Skid Row, Warrant, Winger, and Quiet Riot will be performing at the Sunset Station Outdoor Amphitheater on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
On July 23, not one, not two, not three, but FOUR classic hard rock and heavy metal bands will be taking the stage. Anyone who says rock is dead is gravely mistaken, and this Saturday evening in July will be what proves it.
Skid Row continued long after the departure of classic vocalist Sebastian Bach, going through a handful of vocalists over the years, finally settling on Swedish vocalist Erik Gronwall. Gronwall first took the stage with the band a few months back here in Sin City, opening for Scorpions during their residency. The group still features long-time drummer Rob Hammersmith, as well as classic members Scotti Hill, Dave “Snake” Sabo, and Rachel Bolan. The group’s first Gronwall-fronted album. THE GANG’S ALL HERE, is slated for release in October.
Winger landed on the scene in the latter half of the 1980s, rocking the airwaves and MTV with tracks like “Seventeen,” “Hungry,” and “Easy Come Easy Go,” all of which remain fan favorites. The titular vocalist/bassist had previously played with Alice Cooper’s band, and is still going strong these days, even with some interesting musical ventures outside of the band. Largely underrated as musicians despite their popularity, their music speaks for itself. Winger still rocks.
Warrant is best known for their classic 1990 hit, “Cherry Pie,” due in no small part to its classic music video starring model Bobbie Brown, but the band’s albums contained plenty of other hits and rock anthems. Following two hit albums, the band released the oft-overlooked masterpiece DOG EAT DOG, continuing on with varying lineups over the years, including one featuring Black N Blue singer Jaime St. James. Classic vocalist Jani Lane passed away in 2011, but the group is now fronted by former Lynch Mob and Cry of Love singer Robert Mason, who brings one of the best voices in the business to the forefront.
Quiet Riot was the first heavy metal band to top the pop charts with their cover of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize,” but they had follow-up successes and survived in varying lineups over the years, putting out some solid albums with hits and deep cuts alike. Sadly, classic vocalist Kevin DuBrow passed away in 2007, with classic member Frankie Banali passing away in 2020. Lineups have understandably varied over the years, with the current incarnation featuring Love/Hate vocalist Jizzy Pearl, guitarist Alex Grossi, classic bassist Rudy Sarzo back in the band, and drummer Johnny Kelly filling the position left vacant by the late Banali; it was Frankie’s dying wish that the band continue. With years of tragedies and hit songs in equal quantities, Quiet Riot is back, as strong as ever, and ready to rock the live stage.
For fans of classic hard rock and metal, this is a night you won’t want to miss.
By Taylor T Carlson
Taylor T Carlson Assistant Editor/Senior Staff Writer Taylor T. Carlson was born August 17, 1984, and has called the Vegas Valley home his entire life. A die-hard fan of classic rock and metal music, Taylor has been writing album and concert reviews since he was 16 years old, and continues to do so, having done well over 1,000 reviews. He is also a fan of video gaming and cinema, and has reviewed a number of games and films as well, old and new alike. His thorough and honest (some would say brutally honest) reviewing style has won him the respect of hundreds of music fans and musicians alike, both local and abroad, and the ire of just as many others. Despite being one of the youngest attendees at classic hard rock/metal shows around Vegas, he is also one of the most knowledgeable, having gained the unofficial nickname of “The Eddie Trunk of Las Vegas.” In addition to reviews, Taylor has written and self-published three books on classic hard rock bands, and is a regular participant in rock and roll trivia contests. Taylor also holds a masters degree in special education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), and has appeared on the hit History Channel television series Pawn Stars. His dream is to be able to one day make a living from writing music books and reviews.