Former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young spoke with Canada’s The Metal Voice and said that he “passed on” auditioning for David Lee Roth‘s solo band in 1990, not long after exiting the thrash band.
Young said (as per blabbermouth.net), “Jason Becker got the [gig], which I’m glad, because that gave him a chance to do one really killer project before he got sick, referencing the fact that Becker has been living with ALS for over 30 years. “And he was a buddy of mine. Once I saw his movie, I was really glad I passed on it. I was being managed by Diamond Dave management, and that’s how I got that offer.”
When asked if he didn’t think that was the “right fit” for the Roth gig, Jeff said, “No, I turned it down… I thought he’d end up in Vegas. And that was all the way back then. And where did he end up? I might have ESP or something.”
“I just don’t really like [Roth’s] voice, to be honest,” he explained. “And now I’ve since learned he’s a lunatic. I made a great choice. He’s nuts.”
Young’s entire career with Megadeth was spent recording and touring in support of the band’s 1988 platinum-selling album So Far, So Good…So What!
In December of 2009, Young reportedly accused Dave Mustaine of “dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble.” He also disputed Mustaine’s claim in an interview that Young’s drug problem led to the band’s 1988 Australian tour being called off and the group being “banned” from performing in the country.
Young and another former Megadth member, bassist David Ellefson, are currently involved in Kings Of Thrash, which will release a live CD/DVD package called Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go on March 24th through Cleopatra Records. The 17-song set, featuring performances of Megadeth’s classic albums Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! and So Far, So Good… So What!, was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15th, 2022 and includes an appearance by former Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland.
In a recent interview with iconic guitarist George Lynch, Lynch told TotalRock‘s Neil Jones, that he did not believe the classic lineup of Dokken would ever reunite.
He said (as per blabbermouth.net), “I pretty much doubt it. Mick [Brown, former Dokken, Lynch Mob and The End Machine drummer] has quit playing drums, sold his kit. He’s not a drummer anymore. His brother Steve [Brown] [Dana’s note: currently Tesla’s drummer], who’s very similar to him, does play with [me and former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson] in The End Machine. Mick played on the first The End Machine record. We [use] Steve Brown now. So Steve Brown would be a natural fit for a Dokken reunion. But Jeff’s been in Foreigner for 14 years. I’ve got nine different bands. We’re all older guys. And, really, to put a Dokken reunion together would be very, very difficult — politically, personally. And then we have to ask ourselves the honest question: would it just be a money grab or would it be a great record; would it be a great book end? We’ve got Breaking The Chains and Tooth And Nail and Under Lock And Key and Back For The Attack. Is it gonna hold up to that, or are we just too far past that? And the answer is I think that ship has sort of already left the harbor.”
Lynch’s band Lynch Mob is currently opening for Dokken and he discussed joining the band onstage to play a few songs, “For one thing, I can do it with one arm tied behind my back in my sleep. It’s songs I wrote — what? — 40, 45 years ago, whatever, and I played them thousands of times. So it’s easy, in a sense, but it also feels like going back home. So that’s nice. And the best thing about it is Don[Dokken] and I get along great. The band’s great. Everybody’s happy. Our band is opening up, so I’m playing twice that night. We do a lot of that. These are packed houses, and everybody loves it. The whole audience is with us, and this is kind of what they’re waiting for, and it’s just a beautiful moment. Not a self-congratulatory moment, but just kind of an acknowledgement of the history and the power of the songs and good songwriting. It’s songs that people — it marks time for them, and it’s meaningful for them. And so it is a beautiful moment for all of us that we all get to share.”
Rocklahoma welcomes Godsmack, Pantera, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit, Bush, Chevelle, Corey Taylor and many more top rock acts to America’s Biggest Labor Day Weekend Party, Friday, September 1st – Sunday, September 3rd at Pryor Creek Music Festival Grounds in Pryor, Oklahoma, just outside Tulsa. The festivities kick off with the Rocklahoma campgrounds opening on August 27th and music performances get underway at the official Rocklahoma pre-party on August 31st.
Rocklahoma was founded in 2007 and showcases the best rock artists performing on three stages, with a wide range of onsite camping amenities and unparalleled VIP packages that live up to the festival’s motto of “Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Rock.”
The music lineup for Rocklahoma is as follows: Pantera, Godsmack, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit, Bush, Chevelle, Corey Taylor, Daughtry, Theory of a Deadman, Ministry, Asking Alexandria, Code Orange, GWAR, P.O.D., Mammoth WVH, Atreyu, Jinjer, Skid Row, Buckcherry, Warrant, L.A. Guns, Kix, Filter, Fuel, Ayron Jones, Black Stone Cherry, Mothica, From Ashes To New, New Years Day, Crobot, Fame On Fire, BulletBoys, Dayseeker, Plush, Dead Poet Society, Brkn Love, Steven Adler, Dead West, Shot Of Poison, Small Town Sindrome, 90LB Wrench, Jessikill, Snake Bite Whisky, Daymes Rocket, Bat Alliance, Stonebreed, Siin and Nova Rex.
“Couldn’t be more stoked to include Rocklahoma in our first major leg for CMF2. We’ll be playing brand new tunes, plus CMFT, Slipknot, Stone Sour, everything under the sun! Plus, we get to hang with our friends in Pantera, Rob Zombie and so many others this Labor Day. This aint POLKA-LAHOMA. This is ROCKLAHOMA. We’ll see you all there!,” says Corey Taylor.
We are excited to be coming back for our 17th year with our biggest lineup yet,” says Dave Geincke, Founder and Vice-President, General Manager of Rocklahoma. “Celebrating the end of summer over Labor Day with our Rocklahoma family is the highlight of our year and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Pryor, OK to party with us!”
Fans are invited to kick off the party early at The Roadhouse onAugust 31st for the Rocklahoma Pre-Party, featuring performances from Warrant, L.A. Guns, BulletBoys and Voodoo Moonshine. The pre- party is open to anyone with a Rocklahoma weekend pass. The Roadhouse will also feature food trucks, a full- service bar, and a great place to hang with friends throughout Rocklahoma.
Weekend General Admission and VIP passes for Rocklahoma will be available at the festival’s Phase 1 pricing when the pre-sale launches on March 7th at Noon CT / 1:00 PM ET via Rocklahoma socials. Phase 2 pricing goes into effect at the launch of the general pass on sale this March 10th at Noon CT/ 1:00 PM ET. In addition, limited quantities of Groupie, Roadie, and Rockstar Reserved VIP Packages along with ultra VIP packages including the Big Shot Porch, Big Shot Penthouse, and Garage Cabana VIP packages are also available. Please visit Rocklahoma.com for details and to purchase passes. Note: All weekend passes are for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Single day lineup and pass sales will be coming this Spring.
Rocklahoma is known for the best festival camping grounds in the U.S. featuring multiple options throughout the festival site, including “Glamping” opportunities. The campgrounds are a unique part of the Rocklahoma experience and will be open from August 27th at Noon CT through September 5th at Noon CT. “Glamping” check-in begins on August 31st with a September 4th check-out. General Admission, VIP camping, and VIP Glamping packages are available at checkout and are only available as an add-on to festival admission passes. Information on camping add-ons can be found at https://rocklahoma.com/camping/.
Festival doors open at 2:00 PM daily, and doors for The Roadhouse open at 10:30 AM daily.
Rocklahoma is located just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa, in Pryor, OK. The Pryor Creek Music Festival Grounds is a premier destination for a multi-day festival and includes onsite camping with access to restrooms and shower houses, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas, and much more.
Mr. Big is putting on their signature top hats and old shoes one last time for a worldwide tour, aptly titled The BIG Finish. Since the band’s original drummer and co-founder, Pat Torpey, lost his battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2018, the band now feels it’s time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy.
The first portion will take the band to Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August, while shows in South America, Europe, and the U.S. will launch in early 2024 and will be announced soon.
“We wanted to do a proper farewell, and this seems like the right way to do it,” asserts bassist/vocalist Billy Sheehan.
Notes guitarist/vocalist Paul Gilbert, “We’re in the process of making sure we come up with a suitably big entertainment extravaganza to go along with our music. And since our music has resonated so wonderfully in places all over the world, we’re going to play in as many of those places as we can.”
Submits lead vocalist Eric Martin, “If we were in the movie business, we’d just put it all up in lights and say, ‘Welcome to The BIG Finish!’ Seriously, I’m glad we’re getting a chance to do it all onstage together as MR. BIG again and raise a flag to everything we’ve done as a band over the years.”
After 35 years of being addicted to that perpetually electrifying performance rush, the band feels it’s finally time to collectively hang up their top hats and shoes after coming together for one final, extended curtain call — a curtain call that will take them on an all-out world tour commencing in 2023 that will go for as long as, well, as long as Mr. Big fans demand it.
Joining Mr. Big on drums for this special final world tour will be longtime friend of the band Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train), stepping in for founding drummer/vocalist Pat Torpey, who sadly passed away in 2018 following his heroic battle with Parkinson’s disease. “We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he’s got a great voice too,” confirms Sheehan. “Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat’s, and he’ll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It’s a big relief because Mr. Big has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It’s difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage.”
Concurs Gilbert, “Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric, and I have been really happy with the music we’ve already shared back and forth. I’m impressed with Nick’s level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That’s actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in Mr. BIig”
“I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our Big sound intact,” says Eric. “When I first saw his audition demo video of the Lean Into It song Lucky This Time, Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps. I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty Big shoes join us on our last tour.”
One particular aspect of this upcoming final run that Mr. Big are excited about to a man is the decision to perform the entirety of their breakthrough Platinum-selling 1991 album Lean Into It from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist. (To be sure, the full setlist will encompass Mr. Big’s entire career.) Fact is, Lean Into It is the perfect litmus testament to the band’s inherent dexterity at blending a variety of styles together, whether it’s the heady rocking brew of Green-Tinted Sixties Mind, the power-drilled and power-chorded identity checklist Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy, or the truly heartfelt sentiments found within To Be With You, Mr. Big’s chart-topping, worldwide number one smash hit single.
For his part, Martin the songwriter remains eternally grateful for the never-ending success of To Be With You, but the essence of Mr. Big goes much, much deeper than that.
“That song helped put the stamps in our passports,” Martin allows, “but we really nailed it on Lean Into It. I’m still in awe of how Billy and Paul play on that album, because they’re such brilliant players. I used to call them the dynamic duo. And Pat Torpey was an underrated drummer, in my opinion. I mean, just listen to his tone. Lean Into It is totally indicative of who we are as a band.”
Explains Sheehan, “Lean Into It was put together much like a movie, with an opening scene that lets us get into the dialogue and find out what the story is. And then you get the love scene, the car chase, and the punchline ending. I think it’s a perfectly sequenced album.”
Observes Gilbert, “Some people thought we had brought in professional background singers to do all those harmonies on Lean Into It, but no, it’s really us. We always felt like we had something to prove whenever we went on the road and did all that singing ourselves, just to show everyone that we really could do it.”
Just like the consummate performers they are, Mr. Big still want to reach into your dreams.
“I hope the people who come see our shows get to feel what it’s like when musicians get together and really play and sing the songs they wrote,” offers Sheehan. “We want the audience to be one with us, and feel our evening together was a magical and beautiful event.”
Theorizes Gilbert, “Music is like time travel. You can hear something that takes you right back to 1992, and it reminds you exactly of what was happening back then. On this tour, I want to give people the opportunity to time travel like that and go, ‘These guys are on fire,’ Good music is timeless.”
Concludes Martin, “I love playing with these guys. And if I’m being honest, I don’t want it to ever end. I’m the guy who just knows we still have that special spark together, and I always want to keep the torch burning. But if it really is the end, then I want us all to have a happy ending together. We’re a great live band. I want everybody to come out and see us, because we want to blow you away and have you all think as you’re leaving, ‘Mr. Big really is the real thing.’”
Indeed, when it comes to harnessing the real thing that best represents the unyielding power of rock & roll, Mr. Big have truly got what it takes. Make sure to catch them before they bring down that final curtain, because when it’s through, it’s through. Mr. Big really do want to be with you at least one more time, and they’d be more than honored to see you, one and all, somewhere around the world.
Check out Mr. Big at any of the following tour stops:
During an appearance on March 1sts episode of SiriusXM‘s The Howard Stern Show, KISS frontman Paul Stanley once again expressed his frustration over the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame not inducting current members Eric Singer (drums) and Tommy Thayer (guitar) along with the original lineup when the band was welcomed into the institution back in 2014.
He said (via blabbermouth.net), “The hypocrisy is that we’re not a band they like. They purposely kept us out for 15 years. And other bands that they embrace, they induct people’s moms and songwriters and all these people. And with us, it truly was unfair.”
When asked by Stern why KISS didn’t perform at the Rock Hall induction, Stanley said, “Because we had too much pride in this lineup, which is KISS, and has been KISS for 20 years. It’s not newcomers. This is the band. We’ll be back in the stadiums of South America next month. We were there five months ago. We were in Japan. This is the band that has carried the flag and taken it, really, to another level. This is the band I always dreamed it would be, and for us to go onstage… They were demanding, quite honestly, that we play with the two original guys, Peter [Criss] and Ace [Frehley], and at this point, that would be demeaning to the band, and also would give some people confusion. ‘Cause if you saw people on stage who looked like KISS but sounded like that, maybe we should be called PISS.”
KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons concurred, saying, “We’ve been all over the world, through decades, with this present lineup. It bears noting I’ve never seen a single banner or sign that mentions any other lineup. When Tommy takes a solo, ‘Tommy! Tommy!’ That’s me backstage going, ‘Tommy!’ When Eric takes a solo, ‘Eric! Eric!’ They’re pumping their fists. It’s legitimate. Nobody is in KISS and doing it by the numbers.”
The last portion of KISS’s 19-date North American tour will begin in October in Texas and culminate in the MSG concerts on December 1st and December 2nd.
Tickets will be available starting March 6th, with a KISS Army presale at 10 a.m. local time. Additional presales will be available throughout the week before the general on sale starting March 10th at 10 a.m. local time at livenation.com.
Legendary hard rock band Quiet Riot is set to kick off their 40 Years Of Metal Health tour on March 4th in Canyonville, OR at the Seven Feathers Casino and has announced the first batch of dates for what will be an extensive tour of North America to celebrate the anniversary of the landmark album Metal Health.
Metal Health was released on March 11th, 1983 and has the distinction of being the first “metal” album to reach number one on the Billboard charts and to date has sold over 10 Million copies worldwide.
States Metal Health founding member Rudy Sarzo, “We are honored to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Quiet Riot’s landmark record Metal Health on tour with all the Head Bangers around the world.”
In addition to Sarzo, the band’s current line-up includes longtime guitarist Alex Grossi , vocalist Jizzy Pearl and drummer Johnny Kelly.
Initial Quiet Riot 2023 Tour Dates:
3/4 – Canyonville, OR- Seven Feathers Casino
3/9 – Horseheads, NY- The “L”
3/10 – Uucasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Casino
3/25 – Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
4/8 – Winchester, VA – Backseat Concert Series w/ Black & Blue
4/22 – Ontario, Canada- Casino Rama w/ Warrant
4/29 – Austin, TX- The Haute Spot
5/5 – Englewood , NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center w/ Vixen
5/6 – Columbia, MD– M3 Rock Festival w/ Styx, Slaughter, Warrant & more
5/13 – Watertown, SD- Studio 212
5/27 – Winnemucca, NV- Run-A-Mucca Festival
6/9 – Wyndotte, MI- Smugglers Run
6/10 – Las Vegas. NV- Cannery Casino w/ Stryper
7/14 – Cumberland, MD- Rock The Mountains
7/25 – York, PA – York State Fair w/ Vince Neil & Stephen Pearcy
9/17 – Kennewick, WA- Clover Island
3/9/24 – Great Yarmouth, UK Hard Rock Hell AOR Festival w/ Autograph & Enuff Z’ Nuff
More dates TBA.
In December, Quiet Riot reissued their 2006 album Rehab: Relapsed & Remastered, which included a previously unreleased track titled I Can’t Hold On (please go here to see the video). The song (originally written and demoed by Kevin Dubrow & Alex Grossi in 2003) features a posthumous reunion of Dubrow, Frankie Banali and Rudy Sarzo and is accompanied by an emotional video tribute directed by Frankie’s widow Regina Banali.
