Jon Zazula—The Unconventional Icon Vinny Cecolini November 6, 2019 Buzz, Features Visionary. Innovator. Architect. Mentor. During the eighties, Jon “Jonny Z” Zazula helped redefine and breathe new life into American hard rock and heavy metal without playing an instrument or—except for a met...
Joe Elliott’s Down ‘N’ Outz: On a Roll Vinny Cecolini October 9, 2019 Buzz, Features One of the benefits of becoming a rock icon: being recognized by, and often befriending, your musical peers and idols. Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott has never hidden his appreciation of, and passion for, seventies...
Dream Theater—Throwing Arms Around a Memory Vinny Cecolini October 9, 2019 Buzz, Features I was wandering around the catacombs of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Pista de Atletismo do Ibirapuera with assorted international media when we were greeted by an amazing sound. It was between band sets during the 1998...
Don Felder—Flying High and Free Vinny Cecolini September 25, 2019 Buzz, Features After departing the Eagles and dealing with personal issues, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Don Felder found solace by writing his 2008 memoir, Heaven and Hell: My Life in The Eagles (Wiley). The best-se...
Alter Bridge—The Sky’s The Limit Vinny Cecolini September 18, 2019 Buzz, Features In 2005, while working as VH1 Classic’s Senior Writer, I opened an e-mail inviting me to a hallway performance by a new band. These performances, which happened from time to time, featured up-and-coming artist...
Leigh Celent: Castle Black—A New Riot Grrrl Rises Vinny Cecolini August 21, 2019 Buzz, Features In 2019, a year during which pop princess Ariana Grande headlined Lollapalooza, Castle Black frontperson Leigh Celent is a welcome breath of fresh indie-rock air. Celent and Castle Black have created a new sou...
Hollis Brown—The Last Great American Rock ‘N’ Roll Band? Vinny Cecolini July 30, 2019 Features, Interviews Ozone Park: The Queens, New York neighborhood that is the gateway to the Rockaway beaches; where the late Mafia don John Gotti held his annual July 4th block parties and constantly thwarted authorities despera...
I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME—Dallon Weekes Heads Back to the Future Vinny Cecolini July 17, 2019 Buzz, Features Although sometimes truncated to iDKHOW, the full name of former Panic! At the Disco bassist Dallon Weekes’s new project is I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME. Yes, it is quite the mouthful, but those familiar w...
King’s X: Turning Tragedy into Something Special Vinny Cecolini June 25, 2019 Features, Interviews King’s X are one of the most celebrated and lauded bands of the last 30 years… by musicians and critics. Yet, the level of success first predicted for them has alluded them. A rollercoaster story of ups and do...
Frank Iero Strikes Back Vinny Cecolini June 18, 2019 Features, Interviews Each night, as Frank Iero tucks his children in, he offers them a choice: a storybook or a song. Rarely do they choose the book, opting for a sing-along that begins with “Best Friends Forever (But Not Now).” C...
