Vegas Rock Confidential: From Bay Area Beginnings To The Heat Of L.A.To The Magnetic Pull of Las Vegas — Getting To Know Jamey Pacheco.

Vegas Rock Confidential: From Bay Area Beginnings To The Heat Of L.A.To The Magnetic Pull of Las Vegas — Getting to Know Jamey Pacheco.

Jamey Pacheco’s story kicks in when he was just fourteen years old. When he first sat down behind a drum kit, fired up by Kiss and Aerosmith — pure gasoline for a kid already wired for rhythm. 

From there he charged straight into the Bay Area trenches, landing his first real gig with Candy, alongside Derek Davis and Robb Reid, the core that would eventually ignite Babylon A.D. He hammered stages that every West Coast rocker knows by heart—The Stone in San Francisco, Keystone Palo Alto, Keystone Berkeley, Niles Station—sweaty, loud rooms where reputations were earned one blistering set at a time. Pacheco didn’t just play the circuit; he helped build it, co‑founding The Persuaders, the band that evolved into Babylon A.D. and carried him into the national spotlight. By the time MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball came calling during the Arista Records era, he was already a seasoned street‑tough drummer with the chops, the attitude, and the history to back it up!

Jamey Pacheco slammed into the Babylon A.D. lineup right from the jump, holding down the drum throne from 1987 to 1993 as the band tore through the hard‑rock trenches. After that first blazing run, he stepped back from the road to earn his degree in Graphic Design between 1993 and 1999, sharpening a whole new creative skill set. Then the story kicked back into overdrive — Pacheco reunited with Babylon A.D. in 1999 and stayed behind the kit all the way through 2019, powering a twenty‑year second chapter that most bands only dream about. What a run!

Jamey Pacheco pushed into a new chapter in 2019, diving headfirst into tribute projects — most notably the high‑energy of Duran Duran Duran (D3). His tribute‑band era has taken him everywhere from Yoshi’s Oakland to Crystal Bay Casino in Lake Tahoe, the Firehouse Arts Center, and even the Rockstar Bar in Las Vegas, proving he can flip from hard‑rock grit to new‑wave precision without dropping a shred of swagger!

Today, after 40+ years in the business, Pacheco remains a touring drummer, recording artist, visual designer, and session player — still chasing the next loud night, still swinging sticks like they’re built for battle.

Jamey isn’t just keeping Duran D3 sharp for the road — he’s building new soundscapes with his musical partner in life, Ronnie Wagner, laying down fresh tracks together inside the D3 lineup. On top of that, Ronnie’s own project, Passion Nouveau, gives them another creative lane to explore, blending styles and ideas while Jamey shifts effortlessly between a hard‑rock punch and a new sleek & modern groove!

Together in life and locked in the same musical orbit, Jamey and Ronnie are a powerhouse duo with no ceiling in sight. Two seasoned artists pushing each other higher, chasing new sounds, new stages, and whatever wild horizon comes next — the musical sky’s wide open for them both!

Gary England

To learn more about Jamey, Ronnie, D3-Duran Duran Duran, Babylon A.D., and Passion Nouveau, check the links below.

Jamey Pacheco on Facebook

Jamey Pacheco Official Website

JAMES PACHECO | SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ronnie Wagner on Facebook

Ronnie Wagner Official Website

Duran Duran Duran (D3) on Facebook

Duran D3 Tribute Official Website

Babylon A.D. - Music, Official Site, Band, Music

Passion Nouveau Official Website

Today's Vegas Rock Confidential: His Story Reads Like A Rock Documentary - Getting To Know Les Warner

Welcome to Vegas Rock Confidential, my series where I sit down with some of the most compelling rock‑star musicians from yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

In each conversation, I dive into their past, explore where they are now, and get a glimpse into what the future holds for these legends who continue to keep the beat alive in the neon glow of Las Vegas!

Today's Vegas Rock Confidential - Getting to know Les Warner, whose story reads like a rock documentary!

From London clubs to global tours, to The Cult’s explosive rise, to performances with Montrose and sessions with Peter Green. Today he’s settled in Las Vegas, where he remains one of the city’s busiest musicians, a studio warrior and live‑show sparkplug. I got to sit down with Les to talk about his past, what drives him today in the local Las Vegas Music Scene. And what the future may hold!

How did Les get introduced to the music world?

Growing up in London, the spark hit Les early thanks to the boys who lived upstairs—they were musicians, always rehearsing, always making noise, and that energy pulled Les straight toward the drums. His dad helped seal the deal every Sunday when he’d come home with a cardboard box filled with 45‑rpm records and candy. Between the upstairs jams and that weekly treasure chest of music, it didn’t take long before Les knew this wasn’t just a childhood fascination. Music was going to be his life!

The Early Years.

Back in the early ’70s, the London pub circuit was a nonstop parade of R&B and blues bands, all hammering out shuffles that could shake the floorboards loose. Les hooked up with Johnny Marrs and The Seven Sun, and those gigs were where his groove was born. Night after night of blues and shuffle playing hot-wired that feel into Les, which is still the foundation of how he plays today!

Under The Spotlights.

Les Warner didn’t join The Cult so much as he crashed into their world like a drum‑fueled lightning bolt. London clubs were his proving ground—sweaty rooms, loud amps, and nights where the only thing that mattered was whether the band could still stand after the encore! That raw, street‑hardened energy caught The Cult’s attention in the mid‑’80s, and suddenly Warner was behind the kit for a band about to explode into global fame!

On Electric, he didn’t just keep time—he defined it! His drumming was the steel spine of that music work: sharp, muscular, and unapologetically loud. Those thunderous grooves helped turn Electric into one of rock’s most iconic sonic pivots, and Warner’s fingerprints are all over its swagger!

Les Warner’s success isn’t some mystery; it’s the product of a relentless, full‑throttle drive to be the best musician in the room, every room, every night!

Les has carried that same rock‑and‑roll fire through every chapter of his career. Back in the mid‑’80s—around 1986—he flew into Dublin and dove straight into the studio with The Waterboys, hammering out those unmistakable drum tracks that only he could deliver. Decades later, those long‑lost tapes resurfaced, and the band used Warner’s original sessions in their recent Waterboys release, proving that his rhythm still hits just as hard today!

Back To My Story...

Les Warner's New Gig Home.

Eventually, Les traded London fog for Las Vegas neon, settling into a city that never sleeps and never stops making music. Las Vegas fit him perfectly! Endless stages, endless bands, endless chances to plug in and play. Today he’s busier than ever: studio work, laying drum tracks for artists across the map, and even throwing down bass when the moment calls for it. His professional recording studio in LV has become a go‑to spot for bands who want that unmistakable Les Warner punch!

And if you want to see the man in full rock‑and‑roll flight, you’re in luck!

Event Information & Tickets

 Later this month on Friday, August 28th at 9:30pm, Les hits the Orleans Showroom, banging skins for Petty And The Heartshakers, 

{My Take}

And through it all, Les Warner keeps doing what he’s always done—hit harder, play louder, and chase the next great moment. His story isn’t a nostalgia act; it’s a living, breathing rock‑and‑roll engine that refuses to idle. Whether he’s behind the kit, laying down bass, or shaping tracks in his Las Vegas studio, Les is still proving that passion doesn’t fade—it just finds bigger stages and brighter lights. Catch him while he’s in town, because the beat never stops for a drummer who was born to keep the world in rhythm!

Gary England

For info, booking, or to tap into Les’s many musical talents, hit him up at http://Leswarner.com.

Phone (USA) 702.639-7715

Skype: lez.warner1

Les Warner on Facebook

Les Warner on Instagram

Les Warner YouTube Channel

Les Warner Session Drummer 

Hit Hard Play Loud: Las Vegas Dirty Ratt Band Seeking Stage‑Dominating Drummer!

 In the loud, lawless underbelly of Las Vegas, Dirty Ratt — the city’s snarling, high‑octane tribute to RATT — is tearing open the gates and looking for a drummer immediately who can bring the kind of fire that shakes music venues' walls. We’re talking a heavy‑metal vibe, pro‑level precision, reliable gear, and the kind of explosive stage presence that channels the raw, relentless energy of Ratt's Bobby Blotzer himself. If you can hammer out those metal grooves with authority, throw down backing vocals, and deliver the kind of thunder that keeps Sin City awake, you’re already in the zone. Hit the links below to see what Dirty Ratt is all about, then reach out to Chris Miggiani for more info, because if you’ve got the power, Dirty Ratt wants you behind the kit driving this beast!

Dirty Ratt on Facebook 

Dirty Ratt YouTube

Message Chris Miggiani on Facebook 

Or Email Chris at: chris.miggiani@gmail.com

Kenny Youngar: Texas Powerhouse Drummer Whose Secret Is In His Sticks

 "It's All In The Sticks"

~Kenny Youngar~

Dallas‑based Kenny Youngar, powerhouse drummer for the band Messer, has a simple philosophy about staying at the top of his game: it’s all in the sticks. Youngar swears by Solobeat drumsticks, especially his own Kenny Youngar Signature Texas Edition brand — a grip‑enhanced Oak 5B built for durability, balance, and the kind of controlled aggression that defines his flamboyant style!

Whether he’s driving Messer’s high‑energy live shows or laying down precision tracks in the studio, Kenny’s signature sticks have become an extension of his identity behind the kit, proving that the right tools in the right hands can make all the difference!

Order yours today on: messerband.com

Gary England

Las Vegas Drum Show - March 29, 2026

Rush Is Back In 2026 With New Drummer Anika Nilles: What Are The Main Reasons Why They Might Have Chosen Her?

 Rush Is Back!

Canadian prog-rock legends Rush are gearing up for their first tour in over a decade, aptly titled the “Fifty Something” Tour, and they’ve tapped German sensation Anika Nilles to sit behind the drums!

Founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson shared in an October 2025 statement that the trek will celebrate Rush’s music, legacy, and the life of late drummer Neil Peart, while introducing “another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician” to their fanbase.

Born in Aschaffenburg, Germany, on May 29, 1983, Anika Nilles didn’t dive into professional drumming until her mid-20s. After spending five years training as a social worker and teaching preschool, she enrolled at Germany’s University of Popular Music and Music Business in Mannheim. There, she mastered not only advanced rhythmic techniques but also essential skills in self-promotion, tax handling, and social media management—tools that would prove invaluable as she launched her solo career and international drum clinic tours.

Why Rush Picked Anika Nilles

Proven progressive chops and technical mastery, making her adept at navigating Rush’s complex time signatures and dynamic shifts.

A ringing endorsement from Geddy Lee’s bass tech, who toured with Jeff Beck and returned home raving about “this drummer named Anika Nilles” after watching her command Beck’s rhythm section.

Deep industry savvy from her academic focus on the business side of music, ensuring she’s as comfortable with logistics and promotion as she is behind the drums.

International touring experience and a reputation as a world-class educator and clinician, demonstrated through drum-education tours across Europe and the U.S. since 2015.

Fresh energy and perspective that honor Neil Peart’s legacy while writing a new chapter in the band’s storied history, as Lee and Lifeson seek to celebrate 50-something years of Rush music with both fidelity and flair.

With dates kicking off June 7, 2026, at L.A.’s Kia Forum and winding up September 17 in Cleveland, fans are buzzing to see how Nilles handles such a near-impossible role. As Rush mixes classic deep cuts with fan favorites across a rotating setlist of 35 songs, all eyes will be on the drummer who bridged a decade-long gap—proving that sometimes the most surprising choices make the grandest statements.

Beyond the tour, look for Anika’s upcoming solo album False Truth (due late 2025) to showcase the same blend of jazz-fusion flair and rock-driven power that captured Rush’s attention—and soon, the world’s.

{My Take}

Neil Peart set the seismic standard for rock drumming with his self-taught ingenuity, jazzy flourishes and mythic storytelling that turned every Rush album into an epic voyage, whereas Anika Nilles brings academic polish, viral-ready precision and a nimble groove sensibility that thrives in odd meters and modern fusion alike. Peart’s towering solos were larger-than-life spectacles built on solitude and sheer force of will, while Nilles invites listeners into her process through clinic-style cues, social-media dialogue and a balance of power and pocket that feels both intimate and electrifying. Though she’ll inevitably be measured against Peart’s colossal legacy, her refined technique and fresh perspective promise a chapter in which Rush’s time-twisting rhythms resonate with a new generation, honoring the past even as they sprint toward tomorrow. 

Welcome To The Next Chapter Of RUSH!

GE

RUSH Official Website

RUSH Facebook

Anika Nilles Official Website

Anika Nilles Facebook

Behind The Drums Or Out Front Center Stage: The Dynamic World Of Jeff Tortora Entertainer Extraordinaire

 {Tuesday, August 12th, 2025}

Last night, I sat down and had a fascinating and entertaining conversation with professional drummer and percussionist Jeff Tortora, one of the busiest rock stars on planet Earth. We talked at length about his multifaceted life in the music and entertainment industries. What an amazing musician, and cool dude to talk to! Our talk (Interview) lasted for just a little over 30 minutes, but we could have talked for hours about Jeff's interesting life in showbiz! 

Jeff's story reminded me of an interview that I did a few years back with another amazing rock star, Mr. Mitch Perry. His interview lasted for almost 3 hours! What an amazing person, and old school classic rocker!

 Back to today's story.

I had originally contacted Jeff for an interview about how his gig with Count's 77 (Band) went in Sturgis, South Dakota, at this year's Motorcycle Rally. But within only a few minutes into our conversation, my attention quickly turned to Jeff himself. After our conversation ended, I quickly started doing research about him, and after a phone call or two. Here is what I dug up on this very interesting man and rock star extraordinaire!

Jeff Tortora is a dynamic force in the Las Vegas music scene, known for his infectious energy, powerhouse drumming, and charismatic presence as a frontman. A multi-talented performer, Jeff has spent years captivating audiences on the Strip and beyond, combining his exceptional musicianship with his natural ability to entertain. Whether behind the kit or at the mic, he brings a mix of precision, passion, and humor that keeps crowds engaged all night long!. His versatility and showmanship have made him a highly sought-after figure in the Las Vegas entertainment scene, embodying the city’s spirit of high-energy world-class entertainment. 

Jeff's resume reads like a who's who in the music and entertainment fields. Jeff currently performs with the Femmes Of Rock, the Blue Man Group, Tinnitus, and Count's 77, among other projects around town.

 Femmes of Rock, Blue Man Group, Tinnitus, and Count’s 77 each offer a distinct flavor of live entertainment, showcasing the city’s ability to cater to every taste. Femmes of Rock dazzles with electric string virtuosity, blending violin mastery, rock anthems, and glamorous stage presence into a high-energy, all-female spectacle. Blue Man Group trades traditional instruments for inventive percussion and multimedia artistry, delivering a surreal, comedic, and visually explosive experience. Tinnitus pounds out gritty, hard rock with raw power, guitar-heavy riffs, and a straightforward, no-frills approach that speaks to the purists. Count’s 77, steeped in vintage rock tradition, mixes bluesy swagger and classic rock vibes, fronted by Danny “Count” Koker’s charismatic presence. Together, they embody the eclectic heartbeat of Vegas, where virtuosity, creativity, grit, and nostalgia all share the same stage. 

Are you starting to see just how talented Jeff Tortora is? He effortlessly matches his style and musicianship to any occasion or music genre.  That's pretty awesome if you ask me!

From local dive bars to international stages, Jeff Tortora embodies what it means to be a modern, multi-talented musician in Las Vegas. Whether he’s behind his drum kit, painted and roaring as a band’s frontman, or sharing the stage with legends, Jeff Tortora is a rhythm-driven storyteller, one who keeps the city’s pulse fully alive! 

By the way, his gig with Count's 77 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was Awesome!

FYI: You can catch Jeff and his band, Tinnitus, on August 23rd at The Dive Bar LV 

GE - Gary England

For Syndication: #NationalNewsMedia #WorldwideEntertainmentNetwork #LasVegasSun #LasVegasReviewJournal #LasVegasWeekly