The third Annual Ride For Ronnie Motorcycle Ride and Concert, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, will take place on Sunday, May 7th, 2017.
Riders will assemble for a continental breakfast at Harley-Davidson of Glendale with kickstands up at 11AM. The ride will take them through the streets of Los Angeles County to Los Encinos Park in Encino, where they will be treated to an afternoon of live music, raffle and live auction, food trucks and more. Last year’s Ride For Ronnie event raised over $50,000 for the cancer charity.
A silent auction will be conducted at one of the exhibit booths throughout the afternoon, while live auctions, featuring one-of-a-kind rock collectibles,will be held during intervals between artist performances.
Food trucks will be on site throughout the day. Those participating include Slammin’ Sliders, G’s Taco Spot, Greenz on Wheelz and Archie’s Ice Cream. Sponsors lending their continued support to the Ride For Ronnie are Harley-Davidson of Glendale, Law Tigers and Ninkasi Brewing Company. New sponsors to the event this year include Bigg Time Entertainment and LA’s rock radio station, 95.5 KLOS.
Both riders and concert-goers can purchase their tickets by visiting: diocancerfund.org.
Greg Prato of Alternative Nation spoke with Angel guitarist Punky Meadows, portions of the interview appear below.
Alternative Nation: Is it true that you were asked to join New York Dolls, Aerosmith, and Kiss at various points?
Punky Meadows: With New York Dolls, Leber and Krebs…David Krebs managed Aerosmith, Nugent, AC/DC, and the Scorpions, I had done an album called BUX with Mickie Jones – the bass player from Angel – and Ralph Morman, who later sang with Joe Perry Project. We did an album up in Boston, and Jack Douglas produced that album, who produced Aerosmith. David Krebs always liked Mickie and I a lot, so we were just putting Angel together, and David called me up and said, “Listen, I’d like to put you and Mickie into the New York Dolls. I think you’d be great in that.” I said, “We have a new band called Angel. I’d really like you to hear this band.” So, we basically turned down the New York Dolls because I was so into Angel, and we went with an organization out in California. But I stayed friends with David, and when Brad Whitford and Joe Perry left Aerosmith, David again called me and said, “Hey, I think you’d be great in Aerosmith.” This was after Angel pretty much was over, but Gregg [Giuffria] and I were still hawking some revamped Angel stuff and were shopping a deal, so I said, “David, Gregg and I are shopping a deal right now.” And he said, “Well, if you change your mind…” but I didn’t. And I was also asked to play with Michael Bolton at one time, too. When Michael first came out, he was wearing leather and was heavier in the beginning, and David said, “I think you’d be a great addition to Michael Bolton.” I turned that down, as well. And then the KISS thing, around the same time David asked me to join Aerosmith, Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss] had left, and KISS had a cattle call out in Los Angeles, looking for a guitar player. And Barry Levine, who was our photographer for Angel and Casablanca Records, Barry was also the photographer for KISS, and they were all good friends. So KISS was recording down at the Record Plant, I think in LA, and Barry said, “Hey, how about Punky Meadows playing in KISS?” And Gene [Simmons] said, “Wow, that’s a great idea!” Gene was always a big fan of mine, as was Paul [Stanley]. Gene, Paul, and Ace first saw Angel at a club called Bogie’s in DC – they came down after they played the Capitol Centre – and freaked out. That’s kind of how we got our record deal with Casablanca in a roundabout way, because when we were shopping a deal with Angel, our manager called Neil Bogart and said, “Hey, I’ve got this band called Angel. We’re looking for a deal, and Gene and Paul saw Angel and loved it.” Neil said, “KISS is playing at Anaheim Stadium this weekend. Maybe I’ll get Angel to open for KISS, so I can get to see the band and what I think of them. Let me call Gene and I’ll call you back.” So Neil calls Gene up and calls us back, and he says, “I’ll tell you what – I’ll sign the band sight unseen, because Gene said, ‘There is no way Angel will ever open up for KISS’!” But we did play for Neil Bogart, and we got our record deal. But getting back to me playing with KISS, Gene and Paul were at the studio recording, and Barry said, “What about Punky?” And Gene said, “That would be a great idea.” So Barry called me up and said, “Gene wants you to come down and send him a couple of tunes. Gene is going to give you a call.” So Gene calls me up, and says, “We’re looking for somebody to replace Ace, and we’d love for you to come and sit in. Why don’t you learn just one side of the Alive! album – I don’t care what side it is.” So I said OK. So I learned one side – I can’t remember what side it was of the Alive! album, it may have been the first side. I went down to SIR Studios where they were rehearsing. When I walked in, they were playing Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin – it was Paul, Gene, and Eric Carr. So I plugged in and played, it sounded really good, so Gene said, “Look, you got the gig. Let’s talk business.” I said, “Well, y’know Gene, I’m right now with Gregg. We’re shopping a deal. I have to think about it.” So, as soon as I said that, Gene got so insulted and offended, that he just stood up, and said, “Come on, Paul, let’s go.” So Gene and Paul just stormed out of the place! I sat with Eric Carr for about half an hour, and talked. Then I went home and Barry called, and said, “Hey Punky, what happened? Paul and Gene came back with their mouths to the floor, and Gene said, ‘No one has ever turned down KISS!’ They were going to offer you $160,000 a year, plus points.” I said, “Well Barry, that sucks, because I didn’t turn them down, I just didn’t say yes right away because I had to let Gregg know – Gregg was my partner, too.” So that’s how that turned out. I guess I insulted Gene and Paul so bad because I didn’t say yes right away. Gene has a big ego, and rightly so – he’s in one of the best bands, ever. And Gene and I were always really good friends – he’d come to our concerts. I actually had a pose where I would point to the neck of my guitar, and Gene saw me do that at the club Bogie’s, and he mimicked that pose of me, and said, “Punky, that’s classic.” I remember we went to LA, signed to Casablanca, and KISS were playing Long Beach, so they invited us all down. I had never see KISS live, that was the first time I saw them live. We went down, and of course, Ace was up there, doing my move. The guys in Angel were like, “He’s stealing your move, man!” So I went backstage afterwards, and Ace said, “Hey man, I stole your move. I hope you don’t mind it – it’s just cool.” And I said, “It’s cool dude. I’m flattered.” But KISS and Angel were on the same label, so we respected each other a lot.
Alternative Nation: What can fans expect at your upcoming shows?
Pinky Meadows: We did BB Kings last year – last June – and it was sold out. That was our very first show we’d done together. It was fun and exciting but also nerve-racking, because we’d never played in front of anybody. It came off really well. This next show is going to be even better, because we’re well-rehearsed now, and we’re going to be touring out west. We’re going to be playing in Las Vegas, San Diego, and also the Whisky in LA. And we’re doing BB Kings, and Poughkeepsie, New York, too. We’re going to kick ass. We do stuff from Fallen Angel and a bunch of classic Angel songs, too. We’ve got two female background singers too, that are really great. That’s what’s fun about doing a solo thing – you do what you want to do. I love vocals, and on my Fallen Angel record, there are a lot of vocals on that record. I mean, I love the Eagles – great vocals. On Fallen Angel, I wanted to have a lot of vocals, so there are a lot of background vocals. It’s going to be a fun show, a good party, a good time.
Sari Cohen of AXS spoke with Wendy Dio and Jeff Pezzuti, the CEO of Eyellusion, about Ronnie James Dio’s hologram.
AXS: Jeff, tell me about Eyellusion and what your mission is with the company?
Jeff Pezzuti: Eyellusion is the only hologram entertainment company solely focused on the live music market. We address full end-to-end hologram production needs, from streaming of live or pre-recorded shows to full digital re-creation of artists who have passed away. We’re working with an expanding roster of artists to help open up new revenue streams, expand touring capabilities and meeting fan demand. The Eyellusion team brings decades of global music industry and live touring experience, combining deep expertise with cutting-edge production and hologram display capabilities. Eyellusion’s mission is to ensure legacies and music giants of today get passed to the next generation. With the uncertainty of the current radio format, creating a new revenue stream for artists will allow more people to see their favorite artists, in any genre, in a live setting.
AXS: Tell me about your journey so far?
JP: Our debut production was the Ronnie James Dio hologram performing at Wacken 2016 with the Dio band, consisting of the guys he played with the last 17 years. We’re in production on a full Ronnie James Dio hologram tour that will play worldwide starting later this year. Beyond our work on the Ronnie James Dio hologram, we are in serious talks and contract negotiations with many other major artists and management and hope to have more to share on that front in the near future.
AXS: Can you tell me how you and Wendy came together and how your individual strengths make you such a great team?
JP: We’re huge Ronnie James Dio fans at Eyellusion. I reached out to Wendy to discuss our idea about putting Ronnie back onstage via hologram, in a way that would really honor his music. I flew to L.A. to meet with her at her office – she was on board almost right away – and the rest is history. Wendy and I complement each other well. Another key member of our team is Todd Singerman of Singerman Entertainment. He’s been a huge asset to the company.
AXS: Wendy, can you share with me what this whole experience has meant to you? What do you hope fans and future fans can take away from the hologram experience?
Wendy Dio: This is an amazing experience, for the fans who knew and loved Ronnie and for the ones that never got a chance to see him in a live concert. Ronnie is back on stage with the Dio Band, keeping his music and his memory alive.
AXS: What’s the latest news on the upcoming tour?
JP: The tour is currently being routed and we are hoping to make an announcement for an end of year kickoff in the coming months. This is not just about the U.S. It is truly a world tour. Ronnie’s fans are spread around the world and we intend to bring this exciting show to as many as we can. The show will not only feature Ronnie and his band but also live singers like Tim “Ripper” Owens [Judas Priest] and others to complete the overall show vision. The show will feature effects and stage design that Ronnie made famous in the ‘80s and will also incorporate new technology into what will be some pretty awesome special effects. It will be a fun experience for all ages, and a way to experience the incredible catalog [Rainbow/Black Sabbath/Dio] that Ronnie made famous. We will feature both the expected songs, as well as some crowd favorites that will be surprises.
The newly reunited Ratt, featuring three members of the band’s classic lineup — singer Stephen Pearcy, bassist Juan Croucier and guitarist Warren DeMartini — has scheduled the following tour dates:
Apr. 26 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
Apr. 27 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Apr. 28 – The Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA
Apr. 29 – M3 Rock Festival – Columbia, MD
May 28 – Rocklahoma – Pryor, OK
Jun. 1 – Limelight – Peoria, IL
Jun. 2 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL
Jun. 3 – Rockfest – Kansas City, KS
Jul. 7 – Uncle Sam Jam – Woodhaven, MI
Jul. 12 – Rock Fest – Cadott, WI
Pearcy, Croucier and DeMartini played their first official show as the reunited Ratt on February 11th at Treasure Island in Welch, Minnesota. They were joined on stage by former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played on RATT’s last studio album, 2010’s Infestation, and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who previously played with Y&T, White Lion and Megadeth, among others.
Ratt’s recent legal troubles over the band’s moniker have been well documented, but in November it appears that members DiMartini, Pearcy and Croucier were granted permission to use the name over former bandmate, Bobby Blozter.
In February, Blozter posted the following message to his Facebook page.
“Hey Rattlers:
Just a small bit of info regarding the three bland mice show over the weekend and where things stand on the legal side 🙂
Thing look a lot worse than you think. If those lying thieves or anyone not privy to this knows whats going on, it sure as fk ain’t over. It it were, where’s the judgement?
PREDICTION: Injunction granted W.B.S. Inc RATT on tour all year.
Can’t give it all but, I can say with a true tongue, this is definitely not over. Very good surprises coming.
I saw a video of a couple of songs. Groundhog day.
SOS, Snoor
The Crypt Keeper Pearcy and his 15 year old stage garb,
It’s All For Rock ‘N’ Roll, the new video from Australian hard rockers Airbourne, can be seen below. The song was written about Lemmy, a man the band looked up to, befriended and loved, having shared stages with Motorhead on numerous occasions over their decade-plus career, both in Europe and Australia; when they needed someone to drive a large truck (recklessly, of course) in their Runnin’ Wild video (2007), Lemmy was the first name on the list, and he duly obliged with a memorable, authority-baitin’ cameo.
Motorhead’s famous “bomber” lighting rig, a noted part of ‘HEAD history since the late ’70s, was enthusiastically lent to Airbourne by the Motorhead camp, adding real emotional weight to both the It’s All For Rock N’ Roll clip and the song itself — an anthemic number recorded to honour one of rock’s most revered and influential figures, and also to celebrate the hard rock genre as a whole, the loyalty and the legacy…
Says Airbourne frontman Joel O’ Keeffe, “When Motorhead played, Lemmy was there for the fans and the fans were there for him. It didn’t matter what was happening in the world at that point, because Motorhead was onstage; the crew had everything dialled in, and the crowd were there and lovin’ it — all for rock ‘n’ roll…
Whenever we were on tour, we looked forward to seeing the festival posters with the big MOTÖRHEAD logo on there, and now there’s just a big black hole. ‘We are Motorhead, and we play rock n’ roll’, we were so used to hearing that, and when it’s not there anymore, it hits you hard… Lemmy meant so much to us, and so much to rock ‘n’ roll itself…”
It’s All for Rock ‘N’ Roll appears on the band’s latest album, Breakin’ Outta Hell, which landed in the Top 10 in both the U.K. and the band’s native Australia after its September 2016 release.
Also, watch Lemmy’s cameo in 2007’s Runnin’ Wild video from their Runnin’ Wild album.
Following the overwhelmingly positive reception to his latest album, World On Fire, legendary Swedish guitar virtuoso Yngwie J. Malmsteen has announced a spring 2017 U.S. headling tour. Yngwie and his ensemble of top-tier musicians will perform pieces from the legendary neo-classical stylings of Rising Force (1984) as well as songs from the fierce World On Fire, and material from everything in between.
Malmsteen last toured the States in 2016 on the Generation Axe tour alongside Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi, playing to more than 70,000 people over 27 dates. Now, Malmsteen is hitting the road once again, and the “World On Fire” tour promises to be one of his most explosive yet!
The dates are as follows:
May 5 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
May 10 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
May 11 – Newton, NJ – Newton Theatre
May 16 – Montreal, Canada – Corona Theatre
May 20 – Covington, KY – Madison Theatre
May 21 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theatre
May 23 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
May 28 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
Jun. 1 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
Jun. 2 – Beverly Hills, CA – Saban Theatre
Jun. 4 – Ventura, CA – Majestic Ventura Theatre
Jun. 6 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
Jun. 9 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Live!
Jun. 10 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
