Rush. Ace and the wrap of Season 1 of the new VH1C show!
10/16/08: So sorry for the lack of recent updates to the site. I have been totally slammed running in and out of NYC and working on the new VH1 Classic show. I am thrilled to report that Season 1 is done! We wrapped production last night, followed by a fun wrap party after with all the cast and crew at an Irish pub. Doing this show was a total blast and I can not wait for it to be seen. Every audience member and crew member has said they thought it was so much fun, very unique and that there was great chemistry (and ball busting!) between me and my co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. I've been working on developing this show for a long time and through some crazy obstacles, but I can not be happier with how it came out and the people I am working with. 8 shows are now in the can and the first one airs 11/15 at 11PM ET & PT. There will be many repeats through the week, new episodes every Saturday night at 11. Yesterday's final two shows featured Ace Frehley and Alex and Geddy from Rush as in studio guests. What a way to wrap up Season 1! I can not thank Alex and Geddy enough. The guys flew to NYC in and out on the same day just to do my show only. It's an honor to be able to call the Rush guys friends over the last few years and I am so grateful. To have artists of this caliber willing to step up for me like this is unreal. We had some fun with the guys and talked about their new DVD. They both were enteraining and very funny and seemed to have a good time. Was also cool to see Ace and Rush interact backstage. Rush opened more shows for Kiss then any band in the 70's and the stories and old memories were flowing in the halls and around the makeup room. Was just great to watch these legends interact and catch up. Ace was typical Ace, cracking jokes and being very loose and having fun. He told me he thought the format of the show was great and was really enjoying it. Yes he is still working on the CD, and I promised him I would make it to his house next week to hear where he's at with it. We will also both be appearing at the Chiller Expo in Parsippany NJ Saturday 10/25. Special thanks also to my good buddy Bumblefoot. He makes a couple very funny cameos in the show and also gave us our original theme music. Great talent and an even better person! Looks like the G&R/Best Buy stuff is real, but nobody is saying anything for sure just yet on official fronts. So the guest list for Season 1 of That Metal Show reads; Lita Ford, AC/DC, Bumblefoot, Mike Portnoy, Twisted Sister, Yngwie Malmsteen, Mike Piazza, Rush and Ace Frehley! I will have a ton of exclusive photos in a special page on this site very soon. My good friend and photographer Ron Akiyama shot backstage and on set. We will be posting stuff soon as soon as I get a second to sort everything out. There will also be many outakes and extras on www.vh1classic.com.
In addition to this new series I'll be poping up on some other things for VH1 Classic. Me, Don and Jim will be hosting Metal Mania the week or so before TMS premieres, and we pick some of our favorite videos. Also I will be hosting a Merry KISSmass special on TV for VH1 Classic. Air dates and times TBA. Now it's time to get the word out on this show and it's premiere. All of us will be doing various press the next few weeks and we are headed to LA next month to also promote and appear at a charity bowling event VH1 is doing for autism. Many more details to come as I get them. It's great to be back on VH1 Classic, spread the word, and get ready for THAT METAL SHOW 11/15 @ 11PM! Also thanks to all the members of the studio audience, the entire crew, and all the executives at VH1 for this opportunity.
Some quick other notes: Frank Hannon from Tesla rescheduled for this Friday night on Q104. Joe Satriani in studio for Eddie Trunk Live on XM 41 this Monday! Might have a MEGA guest for the Q104 show tomorrow, but not confirmed.
Great early response after just one show on our newest station KDKB/Phoenix. Thanks to all and hope to be out that way soon.
Iced Earth tonight at Nokia. Hope to see you there. Headliner on at 9:30. Overkill at Starland Saturday night.
Full line of merch finally coming to this site in time for the holidays.
ET
