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

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Rupert Hine

Rupert HineSongwriter Interviews

Producer Rupert Hine talks about crafting hits for Tina Turner, Howard Jones and The Fixx.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.