Mark Allen Slaughter was born on the 4th of July 1964, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a proud American musician, composer and lead singer for the glam metal band that bears his name. Before the formation of Slaughter, he fronted Xcursion, a Vegas-based outift that released two albums and appeared on three compilation albums from 1981–86.] Mark later replaced Robert Fleischman in the Vinnie Vincent Invasion. After the band disbanded in the late 1980s, Slaughter and bassist, Dana Strum, formed the group that’s been flying high with fans and angels for 37 years. Mark and I go back to the multi-platinum egg when I was asked by their record label, Chrysalis, to conduct the video press kit interviews for their ear and chart shattering debut, Stick it to Ya. He remains on my personal short list of rockers that’ve never strayed too far from heart.

A bright new star appeared in the crystalline skies over Denver, Colorado, on March 18, 1960, and she’s been shining brightly ever since. A seasoned, successful music business veteran, artist manager and an early pioneer of the Internet industry, co-founding one of the first major Web Development studios in Los Angeles, Lisa spent 20 years helping build the careers of such instrumental luminaries as Prince, Sheila E, Heart, and the Violent Femmes. She founded Tidal4, a production division of Mosaic Media Group, creating convergent media properties for clients that included Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls and Sting. I first met her in 1992 when she turned me onto Canadian singer/songwriter, Sass Jordan, whose sky-cracking ballad, “Pissing Down” spun weekly on my Pirate Radio Saturday Night syndicated program. Our long friendship is a sweet song that never gets old.

New York City native, David Plastik, crash landed on Planet Rock, January 22, 1964. He traveled the world as a rock n' roll loving teen, picking up his first Konica camera in 1980. For the next historic, chaotic, colorful, crazy decade of decadence, David and his single lens reflex were as ubiquitous as spandex and Marshall Stacks. Many of his images graced the pages of Rip back in the day. He still shows up at full-throttle performances on and off the Strip, doing his best to capture memorable concert moments for his robust social media following.

Roxy Petrucci, born Roxanne Dora Petrucci, arrived on Planet Rock March 17, 1962, in the iron fisted Michigan village of Rochester. Rox and her sister, Maxine, formed Madame X in the mid 80s but she is best known as the highly respected drummer of the all-female glam metal outfit, Vixen. As the last original member standing – and Godmother of the group – she continues to hit kit harder than most of her male counterparts. We go back to 1989 when I green lip the first Vixen feature for Rip. Puts her heart into every kick and fill.

Fernando Perdomo born Fernando Jose Perdomo on August 17, 1980, is an American musician and producer. He is best known as one of the guitarists in the acclaimed music documentary, Echo in the Canyon, where he backed up Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Beck. Nora Jones, Regina Spektor, Brian Wilson and Cat Power. He is currently a member of The Dave Kerzner Band, the highly regarded progressive rock ensemble that performs annually on the sold-out Cruise to the Edge. It was aboard a floating city in the middle of the Caribbean where I first encountered Fernando. He was laying down some mind-blowing riffs on the windy outdoor pool stage. I approached him after the set wearing a rare Kate Bush “Cloudbusting” shirt. “That’s the best Kate tee I’ve ever seen!” he shouted. “You and I are gonna be friends.” The session here was conducted in his cabin on the 2025 CTTE where he lent his formidable chops to three different groups.

Oz Fox, born Richard Alfonso Martinez on June 18, 1961, is a founding member and lead guitarist of the Christian metal band Stryper. He was recruited by childhood pals, Robert and Michael Sweet, in 1983. He has recorded and toured with the band – through breakups and brain surgery – for forty years. Our friendship has grown since the pandemic when we began meeting monthly for brunch at his beloved Cracker Barrel. Oz is partial to pancakes with sliced apples. He brings his own special Canadian maple syrup.

His fellow musicians call him “Fitzy” a term of both affection and respect. Born March 27, 1970, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, the hockey loving multi-instrumentalist is always busy. In his long, eclectic career, he has worked with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Theory of a Deadman, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Union, Gene Simmons, The Guess Who, Brad Whitford from Aerosmith, Derek St Holmes, and Ronnie Montrose just to name a few. This caffeinated conversation took place at our mutual favorite, Star Wars-themed local coffee house, Grouchy John’s, just days before he hit the road for a three-month European stint with the Dead Daisies. He is truly a prince in a land of few gentlemen.

Phil Soussan, proper birthname Philip Raphael Soussan was born June 23. 1961 in London, England. A successful veteran bass guitarist, songwriter and producer, his resume boasts tours and tracks with Last in Line, the Vince Neil Band, Big Noize and most famously for slapping the fat stings during Ozzy Osbourne’s historic 1986 Ultimate Sin campaign. He co-authored the hit single, “Shot in the Dark.” I’ve always found him to be immensely intelligent and well-spoken, like a couple other not so mad Englishmen whose company I long enjoyed, Bruce Dickinson and Lemmy Kilmister.

Frank Dimino is best known for being the frontman of notoriously loud glam rock creation, Angel, who was discovered (similarly to Van Halen) by KISS bass player Gene Simmons. Angel released five studio and one live album in the second half of the 70’s. After the band’s demise, Frank went on to work with UFO’s Paul Raymond and other endeavors that showcased his sky cracking pipes. Like his close pal, Oz Fox, Frank relocated to Sin City almost 20 years ago. The 73-year-old Boston born singer released his debut solo LP, Old Habits Die Hard, in 2015 and is always welcome to resurrect Angel when fans and concert promoters come calling. We bonded years ago in the produce aisle of Trader Joe’s. “Hey Frank, I guess we’re neighbors.” I smiled. “I saw Angel open for Blue Oyster Cult and Be Bop Deluxe at the LA Forum in 1979. The lasers messed me up for days.”

A native Las Vegan, Ron Mancuso landed in the desert on August 26, 1962. His talent as a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer is well-recognized from L.A to Long Island. In the late 80s, Ron co-founded the Atlantic Records recording act, Beggars & Thieves which appeared in the pages of Rip Magazine three decades before we met and became thick as (wait for it) thieves. Ron was recruited by fellow Vegas migrant, Jake E. Lee to form Red Dragon Cartel. He recorded and toured on RDC’s self-titled album. The Mancuso family owns and operates the iconic Bootlegger Bistro where disparate characters of prodigious pedigree love to dine. Yours truly can be frequently found in his favorite bar booth enjoying a savory dish of Chicken Angelo and (if the moon is full) a Tito’s Martini. Not dirty.