A highly entertaining, behind-the-amps tour of the 1970s arena-rock connections, rivalries, misfires and grand designs linking the “hottest band in the land” to Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and the cultishly influential, yet eternally dimmed Starz.
Calling from an Iowa stop on Van Halen’s “Balance” tour, Eddie comes across as refreshingly unaffected by his superstar status. He apologizes for taking five seconds to find an ashtray, then exudes an enthusiasm rarely found in an 18-year rock veteran. He also laughs – a lot.
The 10-track “Evil in the Queue” revisits an explosive night of ear-splitting volume and eye-spinning visuals.
“We were all on the crazy train, as Ozzy says, and it was a fabulous time to be in rock and roll,” Halford says of the debauched 1980s.
For a rock-n-roll journalist, few interviews carry more weight than Metallica. Were they among my favorite interviews? Not really. Will I brag about them to anyone who will listen? Most definitely.
On latest album “House of Noise,” Massive Wagons flip the switch to full-on, bouncy, good fun. Go ahead, put a party in your speakers!
On “Rest in Pieces,” Heaven Below takes on Chris Cornell (“Like a Stone”), Ronnie James Dio (“Hungry for Heaven”) and Judas Priest (“Desert Plains”), among others.
I never intended to piss off Joey Ramone, but you know what they say about the road to hell. Unfortunately, my 1994 interview really ripped his leather, but thankfully, Joey had a surprise up his sleeve.
“I always tell my band there are three things I can guarantee you: You’ll see the world, you’re gonna get paid and you’re gonna get stitches,” Alice said.
Mötley Crüe, Poison and the New York Dolls have all lived like they wanted to die. From overdoses and car crashes to legal scrapes and porno tapes, few bands have been more determined to live fast, die young and leave a pack of pickled corpses.
It’s no secret my head’s full of (hard) rock, but I’m still shamelessly in tune with my heartstrings.
Some of the greatest rock-n-roll was wrapped in velvet flares, but if you’re gonna mirror the masters, you better get it right. Cue The Claws.