Classic Metal

The stories surrounding the hard rock and heavy metal movement during the '80s are the stuff of legend. At no other point in time has one genre of music gained such notoriety.

In the book Tales from the Stage, we hear firsthand from Bruce Kulick, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Herman Rarebell, Eddie Trunk, Tracii Guns, and 10 other classic metal pros who take us for a roller coaster ride down the Sunset Strip, revisiting their rise to fame in the '80s-'90s, and filling us in on the status of their current careers, and lives outside of music. Their strange-but-true tales are the basis for this Classic Metal edition of Fact or Fiction.

Michael Toney, who wrote the book, told us that he took a simplistic idea and added an intimate twist. "Each of the participants have been interviewed hundreds of times," says Toney. "In order to make these interviews cutting edge, I had to get very personal. Not only do we discuss their careers in detail, we dive into their personal lives, including finances, cars, homes, drug use, groupies, and more. Most people are shocked to learn most of these guys live incredibly modest lives."

More Fact or Fiction

Comments: 4

  • Randell James from Ann Arbor, Michigan9 out of 10. (I know way too much about this stuff.) I missed the one about Rock Star being about Judas Priest. It was nothing like the Judas Priest experience. The band wouldn't sign off on the movie so everything was changed. It was based on a band, based on the band Judas Priest. I saw the movie and enjoyed it though.
  • Anonymous7/10...ain't bad.
  • Suzanne Hall from Menifeerock out with your #%*& out...queensryke
  • Graeme! from Sydney, Australiacool quiz, but i just wanted to be the first comment ha ha
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.