Festival where he was introduced by drummer Lars Ulrich.
Mark’s first book, The Decade That Rocked was published by Insight Editions and distributed by Simon & Schuster in June 2020; five years from its inception. Weiss was excited to hit the road and begin an extensive world book tour to promote the long-awaited book. All had changed when Covid arrived; Weiss needed to change his course of action; he spent his time at his computer promoting his book through online interviews and social media. Mark did manage to have his long-planned book release event at The Monmouth Museum where his photographs were exhibited.
Foreword by Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Afterword by Eddie Trunk with countless sentiments from the rock stars showcased in the book. Published in French, Portuguese, and recently this year in Italian and continues to be on the top of the Amazon Heavy Metal best-selling books chart in the US; with over 1200 five-star reviews. Since the release of his book, Mark has been inducted into the Album Cover Hall of Fame as well as the Metal Hall Of Fame, with the induction being made by Twisted Sister’s frontman Dee Snider. Featured reviews include Rolling Stone, Spin, The Washington Post, and The Daily Beat overseas…
In three decades as a music journalist, “Metal Dave” Glessner has interviewed some of the biggest names in rock, including Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, KISS, Van Halen, and countless others. A native of San Antonio, Texas, and longtime resident of Austin, Glessner has been a regular contributor to such magazines as Metal Edge, Classic Rock, and Texas Music as well as the San Antonio Express-News, the Austin American-Statesman, the Houston Press, KNAC.com and others. Today, Glessner is the founder of the rock blog site, 2Fast2Die.com, where he shares his archived interviews, photos, and random thoughts on all things hard rock, glam-metal, punk, and thrash.
RiK FOX, "The Winged Knight of Heavy Metal", a veteran of the mid-1970s New York City Max's Kansas City and CBGB'S rock scene and the New Jersey club circuit, at the request of Blackie Lawless, to audition for his band Sister, Rik Fox arrived on the Los Angeles rock scene in February 1982, just in time to ride the wave of greater notoriety after becoming the bassist for what became WASP and recording with and naming the band, before moving on, and building his chops with Warlord, before making his Los Angeles debut with the legendary seminal cornerstone Heavy Metal band Steeler, with Ron Keel and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Rik recorded on the now-classic Steeler album, before moving on with his own band SIN, on the threshold of becoming the "next big thing" amongst the L.A. scene bands, before succumbing to disintegration at the unscrupulous hands of their producer and management.
In the late 1980s, Rik pressed on performing and recording with Surgical Steel, while performing twice, as a guest with Ronnie James Dio, Sam Kinison and KISS 's Mark St. John, among many others before moving on to a hiatus in the 1990's and worked in the Hollywood film industry with many stars, while simultaneously participating in "Living History" events and Renaissance Fairs, creating the first officially acknowledged representation of his noble, ancestral Polish Winged Hussar knights, in the U.S., making U.S. History.
Keeping busy, Fox served five years (1995-2000), as a Communications NCO in the California State Military Reserve, and is currently an active First Responder member of CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), under FEMA and DHS, as well as a licensed Security Enforcement Officer and a licensed Ham Radio operator.
Rik re-entered the music scene in 2012, and began doing guest spots in 'All-Star' jams with various bands in the Southern California music scene, including a guest appearance with his former Steeler bandmate Ron Keel at The Whisky a Go-Go, culminating in the seeds of what would eventually become the formation of the Steeler reunion during 2019's KEELFEST, held at The Alrosa Villa club in Columbus, Ohio, forever shutting down the rumors that any Steeler reunion was a just pipe dream and never perform together again…
Just prior to that, Rik also recorded bass tracks for two songs, with legendary Sabbath/Dio drummer Vinny Appice and Angel's Frank DiMino on the All-Star Jim Crean "London Fog" album.
Although the Los Angeles music scene had become a shadow of its former self, throughout 2018 to 2020, Rik Fox kept active, performing with two of the top Los Angeles tribute bands; "Strangers in the Night" the top UFO tribute band and, "Child in Time", the top Deep Purple tribute band, and, on several gigs, performing with BOTH bands together on the same bill.
Bob Chiappardi is the founder and CEO of Concrete Marketing, a premiere independent lifestyle marketing company in the music industry.
Using innovative programs that have revolutionized music marketing, Bob and Concrete became the center of the hard music community assisting in the promotional needs of rock giants, such as Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and Guns N Roses, as well as many unsigned bands that are just getting off the ground. Concrete has helped break bands such as Linkin Park, Godsmack, and Avenged Sevenfold.
Historically, Concrete has and can move well beyond the traditional capabilities of a marketing firm. More than anyone else in the business, Concrete has managed to tap into the male-skewed 18-55 demo via several promotional vehicles, some proprietary and others not, by impacting retail awareness, media advertising, touring, and lifestyle marketing campaigns. These unique capabilities are why the company has been sought out by non-music related entities, such as Fox/FX, HBO, Mattel, Lionsgate Films, Warner Bros Pictures, Mountain Dew, Hot Topic, Showtime, Rolling Rock, and Microsoft.
Presently, Concrete's media interests and strategic partnerships include Concrete Entertainment (music publishing, production, and artist development), StripJoints Music (monthly servicing to 600+ adult nightclub DJs and Concrete/TEC-Direct (media planning) who have launched TV, print, and/or online campaigns for acts like Adele, Michael Buble, Jimmy Buffett, and Eminem, and Concrete Marketing Services (radio promotion, publicity, licensing, social media, creative services, project management)
Current consulting clients include Cloud9 (a new sensory-enhancing soft drink), Fanaply (a cutting-edge NFT company), Revolver Magazine (the leading hard rock lifestyle magazine and their 6 sister branded magazines), and BANDED: The Musician Competition
(a music reality TV show that develops young talent).
He has executive produced: Nativity In Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath and ECW: Extreme Music Vol. 1, which both garnered Grammy-nominated songs, as well as music supervised a host of soundtracks including WWF: Forcible Entry, three Mattel Hot Wheels animated movies, and the Saw (1-3) horror film series. He has consulted for TV shows like the FX TV series Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll starring Denis Leary and (Love Monkey/CBS-TV), as well as Movies like (Rock Star/WB Pictures) starring Jennifer Aniston and Mark Wahlberg and is an executive producer for the previously mentioned BANDED: The Musician Competition which starts airing spring of 2023.
Jeanne Basone is a professional wrestler, actress, model, and stuntwoman best known by her ring name Hollywood in the women’s wrestling syndicated television show G.L.O.W., Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Basone was the first G.L.O.W. girl hired, and the only one to appear in all episodes of the show, from the pilot through the final season. She and her co-stars were recently honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, a fraternal professional wrestling organization, for their achievements in helping break the glass ceiling in the sport.
After G.L.O.W., Basone continued to compete on the independent circuit. She appeared in several all-female wrestling promotions including CRUSH, Beauty Slammers, and Hottest Ladies of Wrestling. She currently owns her own production company, Hollywould Productions, and travels around the world for appearances, comic conventions, and fan meet-and-greets.
Basone has appeared in numerous television series and films as an actress and stuntwoman, Basone has been featured on the cover of magazines, and even had a comic book created for her.
In 2017, NETFLIX debuted a fictional series about her rise from anonymity to worldwide fame called GLOW.
Jeanne has also created her own Artisan soap company. Using natural oils and Essential oils HollywoodBotanika.com.
Mick Strawn designed either the effects or the sets of some of your favorite 80s and 90s horror and fantasy films.
From the roller coaster originality of the sets in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 and 4, to the dark horror of Leatherface. From the futuristic low-budget retro look of Corman’s Fantastic Four to The Adventures of Hercules, Mortal Kombat, and the town of Grover's Bend from Critters 2, Tales From the Darkside, Ouija Board, The Kindred, Blade, Night of the Scarecrow, The Hidden or Hercules; the list goes on and on. He is a guide to what you can’t see out of the corner of your eye, and funny as hell while telling you a story.
His book, Behind the Screams, is a humorous, graphically fun tome of stories and interviews from A Nightmare on Elm Street 4! His podcast The Dream Warrior Review is funny, marginally informative, and features Miq and Kurt Thomas clowning about the latest horror and Sci-Fi, as well as Storytime with Miq, which is as bad as it sounds! His appearances involve clips and stories about horror filmmaking in the 80s and 90s, and are just flat-out amazing, ridiculous, and fun!
Other projects include work on rock videos with Tom Petty, Steve Miller, Dokken, Fat Boys, and Soundgarden.
He was the Production Designer and First AD on a couple of recent films; F13 Vengeance and Games Children Play. He balances his production time with convention appearances at Crypticon, Rad Con, FilmQuest, Frankencon, Bleedingham, Scarefest, and many more!
You can also hear his humorous stories on Dream Warrior Review, his looney podcast. When not shooting he is busy with his grandkids and shooing freshly minted filmmakers off his lawn!
Monty Colvin is a musician-artist-podcaster. He is a bassist, vocalist, and songwriter for Galactic Cowboys, who have toured with Dream Theater, Anthrax, King’s X, and Savatage. His career began in the late 80s, where he was a member of the band, Awful Truth, before forming Galactic Cowboys in 1990, and releasing 7 albums over a 30-year period for Geffen, Metal Blade, and Mascot Records. Among the highlights for Galactic Cowboys were appearances on MTV, Dynamo Festival, and a part in the movie Airheads. Monty has also produced 3 solo CDs under the name Crunchy.
As a visual artist, Monty received a college degree in Fine Art from Missouri State and used his talent as a painter to do numerous album covers and artwork for bands, as well as having a full-time profession doing commissions, t-shirt designs, portraits, and murals. He has also had a running video show on Heavy Metal Television called Art That Rocks, as well as his own website MontyColvinArt.com.
In 2008, Monty started his own podcast, Monty’s Rockcast, which is still going strong 15 years later. Self-proclaimed as “The Best Podcast In The History Of Mankind,” the Rockcast is a monthly journey into Monty’s random world of Rock-n-roll, pop culture, sports, and humor.
Mitch Perry is an internationally acclaimed award-winning Music Producer, Songwriter & Musician. He began his professional career in 1979 when he was flown to Los Angeles to record an album with renowned bassist, Alphonso Johnson.
Since then, Mitch has toured and recorded with music legends including Michael Schenker, Edgar Winter, Lita Ford, Sweet, Asia, Cher, Graham Nash, Aerosmith, Talas, and Steeler to name a few. He has also appeared on over 60 albums, several of which have gone gold and platinum, hundreds of songs, and four albums of his own original material.
Based in Nashville, Leilani Kilgore's ferocious approach has been heralded as “like Joan Jett, but actually shreds”.
She has shared stages with greats such as The Dead Daisies and Buddy Guy and been featured in Guitar Girl Magazine, Roots Music Magazine, and Blues Magazine.
Native Sons bring a young high-energy arena rock-style show to the big stage. Catchy crowd-pleasing hooks, soaring vocals, and ripping guitars. Based in Louisville Kentucky Native Sons has been tearing up stages at venues like “Whisky A Go Go” “Monsters On The Mountain” and countless theaters across the United States. The band is set to release their sophomore album “Shadow Head” on January 20th at their headlining concert at the “Whisky A Go Go” The band features Ashton Blake on vocals, JT Shea on lead guitar, Victor Adreil lead guitar, Truman Fleming bass guitar & Grady Steel drums.
Anthony is a longtime successful musician/producer/engineer. In 1989, Anthony was asked to play drums in Alice Cooper’s 1st video single “Poison” for his new album entitled “Trash.” The video was an instant success. Anthony would go on to appear in the video for Doro’s “Unholy Love” and also play drums for the band Crucial Taunt that appeared in the movies “Wayne’s World” and “Wayne’s World 2.”
Since then, he had successful stints in Beautiful Creatures and Bang Tango among others. Going behind the board, Anthony has worked on an incredible catalog of 500+ albums including works by Aerosmith, Foreigner, Buckcherry, Metallica, Queensryche, The Darkness, and many more.
It’s an undisputed, stone-cold fact that Warner E. Hodges is one of the most instantly recognizable guitarists playing today.
The story starts in Wurzberg, Germany, where Warner was an army brat. His mother and father both had a passion for country music and the young Warner was soon to join their band, playing drums.
In 1970, his older brother gave him the debut albums by Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin. His father heard that there was an up-and-coming band featuring a hot-shot guitarist coming to town, and bought tickets for himself and Warner. The band was Deep Purple, the guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The young Warner switched from drums to guitar.
Two discoveries would prove to be the main lasting influences on Warner’s developing style. First, he discovered and fell in love with AC/DC, secondly the Sex Pistols hit America, their influence not being limited to the high energy style of Steve Jones, but also their DIY punk ethic.
Warner played with a succession of local Nashville punk bands and then he and two school friends - Perry Baggs and Jeff Johnson - met a singer who had moved to Nashville looking for musicians who were prepared to join him in fusing the styles of Hank Williams with the Ramones. The singer was Jason Ringenberg, and so Jason & The Scorchers were born.
Signing with Praxis Management, the Scorchers recorded two EPs and six full albums and played a major role in creating what we now call Alt-Country or Americana.
Their reputation as live performers eventually led to the Americana Music Association awarding them the “Lifetime Achievement Award For Life Performance in 2008.
In 2007, Warner joined Dan Baird and Mauro Magellan (both ex-Georgia Satellites) in a new band, Dan Baird & Homemade Sin.
The band recorded five studio albums, the biggest-selling of the five being Rollercoaster which was produced by Warner.
From 2010 onwards, Warner also began a parallel solo career and has so far recorded four solo albums, with the latest - Right Back Where I Started - featuring a backing band made up of members of Cheap Trick, The Mavericks, and Steve Earle & The Dukes.
The idea was always to find a core of permanent musicians, and with Warner spending more and more time in Europe it
made sense that he would settle on a lineup of musicians from that side of the pond.
Ben Marsden on guitar, Jason Knight on bass, and John Powney on drums may all be new names to most people, but that is set to change and with them behind him, Warner now has a band capable of running Black Sabbath into Merle Haggard and back out into AC/DC. Their debut album ‘Just Feels Right’ was released in May 2020 - word is that it’s the most Jason & The Scorchers sounding record of Warner’s solo career.
As anyone who has seen the band will attest, it’s a fun night out. Each musician is a master craftsman in their own right and Warner is still a showman that few can match.
Samantha is best known for her voice-over animation work in 1980s Cult Classic cartoon series “Jem and The Holograms” as the speaking voices of Jem and Jerrica Benton.
Samantha was nominated for a "Young Artist award" twice for "Exceptional young actress in animation, series, specials, or film features" also nominated for her performance in "Best animated series". Other voice-over credits include guest-starring on the original Transformers cartoon as "Ariel" in the classic Transformers episode "War Dawn" and in other episodes playing the role of "Elise Presser". Samantha was also cast as the voice of a young Peter Pan's mother in Steven Spielberg's feature film Hook as well as doing countless on-camera and voice-over TV and radio commercials. She also played the role of Debbie in the 1987 thriller film Summer Camp Nightmare.
She was invited to contribute two characters to the Festival's favorite animated short Pound Dogs, created by Mike Salva. This project won the MTV "Voice and Vision animation award for writing and animation and garnered two development deals with MTV. She worked with director Mike Slava again for the Animated short film HG Chicken starring Bobcat Goldthwait, Jonathan Katz, and Maria Bamford. And Todd Barry. Samantha has also lent her voice-over work and singing talent to Blockbuster video game titles including God Of War, Wild Arms 3, Twisted Metal Black, and Britney’s Dance Beat.
Samantha is currently working on a brand new animated series in development called "End Times" as the Synergy-type AI voice of Sola.
Roxy Blue is an American rock band that was formed in 1989 in Memphis, Tn. by singer/guitarist Todd Poole. Poole joined forces with GTI graduates Sid Fletcher (guitar) and Josh Weil ( bass). Soon to follow was drummer Scott Trammell ( aka. Scotty T. ) to complete the outfit.
The music scene in Memphis at the time was blistering hot and Roxy Blue wasted no time getting in the middle of it. Opening for any and every band they could they soon developed a following which led to them headlining their own shows. The band started tracking demos with producer Niko Lyras hoping to bring their live energy to tape. Within a year the band started creating a buzz and getting some label interest. Jani Lane ( Warrant ) saw the band play live in Memphis and was impressed by what he saw and decided to help the band by creating an even bigger buzz. With the help of their attorney Jim Zumwalt, they soon landed a recording deal with Geffen Records.
Signed by Tom Zutaut ( Motley Crue / Guns n Roses / Tesla ) the band was off to California to record the debut "Want Some." Managed by Doug Thaler ( Motley Crue ) and produced by Mike Clink ( Guns n Roses / Whitesnake /Heart / Triumph ) a dream team to say the least Unfortunately in 1994 the band split and went their separate ways.
Poole went on to be the drummer and founding member of the rock band Saliva. Also toured playing drums for his father-in-law Jimi Jamison ( Survivor ) Weil played bass for the rock band Dust For Life. The two have rejoined to keep Roxy Blue going.
Recently signed to Frontiers SRL, the band released their first album in 27 years simply titled Roxy Blue in 2019 to rave reviews
Roxy Blue: Todd Poole - vocals/guitar Josh Weil - bass Jeff Caughron - guitar Chris Cook - drums
Drew Fortier is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, author, and musician known for his work with such artists as Bang Tango, Chuck Mosley (Faith No More), and The Lucid which features Sponge frontman Vinnie Dombroski, Megadeth co-founder/bassist David Ellefson, and Fear Factory drummer Mike Heller.
Fortier established himself as a multi-faceted creative force by way of directing the critically acclaimed rock documentary 'Attack of Life: The Bang Tango Movie' followed by joining Bang Tango as a guitarist which led him to write 'Dark, Depressing, and Hilarious'; a sarcastic and sardonic memoir about his eclectic experiences cutting his teeth in the music business up to that point which also included joining the solo band for now late Faith No More front-man Chuck Mosley.
After taking a left turn into acting, Fortier co-starred in the low-budget cult horror film 'Her Name Was Christa' which has been critically acclaimed as being 'the most romantic necrophilia love story ever told'. In 2021, he went on to portray a fictionalized version of himself in the critically confused but award-winning zero-budget found footage horror film Dwellers which has been described as C.H.U.D. if it were shot like The Blair Witch Project. Fortier will also be appearing in the upcoming horror films Trivial, and Dementophobia.
Anthony Corder was raised on a delta crossroads blend of musical influences that launched him into over twenty-five years of live performance experience. Steeped in Memphis, Tennessee’s own deep musical heritage of blues, soul, and rock, Anthony began his professional music career as the lead vocalist and founding member of TORA TORA. Their breakthrough album Surprise Attack (A&M Records) sold over 400,000 copies.
The album featured the singles “Walkin’ Shoes”, “Guilty”, and “Phantom Rider”. The follow-up hit album Wild America (A&M; Records) was produced by John Hampton and Arthur Payson and launched both national and European tours. Wild America featured notable singles “Amnesia”, “Faith Healer”, and “Dead Man’s Hand”. TORA TORA was also featured on the soundtrack to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure with the single “Dancing With A Gypsy”. They toured worldwide and placed five videos on MTV. After TORA TORA, Anthony has continued to remain vital in the Memphis scene. Known among musicians for his unmistakable voice and inspired live performances, Anthony has worked with luminaries such as The Memphis Horns, Jimi Jamison, Clarence McDonald, Taylor Rhodes, and Stan Lynch (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers). In addition to working with numerous notable musicians, Anthony has toured on both the theater and arena levels with well-known acts such as L.A. Guns, The Cult, Bonham, and Kix.
The years 2007-08 saw Corder and Francis perform live in the Memphis, Tennessee area as either Tora Tora or Homemade Flavor. Tora Tora performed a reunion concert at a venue entitled Newbie’s on June 28, 2008, and sold a limited release album The Warehouse…20 Years Later, which featured tracks from the group’s EP To Rock To Roll, debut album and material slated for the third album titled Revolution Day. A few songs from the long-awaited Revolution Day eventually surfaced via FnA Records on 2009’s Before & After. Tora Tora released two more albums, Bombs Away (aka The Unreleased Surprise Attack Recordings) and Miss B. Haven (aka The Unreleased Wild America Recordings), through FnA Records in 2009 consisting of demos / extra tracks from the recordings of the group’s first two albums. Tora Tora‘s long-lost third album Revolution Day was released via FnA Records in 2011. The band released a brand new studio album titled Bastards of Beale via Frontiers Music Srl on February 22, 2019. Most recently, the band released the 2022 single ‘Go Where the Love Is.’
Anthony Corder has remained active on his own; regularly performing acoustic gigs in person and on the internet. The stripped-down performances highlight the quality of his song catalog.
After Jeremy Asbrock bought his first KISS record in his backyard at four years old, his path was immediately set. After thousands of hours of MTV, and hundreds of rock magazines throughout the 80s, he started playing guitar professionally at 16 years old.
He spent 15 years with power-pop band The Shazam, who made five records that leaned heavily on British 60s, and received lots of airplay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage, and most notably performed a TV/Radio broadcast from Abbey Road.
He co-hosted a weekly show in Nashville called Thee Rock N’ Roll Residency, which saw members of Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Heart, Halestorm, and more 80s bands than you can think of, performing with the band.
Jeremy was also the musical director for John Corabi, Vince Neil’s replacement in Motley Crue, and toured supporting the Motley 94 album, which resulted in a live album.
He was chosen to be a member of Gene Simmons’ first solo band which resulted in a world tour. After a tour of Australia backing both Gene and Ace Frehley, he was hired by Ace after Gene’s return to KISS, a spot he still occupies.
Brett Carlisle got his first guitar for Christmas when he was 8 years old. He has been playing guitar and singing ever since. He was born with Rock ‘n’ Roll in his soul and his playing, singing, and songwriting capabilities are influenced by bands like Van Halen, Skid Row, and Metallica. Brett is a powerful, young vocalist with incredible range. His voice is immediately recognizable. Brett is the founder of AON (ALL OR NOTHING) and the current lead singer for the Grammy Nominated Rock Band Great White. Brett has performed on stage with Great White, XYZ, and George Lynch of Dokken. His band, AON, has opened for Puddle of Mud, Steel Panther, Trapt, and KIX. Great White has not stopped touring since their inception and continues to perform worldwide.
Martin Motnik is a German-born studio and session bass guitarist. He’s a versatile electric, acoustic, and upright bass player, a pioneer in online music recording, and has toured and performed with Uli Jon Roth (The Scorpions), Missing Persons, and German Sony-artist Eisbrecher.
Now based in Nashville, TN, Motnik has played over 5,000 shows on 5 continents and as a studio bassist on over 1,000 recordings. He's gained notoriety as a solo performer with his solo album “Bass Invader” with drum icon Gregg Bissonette, and his works as a freelance bass player and studio musician through his website www.studiobassist.com.
Since 2019 Martin is also a full-time member of German Heavy Metal Pioneers ACCEPT. Motnik has recently released his second solo album “Dream Chaser”, featuring some of his musical influences such as Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale, Bruce Kulick, Jennifer Batten, Gregg Bissonette, Derek Sherinian, and others
Sandy Gennaro was born and raised in NYC and currently resides in Nashville, TN. Throughout his career as a world class rock and roll drummer, Sandy has toured the globe and recorded with world renowned artists: Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, The Monkees, Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Bolton, Benny Mardones, Craaft, The Mamas and Papas and Jon Paris.
Sandy has recorded several Top 10 singles and has performed for for over a billion fans spanning his over 50 year career! He has also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The MTV New Years Ball, and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Bob Berryhill, original guitarist and founder of the surf rock group The Surfaris began his professional music career by co-composing and recording the original Wipe Out, one of the most iconic and influential instrumental songs, as recognized by Billboard Magazine, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Grammy Museum. In October 2019, The Surfaris and Wipe Out were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame, located in Nashville, TN. They played the induction concert at the Schermerhorn Theatre to a sold-out audience with a number of top name performers.
Initially catapulted by the California surf culture, The Surfaris transcended the local scene into international stardom. Bob continues to play the music and tell the amazing story behind THE SURFARIS and “Wipe Out,” plus takes audiences on a historical journey through the 1960s showcasing other hits from the era. The band is kicking off Wipe Out’s 60th Anniversary with a tour of Italy this year. They’ve played concerts in Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Germany, Japan plus numerous US venues.
Dylana Nova Scott is an American entrepreneur, CEO, 3x patented inventor, presenter/public speaker, and musician based in Nashville, TN. With her company 3rd Power Amplification, Ms. Scott has designed and built guitar amplifiers for celebrities and musicians from acts such as Vince Gill, Joe Walsh, Lenny Kravitz, Justin Timberlake, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Ben Rector, Morgan Wallen, and many more.
Previously known as Jamie Scott, Dylana transitioned in 2017 and is best known for her guitar work with the San Francisco glam/metal band, Vain (signed by Island Records in 1989, home to Bob Marley and U2). Vain enjoyed success with two hit singles and MTV airplay with “Beat The Bullet” and “Who’s Watching You”, both from their debut album, "No Respect". Ms. Scott still records and performs with Vain to this day.
As a panelist/public speaker, Ms. Scott enjoys representing transgender women in business and the music industry. She’s spoken during the Empowerment of Women in the Music Industry Panel (Bonnaroo) and has worked with corporate clients such as Capital One.
Originally from Boston, Courtney Cronin Dold is a comedy writer, stand-up comic, and television producer.
She has been seen on the E! countdown shows Forbes Celebrity 100 and Celebrity Weddings, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Showtime’s Gigolos, as well as the TBS hit show Separation Anxiety. And featured in dozens of comedy festivals and music-themed cruises.
As a comedy writer, she has written for a long list of comedians, celebrities, and musicians and over 46 TV series and pilots. Including, The Real Screen Awards, Socially Offensive Behavior hosted by D.L. Hughley, GBB, Revenge of The Boys with Ken Jeong, MTV’S Disaster Date, TBS’S Who Get’s the Last Laugh with Donald Faison, MohrSports with Jay Mohr, The Chelsea Handler Show, Separation Anxiety with Adam Ray and Iliza Shlesinger, Sports Soup with Matt Iseman, televised roasts of Dee Snider and Corey Taylor, and The Wayne Brady Show where she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy.
Courtney is also the creator and producer of, Punchlines and Backlines where rock star musicians do stand-up comedy for the first time. They have been mentioned in Blabbermouth magazine and on Trunk Nation. The show has been performed at Count’s Vamp’d in Vegas, The Monsters of Rock Cruise, Nashville’s RockNPod, Creatures Fest, and now at Kruise Fest in CA!
She is also a frequent guest and co-host on multiple comedy, rock, and Kiss-related podcasts.
Recently she was the head writer and featured on the Roast of legendary guitarist Bruce Kulick and currently, she is the comedy writer for a food and travel show hosted by comedian Michael Yo, coming this June on A&E.
Paul Taylor began his professional career touring on the road with the 1982 rock sensation Aldo Nova. Aldo's hit song Fantasy went to # 3 on the charts and kept them on the road for a year. Paul would then go on to play in such bands as Alice Cooper, Winger, Steve Perry (Journey), Cinderella, John Waite, Tommy Shaw (Styx), and Nick Gilder.
Paul wrote the top 10 hit "Miles Away" for Winger and a top 40 hit "You Better Wait" with Steve Perry for his solo record For The Love Of Strange Medicine of which Paul also wrote 8 other songs.
In 2004 Paul had a #4 Hit in Japan with Japan's Pop Star Namie Amuro with a song called "Shine More".
He has written over 200 songs for T.V. including the final Main Title for Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
He has placed songs in such movies as Las Vegas Vacation, Pushing Tin, The Seed Of Chucky, The Forgotten, Bruno, and more.
Paul Is currently living in Nashville and finishing writing a record with Mick Mars of Motley Crue as well as preparing for the release of the next Winger album.
Steve Blaze, guitarist and founding member of the million-selling rock band Lillian Axe, is taking some big steps forward in his relentless pursuit to establish the group’s rightful place in hard rock history. With an impressive schedule of tour dates that includes a return to the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2022 (their 6th appearance), multiple festivals, the first tour of the U.K. in ten years, a 2023 U.S. tour, and the release of the brand new album and anthology, Lillian Axe is poised to add to their already significant list of accomplishments and keep doing what they do best: delivering dramatic rock ‘n roll to the masses.
Blaze, whom Guitar Player Magazine listed as “one of the most underrated guitarists in the world,” leads the charge alongside fellow axe-slinger Sam Poitevent (a member since 1999) and original bassist Michael Maxx. Vocalist Brent Graham, after working with Steve Blaze in other projects, first took centerstage when Lillian Axe was featured in the hit NBC show “Constantine” in 2015. Former Pretty Boy Floyd drummer Wayne Stokely provides the groove which supports the blistering guitar work and Graham’s powerful pipes.
The latest album “From Womb To Tomb” was released in August of 2022 as the band signed their 9th record deal with Global Rock Records to not only release the new album but to reissue the band’s extensive back catalogue. Also released in April 2022 was a three-disc anthology entitled “Psalms for Eternity,” a time capsule of the band's prestigious career.
Lillian Axe gained international recognition with albums on MCA Records and IRS Records in the late 80s and early 90s. They have toured with and shared the stage with hundreds of bands over the years including Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Sammy Hagar, Megadeth, Rob Zombie, Eddie Money, Ratt, Skid Row, Godsmack, Accept, and many others, as well as rocking hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide at major festivals such as Sweden Rock, Bang Your Head, Rockin’ the Bayou, Monsters of Rock Cruise, Firefest, and Rocklahoma. Though the music has evolved and progressed in the decades since, the band still treats their audiences to MTV singles like “Dream Of A Lifetime,” “Show A Little Love,” and their version of the Badfinger classic “No Matter What.”
In 2010, they became the first-ever hard rock act inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In November 2021, Steve Blaze was inducted for the second time for his individual accomplishments as a guitarist and songwriter, which include multiple TV and film soundtracks and appearances, sessions for major artists, and nine years as guitarist for legendary rockers Angel. In 2017, Lillian Axe was awarded the Jackson Indie Music Ikon Award for their musical contribution to the Mississippi music scene for the last 30 years.
Bassist extraordinaire John Billings has managed to make a living in the music business and has been part of many touring bands of many legends. Donna Summer, Rick Springfield & The Monkees just to name a few. From Funk, Pop to Rock John Billings delivers the goods.
John Has a deal with Epiphone and has been playing the Epiphone Thunderbird Vintage Pro along with his trusty blue Jack Casady bass as his weapons of choice. Currently endorsed by Epiphone, Trickfish Amplifiers, and D'Addario.
John is an audio and video producer as well as a photographer.
John and his wife, Amy, have created " Wine Down Nashville" where they’ll be hosting music industry events and private parties, and also selling local, Nashville-based products, including Amy’s own line of jams and jellies, called Nashville Jam Session. The next time you’re in Nashville, you should check them out. Or, you can go to www.winedownnashville.com
Other artists he’s played for and recorded with:
Lee Ann Womack, Patti LaBelle, Lita Ford, Paul Anka, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Steve Cropper, Ty Herndon, John Corabi, Michael Wagener, Wolf Hoffmann, Victor Wooten, Joseph Wooten, Regi Wooten, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Jerry Corbetta, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Chiffons, Peter Tork, Kane Roberts, Johnny Hammond Smith, Nancy Wilson, Karen Briggs, Joey Tafolla, Vinnie Moore, Michael Angelo, David Chastain, Kurt James, Shemekia Copeland, Ian Wallace, Andy Pratt, The Atomic Punks, Eddy Raven, Titanium Black, Canadian Rockies Bass Bash (2011)
Aldo Nova. Aldo's hit song Fantasy went to # 3 on the charts and kept them on the road for a year. Paul would then go on to play in such bands as Alice Cooper, Winger, Steve Perry (Journey), Cinderella, John Waite, Tommy Shaw (Styx), and Nick Gilder.
Paul wrote the top 10 hit "Miles Away" for Winger and a top 40 hit "You Better Wait" with Steve Perry for his solo record For The Love Of Strange Medicine of which Paul also wrote 8 other songs.
In 2004 Paul had a #4 Hit in Japan with Japan's Pop Star Namie Amuro with a song called "Shine More".
He has written over 200 songs for T.V. including the final Main Title for Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
He has placed songs in such movies as Las Vegas Vacation, Pushing Tin, The Seed Of Chucky, The Forgotten, Bruno, and more.
Paul Is currently living in Nashville and finishing writing a record with Mick Mars of Motley Crue as well as preparing for the release of the next Winger album.
Andre LaBelle has recorded with Robert Fleischman of Journey, KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent, Flood The Engine, Andy Susemihl, Richie Kotzen, Michael Monarch of Steppenwolf, Chris Holmes, and Buckcherry's Josh Todd to name a few. He has also appeared in a variety of clinics and live settings including work on television and film.
Bryan Jay is best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of hard rock band Keel. Gene Simmons, vocalist/bassist of the shock rock/glam metal band KISS produced Keel's first two major-label albums The Right To Rock and The Final Frontier. Both charted on Billboard's Hot 100, as did their third self-titled major label album on MCA Records which was produced by Michael Wagener. The band toured domestically and internationally with the likes of Quiet Riot, Dio, Queensrÿche, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and many others before disbanding in 1989. Jay and Keel drummer Dwain Miller went on to form the band Dogbone, with vocalist Eddie Saiz and bassist Rob Thiessen. When Saiz left the band due to personal reasons ex-Riot vocalist Rhett Forrester then replaced him. On January 22, 1994, Forrester was murdered in an attempted carjacking; he was 37 years old.
In 1998, Jay reunited with the original members of Keel to release their sixth studio album “Keel VI: Back in Action”.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary Keel reunited again for a show in Hollywood, California on January 24, 2009, with bassist Geno Arce replacing original bassist Kenny Chaisson. They remain active with occasional performances at events like Rocklahoma, M3 Festival, and the Monsters Of Rock Cruises.
In the late 2000s, Jay founded the music licensing company Digital Assassin Music which produced original music for television shows, promos, films, and other media.
Powerhouse rock band THE FIFTH are currently in pre-production for their upcoming full-length album release on RFK Media and is also set to perform at Keelfest 2 in Nashville.
Fronted by former MCA recording artist Roy Cathey, affectionately known as “The Mouth Of The South,” The Fifth has a potent sound that intertwines classic roots with strands of modern melodic hard rock. After paying dues for over a decade, Cathey and company are putting the pedal down in an all-out push for higher ground.
The veteran frontman, first recognized as the vocalist for Cold Sweat which featured Keel guitarist Marc Ferrari, is joined in The Fifth by guitarist Justin Womble, bassist Jake Tripp, and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith. They spit out an acclaimed self-titled EP in 2021, their third release, and are currently immersed in the process of writing the next full-length album; Troy McLawhorn (Evanescence, Seether) is lending his talents as a co-writer on some of the new material. Producer/musician Chris McLernon (Saigon Kick, and Roy’s bandmate in Cold Sweat) has come on board to produce the project.
In addition to the KISS Kruise, other 2022 tour dates included shows in 8 states headlining as well as opening for Stryper. No strangers to the big stage, The Fifth recently supported Foreigner at Pope Air Force Base/Ft. Bragg and has toured with and/or opened for Blue Oyster Cult, Queensryche, Sevendust, Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, Kix, Hinder, Tantric and Saliva. They’ve also headlined countless bike events & festivals stateside and garnered rave reviews for their 2008 tour of Japan. The band’s music has appeared in major TV shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Voice,” and the “2016 Summer Olympics” on NBC.
After bearing witness to this relentless drive & perseverance and loving what they heard on the recent self-titled EP, Ron Keel’s team at RKF Media put a bullseye on The Fifth and was determined to make them the first act signed to the new multi-media company. “I’ve known Roy since Cold Sweat, and I enjoyed reconnecting with him on the 2020 Monsters Of Rock Cruise,” Keel explains. “His energy is infectious. But one view of their most recent video ‘Shake Little Sister’ sealed the deal – that’s exactly the kind of band I can devote my resources to.”
They’ve just launched a new website at http://thefifthmusic.com, and Roy Cathey can be found all over social media earning his nickname and earning The Fifth a growing legion of faithful fans.
Geno Arce started playing bass in the clubs at age 16 opening for bands like Black 'n Blue and Fire Eye. After graduating from high school in 1982, he joined the navy and did his stint for his country. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Portland for a short while and then relocated to Phoenix Arizona. While in Phoenix Geno performed on the local scene and in Los Angeles with the bands "Syngin, SX, and Box of Cherries, which later became "The Einsteins."
In 1998 Geno joined forces with Ron Keel to form the "Roadhouse Rattlers" and began his journey into Southern Rock and Country Music. In 1999 Ron Keel had to take a trip to Europe and Geno Joined Phoenix Arizona’s "Harry and the Gila Monsters" furthering a career in country music that would allow him to share the stage with acts such as Brooks and Dunn, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Neal McCoy, and many others.
In 2000, Geno and Ron Keel were reunited and moved to Plain City Ohio where they formed the international southern rock band "IronHorse" consisting of Ron Keel on vocals, Geno Arce Bass, Swedish musician Robert Marcello Guitar, and Gaetano Nicolosi on drums. During its five-year lifetime IronHorse performed all throughout the United States opening for bands such as "The Outlaws and Ted Nugent" In 2008 Geno Joined the all-original lineup of Keel consisting of Ron Keel, Marc Ferrari, Bryan Jay, Dwain Miller, and replacing bassist Kenny Chaisson. In June 2016 Geno was asked by Ron Keel to join him in another project called Badlands House Band.[2] This band is part of a larger project in Sioux Falls SD called Badlands Pawn and the brain child of Chuck Brennan.
Mark Andrews is the bass player, lead vocalist and founder of the Detroit band Seduce. Seduce was famously featured in the Penelope Spheeris film ‘The Decline of Western Civilization Part 2: The Metal Years.’ The song ‘Colleen’ is also featured on the soundtrack.
Mark has toured with and opened for numerous artists including Iggy Pop, Motorhead, Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, Accept, Megadeth, Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Dokken, and many more.
Mark will be joining us at ROCKNPOD Expo Saturday, March 18th at The Fairgrounds Nashville for a special panel discussion that will be announced soon.
Matt Deis is the current bass player of the Massachusetts-based metal band All that Remains. Deis started playing with All that Remains originally back in 2002 and performed on their 2004 album “This Darkened Heart”.
At the age of 20, he left All that Remains to join Pennsylvania-based rockers CKY and spent the next fifteen years writing, recording, and touring with the group. In 2018, Deis relocated to Nashville, TN, and started collaborating with a number of country, pop, and rock artists, including a run as the bassist of Thompson Square.
In early 2022, Deis rejoined All That Remains as they embarked on a 53-date North American tour and are currently in the process of writing and recording for their latest album.
The band and their music are a combination of veteran experience with a fresh new direction; charismatic frontman Peter Summit provides a magnetic focal point vocally and visually, while the
musicians weave complex yet totally accessible textures into infectious hooks. Guitarists Stacey David Blades and David Harris turn and burn atop the foundation provided by drummer Shon McKee and bassist Carl Raether, and the stunning sonic results are plainly evident in the tracks produced and mixed by Michael Gillies, former recording and mix engineer for Metallica.
The band will be on-hand at the ROCKNPOD Expo Saturday, March 18, 2023, at The Fairgrounds Nashville to meet fans and do interviews. After that, they’ll be making their Nashville live debut at Keelfest 2 at Bowie’s!
It is almost impossible to capture the remarkable life and career of Bebe Buell in a few paragraphs.
Her lengthy and respected musical career has shown her to be an important artist with razor sharp musical instincts; a singer, songwriter and performer with a power and command rarely seen in entertainers. Bebe has the unequaled gift of being able to delve into a song and spark it to life with immediacy and poignant raw emotion; whether performing her own works or her always groundbreaking choices of songs by other writers. Bebe's unique, multi-faceted talent manifested itself at an early age.
At ten years old she began singing in the Villa Maria Academy choir sporting an "alto", a very unusual vocal range for a young girl, that caught everyone's ear.
Upon graduating from high school she was discovered by super-agent Eileen Ford of Ford Models. She was whisked away from Virginia to New York City and hit the Manhattan music scene as soon as she arrived. She soon became involved with legendary rock musician Todd Rundgren.
Bebe later signed with Wilhelmina and continued to work in the US and Europe, often appearing in Cosmopolitan magazine as well as international editions of Vogue, Harpers & Queen, numerous advertisements and campaigns for Wella and Britain’s Innoxa Cosmetics.
In 1977 Bebe gave birth to her daughter Liv.
Affectionately called "Friend To The Stars", Bebe earned that title because of her closeness to everyone from Jack Nicholson to Andy Warhol, and her carte blanche access to rock's elite royalty. She was frequently dubbed a "legendary beauty" by photographers and peers alike. Mick Jagger was once quoted as saying that he could bring Bebe "when I dine with royalty."
Bebe's musical career jumpstarted with her first release, "Covers Girl" (1981) produced by Ric Ocasek and Rick Derringer. It was a four song EP of obscure cover songs featuring legendary group The Cars backing her on two of the tracks, which was also, coincidentally, one of Rhino Records first mainstream releases. Bebe's pure love of music and natural sense of cool come through on these recordings.
After this Bebe formed a new group, the B-Sides who released a pure pop 12 inch picture disc "A Side of the B-Sides" (1983) produced by Bebe's former beau Todd Rundgren.
Following this, Bebe formed a new, tougher group, The Gargoyles; the female fronted hard rock unit was somewhat ahead of its time. They released the influential underground singles "Jacuzzi Jungle" and "Gargoyle" (1987) and toured heavily. These performances cemented Bebe's reputation as a front person to be reckoned with. After spending some time in Portland, Maine during the 80's she moved back to her beloved New York City in 1989.
The Gargoyles caught the ear of Joey Ramone. He had the band open for The Ramones and offers of record deals followed. But at this time, someone in Bebe's personal life was about to take center stage.
When Bebe's daughter Liv found out her father was really Steven Tyler, not Todd Rundgren, 1991 became a year of big changes. Well documented in the media, Bebe has said in interviews that she didn't want to tell Liv who her real father was because of Steven's heavy drug addiction at the time. Todd had known that he was not the biological father of Liv but had kept the secret in order to give both Bebe and Liv some semblance of a stable home. Steven got sober and the news of Liv's parentage was no longer a secret.
Bebe withdrew from performing at this time, turning down a lucrative recording contract, to focus on her daughter during the ensuing media frenzy. Utilizing her unparalleled entertainment business savvy, Bebe began managing her daughter’s career. She launched Liv as an extremely successful international fashion model and then actress. She also managed her good friend Deborah Harry, for a short time, as well as working as the “creative consultant” for the James Mangold directed film, Heavy.
In 1994 she blazed back into the music world, released a CD and coined a new word with "Retrosexual" a punk/hard rock underground classic. The record was a forceful, fun, rocking return to form for Bebe with a mix of hip, impeccable cover choices and catchy original songs.
As 1998 began, a series of live shows at famed downtown mecca Don Hill's brought Bebe a new crop of musicians and The Bebe Buell Band was born. They then recorded the four song EP "Free To Rock" with famed producer Don Fleming. She received rave reviews for her powerful performances in both New York and Los Angeles.
In 2000, the Oscar winning film "Almost Famous” was released. Writer/director Cameron Crowe based the film on elements of Bebe's life. Some of the film's dialogue is directly taken from quotes of Bebe's that Crowe had remembered from their friendship which began decades earlier in 1973 on the road with Todd Rundgren.
Bebe completed her autobiography, "Rebel Heart; An American Rock And Roll Journey" (St. Martin's Press) in 2001. It quickly became a New York Times best seller. The following year she married Jim Wallerstein aka Jimmy Walls of Das Damen and Vacationland fame. In 2008 they bought a house in the New York City area and began the concept for Bebe's next musical chapter. The result was two critically acclaimed albums "Sugar" and "Hard Love" and performing for capacity audiences in New York City and the Northeast.
The ever popular and always evolving Buell now calls Nashville, TN (Music City) home. She came to Nashville in 2012 to sing on an Eddy Arnold tribute album for local label Plowboy Records. Being a Southern girl at heart (being born and raised in Virginia) she immediately fell in love with the city.
In her time in Music City, she has graced several local stages including four sold-out shows at the iconic Bluebird Café and recorded at famed studios, RCA Studio B and Sound Emporium. She has also been songwriting prolifically and regularly performs as guest vocalist with Thee Rock n’ Roll Residency and The Long Players, two local collectives of Nashville’s world-class musicians.
In April of 2018, Bebe released her most cathartic and personal album to date, “Baring It All: Greetings From Nashbury Park”. The 12-song record was recorded in Buell’s two favorite music cities, Nashville and Asbury Park. Featured musicians include: drummer Sandy Gennaro (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett) bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Dan Auerbach) Peter Gallinari on keys and Hammond organ, plus PRODUCER Jim Wallerstein aka Jimmy Walls (Das Damen, DGeneration) on guitars.
Many artists' early work is their most powerful and resonating, while Bebe is just gearing up for the release of her most autobiographical and poignant work yet.
She is proud to share her newest book, Rebel Soul: Musings, Music, and Magic in 2023, an impressionistic scrapbook about becoming and being Bebe Buell, tracing her trajectory from being a rock “It Girl” to a pop culture icon, through a collection of essays that explore what it was like to be at the center of the pop universe during a golden era, and how she invented herself as a muse and a musician.
Artistically bold and fearless while expressing true joy and sensitivity of the soul, singing her entire life, Bebe's memorable journey is just beginning to take full flight.
Dwain Miller is the longtime drummer for KEEL. Joining the band for 1986’s ‘The Final Frontier’ produced by Gene Simmons, he continued in the band through 1987’s Michael Wagener-helmed self-titled album, 1989’s ‘Larger Than Live,’ 1998’s KEEL VI: Back in Action,’ and 2010’s ‘Streets of Rock & Roll.’
Dwain will be at the ROCKNPOD Expo at The Fairgorunds Nashville and then behind the kit for the upcoming KEELFEST 2 show taking place on Saturday March 18th at Bowie’s in Nashville. Get a special combo ticket to both events at www.rocknpod.com.
Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts is an American rock band from Nashville founded and fronted by former BITERS leader Tuk Smith, originally from Atlanta, now living in Nashville. The band released their debut single "What Kinda Love" on January 10, 2020, and was also added as an opening act for The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe on the same day.
Then came the onset of Covid 19. “When the pandemic hit, it was like hitting the reset button on my music career” recalls Tuk, “everything got taken away…album campaign, stadium tour, record deal. The world was in lockdown, and the only way to escape was to throw myself into writing. My thoughts began exploring the past, and the inspiration for the songs just came in tidal waves.”
The new collection is a rock ‘n roll silver lining that came out of the solitude and reflection of the pandemic. Ballad Of A Misspent Youth is the new single (and subsequent album of the same name) released summer of 2022 on Tuk’s new record label MRG, through Virgin Music.
Rick Ruhl is the longtime frontman of Memphis, TN rockers Every Mother’s Nightmare.
EMN are a quintessential artist that never follows trends; doing things their own way. Good or bad, it was their way that put the band on the map when EMN was signed by the legendary Clive Davis in years past.
With a music catalog that rises above and is a far cry from their peers, EMN has released six albums that greatly differ from one to the next. Each one tells a story of good times, troubled pasts, and life experiences. It has been said that the band “writes what they live”.
Jack Gibson is the long-tenured bass player for the celebrated US thrash metal group Exodus. He's been rocking with the band since 1996 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Cited as a major influence by almost every thrash metal band out there Exodus was formed in 1981 in San Francisco with Kirk Hammett, Tom Hunting, Paul Baloff, Jeff Andrews, and Garry Holt as founding members. Known as the 'Kings of the Bay Area', the band had great success on the metal scene despite undergoing many changes in the original line-up and two extended hiatuses. Their first three explosive albums, Bonded by Blood, Pleasures of the Flesh, and Fabulous Disaster sealed Exodus' reputation as one of the most crafty and talented thrash metal bands.
In 1996, eight albums into the group's career, Jack Gibson joined the band contributing his dazzling bass tones to the next five outings. The first record they released with Gibson in the band was the 1997 live album Another Lesson in Violence, which was subsequently praised for its exquisite sound, awesome use of instruments, and for having a great live feel to it, without a lot of studio tampering. Gibson was appreciated for his smooth bass tone and for being able to easily adapt to the Exodus sound.
Inspired, lively, powerful, invigorating, passionate, the best underknown musician you didn’t even know you were missing.
“Tony has been innately gifted with a gorgeous tone, pure soulful emotion, and a limitless range. Truly a rare and unique voice. No question he is easily one of my favorite vocalists.”- James LaBrie-Dream Theater
California-born, NYC bred, Tony Harnell’s music journey took off at 21 when he signed his first record deal with Mercury Records. Since then he’s been a fan favorite in the hearts and souls of millions, whether on his own, leading the Norwegian/American hard rock group TNT, or as the front man for the Wallflowers featuring Bumblefoot.
“The first time I heard Tony sing was just before the “To Hell With The Devil” tour. I was so impressed with his range and control and then I had the opportunity to meet Tony when we toured together (Stryper/TNT). I’ve always admired him immensely and I put him extremely high on my “best of list.” - Michael Sweet-Stryper
A critically-acclaimed vocalist, Grammy winner, and Hall of Fame Inductee in Norway, Tony has sold millions of albums and received numerous gold and platinum awards. With multiple top-requested MTV videos, sold-out concerts worldwide, and a lifelong passion for music, Tony is considered by fans, critics, and peers alike to be one of the greatest rock voices and songwriters of all time.
“From his early days in TNT to his various projects and collaborations along the way, he has proved time and time again that he isn’t afraid to take risks and reinvent himself.” -- Myles Kennedy-Alter Bridge/Slash
For Tony, it’s always been about the music. Growing, creating, and becoming the next best version of himself as a singer, songwriter, and performer.
Jon Brennan's journey has nearly come full circle for the 80’s & 90's- inspired country artist.
An original OG of MTV, Brennan was an integral part of the history-
making show “The Real World: Los Angeles, Road Rules All-Stars and The Challenge Inferno 2. Extensive touring and national appearances established a solid career for Brennan, gaining him
thousands of fans and opening for some of the biggest acts in the business. Brennan has continually garnered high praise for his ability to connect to audiences by delivering authentic country songs and mesmerizing shows. With the release of his new EP “I Ain’t Done Singin’ Yet”, this
high-energy and charismatic performer returns again to the stage to connect his legion of loyal fans to a new multi-generational audience through new music.
Brennan co-wrote almost all the new songs and promises to deliver new electrifying performances in a family-friendly environment.
“I’ve been singing my whole life and I’m excited to return to my roots and share this new music with my fans, both old and new,” he said. Fortunately, Jon Brennan still has many new miles to travel.
While Lisa Axelrod is best known as a model & actor (for her roles in blockbuster action-adventure films & music videos of the 1980s), she began her career as a music journalist in Cleveland, Ohio in 1982 at age 14, interviewing bands & shooting photos for “The Iron Planet”, a long-gone Metal Newspaper of the Great Lakes Region. The main photographer Norm Wonderly went on to found “The Alternative Press”, now called the AP.
After moving to Phoenix, AZ in 1985 at age 17 to attend Arizona State, Lisa took a job bartending and doing club promotions for “The Mason Jar” a small but infamous rock club where she became friends with most of the up-and-coming 1980s bands we all know & love today. By late fall of 1985 a now 18-year-old Lisa transferred to Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, CA to pursue her Art History Degree and began interviewing bands & shooting showcase photos for Music Connection” magazine while falling into what would become a very successful acting & modeling career throughout the 1980s. By 1988 RIP Magazine was ready for “promotional models”, what we would call “brand ambassadors”, today to sign up all the young men at concerts for all of Larry Flynt’s magazines and who better than Lisa & her hot model friends to get the ball rolling on that. By 1991 the tides of music were turning and everything in the Metal / Glam Rock world was ending fast & hard.
As of 2008 Lisa completed her master’s degree in Psychology and was just shy of her PhD in Media Psychology in 2018 when she withdrew, relocating to Florida to work on state environmental sustainability programs. As of 2023 Lisa's acting & music career saw a retro surge in popularity as everything 80's became hip again on Instagram and we find Lisa living back in Cleveland, Ohio looking after family and getting back to her rock n roll roots, appearing at several events showcasing musicians, actors, and models of 1980s fame. While the Rock N Roll Hall of fame does not currently have the 1980s exhibit on display, 2 of Lisa's scenes from both "The Decline of Western Civilization 2" & "Rumble", are featured in museum film clips, having run in the museum on and off since its opening in September 1995. With a pending book deal for her autobiography & a YouTube series expanding to include featured interviews with her famous & infamous friends from the 1980s, Lisa's career is sure to see new heights topping the top 10,000 celebrities on IMDB.
He is best known for his work as a guitar player in the 1980s and 1990s rock bands Keel, Cold Sweat, and Medicine Wheel.
Keel was known for its power rock anthem "The Right to Rock" from the album of the same name produced by Gene Simmons of KISS. The band toured extensively with the likes of Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Dio, Queensrÿche, and others before disbanding in 1989. Ferrari then formed the band Cold Sweat, which released its only major label offering "Break Out" in 1990.
In the 1992 feature film Wayne's World, Ferrari appeared as the guitarist of Crucial Taunt, reprising his role in Wayne's World 2 (1993). He followed these films with various TV appearances including "Murder, She Wrote" and "Step by Step". He also performed as a guest on Pantera's 1988 album, Power Metal, appearing on the track "Proud to Be Loud", which he wrote, and "We'll Meet Again". An in-demand writer, he co-authored the track "5 Card Stud" with original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley's on Frehley's solo release "Trouble Walking".
As a film/TV composer and producer, Ferrari was honored by the Academy of Arts and Sciences for his contributions to the 1995-1996 Emmy-Award-winning show "Guiding Light", and is a two-time recipient of ASCAP's "Special Writer Award". He is credited in over 125 film and television soundtracks.
In the 1990s Ferrari wrote the column "Power Sources" for Metal Edge Magazine.
In 2002, Ferrari authored the book, Rock Star 101: A Rock Star's Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business, considered to be one of the most authoritative books on the subject, offering a unique perspective of the Music Business from the viewpoint of a working musician.
In the early 1990s, Ferrari founded MasterSource, a company that produced and licensed original music for television and film soundtracks and other media. Under his leadership, MasterSource became a prominent supplier of pre-cleared songs, source music, and production music. The company was acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) in 2007. Ferrari then worked as a senior executive at UMPG, serving as a division President from 2007 until 2012. Since 2012, Ferrari has continued to produce content for various UMPG production music libraries.
Marc will be at ROCKNPOD Expo meeting fans, participating in podcast interviews, and more. Additionally, he’ll be a featured performer at KEELFEST 2 at Bowie’s after the expo with his KEEL bandmates!