Jetboy: Glam-Rock Hopefuls Missed by a Hair Despite Connections to Poison, KISS & GN’R
Millions of worthy rock bands have flown beneath the radar, but few have weathered the public tailspin of glam contenders, Jetboy.
Shot Down in Flames: Original AC/DC Singer Recalls Early Days With Future Rock Gods
In 2008, Classic Rock magazine asked me to track down and interview AC/DC’s original lead singer. Impossible, right? He’s been dead since 1980! Wrong! Read on …
Interview: Saxon Singer Biff Byford Phones 2Fast2Die to Discuss 20th Album, ‘Sacrifice’
Since its release earlier this year, “Sacrifice,” has been in heavy rotation at 2Fast2Die thanks to its perfect blend of Saxon’s former glory and modern-day power. With the legendary band recently announcing a North American tour that stops at Backstage Live in San Antonio on Sept. 27, I caught up with Saxon’s ever-gracious lead singer, Biff Byford, to discuss the making of this fantastic album.
Dangerous Toys: Texans Made Some Noise, But Weren’t Aiming to be Guns N’ Roses
“Lyrically, the Toys were a mixed batch of rock and metal,” McMaster says. “’Sport’N A Woody’ is about my dick having a mind of its own, but ‘Bones in the Gutter’ is about a murder. So, yeah, the Toys were more about parties, but we also had room for the occasional psychopath.”
Welcome to the Junkyard: How two Texans moved to Hollywood and rolled with GN’R
Not caring a Ratt’s ass about power ballads or stuffing their trousers, Junkyard played a tougher-than-denim blend of black-eyed blooze that snarled like Rose Tattoo getting wasted on Skynyrd’s moonshine. If Hollywood was a helium balloon filled with glammy guitar wankers and shirtless pretty boys, Junkyard was the dirty needle aiming to take it down.
Rancid Talks ‘Life,’ Tattoos, Madonna & More, Backstage at Warped Tour 1998
From the do-it-yourself haircuts and crazy quilt of tattoos (guitarist Lars Frederiksen has the word “Beer” carved inside his lower lip) to the shout-along working-class anthems and high-energy stage presence, Rancid is punk rock’s genuine article.
Ask CJ Ramone: What’s Your Favorite Album?
With “Reconquista” serving as his latest calling card (following releases under the band names Los Gusanos and Bad Chopper – look ‘em up), CJ Ramone recently caught up with 2Fast2Die to plug his latest album and share his all-time favorite.
TUFF: Bassist Todd Chaisson Talks Makeover, Tour, Brothers, Thrash Metal & Glam Roots
By Metal Dave With seven kids under one roof, there’s bound to be some commotion. When three of them decide to become professional bassists in hard-rock bands like Keel, Badlands and TUFF, it’s probably safe to assume the cops knew their way to the Chaisson home. “My parents were amazing people!” said TUFF bassist Todd…
The Mistakes: Erased Before Making A Mark, Glam-Punks Deliver New CD & Colorful Past
By Metal Dave I first heard about The Mistakes while interviewing Poison singer Bret Michaels in 1999. Always quick with tons of fun stories, Bret was making the point that, despite Poison’s frilly image and blockbuster power ballads, the band still attracted its share of hard-ass freaks. “There’s a band out in L.A. called The…
Motorhead: Getting ‘Hammered’ with Lemmy … And Sparing No F-bombs Along the Way!
Looking for some candy-ass rock star interview? Then run from the room screaming! Looking instead for some unscripted, brutally honest, always hilarious and fully intelligent insight from rock’s most enduring warhorse? Then stir up some Jack and Coke, and enjoy my 2002 Houston Press interview with Motorhead main man Lemmy Kilmister.
Interview: Aerosmith Drummer Joey Kramer Talks New Album, ‘Idol,’ Skynyrd, ’70s Insanity
Prior to last week’s release of Aerosmith’s 15th album, “Music From Another Dimension,” Kramer phoned to discuss four decades of classic hard rock, toxic excess, hard-won sobriety and that prickly issue of singer Steven Tyler’s two-year stint on “America Idol.”
Tom Hamilton Talks Shoplifting, Sobriety, ‘Sweet Emotion’ and Meeting Ace Frehley
Just because Steven Tyler and Joe Perry pulled rank as Aerosmith’s “Toxic Twins,” that doesn’t mean the rest of the band was all cookies and chocolate milk. “Yeah, they get all the credit even though I worked so hard at fucking up my life,” said bassist Tom Hamilton during my 1999 interview.