Tag Archive for: headbangers ball

Rod’s professional music career began as a founding member of the groundbreaking group the Dixie Dregs when, as a student at the University of Miami in Florida, he met Steve Morse, Andy West and Allen Sloan. The university was a hotbed of musical activity during this period, playing host to brilliant future talents like Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Danny Gottlieb, T Lavitz and Bruce Hornsby. Playing under the official Studio Music and Jazz curriculum title of Rock Ensemble II, the Dregs honed their fusionesque chops. It was here that the band recorded its classic Great Spectacular album now available on CD.

The Dixie Dregs’ music combines rock, jazz, bluegrass, folk and classical influences into a rich, ever-changing tapestry of sound. All the while, Rod’s drumming weaves its way seamlessly and colorfully through this swirling musical landscape.

His unique, dynamic and musical drumming style has led to Rod’s winning the Best Progressive Rock Drummer award in Modern Drummer Magazine’s Reader’s Poll 5 years in a row (1986-1990) and Best All-Around Drummer (1999), earning him a permanent position in the magazine’s prestigious Honor Roll. The Dixie Dregs, whose last 6 recordings have each received Grammy nominations for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, are best described in the following Philadelphia Inquirer concert review, “The Dregs have their own unique language and style familiar to bluegrass and country music, refined with classical finesse and delivered with high-powered technology and rock energy. The band is possibly the most important, and certainly the most technically advanced, instrumental group in progressive fusion.”

When the group temporarily disbanded in 1983, Rod joined forces with Steve Morse who, along with bassist Jerry Peek, formed the Steve Morse Band. Rod remembers, “One of our biggest breaks came when we had the opportunity to tour for 3 months with Rush on their 1985-1986 Power Windows tour. I felt a surge of popularity, both as a band and as a drummer, as a result of performing night after night in sold out arenas packed with appreciative progressive-rock fans. And it was more than obvious that many of them were drummers.”

The Steve Morse Band recorded two albums, at which point Rod found himself at a crossroad in his career, as Steve Morse joined the reforming group Kansas. “I was ready for a musical change and to try something both new and challenging.”

Within a year of moving to New York City in 1986 after living in and around Atlanta, Georgia, for the previous 11 years, Rod met Kip Winger and Reb Beach, namesake and lead guitarist of the as-of-then-non-existent band Winger. “Kip and Reb had been writing and recording demos and forever being rejected by record labels. I met them at a point in their lives where they were completely driven to get signed. Nothing could shake their determination. We got together and jammed, hit it off, and two months later they called to say they got a deal and to see if I’d be interested in doing the record.”

The rest is history! Their self-titled debut album in 1988 sold over two million copies worldwide, earning the band a platinum album in the U.S. and gold albums in Japan and Canada. It also led to an American Music Award nomination for Best New Heavy Metal Band. This album was followed by In the Heart of the Young and, once again, platinum and gold awards were in the offing, coupled with non-stop international touring.

The band ceased activities in 1993 after touring for the highly acclaimed Pull recording, as dramatic changes were taking place in the music scene. Alternative music had replaced metal as the accepted music of the day.

In 2002, WInger reunited for a summer tour with Poison, CInderella and Faster Pussycat in support of ‘The Very Best of Winger’, a greatest hits collection. And in 2006, the band released the critically acclaimed, ‘Winger IV’, followed by tours in Europe, US, Japan and Australia.

In 1993, when Winger temporarily disbanded, Kip Winger set out to record his first solo album, This Conversation Seems Like Dream (1997), a dramatic departure from the first three Winger recordings, drawing heavily on world percussive rhythms, dark imagery and heavy grooves. Rod recorded the drum tracks for this album and the more recent Songs From The Ocean Floor (2001) at Kip’s home studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1997 also saw the self-titled debut release by the Rudess/Morgenstein Project, an instrumental progressive power-duo, featuring Rod and Dream Theater keyboardist extraordinaire Jordan Rudess. The seed for this project was planted one evening on the Dixie Dregs 1994 Full Circle tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when a sudden power failure shut down the guitar, bass and violin rigs. For whatever reason, the keyboards remained unaffected. And what followed was a blistering, 10 minute drum/keyboard power-duo jam, which brought down the house. It was that evening’s events, which inspired Rod and Jordan to form their “small in numbers yet mighty in sound” band. The Rudess Morgenstein Project has played concerts in the US, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Mexico, Germany, Holland and the UK. Additionally, Rod recorded the drum tracks for Jordan’s solo cds, ‘ Rhythm of Time’ and ‘The Road Home’.

Other on-going projects that Rod is involved with are jam band Jazz Is Dead which features creative improvisations of the music by the Grateful Dead. Members of JID have included T Lavitz, Alphonso Johnson, Jeff Sipe, Billy Cobham, Jeff Pevar, Dave Livolsi, and Jimmy Herring, with an ever-changing line up. Another project is Platypus, whose two recordings feature John Myung (Dream Theater), Ty Tabor (King’s X) and Derek Sherinian (Planet X). The music is a mix of instrumental and vocal tunes that blend many different styles together. An offshoot of Platypus is The Jelly Jam, a power trio featuring Rod, Ty Tabor and John Myung. Their debut release came out in 2001, and The Jelly Jam, ‘2’ was released in 2004

In addition to his recording and touring credits, Rod is very active in drum education. He is currently a Professor of Percussion at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. Also, his highly recognized instructional materials include videos, audio cassettes and books. His most recent offering is Drum Set Warm-Ups, touted as the definitive text for developing and improving all aspects of drum set playing. Additionally, Rod has been a columnist for Modern Drummer Magazine (U.S.), Rhythm Magazine (UK), Sticks Magazine (Germany) and is an international clinician and involved with product development for Sabian Cymbals (Signature Tri-Top Ride), and Vic Firth Sticks (Signature Sticks and Isolation Headphones), with whom he has been an endorser for many, many years.

Kip Winger is one of the best writers of the past three decades. The quality never dips. From his own solo stuff through to the Winger hits.” – Classic Rock Magazine

While Kip Winger has arrived at the highest level of achievement possible for an orchestral composer, his professional journey has been utterly unpredictable and remarkable for its diverse musical path.

Early in his career, Kip toured as a bass player with rock legend Alice Cooper, moving on to perform and record with Alan Parsons (as the lead singer for Alan Parsons’ Live Project), Roger Daltrey, Bob Dylan, and Twisted Sister. In 2012, London’s Classic Rock Magazine called Kip Winger “one of the most gifted composers and arrangers in the rock genre” and praised his “compulsion to experiment”.

After establishing his hugely successful, eponymous band — which sold millions of albums and charted six Top‐40 radio singles — Kip started writing and producing music without limits. “It was incredibly freeing to connect to music without any preconceived ideas about what it needed to be or what niche it needed to fill”. It is in Kip’s solo work (This Conversation seems like a Dream, Songs from the Ocean Floor, From the Moon to the Sun) that he has been able to exercise the breadth of his talents as a composer.

Kip always knew he had to turn his attention back to his first loves: classical music and ballet. He studied composition with Richard Danielpour, Michael Kurek and Richard Hermann. Since then, his works have been commissioned and performed by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Sun River Music Festival in Oregon, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra in Greece. Teacher Michael Kurek has publicly praised Kip for “his great ear and innate musical sensitivity… beautifully crafted phrases and nuance”.

Kip Winger’s score for the ballet Ghosts, written for string orchestra, piano and harp, is one of the most celebrated contemporary ballet scores in performance today. Championed by the world‐renowned and Tony‐award‐winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, Ghosts was part of the San Francisco Ballet’s repertoire from 2010 to 2014, with performances at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center, London’s Sadler’s Wells, and the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. In 2010, Ghosts was nominated for the Isadora Duncan Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music/Sound/Text. Ballet Austin and the Austin Symphony Orchestra included ‘Ghosts’ as part of their Valentine’s Day weekend performance in 2020, alongside Stravinsky’s Rubies by Balanchine.

In 2016, Kip recorded Winger: Conversations with Nijinsky with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. The album, which included music from Ghosts, reached #1 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Chart and was nominated for a Grammy in 2017 for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. Tamara Nijinsky said at the opening performance of Conversations with Nijinsky, “Kip Winger has captured my father’s heart and soul… and reminds us of my father’s genius with his own work”.

His band, Winger, continues to record and tour and their 2014 album Better Days Comin’ entered at #4 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums Chart and at #85 on Billboard’s Top 200. Winger’s 7th album Seven, released on May 5, 2023, entered at #21 on Billboard’s Top Current Album Sales. To support the new album, Winger has been touring the US, Japan and Europe.

Kip Winger also made his theatrical composing debut with Get Jack, A Musical Thriller, which is currently on development stage and was presented in concert in New York in October 2019. The album entered at #7 on Billboard’s Cast Albums.

Kip has forged an ongoing relationship with the Nashville Symphony, his hometown orchestra since settling in Music City in 2002. The ensemble’s music director Giancarlo Guerrero persuaded Winger to write his first symphony, Atonement, which the Nashville Symphony premiered in March 2022. His newly commissioned violin concerto will premiere in May 2025 and shortly after, the Nashville Symphony will release a CD of these two pieces on Naxos.

Rob’s musical journey began at an early age in a small town outside of Buffalo, NY. Starting out in the cover scene, Rob quickly developed an appreciation for a solid back beat and playing for the song. An approach to drumming that he still considers the foundation for his style today.

Later settling in Atlanta, GA, Rob’s drumming quickly gained attention in the rock underground. Rob spent many years touring and recording with Atlanta rockers “Rockets to Ruin” and toured with “Gunfire 76” featuring “Murderdolls” frontman Wednesday 13. Rob also maintains a busy schedule of recording and working with many different bands and artists throughout the country.

In April, 2010, Rob was offered the drum position in the multi-platinum selling rock band Skid Row. When asked about his new gig Hammersmith answered “Having always been a fan, it is an honor to be asked to join the band. The band’s music and history holds a special place in both my life, and the lives of so many loyal fans. To be a part of that history is the chance of a lifetime.”

KIX founding member and guitarist joins All Access Live to discuss putting the finishing touches on a band that spanned 45 years! There’s no doubt he’ll have plenty of stories to share about the ultimate decision to wrap up the band’s career that might have one of the most rabid fan bases of it’s genre.

The American hard rock band Kix was formed in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1978. The band’s classic lineup included Ronnie “10/10” Younkins and Brian “Damage” Forsythe on guitar, Donnie Purnell on bass, Steve Whiteman on vocals, and Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant on drums. Kix’s influences included hard rock, punk, and other styles, and they were known for singles like “Blow My Fuse”, “Cold Blood”, and “Don’t Close Your Eyes”. The band released several albums, including their self-titled debut in 1981, Cool Kids in 1983, Midnite Dynamite, and Blow My Fuse in 1988. Kix achieved popularity in the 1980s and toured with other bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, and David Lee Roth. The band disbanded in 2023 after a 45-year career.

ALL ACCESS LIVE is excited to have founding members Robert Sarzo and Tony Cavazo on the show to share a remarkable journey, currently bringing us to the premiere of their new album due in August 2023.

Hurricane is an American heavy metal band formed in 1983, originally featuring current Foreigner lead vocalist Kelly Hansen (vocals/rhythm guitar), Robert Sarzo (guitar), Tony Cavazo (bass), and Jay Schellen (drums).

Quiet Riot’s Kevin DuBrow introduced Sarzo and Cavazo in the early 1980s. After deciding to form a band, they recruited Hansen and Schellen.

The Band’s discography includes: Take What You Want (1985), Over The Edge (1988), Slave To The Thrill (1990), Luiqifury (2001)  and RECONNECTED (2023).

Current Line-up is Robert Sarzo (Guitar), Tony Cavazo (Bass), Mike Hansen (Drums) & Dan Schumann (Lead Vocals), all of whom feature on Hurricane’s latest Album “RECONNECTED”.

Sponsored by Five Star Guitars

Tawny Kitaen burst onto television screens when MTV still showed music videos, many of which she appeared in, including Whitesnake’s hits “Here We Go Again” and “Is This Love”. Now, Kitaen showcases her acting skills in the award winning film, Come Simi. In the role of Dee-Dee, the aging porn actress, Kitaen shines, breaking through her previously typecast parts and emerging as an actor who stretches beyond the stereotypes, and showcases skills that are wide-ranging and on point. To play Dee-Dee, Kitaen relied on her uncanny ability to deconstruct everything in life, in this case, the film’s character, which is based on a real person, and subsequently bring to life a narcissistic yet inherently kind and slightly crazy character. In Come Simi, Tawny turns in her most evocative and emotive performance to date.

Born Julie Kitaen and renaming herself Tawny at the age of 12, Kitaen began her teen years more independently than most. Left to her own devices with little to no parental supervision for most of this time, Kitaen dropped out of high school, a decision that she not only regretted but rectified by returning to school, attending college, and happily completing her studies in Political Science during the infamous WGA strike. In her late teens, she successfully pursued a modeling career while her sights were set on acting. The mid ‘80’s were filled with activity on all fronts for Kitaen: Tawny appeared in several glam rock videos, even gracing the album covers of some of the genres best, Ratt and Whitesnake; her acting career took off as she starred in Witchboard and opposite Tom Hanks in Bachelor Party; she married Whitesnake’s David Coverdale who she subsequently divorced two years later. Throughout this period, Kitaen continued to pursue one of the things she is most passionate about – acting.

The ‘90 brought Kitaen continued success as an actress. She co-hosted America’s Funniest People alongside Dave Coulier and nearly simultaneously co-starred in The New WKRP in Cincinnati. She also began to appear in many long-running comedies and dramas including episodes of Seinfeld and Married With Children. This decade also ushered in a new role for Kitaen- motherhood. During this time, she gave birth to two daughters, moved to Orange County, CA., with her then-husband, professional baseball player, Chuck Finley and focused on raising her children deciding to put her acting aside for the time being.

The dawn of the new millennium rang in Kitaen’s revitalized pursuit of acting with new roles in hit dramas like CSI. She also starred in two short films, Happy Hour and Here We Go Again. Throughout her career, Tawny has appeared in over 15 films and countless television shows. Today, Kitaen looks ahead to doing more of what she truly loves- acting. With her return to the screen playing the role of DeeDee in the award-winning film Come Simi, Kitaen has shown that through the years she has continued to hone her skills subsequently turning in an outstanding performance as one of the three women starring in the film. The future unfolds for Tawny Kitaen as she looks for roles in which she can continue to showcase her acting skills, breaking free from preconceived notions and stereotypical roles.

We’ll be hanging out live & welcome you to chat with us on All Access Live: www.youtube.com/allaccesslivewithkevinrankin

Sponsored by Five Star Guitars

MTV VJs: Best of All Access Live w/ Kevin Rankin (Alan Hunter, Downtown Julie Brown & Riki Rachtman)

Segments of our fun and spirited conversations, the best of the MTV VJ hosts! We talk about the early MTV days, what they’re up to now, some hilarious and shocking moments on- and off-air, and some great times that we’ve all shared together.

The iconic Headbanger’s Ball MTV VJ and I shared a rare in-person live appearance on All Access Live from Happy Rock Inn in Portland, Oregon. Riki and Lea Vendetta (world-famous tattoo artist) are riding their motorcycle cross-country to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Disease (www.rikisride.com). Traveling more than 10,000 miles, their goal is to raise $20,000 through donations on their journey. We’re talked the history of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, Riki’s journey through the heyday of the Sunset Strip era, how the industry has changed and how he’s weathered the storm while bringing attention to worthy causes. Happy Rock Inn is THE stop for musicians traveling through Portland, and does a ton of charity work for the community.

Donate here: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/rikisride20

Proudly sponsored by Five Star Guitars and Happy Rock Inn!

Tag Archive for: headbangers ball

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