American old school classic heavy metal power trio THE RODS are celebrating their 40th year anniversary.
THE RODS drummer Carl Canedy has checked in with the following comment:
“It’s amazing to think that Rock and I started The Rods 40 years ago. The experiences we’ve had together could easily fill a book. “To celebrate The Rods 40th Anniversary, we’re focusing on the fans, the true “Wild Dogs”, who have rabidly supported us all these years. Our shows will contain fan requested “deep cuts”, as well as songs from our latest album “Brotherhood of Metal”, which continues to receive critical praise from the metal music media, radio and fans worldwide.”
THE RODS guitarist / vocalist David “Rock” Feinstein has checked in with the following additional comment:
“Let me just say, it’s been a fantastic forty years. Ups and downs, good times and not such good times, but an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. An education of worldly proportions. Getting to meet some amazing people, see some incredible places, experience different cultures, and to be able to perform in front of thousands of fans around the world, is something that will never be forgotten. Thank you, to all the loyal fans that kept us alive for all these years. It’s not the end. Every day is a new beginning.”
The Rods are currently in rehearsals in preparation for their headlining show at the Legions of Metal Festival in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, May 15th. 2020.
More shows and some big news to be announced soon.
For The Metal Voiceformer singer of Anthrax, Neil Turbin spoke with The Rods Guitarist David “Rock” Feinstein and Cousin of Ronnie James Dio on Thursday, November 7 2019 at the “Bowl For Ronnie” event at PINZ Bowling Center in Studio City. Feinstein recalls Ronnie’s sense of humour, powerful voice and how he developed as a writer.
Watch here
When asked about the early years playing gigs with Ronnie Dio And The Prophets
” Ronnie was something special, when you hear Ronnie sing you know he was singing from his heart and from his soul and his lyrics are so meaningful. In the early days when we when we started out before we made records I was in a club band with Ronnie called ‘Ronnie Dio and the Prophets’ we were a cover band. Because we had Ronnie’s voice we were capable of doing any cover song. When we would go and play bars we would blow people’s minds because we were able to do so many different types of songs. I can remember one time we played a college when we came out on stage we could hear chuckling from the audience because of our height. I mean people were actually laughing at us when we walked out on stage but as soon as the first note was struck and when Ronnie started singing there was no more laughing it was just like jaw-dropping. Ronnie was a powerhouse vocalist.”
When asked about Ronnie’s sense of humour
“Ronnie had a great sense of humour there were just times I would laugh or I would be crying because he would do impersonations of people and talk like just so funny. It’s one of the things I really miss about him. Ronnie used impersonate Ed Sullivan all the time or Alfred Hitchcock, those type of people he would talk like.”
When asked about opening for Elton John during his first tour
“We opened for Elton John at the University of Massachusetts on his first tour of the United States. This was in a cafeteria and the stage was about 12 inches high. We played and then Elton John came on and we’re standing next to the stage watching saying who is this guy? We listened to two or three songs and we left. History tells you now that Elton john was a super star. Some of the most amazing songs ever and we got to be there from the very beginning.”
When asked about Ronnie’s inspiration for lyrics
“Ronnie was a very smart guy I can vouch for that because when I went to visit him nothing would happen the whole day until he finished the crossword puzzle in the newspaper. He had a brilliant mind, he read a lot, his vocabulary was incredible and he had the imagination to create these songs, the scenarios in the songs. Family Feud was a big deal and so were sports.”
The “Bowl For Ronnie” is an evening of fun, food, a raffle drawing for prizes and memorabilia. and, of course, bowling with rockers and celebrities competing for trophies kicks off at 6:30 p.m., with open bowling and a VIP pre-party for lane sponsors, celebrities and their guests. Music for the pre-party will be supplied by DJ Will.100% of the net proceeds from the “Bowl For Ronnie” will go to the Dio Cancer Fund, which is now in its tenth year of raising awareness and much-needed funding for cancer research. Individual tickets and lane sponsorships are now on sale, and participants are encouraged to gather friends, family and co-workers for the ultimate bowling team.
American 80’s heavy metal power trio THE RODS have announced the release of their brand new single “Smoke on the Horizon”, featuring BENEDICTUM vocalist Veronica Freeman “The V”. “Smoke on the Horizon” will be available for purchase worldwide via itunes and all digital media outlets on May 14, 2015.
The Rods band members and The V have released the following statements on the joining of forces for this new recording project and upcoming tour dates:
(Guitarist David “Rock” Feinstein) – Garry had let Carl and I know that he had made friends with Veronica some months ago. After a while he began playing her recordings for us, and we knew after hearing them, that she had a very good voice. Her original music is very good, but quite different than the traditional RODS style, and her voice is powerful with a true “Heavy Metal” edge to it. Soon Garry suggested that maybe she could come and sit in with us to sing a couple of songs. She had already been doing some DIO covers, so we thought that would be a perfect fit. We have a great time playing the DIO songs, and Veronica does an excellent job of singing them. A guest performer is something different for us, but so far it has been great fun, and I think the fans will really love it.
(Drummer / Producer – Carl Canedy) – Veronica Freeman has a truly powerful voice! After a killer warm-up show with her in Auburn, NY, it struck me that it would be a shame to not document this merging of talents with a studio recording. David’s song, Smoke on the Horizon, seemed like a perfect fit. We were able to record this song very quickly during Veronica’s visit and I think the fans will be surprised and pleased with the outcome. The “V” will also be joining The Rods for their European dates performing a set of Classic Dio and Black Sabbath songs.
(Bassist Garry Bordonaro) – I met Veronica “The V” Freeman through friends, musical connections. During a trip to Phoenix to visit family, I asked her to meet me at a Y&T show. Unfortunately, because of some communication snafus (my fault), she went to the show and I didn’t. The exchanges following that regrettable incident convinced me that she and I had a lot to talk about. On later visits we did meet and spent some time together, and had a lot of good times. We have a real friendship, and have often talked about working together on a project. After hearing early mixes of her new album, it was clear that she deserved exposure to a wider audience. We discussed having her come with us on our European dates, and Carl and Rock agreed to bring her along. We thought it would be fun working with her, and to have a female singer in front of the band, something we have not done before. We decided to play Dio songs because we all know and enjoy playing them, and really didn’t have time to work up her new material. We also put together a quick recording session for a new version of Rock’s song “Smoke On The Horizon” to document this collaboration and get her on the news pages. I think Rods fans and Benedictum fans will have a blast seeing her perform with us, and will really like her new material when it’s released this summer. At least we are going to have a lot of fun doing it!
(Vocalist Veronica Freeman “The V”) – After having met Garry in person I knew I had a friend for life! We clicked on a lot of levels. I felt comfortable enough to share some of the solo material with him and was blown away by his reaction. The series of events that followed have been exciting and rather unbelievable for me. Next thing you know I am meeting the entire band for the first time, doing photo shoots and then bam, in the studio to record “Smoke on the Horizon” then a show and soon we head out for some shows in Europe! It was like a mini whirlwind and I survived it lol.Now we go to Europe and I am beyond excited. The guys are great and things just seem to be falling into place. I love it!
The Rods will feature a guest performance from BENEDICTUM vocalist Veronica Freeman, (“The V”) during selective upcoming European shows.
European shows featuring “The V”.
May 23 – Heavy Sound Festival – Poperinge, Belgium – ++
May 25 – Sounds – Lubeck, Germany – ++
May 28 – Muskelrock Festival, Tyrolen, Sweden – ++
The Rods will be on the road promoting their latest single as well as performing classic songs from their entire album catalog.
Video – The Rods featuring Benedictum’s Veronica Freeman- The Mob Rules/Heaven And Hell/Stand Up And Shout:
American 80’s heavy metal power trio THE RODS have announced a string of dates in the United States and Europe during April and May 2015.
The Rods will feature a guest performance from BENEDICTUM vocalist Veronica Freeman, (“The V”) during selective shows.
▪ US show featuring “The V”. ++ European shows featuring “The V”.
April 24 – Suzy’s Tavern – Auburn, New York – +
May 2 – Ragnarokkr Festival, Chicago, Illinois
May 23 – Heavy Sound Festival – Poperinge, Belgium – ++
May 25 – Sounds – Lubeck, Germany – ++
May 28 – Muskelrock Festival, Tyrolen, Sweden – ++
June 13 – Pines Pavilion – Endicott, New York – Opening for Queensryche
June 20 – Dio Day, Cortland, New York
The Rods will be on the road promoting their latest critically acclaimed independently released album “Vengeance”.
Over the past few years, a whole new generation of headbangers has discovered the mighty metal of THE RODS. And their history lesson will now continue, as a pair of vintage Rods-related releases were recently reissued digitally. Originally unleashed in 1986, ‘Heavier Than Thou’ and ‘Hollywood’ (the former featuring singer Shmoulik Avigal – formerly of Picture, Horizon and Hammerhead – and the latter credited to “Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle”), has been remastered for iTunes and will each contain a bonus track – the Rods’ latest single (and new composition) “Great Big Fake Ones.”
And if that isn’t enough Rods rock for you, then you can also feast your ears on solo albums by singer/guitarist David “Rock” Feinstein (‘Clash of Armor’) and drummer Carl Canedy (‘Headbanger’). Feinstein’s disc has already been issued, while Canedy’s will be released on October 23rd, and will feature guest spots by the likes of Mark Tornillo, Chris Caffery, Joe Comeau, and John Hahn, among other artists.
‘Headbanger’ can be purchased via iTunes HERE.
‘Heavier Than Thou’ can be purchased via iTunes HERE.
And ‘Clash of Armor’ can be purchased via iTunes HERE.
“‘Hollywood’ and ‘Heavier Than Thou’ are two albums we’ve always been proud of, but have never been available to fans,” says Canedy. “Now, having been re-mastered for Itunes, these recordings are finally available to our fans.”
The Rods in 80s’
The Rods are responsible for offering up some of the ’80s hardest-hitting metal, as evidenced by such classic recordings as 1981’s ‘The Rods’ and 1982’s ‘Wild Dogs,’ while the group also played shows with Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, and Metallica over the years. And now, fans will have the opportunity to rediscover two underrated titles of the Rods discography, as well as two new individual efforts by Feinstein and Canedy.
On Saturday, October 19, the Dutch Heavy Metal Maniacs fan club are organizing the 14th edition of their Heavy Metal Maniacs festival at P60 in the centre of Amstelveen (between Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport) in Holland.
Confirmed acts include: THE RODS, HOLOCAUST, MORE 2012, RAM, BLACK KNIGHT, WILD, RULER and EVIL INVADERS.
A pre-party is set for Friday, October 18 at The Cave in Amsterdam featuring VENATOR, LIZZIES, GAME OVER.
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