My Shout-Out To Rahway's Wrecking Machine: Locked Loaded And Ready To Bring Total Chaos To The Las Vegas Dive Bar On November 13!

 

First off, I owe a massive debt of gratitude to my rock brothers in the Rahway Band family — the whole wrecking crew — for the killer words and the early‑morning shout‑out about my blog!

When Rahway fires off a nod, it’s not just a mention… It’s a nuclear explosion. Their support hits like a power chord to the chest, and getting love from a band that lives and breathes pure hard‑rock voltage means everything to me! Thank You Much!

My history with the band. 

I first witnessed Rahway’s full‑scale, weapons‑grade badassery in May of 2024 inside Count’s Vamp’d Las Vegas, and brother, that night didn’t just rock… it blew out the power in half of Las Vegas!

Count's Vamp’d wasn’t just a rock venue; it was a pressure cooker seconds from blowing its lid!

Rahway rolled in alongside The Garden Of Eden, and The Bullet Boys band; the whole place lit up like a neon‑soaked battlefield. Three bands. One stage, with zero survivors!

Rahway didn’t “take” the stage — they stormed it like a chrome‑armored shock unit. Their guitars came in swinging with drop‑tuned, asphalt‑grinding riffs that felt like a demolition crew tearing through the Strip at 3 AM. Distortion didn’t just bloom; it erupted in radioactive colors, splashing the room in molten reds, electric blues, and toxic greens. The drums hit with sledgehammer brutality; each strike a seismic event that rattled every soul in the building. And the vocals? A feral, flame‑tipped roar that sliced through the mix like a chainsaw dipped in jet fuel.

Garden Of Eden brought the fire. Bullet Boys brought the legacy. And Rahway brought the massive shockwave that night! The kind of nuclear blast that makes the lights flicker, the bartenders freeze, and the crowd surge like a tidal wave of fists, sweat, and adrenaline! It wasn’t a concert that night, it was a hard‑rock supernova ripping open the night sky and dumping pure chaos onto the Las Vegas floor!

Let’s just say it was a night carved into the concrete. Three killer bands. One legendary room. And Rahway proving they’re not just bad, they’re a full‑blown hard‑rock superweapon of mass destruction!

My Thoughts

And that right there is my way of firing off a full‑blast, chrome‑melting shout‑out to this amazing band! The high‑octane, stage‑wrecking, sonic war‑machine known across the rock world as the Rahway Band.

 These guys aren’t just a band; they’re a technicolor hard‑rock juggernaut, a gasoline‑drenched riff factory, a bada$$ engine tuned for maximum destruction with zero apologies. 

If you want to feel the fire, taste the grit, and ride the shockwave yourself, check the links below and dive headfirst into the chaos. 

Rahway is the real deal, loud, lethal, and built to blow the doors off anything with a stage and a power outlet to hook up to!

See y'all at the Dive Bar on November 13th!

Gary England

Rahway Band Links:

Official Website

Where to catch the band

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

YouTube

TikTok

Bat Out Of Hell: How To Get Noticed In The Loud World Of The Media Biz!

 Journalism 1-0-1:

To the newbie's chasing the spotlights in the media world:

A writer-slash-blogger-slash-photographer’s first job is simple: 

To get seen!

Let the truth be known: The suits don’t give a damn about pretty pictures or perfect spelling — they want reach, raw numbers, bodies in the seats, eyes on the page, and readers who keep coming back for another hit of words!

Back in 2019, I rolled into Sunset Station with a camera and a chip on my shoulder. I didn’t just shoot the night — I twisted it, warped it, gave it a look nobody else dared to try back then. (The pic at the top) My little "pop art" experiment didn’t just get noticed; it ricocheted around the world and shoved my words onto the bloggers' roadmap.

Now that my latest blog is pulling in over 125,000 followers who ride with my words. I’m laying my pop‑art phase down gently — letting it fade like the last chord of a midnight set. Cell phones have cameras too. I’ll still snap a few shots to juice up my storytelling, but the real punch now only comes from the words that I write! 

My lesson to all who are pursuing media as a hobby, or as a career.

Find something that gets your work noticed, and run with it like a bat out of Hell 🔥

Word! 🤘

~GE~

Where The Noise In Your Head Becomes Clarity: Where's Your Happy Place At?

It’s funny how the mind works—take mine, for example. Sunday evening, while I was covering Sally Steele’s Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards red carpet, every time a rock star strutted past, one thought kept hitting me: Where’s their Happy Place? I’m betting it’s playing music—maybe right there onstage, inside the roar, plugged straight into the electricity of a crowd.

*To read about Sally Steele's Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards, click < Here >

So I called my card‑playing buddy, who also happens to be one of the top shrinks in Las Vegas, did a little digging, and came up with this rock‑writer diagnosis.

A Happy Place isn’t some soft-focus fantasy—it’s that real-world pocket where your pulse drops, your shoulders loosen, and the static in your head finally shuts up. You don’t choose it; you feel it. Maybe it’s a bar booth with perfect low light, maybe it’s a stretch of desert where the wind wipes the slate clean. It’s built from memory, instinct, and the body’s quiet way of saying, “Yeah… stay here.”

What makes these places special is the charge they carry—like plugging your soul into a socket that actually fits. They’re wired with safety, nostalgia, and sensory details that hit like a favorite guitar riff. Neon buzzing overhead, the hush of trees, the hum of a casino floor at 2 AM—whatever the flavor, a Happy Place is a personal sanctuary, a backstage pass to your own peace.

I’m pretty sure every rock star on that red carpet was already standing dead‑center in theirs. Music is their oxygen, their fuel, their whole universe. Whether they’re humming a tune alone, jamming with friends, or standing under the blaze of a sold‑out crowd, the second they’re wrapped in the sound they love, they’re home.

My Happy Place? Same one I’ve lived in for 58 years: writing. Every time I sit down and start stringing words together, everything clicks into place and the world feels right again.

Where's your Happy Place at?

Gary England

Sally Steele’s Rock Revolution: Vegas Rocks Magazine Music Awards Delivered A Monster Night Inside The Orleans Hotel Casino This Past Sunday Night!

Sunday, September 20th, 2026

To my readers:

Writing down what I see, snapping an occasional pic or two, holding conversations with fans around me, and shaking hands and trading fist pumps with an occasional quick conversation or two, with the rock stars I know as they roll past in full red‑carpet style — it all makes my job a wild mix of fun and focus. Plus, a handful of calls to the two companies I work for, keeping them updated in real time, adds another layer to the chaos. I’m watching, working, and loving every second of it. I hope everyone who reads my post enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing about what I saw last night.

Walking the red carpet with style!

Sunday night couldn’t have come fast enough for this old rock writer. I’d been amped for Sally Steele’s Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards from the moment the announcement hit, counting down the days like a fan waiting for the lights to drop at a stadium show!

I rolled into The Orleans a little before 5, just early enough to check in with the media crew covering the show. I grabbed my ticket and badge—my passport for the night—then headed through the casino toward the front entrance, where the red carpet was set to ignite at 6 PM. 

The energy was already building, that familiar Vegas hum rising under the neon as the first clusters of fans and photographers started to gather.

The red carpet was locked in and ready to roar—lights blazing, velvet ropes straightened, and every inch of space mapped out for the army of photographers, videographers, radio crews, and camera teams covering the walk of fame. You could feel the anticipation in the air as the media lanes snapped into formation, each spot marked and claimed like territory before a battle. The whole setup looked primed for impact, a neon-lit runway waiting for the first blast of rock‑and‑roll royalty to hit!

The clock finally slammed into 6 PM and the whole place snapped awake, lights up, cameras locked in, and the red carpet officially ready to erupt. The stage was set, every spotlight burning hot, and the entire area around the carpet was jammed with fans riding a level of excitement that was downright crazy. You could feel the energy vibrating off the walls, that wild Vegas buzz that tells you something big is about to hit.

Click On The Pic To Enlarge

First to hit the spotlight was the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll herself, Sally Steele. Dressed head‑to‑toe in blazing red, she didn’t just walk the carpet—she lit it up. The moment she stepped into the flash‑bulb frenzy, photographers snapped to attention and fans surged forward. Sally Steele owned the runway with that slow, confident stride only a true Vegas rock monarch can deliver, turning the entire entrance into her own personal stage!

Then the stars started rolling in—the unmistakable rock royalty every fan in the building knew by heart. These were the names that carried decades of stage sweat, guitar fire, and arena history, stepping onto the carpet like they were born under the spotlights. Each arrival sent a fresh jolt through the crowd, the kind of electricity only legends can trigger!

Heavy‑metal hitters Armored Saint were the first to storm the red‑carpet lane, rolling in with that battle‑tested swagger fans recognize on instinct. Right behind them came Mitch Malloy of Great White, sliding into the spotlight with the cool confidence of a frontman who’s lived half his life under the lights. Vegas roared for one of its own as Heroine Honey floated down the carpet with that hometown‑hero glow that always hits different in this city — once stars of Vegas, now shining for the whole world to see!

Then Martin Motnik lit up the scene, stepping in with his trademark precision‑player cool. Franky Perez fired up the lane with his signature swagger, with Christian Brady matching him beat for beat. From there, the carpet stayed molten, turning into a parade of pure rock royalty — a who’s‑who of the music world rolling in one after another, each arrival cranking the energy higher and pushing the crowd into a full‑blown frenzy.

The Vegas Rocks! house band followed, strutting down the lane like they owned it — and they absolutely did. The lineup was a killer blast of rock pedigree: Mr. Big’s Billy Sheehan, Count’s Customs’ Horny Mike, Michael Anthony of Van Halen, legendary guitar tech Dugie Dugan, and closing the charge, a rock titan who needs no introduction — Steve Vai.

By this time, the clock was grinding closer to showtime; the pressure was clearly on. Every rock star in the house was ushered toward that coveted red-carpet run, ready to be admired, photographed, and seen as the final seconds before the spotlights were to hit inside the showroom were almost upon us!

George Pajon of the Black‑Eyed Peas, Jeff Scott Soto of Journey, and DJ Ashba of Guns N’ Roses all hit the walk, followed by world media powerhouse Eddie Trunk. Then came Vegas’ own heavy hitters — Zowie Bowie, Bruce Kulick, Barry Barnes, Stoney Curtis, Jeff Tortora, Jason Walker, and Lagarto Marley — each taking their turn in full rock‑star style.

A few last stars rolled through before I jumped on the phone to New York, calling in what I’d seen to the media platforms that give my blog worldwide reach. Andrew Hagar, Chris Kael, Lizzy Borden, Frank DiMino, and one of my personal favorites, Miss Cian Coey, all made their mark on the carpet.

By this time, I was already talking with the two companies that give my blog musicentertainmentsports.blogspot.com its global exposure, filing my early report as the night kicked into high gear. It was time to head into the showroom — the event everyone came to see. And if I missed anyone who took the walk tonight, consider this my rock‑writer apology. Now it was showtime for the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards to begin!

My night at Sally Steele's Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards

So far, the night was nothing short of explosive. The fun, the chaos, the electricity- everyone was riding the same adrenaline high. I was close enough to these legends on the red carpet to feel the heat that was coming off their leather jackets, close enough to toss a word their way, close enough to touch the very icons who keep rock alive today!

And we were only minutes from liftoff, live music, roaring amps, and honoring the giants who built the foundation this entire industry stands on. Everything they’ve done for rock, everything they’ve given to the fans, everything they’ve poured into the music… tonight was for them!

Thank you, all of you, for keeping the music fire burning! This awards show is for you!

Click On The Pic To Enlarge

The show hit just a few minutes after 8, kicking off with a powerhouse video salute to Sally Steele and the mountain of accomplishments she’s delivered to the rock community here in Las Vegas. Vegas Rocks! Magazine, the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards, Vegas Rocks TV — all of it flashed across the screen like a highlight reel of a woman who’s spent her life keeping rock loud, proud, and impossible to ignore. And Sally… if you don’t mind, I’m calling you a Rock Star, because you’ve earned that title ten times over!

When the lights snapped back on, Sally took command of the room and kicked the night into gear. Her intro hit like a spark, and seconds later Pure Sport blasted onto the stage, firing up the showroom with the kind of heat Las Vegas is built on. They didn’t ease the crowd in — they detonated the opening, turning that first minute into a full‑tilt ignition point for everything that was about to come.

Brian Slagel stepped up and delivered the Metal Award to Armored Saint, a perfect match of legend honoring legend. Vegas pride lit up the room as Zowie Bowie was recognized for the spirit and heart he pours into this city. Alistar James took home Artist of the Year, while Jerry Harvey received his well‑earned honorable recognition. Then local favorite Stoney Curtis hit the stage to present Eddie Trunk with his award, saluting Eddie’s tireless, decades‑deep grind in the broadcast world.

Heroine Honey slammed onto the stage to perform and instantly cranked the showroom to a full‑blown boil, setting the perfect tone before snagging their award for Best Rock Band in Las Vegas — handed to them by radio legend Lark Williams of 97.1 The Point.

Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch stepped up and delivered the Best Podcast award to impressionist madman Craig Gass, who had the crowd laughing before he even reached the mic. The energy didn’t dip for a second, as DJ Ashba tore into the spotlight to receive the Best Guitar Player Award, a title he wears like a custom‑built Schecter!

And the guitar heroics kept coming. Bruce Kulick of KISS took the stage and presented Gilby Clarke with the Guitar Hero Award, a moment that hit like a power chord straight through the room!

Franky Perez and his band — featuring one of my favorite guitar slingers, Christian Brady — slammed into the packed showroom with a blistering blast of Whole Lotta Love that shook the walls. The crowd was already on fire when the Review‑Journal’s own powerhouse journalist John Kats stepped up to honor Franky with the Entertainer of the Year award, sealing a moment that felt straight out of rock‑and‑roll history.

Tracii Guns tore into the spotlight as he was honored with the Guitar Legend Award, a title that fits him like a perfectly worn fretboard. Mitch Malloy followed, finally getting his due with the Best Frontman Award, a nod to the power and presence he brings every time he steps behind a mic. Then Michael Anthony — the heartbeat bassist of Van Halen and Sammy Hagar — took the stage to honor Kevin “Dugie” Dugan for everything he’s contributed to the music industry. And in a moment that hit the room straight in the chest, Michael himself was surprised with recognition for his own lifetime of work, a tribute that felt as big as the legacy he’s built!

Andrew Hagar — recognize the name? — stepped up and accepted the award on behalf of his dad, honoring the lifetime of work Sammy has poured into the music world. Decades of sweat, sound, and soul in this business, all wrapped into one moment, handed from son to father with pride that hit the room like a spotlight blast.

Billy Sheehan was honored as a Rock Legend Bass Player, a salute to the decades he’s spent redefining what a bassist can do. Then Steve Vai took the spotlight for his Lifetime Achievement Award, a moment that hit hard — honoring a guitarist who’s reshaped the sound and spirit of rock for generations!

Click On The Pic To Enlarge

 To close the show, the entire lineup stormed the stage with Tracii Guns for a fiery blast of Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love, turning the finale into a full‑room sing‑and‑shout moment. Then everyone gathered in tight for a group shot — cast members, honorees, and rock heavyweights — locking in the final image of this year’s show.

As I said in one of my blogs, Sally Steele sure knows how to throw a party — and tonight proved it all over again. Thank you, Sally, for everything you do to keep music alive around the world, and especially right here in Las Vegas. To the House Band on stage, and to the many others that made the night a total success, thank you. One last shout-out goes out to Boyd Gaming for the killer showroom, the crew, the lighting, and the sound. You rock too!

Till next time.

Keep On RAWKING!

Gary England

In The Year 2525 Will Man Still Be Alive: How About Tomorrow?

End of the World? My thoughts.

Throughout history, every time humanity invented something powerful, people looked at it and thought, "This is it—this is how the world ends." But the truth beneath all these fears is simple: none of these forces came from the sky or some mysterious cosmic hand. Man built them. Man feared them. And man learned to eventually live with them!

From the moment scientists first cracked open the atom, newspapers warned that a single spark of nuclear energy could wipe out continents. When early computers arrived, people imagined machines taking over, replacing workers, or crashing civilization. By the late 1990s, the Y2K panic convinced millions that at the stroke of midnight, every bank, airport, and power grid would collapse because computers couldn’t handle the date “2000.” And today, massive data centers humming in the desert and AI systems learning at lightning speed trigger new waves of anxiety — fears of runaway intelligence, digital collapse, or machines outgrowing their makers.

But in every era, the pattern stays the same. Humanity creates something extraordinary. The public panics, imagining the invention as a doorway to doom. Then time passes, understanding deepens, and the technology becomes part of everyday life. Nuclear energy didn’t end the world; it became a power source. Computers didn’t destroy society; they rebuilt it. Data Centers swallow civilization? Most likely not. Even AI — the newest “end of the world” candidate — is still just a tool shaped by human hands, human choices, and human responsibility.

The fear is real, but the source is not supernatural. It’s us. Our inventions, our imagination, our uncertainty. Every “end of the world” moment in history is really a story about human creativity outrunning human comfort. And every time, we eventually catch up.

Humans keep inventing these “Doomsday” wonders because the same mind that trembles at its own creations is driven to push past every boundary it finds. We build powerful, risky, world‑shaking tools not out of a desire for destruction, but out of curiosity, ambition, and the refusal to stay small. Fear arrives later — after the invention, after the breakthrough, after the leap. But the leap always comes first. In the end, we keep creating these things because the drive to explore and expand outweighs the fear of what exploration might unleash, and because every dangerous invention is also a doorway to a bigger, more capable version of ourselves. After all, the end of the world has been predicted a thousand times — yet the only thing humanity ever truly ends is its own limits!

Gary England

What The World Needs Now Is Peace Love & Togetherness!

 Speaking as an old dude who’s been around the block — seen it, lived it, reported it — the world feels more twisted now than at any point in my lifetime. People are spinning out in every direction, and honestly, I’m pretty disgusted with planet Earth myself.

So I drift back to the days when the Hippies ruled, when the air felt lighter, and the message was simple: Peace, Love, Togetherness. It sounds impossible now, but wouldn’t it be something to say again — and actually mean — that love is the answer? Peace, my brother. Peace, my sister. What the world needs now is love, sweet love! (And God) ☮ ✝ ❤

My hope for today: May you find a quiet moment today to breathe, to center, and to share a little love with someone who needs it!

~Gary England~

My Shout‑Out To The People Who Keep Local Las Vegas Alive!

 You know, every once in a while, it's nice to receive a "Thank You" for what you do :-)

When I rolled into Las Vegas back in 1999, I already had 31 years in the media biz as a ghost — writing in the shadows, grinding through deadlines, and living the kind of behind‑the‑scenes hustle only lifers understand. "Been there, done that", I thought!

Not long after I hit town, two of Vegas’ top photographers pulled me aside. These were the kings of the pit, the guys who owned every stage in the local music scene. They told me my work was really good… then warned me that might be the very thing that would burn me out. They said the politics, the jealousy, the haters, and the noise would eventually make me lose interest and walk away. Well — decades later, I’m still here, just barely.

And here’s the truth: I never even considered photography as my strong point. Writing is, was, and will always be who I am! Taking pics is just a side gig for me.

Las Vegas used to be packed with local media pros who covered the local music scene because they lived it. Journalists, writers, photographers, and podcasters who knew every dive bar stage, every late‑night jam, every band grinding through the neon haze. They weren’t tourists with press badges — they were locals who showed up because the music mattered, documenting the scene from the inside out.

Today, the roster’s thinned to a couple of magazines, a handful of writers still swinging, a few podcasts fighting the good fight, and a handful of talented photographers keeping the flame alive.

Being a local media member in this town isn’t easy! You deal with armchair experts who swear they know more about media than the people actually doing the work. You deal with people who talk behind your back. You deal with has-beens that never was. You deal with haters who get jealous because your name hits the spotlight and theirs doesn’t. And you deal with people who simply don’t appreciate your grind — the long nights, the hustle, the passion it takes to keep Vegas’ local music story alive.

But the ones still standing? They’re locals. They’re loyal. They love music, and they're proud to show it through their work!. And you know who you are. Good job. Thanks for keeping the music scene alive, and for keeping Las Vegas on the map. I appreciate you!

To all the amateur writers, journalists, photographers, and podcasters, O hell yes, thank you!  You’re the ones in the trenches, the ones hauling cameras into dark bars, scribbling notes under neon lights, hitting “record” in living rooms and garages because nobody else is telling the story. Your work is raw, real, and absolutely vital. You keep the pulse beating when the pros thin out. You keep the scene visible when the big outlets look the other way. And your work? It’s awesome too. Don’t let anyone — the armchair critics, the jealous shadows, the noise — tell you otherwise. Vegas stays on the map because you show up. And I appreciate every damn one of you!!

And lastly — to the two badass photographers who pulled me aside all those years ago, trying to warn me about what was coming… You nailed it. You hit it right on the head! Is it to late to say thank you?

Gary England

Three Voices One Legacy: My Top Picks-Pick For Quiet Riot’s Next Frontman

I’ve been a Quiet Riot lifer for as long as my memory’s got electricity. So, when this teaser photo dropped, it didn’t just catch my eye — it hit me like a spotlight flipping on in a dark club. And yeah, during my career, I’ve thrown this band their share of kudos, more than once, because they earned it.

Now here we are, staring at a mystery wrapped in a promo shot, and I can’t help but let my old instincts kick in. During serving my time in the media army, fifteen years I worked as a research journalist — digging, chasing, connecting dots — let’s see if those muscles still flex the way they used to!

Starting with who’s in the scene, actually qualified, and who’s publicly admitted they’ve thrown an audition tape into the Quiet Riot ring — that’s where the hunt begins. 

No rumor‑mill noise, no backstage whispers, just the names and voices the public knows stepped up and said, “Yeah, I want that mic!”

Based on solid industry sources and fan‑driven reporting, two frontmen have stepped out of the shadows and publicly thrown their hats into Quiet Riot’s vocalist search.

Ian Kurz – Destroyer (KISS tribute band) Kurz made his move in July 2026, when Kiss Asylum spotlighted his audition tape. His video — posted July 20 — shows him tearing into “Cum On Feel the Noize” and laying out his credentials as a long‑haul touring singer. He’s spent more than 13 years fronting one of Canada’s biggest KISS tribute acts, comfortable with or without a guitar strapped on.

John Torra – Fire ’N Ice Torra, the New Jersey frontman of Fire ’N Ice, also went public with his audition. Metal Sludge picked up the story, noting his videos channel, and his classic Kevin DuBrow energy. His performances drew praise from across the rock world — former Quiet Riot singer James Durbin, Vixen’s Britt Lightning, Great White’s Brett Carlisle, Lita Ford, and drummer Rikki Rockett, all gave him nods. Torra’s since talked about the process in interviews and YouTube breakdowns.

While plenty of names have been tossed around in fan chatter and industry buzz, only Ian Kurz and John Torra stand as confirmed cases in reputable outlets — the only two vocalists publicly known to have sent real audition tapes or videos to Quiet Riot’s management.

I've got one to add ....

 Could Jason McMaster Be More Than a Temporary Frontman?

Jason McMaster is the guy Quiet Riot trusts to keep the engine running while the new vocalist finishes whatever obligations are keeping him offstage. He’s a seasoned pro, a road‑tested voice from Dangerous Toys and Watchtower, and he’s already proven he can step into a legacy band without flinching.

So, the question hangs in the air like feedback off a hot amp:

Could McMaster not only front the band until the official singer is announced — could he be the announcement himself?

Or maybe a lone ranger is about to crash through the spotlight — a single voice riding in from nowhere, ready to grab the Quiet Riot mic and blow the whole scene wide open.

I've got my pick, but it's a secret too!

Gary England

Keep The Beat Keep The Respect: Music Scene Rhythm Meets Real Life Truth!

 Waking up this morning, I felt that quiet rush of gratitude humming through me — another sunrise, another shot to do what I love. I cracked open the inbox, and there they were: four assignments lined up like a blessing disguised as hustle. Instead of shaking my head, I nodded. Thankful to have the work, thankful to still be part of the noise and the narrative.

I skim down the AP wire, slide through the UPI feed, then wander into Facebook land like stepping into a familiar neon-lit alley. The day looks solid, steady, full of possibility. And yeah, there’s always a “but” lurking somewhere — but today I’m meeting it with gratitude instead of grit. It’s time to speak my peace!

There’s a virus going around that’s called Disrespect, and you can feel it creeping around in our local Las Vegas music community if you listen close enough. Out here, where amps buzz, voices shine, and dreams get tested under the neon heat, respect is the one thing that keeps people standing tall. 

The world’s changed, Vegas has changed, and the scene I’m proud to be part of has shifted right along with it! But the need to treat people right never goes out of style. As someone who cares and as a journalist who actually pays attention, I feel it’s my responsibility to say it straight: Respect is the baseline, the beat we all need to stay in time with!

The fix is actually pretty simple. 

"Treat others how you want to be treated"

For those of you that Respect your Creator, it's called the Golden Rule.

Gary England

Las Vegas Braces For A Full‑Scale Rock Invasion: Sally Steele's Vegas Rocks Magazine Music Awards Hits The Orleans Hotel Casino This Coming Sunday September 20th!

 

If Las Vegas ever needed a few tips on how to throw a party, I’d be first in line to hand over the playbook soaked in neon, sweat, and pure rock‑and‑roll high‑octane energy!

This Sunday, September 20th (Doors:5pm Show:6pm), the Orleans Hotel & Casino explodes with Sally Steele’s 8th Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards, a full‑throttle celebration built to rattle the Las Vegas Strip all the way up to Red Rock Canyon!

If you’re chasing down the party of the year, this beast isn’t just warming up — it’s kicking, screaming, and blasting down the runway with enough high‑octane attitude to shake the Las Vegas Strip loose from its bolts!

You already know this party event of the year is primed to blow the roof off the Orleans Casino, when rock legends like Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, TRACII GUNS, Michael Anthony, Gilby Clarke, Armored Saint, DJ Ashba, Chris Kael, Mitch Malloy, Eddie Trunk, Bruce Kulick, George Pajon, Marton Motnik, Franky Perez, Zowie Bowie, Lizzy Borden, Heroine Honey (Las Vegas), and Pure Sport roll into town, the party doesn’t just come alive; it sends a shockwave ripping across the city, the kind that makes every neon bulb stand at attention. This lineup isn’t a guest list; it’s a full‑blown who’s‑who of rock royalty hitting Las Vegas like the Strip on New Year’s Eve night — loud, electric, and absolutely relentless!

If you’re anywhere near Las Vegas this Sunday, September 20th, lock in your night at The Orleans Hotel & Casino. Sally Steele’s Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards is ready to ignite the city with a powerhouse lineup of rock legends, rising stars, and pure Sin City energy. Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster — grab yours now, because this celebration is moving fast and you’ll want to be inside when the lights hit, the crowd surges, and the whole room comes alive!

Take it from this Rock Writer, Sally Steele sure does know how to throw a party!

Gary England

For Tickets

Sally Steele's Vegas Rocks! Magazine Music Awards

Sally Steele

Vegas Rocks! Magazine

The Orleans Hotel Casino

Boyd Gaming

Rocking The Treasure Island Hotel Casino Breeze Bar: A Night of Classic Rock Music and Remembrance With Paul Shortino & Mitch Perry!

 Friday night, September 11th, 2026

Friday night inside Treasure Island Hotel & Casino’s Breeze Bar, Paul Shortino and Mitch Perry treated the packed room to nearly three hours of classic rock music, plus a stirring 25th‑anniversary 9/11 tribute that hit the crowd with both real power and heart!

Throughout the night, Paul Shortino kept dropping heartfelt nods to 9/11, speaking from a place that still burns in his heart. Every time he and Mitch Perry launched into another song, it hit like a midnight flare, two rock warriors firing riffs into the sky in remembrance of what went down in New York City 25 years ago.

The tone for the night hit like a neon‑lit moment with Eric Clapton’s “Change the World,” rolling straight into the funk‑shaken swagger of “Shakey Ground.” From there it was a glide through Steve Winwood’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” a stomp through Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” and a soul‑grabbing, truly touching blast of Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.”

Then the room shifted gears — Marvin Gaye, Leon Russell, Whitesnake, Allman Brothers, The Eagles, Chicago — all firing off like a jukebox possessed. And when “Bang Your Head” and “Cum On Feel The Noize” from the legendary Quiet Riot detonated, the place lit up like neon on the Las Vegas Strip. Jefferson Airplane, Stevie Wonder, and a long list of heavy hitters rounded out a night that felt like flipping through the greatest mixtape ever burned onto the Vegas skyline!

Ending the night, Paul Shortino and Mitch Perry delivered a truly touching, emotional, heartfelt salute to 9/11, closing the room in a way only seasoned rock souls can. When they launched into the Star‑Spangled Banner and God Bless America, it wasn’t just music — it was a moment that hung in the air like a spotlight on the nation’s memory, powerful enough to stop every heartbeat in the room!

{My Take}

Sending out a big, loud emotional thank you to Paul Shortino and Mitch Perry for delivering a night that was not only extremely entertaining but also woven with powerful moments of remembrance. It was Classic Rock at full throttle — the kind of night that keeps your adrenaline humming — mixed with heartfelt tributes honoring the 25th anniversary of September 11th, 2001.

Your song choices, your spoken words, and the way you blended celebration with reflection created the perfect balance for such a meaningful occasion. You didn’t just play a show — you crafted a night that honored the past while rocking the present moment!

Paul and Mitch are set to take the stage again tonight — Saturday, September 12th at 7pm.

They’ll be returning next month on Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, October 3rd, to the Breeze Bar inside the Treasure Island Hotel Casino. (7pm showtimes)

Until then, keep on Rocking and keep that American Spirit and Classic Rock heartbeat alive!

Gary England

Real Rock Returns Home: Raiding The Rock Vault Hits The Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Strip October 15th, 2026!

Raiding the Rock Vault is rolling back into Las Vegas like a runaway freight train loaded with Marshall stacks, ready to blow the doors off the Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Strip this fall. On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the city’s most notorious all‑star classic‑rock battalion will unleash a full‑throttle voltage blast on the venue’s state‑of‑the‑art stage — a night built for head‑bangers, riff‑chasers, and anyone who still believes rock should be played loud enough to rattle the neon on the Las Vegas Strip!

Raiding the Rock Vault ignites the Strip with a high‑voltage history lesson — one riff at a time!

The show fires through the giants of the rock universe, unleashing thunder from The Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Free, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Boston, Kansas, Aerosmith, Van Halen, AC/DC, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Heart, Journey, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, and a whole army of other legends who turned amplifiers into weapons and riffs into religion.

Every song hits like a ripped‑out page of rock history, blasted with the volume stuck wide open!

Raiding the Rock Vault blasts through the ’60s to the ’80s, celebrating Real Rock and Real Rockstars with every hit they fire off!

Talking about a full‑blown roll call of rock’s heavy hitters — the legends, the lifers, the names that built the genre.

Talking about Real Rock Real Rockstars! 

OCTOBER 15th ALL-STAR LINEUP

Andrew Freeman: Lead Vocals (Last in Line, Great White, The Offspring, Lynch Mob)

Jizzy Pearl: Lead Vocals (Ratt, L.A. Guns, Love/Hate)

Steve Hott: Lead Vocals (Ratt, Michael Angelo Batio)

Georgia Napolitano: Lead Vocals (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rod Stewart)

Rowan Robertson: Lead Guitar (Dio)

Jeff Duncan: Lead Guitar (Armored Saint)

Sean Koos: Bass (Joan Jett, The Outfield, Nena, Katrina & The Waves)

Blas Elias: Drums (Slaughter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)

Michael T. Ross: Keyboards / Musical Director (Lita Ford, Missing Persons, Aldo Nova)

Sarah Jessica Rhodes: Dancer & Choreographer (Absinthe, Spice Wannabe)

(Lineup subject to change without notice.)

After twelve years and over 1,800 shows, and a much-needed vacay. 

 Raiding the Rock Vault returns home like a band returning to its roots — guitars warm, hearts full, and their next chapter ready to write and roar!

See you in October!

Gary England

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Ticket Sales - Show Details & Information 

October 15, 2026 — Special Return Performance

Doors: 7:00 p.m.

Rock Star Meet & Greet: 7:00 p.m.

Show: 8:00 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 11, 2026, at 10 AM PDT www.raidingtherockvault.com/tickets/

TICKETS & ROCK STAR MEET AND GREET

Tickets start at $39, plus tax and fees.

www.raidingtherockvault.com/tickets/

Fans can upgrade any ticket level with the Rock Star Meet & Greet Upgrade for $100, which includes:

• Meet and greet with members of the cast before the show

• Photo opportunity with the rock stars

• Official show program

Ticket holders also receive a 20% discount at Hard Rock Cafe during their visit (alcohol excluded).

Venue Location

Raiding the Rock Vault

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas Strip

3771 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Las Vegas, NV

(Showcase Mall, next to MGM Grand)

*Parking next door*

Contact

MEDIA CONTACT

Erik Nielsen: social@raidingtherockvault.com

Website: www.raidingtherockvault.com

Access Showroom Inside Aliante Casino Las Vegas Becomes Ground Zero For Hairball’s Rock Detonation October 3rd 2026

On October 3rd, the Access Showroom inside Aliante Casino Hotel Spa becomes ground zero for a full‑scale Rock & Roll, Classic Rock explosion! (Doors at 7pm. Show at 8pm) 

Hairball will erupt like a metal‑forged war beast, unleashing a 2‑plus‑hour shockwave of molten riffs, blast‑furnace vocals, and arena‑sized fury — a relentless, fire‑breathing onslaught of the biggest titans in rock history, reborn with heavier claws, sharper teeth, and enough voltage to scorch the desert and leave the Access Showroom trembling in the aftermath!

The monsters of classic rock will reappear in full battle mode!

Blasts from the past include Van Halen’s volcanic swagger, KISS’s fire‑breathing spectacle, Motley Crue’s leather‑and‑gasoline chaos, Queen’s operatic thunder, Journey’s skyscraper‑high choruses, Aerosmith’s blues‑soaked strut, and a whole arsenal of legends roaring back to life.

Hairball is locked and loaded, blasting shockwaves with an arena‑sized light show, smoke cannons, fire bursts, and a full‑tilt barrage of stage firepower built to shake the room to its core!

Hairball doesn’t just torch the stage — they leave the night smoldering!

For more info about Hairball and to grab your tickets, hit the links below

Gary England

*Brought To You by Boyd Gaming

Hairball Official Website

Hairball Shows (Tickets)

Hairball On Facebook

Hairball YouTube

Hairball Instagram

The Music He Left Behind: Honoring Joey Mazzone's Wish For His Music To Live On!

Many early mornings — four, sometimes five a.m. — I wake not to an alarm, but to the soft murmur of voices drifting through my head. What I write about today. This morning was different. I woke to a voice rising straight out of my heart. After reading the obituary for Joey Mazzone last night, I opened my eyes early this morning with a quiet certainty that I needed to speak — to write — about this remarkable friend, musician, and truly awesome man. 

I remember that early day in August, just a month ago, when the weight of losing a friend settled over me — a friend I now wish I’d had the chance to be closer to. It was one of those still, fragile mornings when the world feels thinner, and the things you didn’t say echo louder than the ones you did. 

So today, I say my peace through my writing. 

I was blessed to have Joey in my life for only a short stretch of years, crossing paths in the world of music—in the rooms where he played what he loved and where I wrote about what I loved: music!

 I remember Joey always inviting Dorrie and me to his upcoming gigs; We made as many as we could, and now I find myself wishing we would have made even more! 

Many times, Joey and I would sit together at an empty table and talk about life and music. I remember him as a deeply friendly soul — soft‑spoken offstage, carrying himself with a gentle ease — but the moment he stepped under the lights, he sang loud and proud. I listened to his music not just for the melody, but for the words. So many of his songs were stories, pieces of his life woven into verses and choruses. Through our conversations, and even more through the lyrics he wrote, it was clear how much Joey loved music — how much he loved sharing it with the world. 

He lived with a quiet pain most people never saw, me included, and his greatest relief came from creating the songs that carried him through. My own relief in losing my friend comes from knowing he’s in Heaven now — no pain, no weight — and still making his music.

One thing I do know is that Joey had one clear wish: for his music to live on. That was his heartbeat, his hope, the thing he wanted to leave behind for the world. So here is my part in helping that wish along. To all my readers of my blog, to my followers and subscribers, and to my friends on Facebook, I ask you to join me — hit the link below, listen, share, and keep his songs moving forward. Let’s help Joey Mazzone’s wish to come true. Let's keep his music alive!

Rest in peace, Joey.

Love you always, my brother in music.

7.15.1999 - 8.7.2026

Gary England

Mourning My Life   Share Please 

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The Lone Ranger Ghostwriter Takes Off His Mask: Is Ghostwriting Really Worth It In The End?

Is Ghostwriting Really Worth It In The End?

 In my almost six decades in the media, it wasn’t just being a writer or ghostwriting for other writers; it was a lifelong learning experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn the music and entertainment side of the business from some of the best minds worldwide. I stayed invisible for most of that career — a shadow with a typewriter — until 2008, when I punched the time clock for the very last time. From then until today, I’ve been drifting through the rough, unpredictable freelance waters of Las Vegas, still wearing the ghostwriter’s Lone Ranger mask. To about ninety‑nine percent of the people around me, I’m just the old guy who writes about Vegas music, snaps a few photos, and tries not to make too many waves in the local scene. But there’s more to this old guy than meets the eye!

Last month, I decided to try and go clean, calling a ton of the people from my past experiences. Many have already gone to the music scene in the sky, many businesses don’t keep records from back then, and many of the folks I worked with or worked for don’t exist anymore. Guess I’m stuck with all of my learned knowledge and have no place to use it. Or is there?

After I decided to go clean, I took it a step further — I started building a job résumé, something that could put me back in the grind and let me use this head full of knowledge where it works best: right here in the music scene I dig so much.

Turns out me shooting my mouth off about ways to advertise and promote music events — my suggestions about the music biz, and my blog musicentertainmentsports.blogspot.com — has caught a few people’s eyes. The stuff I write about, the ideas I throw out there, the advice I give… it works. And suddenly people are asking: Who is this guy? This guy says the music scene needs fixing, and he’s bold enough to claim he’s the one who can fix it. Is he crazy?

No. I’m the guy with six decades in the biz — the guy who’s been there, done that, and still has the scars and the stories to prove it. A few recent events in my life have changed this old guy, and if you don’t take me seriously, maybe you’ll listen when I finally take the Lone Ranger mask off. I know some will take this post as me shooting my mouth off — ha! — but like I said, a few people have figured the old guy out. And a few have started asking questions about who this old guy really is.

But that’s not the question. The real question is: When is somebody — or someone with a little pull — in the local entertainment scene going to call my “All In” bet that I just might be the old guy who can fix what’s broken around here?

Gary England

Queensrÿche Hit Las Vegas Saturday Night Inside The Cannery Casino Hotel With A Meteor Barrage Of Non-Stop Hits That Left The Club Glowing in the Afterburn!

 Saturday, September 5th, 2026

Queensryche 

Cannery Casino Hotel "The Club"

{The Band}

Queensrÿche’s evolution from their early 1980s metal beginnings to the present day reads like a masterclass in artistic growth! 

They rose quickly with a sound that blended heavy-metal precision, power‑metal fire, and the atmospheric ambition that would make them pioneers of progressive metal. Through the decades, the band kept pushing boundaries, refining their craft, and expanding their musical reach. 

Then came June 2012 — a turning point that felt less like a shake‑up and more like a rebirth. Todd La Torre stepped in and immediately reignited the band’s signature energy, bringing a fresh spark that lit up both studio and stage. 

Joined by founding forces Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson, the return of guitarist Mike Stone, and the dynamic drumming of Casey Grillo, 

Queensrÿche stands today as a revitalized, battle‑ready band, one that honors its legacy while hitting the modern era with renewed strength and unmistakable purpose!

{Inside The Club}

Saturday night, Queensrÿche stormed The Club stage inside the Cannery Casino Hotel and took no hostages, firing off a set of over 90 minutes that hit the room like a precision‑guided missile! 

Queensrÿche hit the Cannery like a detonation, blasting through swirling lights, rolling smoke, and arena‑grade sound. It was a totally awesome experience!

The band erupted like a sonic boom, sending metal shrapnel across the crowd as they launched straight into "Queen of the Reich". They kept the adrenaline spiking with "Operation Mindcrime", "Walk In The Shadows", "Speak", "I Don't Believe In Love", "Best I Can", and "Warning". Before Todd threw the switch and blasted the house lights back on, he leaned into this easy, laid‑back moment with the crowd, a full showroom of diehards packed tight into The Club. He wasn’t “addressing an audience”; he was talking with old friends, thanking everyone for showing up and hitting the night with the kind of energy only Las Vegas fans bring. It felt like one of those catch‑ups you fall into with people you haven’t seen in a while — warm, familiar, and real.

Those few minutes felt like the calm before the next detonation — a rare, quiet pocket in the night where the band caught their breath and the room held still. It wasn’t long, just enough time for Queensrÿche to reset, reload, and let the adrenaline settle for half a heartbeat.

And when they kicked back in, it was obvious that breather didn’t slow them down; it supercharged them. Their internal metal meter wasn’t just back in the green; it was pegged past 100%, redlining like a machine built to run hotter than physics should allow!

Queensrÿche came out swinging like a trained MMA fighter with a score to settle, blasting into the set with "Neue Regel", "Behind the Walls"," Take Hold of the Flame", and "Silent Lucidity". By then, The Club wasn’t just packed — it was alive, every voice locked in, every fan singing every word like they were right up there onstage with the band.

Then came the next barrage: "Jet City Woman", "Screaming in Digital", and "Anarchy X" — each one hitting with the force of a flaming meteor slamming straight into the Las Vegas Strip.

Another quick breather followed, just long enough for Todd to introduce the band and share a moment with the fans packed into the Club. Then Queensrÿche fired off the final salvo: "Revolution Calling", "Empire", and the night‑ending knockout punch, "Eyes of a Stranger".

As for my review grade?

Queensrÿche closed out the night like a band dead‑set on proving why they’re still one of the most lethal forces in metal. Every member was firing at peak power — razor‑sharp guitars slicing through the room, bass lines rumbling like underground Vegas thunder, drums hitting with the precision of a seasoned prizefighter, and Todd’s vocals soaring, snarling, and commanding every inch of The Club. The lighting rig blasted the stage in waves of neon fire, smoke curled around the band like a living creature, and the sound system punched with arena‑level force that felt impossible for a club room to contain.

It wasn’t just a concert — it was a full‑scale metal storm, a night where every song landed like a meteor strike and every moment reminded you why Queensrÿche still owns any stage they step onto.

I walked in as a classic rock writer… I walked out a full-blown metalhead.

Gary England

Brought to you by Boyd Gaming

Yellow Brick Road: Vegas’ Eternal Rock Pulse Erupts Inside Santa Fe Station’s Chrome Showroom Last Night!

 Friday Sept. 4th

Yellow Brick Road

Santa Fe Station Chrome Showroom

It had been way too long since I last got blasted by the powerhouse known as Yellow Brick Road. Too many nights, too many bands, too many neon‑soaked distractions; you know how Vegas chews up the calendar and spits out your free time!

So, when Friday night finally rolled in, I was locked, loaded, and primed to take a full‑throttle sonic hit right to the chin!

I was more than fired up for a night of classic rock heavyweights, delivered by one of Sin City’s longest‑running, never‑say‑die bands — the mighty Yellow Brick Road, still tearing up Las Vegas like the neon never burned out.

The clock slammed into nine, and it was on! If you’ve ever caught Yellow Brick Road in the wild, you already know — this band doesn’t ease into anything. They hit the stage like they’re kicking down a door.

Panama, We Will Rock You, a blast of Eddie Money, Two Tickets to Paradise, and a shot of Sweet Emotion — the whole room lit up. The crowd went from warm to volcanic, bodies shifting forward, itching to spill onto the dance floor the second the groove cracked open!

A couple of shots of Tom Petty — American Girl and Runnin’ Down a Dream — blew through the room, giving David St. John a bright spotlight to flex that low‑end thunder he’s famous for. Then YBR eased off the gas just long enough to slide into REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling, and yeah… you could hear Mark Cole now.

Mark didn’t just play — he detonated. His Van Halen Eruption solo ripped through the showroom like a lightning strike, every note sharp enough to cut glass.

Then Corky Gainsford stepped up and absolutely wrecked the drum kit with a fan‑favorite solo under the full blaze of the lights — pure rhythmic violence, the kind Vegas lives for.

Frontman Kelly Christian took the reins next, showing off that killer voice with Any Way You Want It, Eminence Front, Cult of Personality, All Right Now, and a scorching Hot for Teacher to slam the door on the night.

Yellow Brick Road didn’t just play a show. They torched the stage and walked off like legends.

If you crave classic rock that still swings a sledgehammer, Yellow Brick Road is a must‑see and see‑again!

A Las Vegas staple since 1997, these guys don’t just play the classics — they make Classic Rock proud!

Gary England

Classic Rock Friday Explosive Metal Saturday: Las Vegas At Full Volume This Weekend!

 This weekend on garyengland.com, the city is getting a two‑night sonic beating delivered by two of the most respected bands working today, each in a venue built to amplify their signature chaos.

Tonight: Friday at 9 PM, inside the Chrome Showroom at the Santa Fe Station, Yellow Brick Road takes over. One of the longest‑running, most beloved rock institutions locally in Las Vegas. They don’t just play classic rock; they resurrect it with arena‑grade precision, soaring vocals, and guitar work sharp enough to slice through the neon haze. The Chrome Showroom’s tight acoustics and chrome‑trimmed glow turn their set into a time‑warp back to the golden age of stadium rock, where every chorus feels like a victory lap, and every riff hits like a memory you forgot you missed!

Then tomorrow night, Saturday at 8 PM, the entire vibe detonates as Queensrÿche storms into the Club Showroom inside the Cannery Casino Hotel in North Las Vegas. This is a progressive metal royalty band that built its legacy on technical firepower, operatic intensity, and dark, cinematic storytelling. Their live show is a full‑scale metal assault, engineered with surgical precision and delivered with the kind of force that makes the walls vibrate. The Club Showroom is the perfect battleground for their sound: close, loud, and designed to let every kick drum thump and every guitar line slice straight through the crowd.

Classic Rock Friday. Explosive Metal Saturday. 

One legendary local band grinding its legacy into the Local Las Vegas music scene, one show at a time, and one band whose legacy is welded into the very genre they helped create! 

* For tickets to Queensrÿche, head to Ticketmaster: ticketmaster.com.

Gary England

Direct Link for Tickets