Iron Maiden: Nana, Bruce and the ‘Beast’
Until I heard the screaming, galloping glory of “Run to the Hills,” my world was ruled by KISS and AC/DC. Not after this.
Jason McMaster’s (L)ink to Elton John
By Metal Dave Head-to-toe tattoos are as common as ears among rockers these days, but in 1990 it was a fairly rare breed who went shopping for a needle to the ribs. Count Dangerous Toys singer Jason McMaster as a dude who liked being scared (not really). Along with Circus of Power singer Alex Mitchell…
Randy Rhoads and the mystery Strat, Pt. I
By “Metal Dave” As the owner of the guitar brand Rock N Roll Relics, founding Jetboy guitarist Billy Rowe is better known these days for building axes for the likes of Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, Gilby Clarke, Bruce Kulick, Glen Campbell and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. Always ready to tackle anything guitar-related, Rowe was more recently…
Alice Cooper and the Wagners’ gift of gold
In a house filled with a lifetime of rock-n-roll memorabilia, few things are cooler than Robert’s one-of-a-kind gift, which today hangs smack in the middle of my living room for all my guests to admire.
Merle Haggard & Grateful Memories of Dad
By Metal Dave Like all good fathers, my Daddy taught me well. From throwing a spiral and standing my ground to opening doors and respecting our soldiers, Dad handed down the skills and wisdom that got me from boy to man. He also influenced me in subtler ways like playing the greats of country western…
Ace Frehley Shocks Me with an Autograph
I didn’t pay an arm and a leg to get Ace Frehley’s autograph, but I still nearly lost a limb.
R.I.P. Ian ‘Lemmy’ Kilmister: 1945-Eternity
Armed with a Rickenbacker, Jack and smokes, Lemmy blasted through life louder than everyone else. He was defiant, smart and witty enough to crack up a statue. Lemmy was my Keith Richards.
Steve Rodriguez, 1967-2015: RIP and RLF
By Metal Dave My fondest memory of Steve Rodriguez is watching him step out of a van in the parking lot of Curra’s Grill in Austin, Texas. I was there to interview his band The Dragons for Metal Edge magazine (an odd fit, but I pushed hard). With his hoop earrings, sunglasses, dagger-shaped sideburns and…
Paul Di’Anno: The lost interview and beyond with the banished menace of Maiden
By Metal Dave Somewhere between 1990 and 1992, I was sitting beside Paul Di’Anno on a Dumpster-ready backstage couch at the Showcase Events Center in San Antonio. Paul was eagerly devouring American-brand cigarettes and graciously obliging my unscheduled interview. A few hours later, the former Iron Maiden singer would take the stage with his then-new band, Killers. In the end, I…
Aerosmith: Dream Until Your Dreams Come True
Let’s just say meeting Aerosmith was hardly a night in the ruts. The Bad Boys from Boston are a band I can’t live without. And singer Steven Tyler? My absolute favorite.
Hey, Ho! Uh-Oh! I Pissed Off Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone is on the phone and, man, is he ever pissed – at me! He mumbled something about coming down to Texas to kick my ass. Then he hung up.
Un-ACCEPT-able: When Autographs Go Wrong
By Metal Dave I’ve been told my avalanche of rock-n-roll memorabilia could land me on an episode of “Hoarders.” While that’s probably an overstatement (maybe?) from an audience of more-casual music listeners, I’m certainly guilty of clinging to KISS posters I’ve owned for 35 years (and, no, they’re not stored in a box in the…