Bassist Blasko Rejoins Ozzy
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Blasko Rejoins Ozzy 1 Month Before Ozzfest
Topic: Hair Metal
HOLLYWOOD (May 27, 2006) - Blasko has rejoined with Ozzy Osbourne after originally joining the band in 2003 as the replacement for Jason Newsted (ex-METALLICA). After Blasko joined Ozzy, the following two Ozzfest's touted Black Sabbath as the headliner - Blasko thought it was over. He performed with Ozzy on a few special shows during that time such as the NFL kick-off for the Patriot's. "I got the call for this show - the NFL Kick- off," explains Blasko. "I would never have guessed we would be playing in a giant helmet, but it was totally worth it." After that show, Blasko resumed playing with Rob Zombie on his new CD Educated Horses. Performing on a sell-out tour with Zombie, Blasko came home to Ozzy calling him for Ozzfest duties. "I thought it was done and over but then I get the call and it all spiraled back to where we are now and I am back playing with Ozzy."

Performing solo for the first time in three years, OZZY will play a total of 10 dates on this year's Ozzfest route, including the San Bernardino show.

OZZfest 2006 tour dates:

+ indicates Ozzy headlining main stage.
++ indicates Ozzy headlining second stage.

+Thu 6/29 Seattle, WA White River Amphitheatre
+Sat 7/01 San Francisco, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sun 7/02 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Tue 7/04 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
Fri 7/07 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion
++Sat 7/08 Los Angeles, CA Hyundai Pavilion of Glen Helen
Sun 7/09 San Diego, CA Coors Amphitheater
Tue 7/11 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Fri 7/14 Somerset, WI Float-Rite Park
Sat 7/15 St. Louis, MO UMB Bank Pavilion
+Sun 7/16 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amph.
Tue 7/18 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion
Wed 7/19 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri 7/21 Columbus, OH Germain Amphitheatre
+Sat 7/22 East Troy, WI Alpine Valley Music Theatre
Sun 7/23 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
Tue 7/25 Toronto, CAN Molson Amphitheatre
Wed 7/26 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion @ Montage Mountain
Thu 7/27 Buffalo, NY Darien Lake Six Flags PAC
+Sat 7/29 New York, NY Randall's Island
Sun 7/30 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center
+Tue 8/01 Boston, MA Tweeter Center
+Fri 8/04 Camden, NJ Tweeter Center @ the Waterfront
Sat 8/05 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amph.
+Sun 8/06 Bristow, VA Nissan Pavilion
Wed 8/09 Raleigh, NC Alltell Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
Sun 8/13 W. Palm Beach, FL Sound Advice Amphitheatre

Rob "Blasko" Nicholson is perhaps best known for his performances on Rob Zombie's solo albums. He became Zombie's bass demon in 1998 after he left his tour of duty with Danzig. Blasko has so far played on all of Rob Zombie's solo albums (Hellbilly Deluxe, The Sinister Urge, & Educated Horses).

Great White members now on trial.
Mood:  accident prone
Topic: Hair Metal
Two members of Great White have been subpoenaed as witnesses in the trial of a Rhode Island nightclub owner charged with 200 counts of manslaughter.

Great White guitarist Ty Longley was among 100 people killed when pyrotechnics ignited flammable soundproofing foam during a February 2003 concert at The Station nightclub in East Warwick, R.I.

Great White bassist David Filice and drummer Eric Powers were named as material witnesses Monday for the trial of Michael Derderian, who owned the club along with his brother Jeffery, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported. Michael Derderian's trial starts July 31 while a date has not been set for his brother's trial.

Great White's tour manager, Daniel Biechele, pleaded guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter for setting off the fireworks without a permit and is currently serving a four-year prison term.

In other news, here's a few pictures from the Gn'R show in NY.

The tracii Guns Band Works On New Album
Now Playing: The founding members of the Sunset Strip band L.A. Guns work on new album.
The Tracii Guns Group Which Feature the original founding members of L.A. Guns is nearing the end of our first ever US tour. Its been an amazing experience and I want thank all my friends old and new for coming down to join us in this rock and roll experience and suportting The Original L.A. Guns "Black List" Release. Weve got two shows left and then its back to L.A. to start work on a new record and a DVD.

Best to all my friends

Love-
Paul Black
Music For Animals

WASP Gets New Guitarist
Mood:  loud
Topic: Heavy Metal
Doug Blair (born 11th of February, 1963 as Douglas Blair Lucek) is a guitarist, he was a member of W.A.S.P. for a short time in 1992 for tour purposes. He was also a quick replacement on W.A.S.P.'s Unholy Terror Tour in 2001 on two festival gigs when Chris Holmes left the band.

His current band is signal2noise with percussionist/vocalist John Anthony. They have been working on their seven-song debut "Fighting Mental Illness" You can learn more about Signal2Noise at signal2noise.

Blair is known for inventing the innovative instrument the "GuitarCross" which blend five guitar strings with three bass strings (guitar strings sent to one amplifier, bass strings to another) to make a very unique sound. He uses this invention in s2n and also uses a unique 12-string acoustic named "Asia."

MIKE DUPKE IS STILL THE NEW DRUMMER AS STATED BY W.A.S.P. NATION ON (5-15-06) MIKE HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH ACTS SUCH AS HAIR OF THE DOG, JUGULUR, AND SEVERAL MORE.

YOU CAN HEAR MIKE'S DRUM WORK HERE: JUGULUR ON MYSPACE

IT IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME AS TO WHY MARK ZAVON WILL NOT BE TOURING WITH W.A.S.P., AS STATED BY W.A.S.P. NATION ON (5-15-06) AS THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN DELETED FROM THEIR WEB SITE. MORE NEWS WHEN I GET IT.
PEACE
MD

TOUR UPDATE 5-15-06

W.A.S.P. AND TWISTED SISTER HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE ROCKWAY FESTIVAL IN GREECE. MORE INFO IS LOCATED ON THE LINK BELOW ROCKWAVE FESTIVAL

US TOUR DATES:

5.19.06 KENNEL CLUB - SACRAMENTO, CA-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.20.06 THE POUND - SAN FRANCISCO, CA-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.21.06 CANES - SAN DIEGO, CA-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.22.06 VENUE OF SCOTTSDALE - SCOTTSDALE, AZ-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.23.06 STAMPEDE NITECLUB - EL PASO, TX-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.24.06 THEATRE OF CITY - CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.26.06 DREAMWORLD MUSIC COMPLEX - ARLINGTON, TX-(w/ guests Lizzy Borden)
5.27.06 FORGETTA BOUT IT - HOUSTON, TX-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
5.28.06 RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER - VICTORIA, TX-(w/guests Lizzy Borden)
5.30.06 ECKS SALOON - LAKEWOOD, CO-(NO LIZZY BORDEN)
5.31.06 WHITE BUFFALO - LOVELAND, CO-(NO LIZZY BORDEN)
6.01.06 SUNSHINE THEATER - ALBUQUERQUE, NM-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)
6.02.06 EMPIRE BALLROOM - LAS VEGAS, NV-(NO LIZZY BORDEN)
6.03.06 TBA
6.04.06 KEY CLUB - LOS ANGELES, CA-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)DISCOUNT TIX HERE
6.06.06 GALAXY THEATER - SANTA ANA, CA-(w/ Special guests Lizzy Borden)

EUROPEAN FESTIVAL DATES

6.09.06 SWEDEN - Sweden Rock Festival (with DEF LEPPARD)
6.10.06 FINLAND - Sauna Open Air (with TWISTED SISTER)
7.12.06 GREECE - Rockwave Festival (with TWISTED SISTER)
7.15.06 BULGARIA - KAVARNA, Rock in Kavarna (with SEBASTIAN BACH)
8.18.06 NORWAY - OSLO, Ragna Rock Festival (with TWISTED SISTER)

From sleazeroxx.com

MORE GN'R NEWS!!!
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Izzy Stradlin Returns & Axl Scuffs Shoulders With Tommy Hilfiger
Topic: Hair Metal
It just seems GN'R can't stay out of the news these days. After 3 years of keeping out of the spotlight, the latest GN'R nws may just keep your head spinning. Let's recap before we launch into the latest news:
-Feb: Slash says Chinese Democracy to be ot in April, GN'R demos leaked on fan forum.
-March: No sign of Chinese Democracy, Axl seen in New York. European tour scheduled. No news on who's in the band.
-April: No Chinese Democracy, 4 dates in May set for Hammerstein Ballroom gigs in New York. Rock In Rio website says there will be a surprise guest at the gigs. Many anticipate Izzy or Slash to return.
-May:
11 & 12: Sebastian Bach surprise guest. No sign of Slash or Izzy, but Bumblefoot takes Buckethead's place as lead guitarist.
13: Axl says Chinese Democracy to be out in November-ish.

Now for the most recent news:Leave it to Axl Rose to save the best for last.

On Wednesday night, during the band's fourth and final warm-up show at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, the much-rumored reunion of Axl with erstwhile GN'R guitarist Izzy Stradlin finally came to pass.

Izzy's appearance led many in attendance to believe that former lead guitarist Slash, who was similarly touted by insiders as a possible guest performer before the band's first New York gig on May 12, wouldn't be far behind -- but no joy.

Stradlin, who quit the band mid-tour in late 1991 and has since released five albums (solo or with his short-lived group, the Ju Ju Hounds) joined GN'R for three tunes: "Think About You," "Patience" and "Night Train."

The concert, which concluded shortly after 2 a.m., also featured guest vocalist Kid Rock on "Night Train." The four sold-out shows acted as a warm-up for GN'R's European festival appearances this summer. No other North American dates have been scheduled so far.

Rose introduced Stradlin before "Think About You" -- although his comments were almost immediately drowned out by screams from the audience as the guitarist strutted onstage. The two hugged before launching into the number, and one eyewitness reported seeing Stradlin's eyes welling with tears during "Patience."

Various online GN'R messageboards have been buzzing with speculation of a full-band reunion since word of Stradlin's arrival reached fans via text message. "There's going to be a reunion for sure," wrote one fan. "There's too much money involved for it not to happen. Izzy will bring the rest of the guys around, you watch."

And for the latest drama with Axl Rose (I knew there wouldn't be a rest between him and his excessive ego):
NEW YORK - It was a one-two encounter between Axl Rose and Tommy Hilfiger. The rocker and designer capped a Thursday evening out at a new club called The Plumm in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood with midnight fisticuffs.

"There was an issue between the two of them," Plumm owner Noel Ashman told The Associated Press.

The scuffle reportedly started after the Guns N' Roses front man moved the drink of Hilfiger's girlfriend, Dee Ocleppo.

"I moved his girlfriend's drink so it wouldn't spill," Rose told the Los Angeles radio station KROQ on Friday. "It was the most surreal thing, I think, that's ever happened to me in my life."

According to the 44-year-old singer, Hilfiger, 55, smacked him in the arm and told him to put the drink back.

"He just kept smacking me," Rose said.

Attempts to reach Hilfiger or a representative were not immediately successful.

Rose was there to play a surprise set for "Rent" actress Rosario Dawson for her 27th birthday party.

At the time of the dustup, The Plumm was packed with a celebrity crowd including Lenny Kravitz, Mickey Rourke, Kid Rock, Peter Beard, Molly Simms, Wentworth Miller, Ann Dexter Jones, Lydia Hearst and Damon Dash.

Rose did perform, and dedicated the song "You're Crazy" to "my good friend Tommy Hilfiger."

Well now you're up-to-date with all there is to Guns N' Roses. If you wanna learn more, check out the Onl-Rock Exclusive: Gn'R Special. Until next time, remember Only-Rock is the place for GN'R and any metal news. Later.

Another GN'R Concert Review
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Hair Metal
May 16, 2006

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - An aging former member of an iconic rock band goes out on the road periodically, bringing along with him an ever-changing lineup of musicians. He plays a generous selection of the beloved vintage hits, along with a smattering of new material that the audience responds to only half-heartedly.

No, it's not Ringo and his All-Starr Band. It's the return of Guns N' Roses, or actually Axl Rose and whoever he happens to feel like playing with at the moment. The last time around, for instance, it was Buckethead on guitar; now it's "Bumblefoot" (Ron Thal), among others.

In the third of four immediately sold-out shows at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, Axl and company delivered a solid and vigorous performance that was all the more remarkable for the fact that it went on at all. Of course, some things haven't changed. The band didn't hit the stage until after 11 p.m., 3 1/2 hours after the doors opened. Presumably, because they went on at exactly the same late hour every night, it was less about unavoidable delays than about building audience anticipation. What, 10 years isn't enough?

Still, all was forgiven, thanks to the group's dynamic presentation of a good portion of one of the most powerful, albeit limited, catalogs in rock history. From the classic opener of "Welcome to the Jungle" and "It's So Easy" to stirring covers of "Live and Let Die" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" to the extended encore of "Paradise City," the lengthy show touched all the appropriate bases, with the ecstatic fans singing along to every song they could.

The show even included more than a few numbers from the long-gestating "Chinese Democracy," probably the best-known unreleased album ever. While such numbers as "I.R.S.," "Madagascar," "Better" and "The Blues" don't compare to Rose's previous compositions, they're not too shabby either, and they were performed with a fierce commitment indicating that someday we may even get to hear the damn record.

Rose was in uncharacteristically genial and chatty form, cracking jokes, thanking "die-hard" fans for their support and garnering cheers with his mention of a good-luck call from former GNR guitarist Izzy Stradlin. Looking fit and in good voice, the singer, sporting braided hair, proved that he's still capable of recreating his trademark high-pitched yowls and serpentine dance moves.

He was well supported by a lineup that included three -- count 'em, three -- guitarists, who were given ample (if a little too much) time to demonstrate their prowess via extended solos. The fan favorite was clearly Robin Finck, who returned the affection by periodically launching stage dives into the crowd. Also on hand was special guest Sebastian Bach, who showed up to duet with Rose on a rousing version of "My Michelle."

Designed as a warm-up for an upcoming European tour, including two opening slots for the Rolling Stones, the show was unusually lavish for a club date, with extensive use of video screens and pyrotechnics.

Courtesy of www.reuters.com

GN'R Wrapup From Talking Metal's Mark Strigl
Review of Guns N Roses May 12 show
Last night was awesome. Talking Metal started out at Mustang Harry’s on 7thAve around 6:30pm. Guns N Roses fans from all over the country were meeting here for a pre-show drink. We interviewed some of them. I am not sure yet if we will use these interviews for a future podcast. We then headed up 7th Ave, across on 30th and up on 8th Ave to Hammerstein Ballroom. One of the guys we were hanging with is a friend of Baz’s and also some of the Hammerstein staff. This helped Talking Metal avoid the long lines of people waiting to get in. Within minutes, John, Emily, Chris, M, and myself were put on an elevator and taken up to one of the VIP lounges. We had a great view of the stage and enjoyed Bullet For My Valentine’s opening set.

Guns N Roses took the stage around 11pm. This was their first show in 3.5 years. The band was the same great lineup as 2002, except now a guy I knew from the NYC/Jersey club scene had replaced Buckethead. His name is Bumblefoot – http://www.bumblefoot.com
Once again, the new 3rd guitarist is Bumblefoot!!! Congratulation to Bumblefoot, From Captain T!!!!! I guess Bumble won’t be playing Images on Fairview Ave in Fairview, NJ anytime soon.

Guns N Roses set was amazing. It was about 80% classic material and 20% new. I have seen Axl perform live numerous times since 1988 and this is the strongest his voice has ever been. At 2 hours into the set the band played “Nightrain” and Axl nailed every note without a problem. His energy was great and non-stop throughout a set that lasted well over 2 hours. I was texting messages to Keavin over at Antimusic.com from my cell as the show was going on. Check them out here: http://www.antimusic.com/dayinrock/gnr/
The band felt more like a band then ever before. I was very impressed with Robin Finck. His playing was great and his look was completely different from last time. He looks cool with long hair and a full beard. Richard also played wonderfully and he seemed to have so much confidence. This band is Guns N Roses. Everyone needs to accept this. There is no longer a guy with a top hat on stage and that is okay because this band is on fire. This band is now.

The show ended at around 1:15am. We then headed back stage with our friend Chris who is friends with Mr. Bach (by now, I’m sure you all know he joined GnR onstage for “My Michelle”). While backstage I approached Bumblefoot who I haven’t seen for about 5 years. He told me I could play his music on the podcast which is very cool. He has been rehearsing with the band for only a few weeks. We also said hello to Richard and Tommy. Richard was heading straight home from the gig with his family.

Then we headed up to John’s office to post a 4 minute post show podcast. From there, we sped uptown to a bar called American Trash to meet some friends for a drink. By the time we got there most of them had left. Dave, the bartender, let us play some GnR on the sound system at Trash. Very cool, Thanks to Dave and Mark from American Trash! We left American Trash at 3:45am and raced downtown to some exclusive after show parties so our friend Chris could meet up with Sebastian. We spent a couple hours drinking, mingling, and talking with various insiders and the rest of the band. Fun times.

It has come to my attention that some people think we took things a little too far with our Guns N Roses episodes of Talking Metal. In these episodes, we only meant to poke fun at ourselves for being such fanatical Guns fans. Many elements of these episodes were exaggerated. We did stand outside of Guns N Rose’s management company and ask exiting employees if they had any information on Chinese Democracy. Most of them greeted us with a smile and waved us off. We also entered Sterling Sounds and asked if they were mastering Chinese Democracy and although the receptionist was annoyed for the first 10 seconds of our conversation, she then warmed up to us. Other employees stood to her side laughing at us. We never were stalking Axl. If anything, we are just very excited by the prospect that there is going to be new Guns N Roses material out soon. We, like most of these message board posters, are always hungry for any bit of Guns N Roses news and we decided to kind of make fun of that fact about ourselves.

Unfortunately, I will not be at tomorrow’s show. I could not score tickets. I will be at both the Monday and Wednesday show. Last night at 5am, a certain someone told my wife that something special would be going down at the Wednesday show. I can’t wait.

Stayed tuned to the Talking Metal podcast for more great interviews – http://www.talkingmetal.com

The Tragic Great White Incident
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Hair Metal
Former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is off to the slammer.

Biechele was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday for his role in the deadly Rhode Island nightclub blaze that killed 100 people and injured hundreds more during a February 2003 performance by the heavy metal band.

Providence Superior Court Judge Francis Darigan imposed a sentence of 15 years, with four years served and 11 years of probation.

"There is nothing in the entire record of this case that the defendant intended to hurt anyone," the judge said, adding that it was clear Biechele felt remorse for his crime.

Biechele was blamed for igniting a pyrotechnic display that set flammable foam lining the walls of the Station nightclub ablaze, turning the building into a fiery death trap. In February, he pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

The 29-year-old band manager wept in court Wednesday as he apologized to the families of victims, stating he would "never forget that night."

"Since the fire, I wanted to tell the victims and their families how truly sorry I am for what happened that night and the part I had in it," Biechele said. "I don't know that I'll ever forgive myself for what happened that night, so I can't expect anyone else to.

"I can only pray that they understand that I would do anything to undo what happened that night and give them back their loved ones. I am so sorry for what I've done, and I don't want to cause anyone more pain. I will never forget that night, and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it."

Biechele's sentence was issued at the close of a three-day hearing that gave the families of victims the opportunity to speak out about the loss of their loved ones.

"Do you know what it's like to have two people you love so much to die in such a horrific manner that they can only be identified by dental records?" asked Paula McLaughlin, who lost her brother, Michael Hoogasia, 31, and his wife, Sandy, 27, to the fire.

"There is not a shred of forgiveness in my heart, and I suspect there never will be. I miss my son more than I ever could have imagined," said Suzanne Fox, whose 33-year-old son Jeffrey Martin died in the blaze.

The final speaker Tuesday was Heidi Peralta, the girlfriend of Great White guitarist Ty Longley, 31, who was killed in the blaze. Identifying herself as Heidi Longley, she told the court that she was three months pregnant at the time of the fire.

"Ty was supposed to be my life partner," she said. "My son has never known his father. We never got to go to ultrasounds together. We'll never have family portraits. We'll never have any of that, and it's not fair."

Prosecutors pushed for the maximum 10-year sentence, stating that a harsher penalty for Biechele would deter other nightclubs from using pyrotechnic displays.

"Why wait for an evolution? It happened here with disastrous consequences. Now is the time to send the wake-up call to the Industry," prosecutor Randall White said.

Meanwhile, Biechele's attorneys had argued that their client should be sentenced to community service, rather than jail time, as it was clear he had accepted responsibility for his actions.

"Dan Biechele is the only man in this tragedy to say, 'I did something wrong,' " defense attorney Tom Briody said.

The owners of the Station, brothers Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, were also indicted in December 2003 with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter each for allegedly installing the flammable foam in the club in violation of state fire code.

The brothers have pleaded innocent to the charges. Jeffrey Derderian's trial is scheduled to begin July 31; no trial date has been set for Michael Derderian.

GUNS N ROSES NEWS URGENT
May 8, 2006

NEW YORK - Rock recluse Axl Rose made a surprise radio appearance to proclaim that Guns N' Roses 10-years-in-the-making "Chinese Democracy" album will finally hit store shelves this fall.

The comments Saturday on Eddie Trunk's syndicated radio show marked the first interview the painfully private Rose has given since his failed 2002 comeback tour, which was abruptly scrapped midway amid riots and canceled shows.

Roses impromptu appearance came when former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, who was co-hosting the show, called Rose's cell phone and patched the call through the studio.

Quizzed on when the near-mythical album would come out, Rose said, "Sometime this fall or late fall." His band could be heard rehearsing in the background. "It will be out this year."

Trunk invited Rose to drop by the studio, and about an hour later he did.

Asked about the aborted 2002 comeback tour, which ended when Rose failed to appear for a gig in Philadelphia, Rose told Trunk he felt pressured into doing it before he was ready. But he insisted he has no regrets, since the short-lived tour helped the new band members to gel. (The 2002 lineup included keyboard player Dizzy Reed from the original GNR, former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck, bassist Tommy Stinson from the Replacements, guitar shredder Buckethead, drummer Brian "Brain" Mantia formerly of Primus, guitarist Richard Fortus from the former Psychedelic Furs and Love Spit Love, and keyboard player Chris Pittman.)

"Can you tell people why the tour ended at that point?" asked Trunk.

"Umm, no, not exactly," said Rose, declining to discuss it.

Plans are currently in the works for Rose to relaunch his comeback by playing four shows at New Yorks Hammerstein Ballroom over the next 10 days, then head to Europe to play several music festivals.

Rose said the band at the Hammerstein shows will be similar to the one that played the 2002 tour, except for a new lead guitarist, whom he declined to identify except to say it's not an old GNR member. Buckethead left the band in 2004.

However, later in the broadcast, Rose seemed to contradict himself when he said hes been hobnobbing with former GNR guitarist and songwriter Izzy Stradlin, and strongly hinted that Stradlin may show up for the Hammerstein shows.

Former GNR guitar maestro Slash may end up back in the band as well, but probably not before the Hammerstein shows.

Ratt's Stephan Pearcy to release "stripped cd"
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Hair Metal
ORIGINAL RATT VOCALIST STEPHEN PEARCY TO RELEASE LIVE ACOUSTIC CD TITLED STRIPPED VIA SIDEWINDER MUSIC ON TUESDAY, MAY 9TH

CD FEATURING TEN RATT CLASSICS DONE ACOUSTICALLY TO COME OUT THE SAME WEEK AS VH-1'S AIRING OF RATT: BEHIND THE MUSIC

On Tuesday, May 9th, original RATT vocalist Stephen Pearcy is back for more with Stripped, a new CD offering of acoustic RATT on Sidewinder Music.

Inspired by the feedback from his participation in Sidewinder's Metal Mania projects (Stripped Vol. 2: The Anthems CD and Stripped Across America Live! DVD), Pearcy decided to lay it down with ten RATT classics done acoustically including "Slip of the Lip," "Back For More," "Way Cool Jr.," "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job," "Lay It Down," "You're In Love," "Mother Blues," "You Think You're Tough," "Wanted Man" and, of course, the RATT anthem, "Round & Round."

As an added bonus, Stephen and his band - guitarist Frank Wilsey (Arcade/Seahags), guitarist Eric Ferentinos, bassist Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot) and Scott Coogan (Brides of Destruction) -- perform great renditions of Led Zeppelin's "Bring It On Home" and the Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac classic, "Oh Well."

Recorded in March of this year at the Key Club on the famous Sunset Strip where RATT got their start in the early 80's, this selection of RATT's greatest hits plus two will surely please rock fans everywhere.

The new effort comes out the same week that VH-1 will be premiering RATT Behind The Music, which initially airs on the channel Thursday, May 11th (please view your local programming guides for exact times in your area).

Let's face it... few, if any, bands could rock like RATT and it was that distinctive sound and swagger that led to four consecutive platinum albums beginning with their 1984 debut, Out of the Cellar (which sold over 3 million copies), followed by Invasion of Your Privacy (1985), Dancing Undercover (1986) and Reach for the Sky (1988).

The culmination of those efforts and their last studio album - Detonator (1990) - resulted in a greatest hits compilation titled, RATT and Roll 8191.

Selling over eighteen million albums worldwide and performing nearly a 1000 shows with RATT, Pearcy was the driving force behind one of metal's finest bands.

STRIPPED once again proves that there's always time to RATT and ROLL.