The latest news in the world of hard rock from the US including news on Randy Rhoads, Queensrcyhe, Poison, Sammy Hagar and Quiet Riot
Two Commemorative Shows Planned as Tributes to Randy Rhodes
March 19, 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of Randy Rhoads, one of rock music’s most admired guitarists. Randy Rhoads passed away in a tragic plane accident while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
The Randy Rhoads Remembered shows will feature every song that Randy wrote and played on from the Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman albums as well as select tracks from Randy’s early catalog with Quiet Riot. Each song will feature a different renowned guitarist performing one of Randy’s classics.
Two commemorative shows are planned: The Canyon Club & Special Events Center in Agoura Hills, CA on March 19 and Count’s Vamp’d in Las Vegas on March 24. See bashfest.us for tickets and VIP packages.
The shows feature the house band, The Madmen, anchored by Rudy Sarzo (Randy’s closest friend) formerly of the Blizzard of Ozz band on bass. He was on tour with Randy at the time of his death. Rudy, who also played with Randy in Quiet Riot, also played in Whitesnake, Dio, Queensrÿche and Blue Öyster Cult. Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner, Billy Idol, The Dead Daisies) who has also played in Ozzy Osbourne’s band will be on drums. Randy’s brother Kelle Rhoads and his sister Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio will also be there to pay tribute to their brother.
Queensrÿche singer Todd LaTorre Joins Metal All Stars to Record Relief Songs for Steve Grimmett
Queensrÿche singer Todd LaTorre joins a list a of metal all-star artists in the re-recording of three classic Grim Reaper songs that will be made available for purchase digitally and on vinyl. All proceeds of the songs will go to Steve Grimmett‘s (Grim Reaper) medical and recovery costs.
LaTorre said: “Grim Reaper was very much a part of my formative metal years! The music has given so much to me, I am proud to be able to give back in any capacity. Wishing Steve the very best!”
Grimmett had been hospitalized in Ecuador since mid-January; the singer fell ill during a tour in support of Grim Reaper’s latest album, Walking In The Shadows. Grimmett has endured multiple operations that have resulted in the near complete loss of his right leg. As of February 28, Grimmett and his wife Mille are now back in the UK; he is at Great Western Hospital recovering and has been given the green light to go home.
The Reaper All-Stars include Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus), Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Doro Pesch, Lips (Anvil), Ross The Boss (Manowar), Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche), Chuck Billy (Testament), Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and many more.
The donation page is here. To date $14,000 has been raised so far.
Poison Announces First Headlining Tour Dates In Over A Decade
Poison will perform all its greatest hits as they headline select dates for the first time in over a decade. All four original members — Bret Michaels, Bobby Dall, Rikki Rockett and C.C. DeVille — will play limited headline dates in the U.S. and Canada. Although they have co-headlined in the past with Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe and KISS, among others, these will be Poison‘s first headline dates in over ten years.
States Michaels: “I’m really looking forward to the Poison tour. It’s going to be incredible playing all the hits and putting on a hell of a high-energy rock show for the three generations of awesome fans.”
For tour dates click here.
Sammy Hagar Releases Videos for Five Tracks from “This is Sammy Hagar, Vol. 1”
Sammy Hagar just launched a track-by-track video series in support of his album, This Is Sammy Hagar, Vol 1: When The Party Started, released in November 2016.
Hagar said, “This CD is a collection of what I feel are the best songs I wrote post Van Halen that mostly didn’t get a lot of mainstream attention. When I left Van Halen I formed the Wabos as an alternative to the superstar big-time, high-maintenance commercial world I had been living in since I joined Montrose in 1972.
“With the Wabos; Jesse Harms, David Lauser, Vic Johnson, Mona and myself, we locked ourselves in my basement studio. We rehearsed and recorded anything and everything I wrote. I was not interested in the big recording industry machine, well known producers, or major label A&R people telling me what to do. In fact, when I finished some songs I ran them by my friends at major labels, they would all say “this is not what we want from Sammy Hagar”. And I would say “but THIS IS SAMMY HAGAR, this is who Sammy Hagar is today!” I was obviously changing into more of a lifestyle artist – some got it, some didn’t.
“This is when the party started; I played hundreds, maybe thousands, of shows anywhere and everywhere without a set list and built a hard-core following of ‘Redheads’. ”
Reformed Quiet Riot New Album Road Rage Due in April
Quiet Riot are back with a new studio album, Road Rage, due for release on April 21. The band now consists of drummer Frankie Banali, bassist Chuck Wright, guitarist Alex Grossi, and vocalist Seann Nicols.
“I’m very excited about the release of Road Rage which is the first official Quiet Riot release in eleven years. It contains all newly written and recorded original songs. We stayed true to the great tradition and sound of Quiet Riot while at the same time always moving musically forward”, says founding member Frankie Banali.
Frankie Banali‘s history with Quiet Riot spans over 34 years and he has the distinction of being the only member of Quiet Riot to have recorded on every single Quiet Riot release from 1983’s Metal Health through 2017’s Road Rage. After nearly ten years since the loss of his friend and bandmate Kevin DuBrow, and with the blessings and support of DuBrow‘s family, Frankie has moved forward with the band to bring the fans Road Rage.
