Archive: The Rockstar Ramblings Columns
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The Rockstar Ramblings: The new Ratt album
Ever since the release of Out of The Cellar I have been a big fan of Ratt and their music. Given this you can imagine my curiosity when I heard they have finished their latest album and that they have returned to their classic sound. To my knowledge neither album title nor track titles have been released at this point. Do I wait patiently to hear the song list, or do I take this time and try to guess the album title and track names? Quite the quandary… Here are my thoughts on the title and songs on the upcoming album broken down old school in two sides. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: The Winger Comeback
During a week that featured Dokken teaming with Norton Antivirus ("Imagine that your hard drive is a chicken. '80s heavy metal band DOKKEN is a computer virus that wants to blow up your chicken. Don't allow heavy metal bands to have their way with your chicken. Get PC protection with Norton Internet Security 2010.") and Vince Neil opening ANOTHER tattoo parlor that will feature go-go dancers it, was two other bands that stole the show. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: The Rehab Special Report
It appears Crue fans will have to rest for a Summer as Cruefest goes on hiatus until 2011. Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) does however leave the possibility open of having the festival continue next year with a new headlining act. Here’s hoping W.A.S.P. and Blackie Lawless are ready with a bucket of raw meat and sharp knives to cut people… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: A Metal Video Marathon
Jon Bon Jovi alone increased acid washed denim sales by 40 percent. In the videos “Living on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” there are more ass shots of Jon than two years of Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez on TMZ…There is no way the Latin kid playing the drug lord in Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood” rises to the top of the underworld…I always thought it was assumed Poison wore the most spandex until I saw the number of tight changes in David Lee Roth’s “Goin Crazy”…KISS easily has the most body hair of any rock band…The song “You’ve got Another Thing Coming” by Judas Priest takes on different meaning from when I first saw it years ago… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Tribute to the Microphone
Ever since the days of Jim Morrison using his microphone stand for self arousal the mic has been a key tool for rock singers and their act. This was specifically true for the glam heavy metal acts in the eighties. Here’s a breakdown of the microphone cowboys and their unique style.
The Rockstar Ramblings: Side A Song 1
There was once a time when music wasn’t downloaded one song at a time, had (in the case of albums and cassettes) two sides (an A side and B side), and song order was not only a conscious decision, but a reason an album would be successful.
Today we look at the glam heavy metal scene (late seventies to early nineties) and review the best first tracks.
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The Rockstar Ramblings: Restraining Orders and M&M
Both Slash (Guns N Roses/Velvet Revolver) and Steven Adler (Guns N Roses/Adler’s Appetite) have filed restraining orders against the same woman. Adler claims a woman he met in rehab is stalking him. She is also trying to contact Adler through Slash. One thing we know for sure, she definitely has a type. KISS has announced a special promotion with M&Ms. Expected to be available in October, there is no word whether Gene Simmons will be sending over any of the brown candies to Eddie Van Halen’s dressing room… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Rock Tavern Edition
This week announced the official open of Feelgood’s Rock Bar & Grill, the new venture from Vince Neil (Motley Crue), in Las Vegas. Neil is by no means the first rock star to open a bar. For many years Sammy Hagar, Alice Cooper, as well as others have made the connection of booze to rock fans. However, what makes this particular opening special is the expectations set for decadence in a true rock and roll atmosphere. With a sound system fit for a stadium you will find live rock (including a house band), privacy in the V-rooms, and hosting after-parties for the bands Whitesnake and Judas Priest (already booked) Neil is introducing the future of rock bars. The question is who will be the next to follow this trend? I’ve broken down some of the potential favorites: More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Five Deserted Island Songs
The autobiography of Ozzy Osbourne is set to be released in the UK in October. In a recent interview he discusses his life: “When people ask me how I’m still alive I don’t have an answer for them. There have been suicide attempts, STDs, overdoses, and I’ve been hit by a plane, yet I’m still here.” Leave it to Ozzy to casually throw in the “I’ve been hit by a plane” story, easily topping all other rock autobiographies before his…In L.A. a new promotion for the MLB team Dodgers shows residents on billboards with the caption THIS IS MY TOWN. Both Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) and Bret Michaels (Poison) head shots are displayed on giant billboards. No word on if there are plans to feature Jani Lane (Warrant)… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: A Tribute to Cherry Pie
In a recent interview Michael Sweet (Stryper) confirmed that the band has sold eight million albums. Welcome to the new segment called, “Holy Shit! That’s Crazy!”… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: A Big John Sighting
Poison will be featured in VH1’s new Live & Loud series. It is recommended girls wear the least amount of clothing as possible considering this could turn into a casting session for a potential Rock of Love 4 show….Steven Adler (Guns N Roses) recently commented on bands and stars he met while touring with his band Adler’s Appetite. When asked about his show in Minnesota (where Bret Michaels was playing) he commented, “I didn’t get to meet Bret Michaels, but did get to meet Big John, and he’s the main guy on that show Rock of Love”. Thank you Steven for this week’s installment of “let’s boost Big John’s confidence”…. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Shout vs Cellar vs Hungry
Three rock albums were releases during 1983-1984 that would change my life. For a boy approaching his teen years these albums (actually cassette tapes) opened me up to a new world that remains part of me today. These albums were Ratt’s “Out of The Cellar,” Motley Crue’s “Shout at The Devil,” and Twisted Sister’s “Stay Hungry.” Given these three bands are back touring (Ratt and Twisted Sister playing these albums in their entirety) and the albums are celebrating 25+ years I thought it might be a good time to break down these volumes and see how they influenced, compared to each, and hold up today. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: The Strip Club Factor
Jani Lane (Warrant) has had a rough couple of weeks. First, he is pulled over and charged with a DUI. Next, the band Warrant puts out a press release notifying the world that Jani is no longer part of their band. Finally, it comes to light that Lane owes over 100K in federal taxes. Stay strong Jani Lane, you still have your ballads. They can’t take your ballads. Keep repeating that to yourself. It’s going to be okay… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Top 5 Strip Club Songs
At the 63rd Annual Tony Awards Bret Michaels (Poison) was hit in the head by a descending stage prop. Watching the clip, I couldn’t help think that had Michaels done the “drop and roll” move from the “Talk Dirty To Me” video this whole fiasco could have been avoided. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Ozzy & Hookers for Jesus
Ozzy Osbourne is suing the original members of Black Sabbath, claiming all four should share naming rights of the band. I’m assuming Ozzy is referring to Toni Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Sharon Osbourne…. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Rock and Ribs
Ex-front man Stephen Pearcy (Ratt, Arcade, Rat Bastards) is currently on tour. He is singing songs from all of his previous bands as well as playing all leads on the guitar, giving new meaning to a SOLO tour. Taking a page from Bret Michaels, Pearcy is also looking for all girl rock bands for an upcoming reality show. On the surface this appears to be a way to meet girls and exploit them on reality television; however, he insists it is all legit. Well played Stephen, wink-wink. More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Jack Osbourne Updates
Ozzy Osbourne continues to keep his family employed. This week it was announced that Jack Osbourne is producing a documentary on Ozzy titled “Wreckage of My Past” where candid interviews will be given by those close to him. Can anyone else wait ten years from now when Jack heads up an Ozzy tribute band? More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: Size Does Matter
As we stumble upon the summer tour season we constantly hear the phrase “big” tour. Whether it is in reference to the number of bands playing, number of asses in the seats, or size of the stage show, a lot of bands claim to own the “big show” title.
Bands like Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, and Aerosmith (among others) for years have touted their tours in this regard and all (to some degree) have a right to throw their hat in the circle. This year is no exception: Kiss is following up a new album with what they are calling their biggest show ever, Metallica is again filling arenas on the road, and festivals drawing many bands are still going strong. Does tour “size” need to be qualified? Probably not, but what the hell….I personally haven’t given much thought to this until this week when I read the following: As AC/DC prepares for their Australian tour there is word that they will need forty-eight semi trailers to haul their equipment. Forty-eight trailers? I’ll let that one hang there for a minute… More...
The Rockstar Ramblings: American Idol Edition
Well, I think this makes it official. Velvet Revolver is unable to find a new lead singer. What else could possibly explain Slash appearing on the Fox family hour better known as American Idol? More...