Whatever happened to… It’s a question I get all the time and for a while a segment we were doing on That Metal Show. But it is also something that makes me nuts on a daily basis when I hear it from some fans about most artists. If you listen to my SiriusXM show, which is as much talk, interview and calls as it is music, you know I get calls from people all over the US with some pretty insane questions. Examples? Whatever happened to Ted Nugent, Queensryche, Jake E Lee, Mark Slaughter. And that was just last week’s show! I even once had whatever happened to Iron Maiden! I shit you not! It’s a big country and I get not everyone is as invested in this stuff as I am. I also appreciate that these people are listening to or emailing me and they are fans, and I appreciate that. But is is insane to me in the age of the internet that anyone could wait on the phone 45 minutes to ask Whatever Happened To any artist when Google is a click away. 99% of the artists I get asked about the answer is the same, NOTHING happened to them! They are still touring and likely making new music as well! Why does this make me so nuts? Because many of these artists are struggling greatly to get people to come see them and to buy their new music.It’s not 1988. They aren’t going to be on MTV, have a poster up in the mall, or be front page news. But if you are a fan of any artist there is simply no excuse for not bookmarking their site and knowing everything they are doing, how to buy their new music, and if they are playing near you. If you just check the music news on this site you will have a big leg up on everything going on daily. It could not be easier in this day and age and there is simply no excuse if you are a fan of an artist to not know what they are up to. This doesn’t mean I won’t take calls on it or sometimes engage in it on TV. I love discussing this stuff. But the bigger issues is that we have rock and metal artists dying out there to get a ticket or CD sold. So if you are wondering about your favorite artist catch me if you can and I am happy to discuss. But for the love of rock PLEASE search online and you will know everything, and you can about what they are up to. 9 times out of 10 they are active and looking for YOU to help them keep going!
PS: I am also aware there are some artists that are off the radar completely these days like Vito Bratta (who I get asked about all the time and is simply out of music), or more recently Jason Newsted (who apparently has once again checked out of music). There are some valid questions asked. But the huge majority of the questions are about artists who are 100% active and have online profiles. No excuse if you are a fan and care about them to live under a rock and not make a couple clicks on a keyboard to learn all and support them!
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When I went to the store to buy Rock or Bust the cashier looked at me and said, “AC/DC? They’re still making music.”
I was actually doing this just the other day. Wanted to find out about Denny Carmassi’s (Montrose, Heart) brother Billy, also a drummer, who I used to know in the East Bay back in the day. Everything I wanted to know was just a click or two away, and that’s pretty obscure.
BTW, what about having Denny on; he not only killed it in Montrose, he provided the skins on Heart’s breakthrough to mega status with hits like “What About Love” and “Alone”
Google is your friend! Can’t believe people don’t try that first.
Only took me a few seconds to find some info on one of my favorite obscure 80s metal bands “Tsunami.”
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Tsunami/1522
https://youtu.be/ChHYviaTvB0
whatever happened to the real paul Stanley who was a noted contributer to these boxes. I miss him.
I love Eddie’s rants…usually around the Rock and Roll HOF announcements but every once and a while one slips out lol. Seriously, I agree with you Eddie…who the f–k can’t use Google?
There must have been a question that pissed you off…please share so we can all laugh…thanks!