L.A. WEEKLY ARTICLE EXPOSES THE SECRET LIFE OF OFFSTAGE MUSICIANS

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Matt Wake of L.A. Weekly wrote a feature article on the strange, hidden world of offstage musicians. Portions of the story appear below.

It looked like a big black tent. Offstage right and behind the bass bin speakers in a Stockholm arena, Ozzy Osbourne’s crew had set up a portable vocal booth. Inside the booth’s black curtained exterior was a microphone and stand, floor wedge monitor, and an intercom to communicate directly with the sound engineer. The booth also contained a video monitor scrolling lyrics — to Osbourne’s metallic solo hits like Crazy Train and Black Sabbath classics like War Pigs — from the bottom of the screen to the top.

Two weeks earlier, Robert Mason came home to his Tempe, Arizona apartment to find a message on his answering machine from Osbourne’s wife and hard-nosed manager, Sharon Osbourne. Sharon’s message went something like, “We want to know if you’d be interested in doing live vocals on tour — backgrounds, harmonies and that kind of stuff. Call me back.”

…Mason called Sharon back to let her know he wanted the job. A few weeks later, he was in Stockholm for his first soundcheck, looking at “the big black tent.” He doesn’t remember being told before then that he’d actually be doing his singing offstage.

“It never really mattered to me [whether] I was going to be onstage,” says Mason, calling from a Nashville recording session with Warrant, the L.A. pop-metal band he’s sung with since 2008. “I was over the moon in every sense to be able to do that [Ozzy] gig. From the Sabbath days all the way through, Ozz has really [only] ever had four guys onstage. I would think that’s what he’s comfortable with.”

…At Sharon’s request, Mason’s presence on the tour was kept “pretty quiet.” “Because you know the first thing everybody would say,” Mason says. “‘Oh, Ozzy can’t sing anymore. He’s got a guy singing backstage for him.’ Which was not what was going on. It was a very organic, kind of real thing.” Mason sang harmonies and “a lot of Black Sabbath stuff was double- and triple-tracked vocals, so live I did some of that.”

Asked for a comment as to why Ozzy used an offstage singer at the time and if he still used offstage musicians, Sharon Osbourne replied via email through a publicist. “Why are we talking about something that happened 20 years ago? We tried it out for one leg of the tour, but it didn’t work out. By the way, Black Sabbath has had a keyboard player offstage for more than four decades. Ozzy also uses an off-stage keyboard player, which is no secret to the fans as they are credited in the tour programs and on live releases.”

Mason recalls being listed in the tour program in Japan and Europe, but not in the U.S. Ozzy’s offstage keyboardist back then was John Sinclair, who was stationed next to Mason’s vocal booth. The two offstage musicians developed camaraderie over a shared fondness for automobiles and being Ozzy’s “secret weapons,” Mason says.

…Keyboardist Brett Tuggle recently returned to his Porter Ranch home after playing 120 shows with Fleetwood Mac. Tuggle has been playing onstage with the Mac going on 19 years now. Prior to that, Tuggle’s career included eight years with then-former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, beginning on the tour supporting Roth’s first solo LP, Eat ‘Em and Smile in 1986.

Tuggle played most of the Eat ‘Em and Smile sets offstage. He’d sing the high, Michael Anthony background vocals when Roth and his virtuosic new solo band, which included guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Gregg Bissonette, played Van Halen hits like Panama.

…Offstage right, Tuggle would play his synthesizers and sing set up near the bass and guitar techs. However, for the last few songs of the set, keyboard-heavy numbers like Goin Crazy! and California Girls, Tuggle would take his place onstage, behind a lit keyboard stationed on a platform above Sheehan’s bass rig. A personal highlight of the show for him was when Roth would turn around, point up to Tuggle and bellow into the mic, “Hit it, Tugg!” This was Tuggle’s cue to begin the instantly recognizable chords from Van Halen’s keyboard-driven smash Jump. “And it was so freaking loud in the P.A. in an arena,” Tuggle says. “You get to be that guy.”

…The Roth offstage gig eventually grew into a full-fledged band membership. He even got a co-writing credit on Roth’s 1988 hit single, Just Like Paradise, off the singer’s second solo album, Skyscraper. He looks back on the Roth years as easily one of his best jobs ever (the scads of backstage super-babes on the Eat ‘Em and Smile trek didn’t hurt).

…”Gene Simmons was not into it,” he says with a laugh. “He didn’t want that guy up there.”

No, Gene Simmons did not, as Gary Corbett can tell you with a good-natured laugh. Corbett did offstage keyboards and background vocals on Kiss tours promoting late ’80s and early ’90s LPs Crazy Nights, Hot in the Shade and Revenge. Before that, his credits including co-writing Cyndi Lauper’s top-five hit She Bop and working with the solo band of former Foreigner singer Lou Gramm, who recommended Corbett to KISS’s Paul Stanley. Stanley was looking for someone to play offstage keys for KISS because Crazy Nights featured lots of synths — played in the studio by New York session man Phil Ashley, who was unavailable for the tour.

“There seemed to be a trend in the ’80s that bands didn’t want the image of having a keyboard player on stage,” Corbett says, calling from his Nashville home studio. “Some people think keyboards aren’t as much of a rock instrument as a guitar. Gene Simmons is definitely of that mindset.” He laughs. “At every soundcheck, if the sound man asked me, ‘Could you just give me a couple of notes,’ [Simmons] would immediately put his hands behind his back and act like he was ice skating around a rink.”

…Whether a KISS song contained keyboard parts or not, Corbett says he played on every number at every concert he ever did with the band. Instead of adding, say, piano fills, he’d double rhythm guitar parts with a gnarly, guitar-ish synth tone. “Those guys put on such a show. Gene and Paul are running around so much, and sometimes the playing takes a backseat to the show. So in order for certain parts to never stop, you reinforce Paul’s guitar parts or you’re doubling the bass on certain things to fill out the bottom end.”

When Corbett started with KISS, he was hidden offstage left behind stacks of speakers. However, a gaffe at the 1988 Monsters of Rock show put him in plain sight. “It was such a big show that they had big Diamond Vision screens on each side of the stage. So when the guys that were working the cameras on the side of the stage were roaming around and filming everything, I guess nobody told them that they weren’t supposed to be filming me. So during Rock and Roll All Nite, I’m standing there singing and playing and having a good time. And later I found out I was on the big screens in front of like 60,000 people, which I don’t think made the guys very happy.” (KISS’ management did not reply to multiple requests for comment.)

After Kiss, Corbett hooked up with bluesier metal act Cinderella, playing with that band onstage up to 2011,…Corbett says he’s been offered other offstage gigs, but turned those down, including one with Whitesnake. “I never felt weird about the offstage thing while I was doing it because it was KISS, a huge, legendary band. I never could have envisioned [being] a keyboard player in KISS. They knew the fans would never accept that in that band … they would have hated me, I think,” he says with a laugh.

…Both Corbett and Robert Mason have no regrets about their offstage gigs, and both gained newfound appreciation for the stars they toured with.

…One night over drinks at a West Hollywood hotel lounge with musicians from Cry of Love and several other bands, a member of Cheap Trick hinted at the subject. Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez, who was seated at the same table and had thus far largely ignored Mason, suddenly turned to the singer wide-eyed and exclaimed, “Wait. You’re the tent guy?”

Read the entire column at the L.A. Weekly.

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GUNS N’ ROSES ICONIC LINEUP HEADING TO MEXICO

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Guns N’ Roses continue to incite a fan frenzy as they announce yet another headlining date in North America with the addition of Tuesday, April 19th, 2016 in Mexico City, Mexico at the Foro Sol, announced today. Banamex pre-sale begins February 8th at 11am CT, ending February 9 at 10pm CT; general onsale is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10 at 11am CT. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com.mx.

Following the group’s 1985 formation, Guns N’ Roses injected unbridled, unrivaled, and unstoppable attitude into the burgeoning Los Angeles rock scene. The spirit went on to captivate the entire world with the release of their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction –the best-selling U.S. debut ever, moving 30 million copies globally.

In 1991, the seven-time platinum Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II occupied the top two spots of the Billboard Top 200 upon release. Over the course of the past decade, Guns N’ Roses have performed sold out shows and headlined festivals worldwide following the critically acclaimed release of 2008’s RIAA platinum-certified Chinese Democracy. Six studio albums later, Guns N’ Roses are one of the most important and influential acts in music history and continue to set the benchmark for live performances connecting with millions of fans across the globe.

Confirmed Dates:

April 8 T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, NV
April 9 T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, NV
April 16 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Indio, CA
April 19 Foro Sol Mexico City, Mexico
April 23 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Indio, CA

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RICHIE KOTZEN FIRST-EVER PROFESSIONALLY FILMED DVD, “RICHIE KOTZEN LIVE” STREAMING NOW ON YOUTUBE

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Richie Kozten released his first-ever professionally filmed DVD, Richie Kotzen Live, October 13th, 2015 through his Headroom-Inc label. He has now made it available for fans worldwide to stream on his official YouTube page.

As Kotzen explains, “I was thinking that there are so many fans around the world that simply don’t have access to or can’t afford to buy this content. Not that I’m looking to give everything away, but I thought by making this available for people to watch on YouTube I was sort of giving back a bit to all the great people who have bought my music, concert tickets, and generally supported my pretty much ‘underground’ career over the last 20 years. Those who can afford or desire to own the full resolution DVD still have the option of buying it as well…and I hope they do as I’ve still got a few on-going bills to pay (laughing).”

Kotzen and his band ended their 2014-2015 tour in Tokyo, Japan at Akasaka Blitz, where they shot the entire concert in high-definition. This is Kozten and his band—bassist Dylan Wilson and drummer Mike Bennett–at their best. It features some of his classics, You Can’t Save Me, Remember, as well as new songs Cannibals, War Paint and
Walk With Me. The collection also includes off-the-chart improvisational solo sections between Kotzen and his virtuoso rhythm section. This live DVD concert is a must-have for Kotzen fans worldwide, and it’s the perfect introduction to those who have yet to be a part of the Richie Kotzen experience.

Richie currently plays guitar and fronts The Winery Dogs with bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Mike Portnoy (the band’s latest Hot Streak album debuted at #2 on the Billboard “Top Current Alternative Albums” chart and #5 on Billboard’s “Top Current Hard Music” chart). The trio is on tour in Europe through the end of February. U.S. tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

To purchase Richie Kotzen Live

Amazon
CD Baby

Richie Kotzen on the web:

richiekotzen.com
facebook.com/richiekotzenmusic
twitter.com/Richie_Kotzen
youtube.com/user/RichieKotzenOfficial

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MOONSTONE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA TO FEATURE KISS, DEF LEPPARD, QUEENSRYCHE, BUCKCHERRY, SEBASTIAN BACH, AND MORE

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The updated line-up for the inaugural Moonstone Music Festival will include performances from Evanescence, AwolNation, Best Coast, Buckcherry, Kansas, Queensryche and many more. Set to debut April 30th and May 1st, 2016 in Orlando, FL at the Central Florida Fairgrounds, these acts join previously announced headliners KISS, along with full sets from Def Leppard, Kansas, Flaming Lips, Vintage Trouble, Sebastian Bach, White Buffalo, Scott Stapp, Surfer Blood, and Raveneye at the multi-stage, live music celebration featuring five unique performance areas featuring an eclectic array of music and comedy.

In the comedy realm, Moonstone will showcase a comedic sampling of rock-friendly talent including Jim Florentine, Jim Norton, Judah Friedlander, Tom Segura, Nate Bargazte, Brent Morin and Stump The Trunk w/ Eddie Trunk Live!

Beyond the performances, Moonstone will stimulate the soul, delivering positive emotions, passion and a party/celebratory spirit for festival goers all while paying homage to the Rock Gods. The outdoor weekend-long event is timed to take advantage of the perfect weather that Florida offers at the beginning of the U.S. festival season. From the minute attendees enter the transformed Central Florida Fairgrounds, they’ll be met with a colorful, atmospheric festival site and they’ll be engaged in a stimulating layout offering a variety of entertainment options featuring rock music of all genres, comedy, side show attractions and live art, along with an astounding variety of food offerings and an eclectic market place.

Ticketing packages include Moonstone:

General Admission: $229

Rock N Roll All Nite VIP package for $690 (includes access to multiple VIP areas and unlimited sponsored beverages within VIP areas, exclusive priority entrance, FREE VIP on site parking, exclusive multiple stage viewing, shaded and relaxed lounge seating)

Teen Pass [10-17 only] $127

Lets Get Rocked VIP Package: $1500 (all VIP amenities, plus meet the Promoter With an Exclusive Private Tour of the Festival, Attend a VIP Early Access Private Event Friday, April 29th, with Special Guests, Exclusive Access to the Stage Right Club Includes [Your Choice (1) Lunch or Dinner, Exclusive Private Bathrooms, Souvenir Festival T-Shirt and Lanyard])

Rock The Boat VIP: $6,400 (All Lets Get Rocked VIP amenities, plus the ability to dock your boat at the Moonstone Custom Built Stage Two Slip, two VIP All Access Weekend Passes, plus the ability to purchase two Tag Along Passes: $500.00 [each two maximum])

Glamp IT VIP: $7,400 (All Lets Get Rocked VIP amenities including two VIP All Access Weekend Passes, plus the ability to purchase two (maximum) Tag Along Passes: $500.00, plus on-site Personal, Luxury, Air Conditioned RV [includes VIP Parking at RV Site])

Almost Famous VIP: $16,500 (All Lets Get Rocked VIP amenities, four all access festival passes, plus the ability to live like a rock star on your private air-conditioned luxury tour bus located in the artist compound, complete with your personal rider, full access to Mainstage Private Viewing Deck, exclusive Meet and Greet with the headliner of your choice, meals provided throughout the weekend, 24/7 on Call Liaison/Concierge, airport transfers to and from the venue). Additional details including information on payment plans can be found here. Please note: children under 10 are FREE (one per adult).

For the most up-to-date information, please click /moonstonemusicfestival.com.

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DEF LEPPARD POSTPONES THEIR WINTER 2016 TOUR DATES DUE TO ILLNESS

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Def Leppard has postponed the band’s remaining dates on their Winter 2016 tour due to illness.

All shows from February 2nd (San Antonio, Tex.) through February 17th (Allentown, Penn.) will be rescheduled including the previously postponed dates in Greensboro, NC (January 27th) and Orlando, Fla. (January 30). Details on new dates will be announced soon. Tickets will be honored on the rescheduled dates. Please stay tuned to www.defleppard.com for the latest news on the postponed tour dates.

February 2, 2016— San Antonio, TX—AT&T Center
February 3, 2016— Lafayette, LA—Lafayette Cajundome
February 5, 2016— Corpus Christi, TX—American Bank Center Arena
February 6, 2016— Hidalgo, TX—State Farm Arena
February 9, 2016— Little Rock, AR—Verizon Arena
February 10, 2016—Bossier City, LA—CenturyLink Center
February 13, 2016—Uncasville, CT—Mohegan Sun Arena
February 14, 2016—Atlantic City, NJ—Boardwalk Hall
February 16, 2016—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center
February 17, 2016—Allentown, PA—PPL Center

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FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH RECEIVE THE PRESTIGIOUS “SOLDIER APPRECIATION AWARD” FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

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Five Finger Death Punch recently received the prestigious “Soldier Appreciation Award” From The Association of the United States Army. The award was founded in 1950 by the then newly founded AUSA. This was based on having Germany and Europe stationed US troops that had a hard standing in the public. The soldiers had been under hard pressure and so the AUSA founded the Award to honor the organizations and/or people who supported the troops to make their daily life more easy and comfortable.

Zoltan Bathory (guitars) states, “The Soldiers Appreciation Award is something very special. The only musician ever to receive this was Elvis Presley. Clearly what we have to say resonates with a lot of veterans and a lot of service members. To know that we are reaching people and touching their lives with our music is very rewarding, and to me this really is the sole purpose of being a musician — to be able to make a positive impact in somebody’s life.”

The band will be touring with Shinedown starting in April.

FFDP/Shinedown tour dates:

April 30th – Ft. Myers, FL – Fort Rock Festival
May 1st – Jacksonville, FL – Welcome To Rockville
May 3rd – Evansville, IN – Ford Center (co-headlining w/Shinedown)
May 4th – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena (co-headlining w/Shinedown)
May 6th- Virginia Beach, VA– WNOR Lunatic Luau Festival
May 7th – Charlotte, NC – Carolina Rebellion Festival
May 9th – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Arena (co-headlining w/Shinedown)
May 20th to May 22nd – Columbus, OH – Rock On The Range
May 20th to May 22nd – Schaghticoke, NY – Rock’N Derby
May 27th to May 29th – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma Festival

Tickets go on-sale February 4th at 10 AM Eastern. For more info & VIP offerings (beginning Tuesday, February 2) go to Fivefingerdeathpunch.com.

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