OUR BIO CAN BE TOLD A FEW WAYS,PLZ NOTE EVERYTHING I TELL YOU ABOUT IS NEVER TO BOOST OR BRAG,KNOW WE GOT HERE DUE TO FANS,FRIENDS,FAMILY AND MOST OF ALL BROTHER BANDS NETWORKING WITH US,BASICALLY TELLING US THOSE THINGS WE ALMOST MISSED OR WHAT WAS THE LATEST NEWS IN THE MUSIC SCENE.
NOTE---I'M PROUD OF MOST OF THE THINGS IN OUR BIO. AND I HAVE LIVED TO SEE THE THINGS I GOT WRONG OR HAVE RECENTLY RELIZED SOME TITLES ARE NOT AS COOL AS THEY SOUND,---BUT IF THERE EVER WAS A UNDER DOG OR A BAND ON A WHIPPING POST,WELL KNOW I SET MYSELF AND THIS BAND UP FOR A BEATING OR TWO I WISHED I HAD PAYED ATTENTION ENOUGH TO STOP THE PAIN FROM IT ALL. HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE I CAN SAVE THE NEXT DREAMER LIKE MYSELF FROM THE WRONG ROADS. I HAVE SEEN THEM COME AND GO IN THIS ROCK JOURNEY. I'M THANKFUL I DIDN'T LET MY TEARS,HAPPINESS ETC. SOMEHOW MAKE ME WALK AWAY EVEN AFTER I LOOKED I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OR BEATEN BEYOND LOOKING LIKE I'D LIVE TO PLAY ANOTHER DAY-LOL.
KNOW IT'S THE ODDS I DID ALL THIS UNDER THAT ARE THE SIGNS OF MY RIGHT AND WRONG CHOICES.THINGS AS SIMPLE AS THE LOCATIONS NOT MEANT TO BASE A DREAMING ROCK BAND FROM. TO THE PEOPLE THAT TORE IT DOWN AS THEY WALKED OUT THE DOOR,HOPING THEY NEVER HAD TO HEAR THE NAME AFTER THEIR EXIT---
REFER TO THE SONG "BLACK CLOUD" "THEY WANTED ME DEAD!"-LOL
AND THE MISS MESSAGE THAT I SHOULD HAVE ADDED TO THAT SONG "THE TRUTH IS THE SUN IS GOING TO SHINE AS LONG AS YOU KEEP FAITH.
R.H.S. WAS FOUNDED IN 1998 IN PONCA CITY,OK AUG. 1ST WILL MARK OUR 12TH YEAR. DURING THOSE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN 27 TOTAL MEMBERS AND 8 VERSIONS WHILE BEING BASED IN 3 DIFFERENT STATES{OK-AZ-KS}. I WAS 28 WHEN I FORMED R.H.S. DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF RELIGON AND MY GREAT FEAR OF STAGE FRIGHT AND BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
R.H.S. IS MY 1ST AND ONLY BAND,I AM THE ONLY ORIGINAL MEMBER EXCLUDING THE GREAT SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL SINGER STILL TO THIS DAY GIVES AND IS A EXAMPLE OF A EX-MEMBER THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO KILL IT TO LEAVE IT. HIS NAME IS DINO LEON,FRONTMAN FOR THE FIRST 2 CD's 1998-2001. DURING THIS TIME I WAS THE LEAD GUITARIST TURN FRONTMAN,NEVER RETURNING TO THE INSTRUMENT I HIDE BEHIND. FOR SO LONG-LOL.
I HAVE LIVED THIS BAND LIFE FROM THE EXTREMES OF HOMELESS TO A OKIE IN A METAL MANSON-LOL. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 DIVORSES AND HELP RAISED 7 STEPCHILDREN AND LOOK TO REMARRY ADDING STEPCHILDREN 8 & 9. TRUST ME THIS WAS NEVER PLANNED TO FIT THE NAME-LOL
IN 2001 R.H.S. FOUNDED THE MUSIC FESTIVAL "SCREAMFEST 2001-CURRENT" THIS EVENT IS BASED ON THE PRACTICES OF "FAN APPRECIATION" AND "BAND NETWORKING".\. IN 2008 WE MADE MUSIC HISTORY IN OUR COUNTY WITH SCREAMFEST 2008 PRODUCING THE LARGEST OUTDOOR CONCERT IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA.
IN 2002 R.H.S. OPENED THEIR 1ST BAR KNOWN AS "STEPCHYLDE'S"-NORTHERN OKLAHOMA'S TRUE ROCK CLUB! "STEPCHYLDE'S" WOULD BOOM OVER A 6 MONTH PERIOD TILL OUR SECOND BREAK UP IN OCT OF 2002 AFTER A BAD RECORDED DEAL COSTING THE BAND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS,BASICALLY LEAVING THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND CRUSHED AFTER THE SIGNING IN FORT LAUDERDALE,FL. UPON RETURNING EACH MEMBER SLOWLY LEFT THE BAND LEAVING THE BAR OPEN FOR THE PONCA CITY MUSIC SCENE TO ABANDON IT IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS.
I WOULD CLOSE "STEPCHYLDE'S" AND MOVE WEST TO PHOENIX,AZ WERE I WOULD FINALLY AFTER 7-8 MONTHS TAKE THE NEW BAND BACK TO THE STAGE. WITH IN 7 SHOWS OUR BAND WOULD EXPLODE ON THE STATE OF ARIZONA, SOMETHING JUST OUT OF THE MOVIES. R.H.S. WOULD BECOME THE CHAMPIONS OF THE 2004 PHOENIX BATTLE OF THE BANDS AND LATER THAT YEAR R.H.S WOULD BE VOTED THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR 2004.
R.H.S. WOULD SHARE THE STAGE IN ARIZONA WITH BANDS LIKE:
METAL CHURCH
U.P.O.
KING'S X
CHRIS POLAND OF MEGADEATH {OHM}
DROWNING POOL
RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE WOULD BE ONE OF THE LAST BANDS TO EVER PLAY ON "THE CORNER OF WINSLOW,AZ" MADE FAMOUS BY THE EAGLES HIT SONG "TAKE IT EASY!"
RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE WOULD ALSO MAKE MUSIC HISTORY IN L.A.,CA WHEN WE WERE THE LAST UNSIGNED BAND TO PULL OFF A DOUBLE ONCORE AT THE WORLD FAMOUS WHISKEY A GO-GO. R.H.S. RELEASED THEIR 1ST LIVE CD & DVD IN 2005 RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE "LIVE"@ THE WHISKEY A GO-GO.
R.H.S. ALSO WOULD GAIN A CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME WHEN WE LANDED A CHANCE TO RECORD OUR 4TH CD TITLED "WAKING AMERICA" @ THE PERSONAL STUDIO OF TROY L. DRUMMER OF "TESLA" IN SCOTTSDALE,AZ. THIS CD WOULD LATER BE MASTERED IN FLORIDA BY JAMES MURPHY OF "TESTEMENT".
R.H.S. WOULD BE PUTTING THE YEARS BIO TOGETHER WHEN THE RIDE CAME CRASHING DOWN,LEAVING THE MAJOR LABELS-WARNER BRO,EPIC,METAL BLADE AND MAVERICK RECORDS IN THE DARK ON WHO THE NEXT BIG METAL BAND WAS IN A SHORT 7 MONTH RUN. THE MEMBERS FOR REASONS UNKNOWN DESIDED TO LEAVE THE #1 BAND IN THE STATE TO ODDLY START ANOTHER BAND WITH A FRIENDLIER STYLE TO NEVER RECLIMB THE LADDER AGAIN. THIS WOULD LEAVE ME VERY CONFUSED AND FEELING ROBBED AS I DID BACK IN 2002 WHEN IT CAME CRASHING DOWN.
I WOULD RETURN TO OKLAHOMA AND SPEND THE NEXT FEW YEARS WATCHING R.H.S. VERSIONS 4-6 ONLY KICK OUT 1 SINGLE AND A 4 TRACK EP. AFTER MY 3RD WIFE BECAME ADDICTED TO GAMBLING TO LEVEL OF LOOSING OUR HOME, WE WOULD MOVE TO ARKANSAS CITY,KS AND WOULD REACH THE REALITY THAT I MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD NEVER REPEAT THE CHANCE TO KNOW WHAT THOSE LABELS WOULD HAVE DETERMIND AS OUR FATE AS A SIGNED BAND. THE NIGHTMARE OF NOT KNOWING WAS A HAUNTING I'D NEVER WISH ON ANYONE.. TO THINK MY MUSIC AND FINANCE PROBLEMS ALL WERE UNKNOWN DUE TO 3 OF THE 5 MEMBERS OF R.H.S. THAT TOOK IT ALL FOR GRANTED. THE RESENTMENT WOULD ONLY GROW OVER THE YEARS AND MY ADDICTION TO METH WAS CLEARLY ONE OF MY BLINDERS. TO ME METH GAVE ME THE POWER OF A ARMY SPENDING EVER HOUR POSSIBLE JUST TRYING TO GET BACK TO THAT STAGE TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY ME AND ANY MEMBERS THAT WAS WILLING TO RESPECT THE FANS,BROTHER BANDS AND THE LUCKY BREAK OF IT ALL. JUST WAITING ON THAT ONE HUNGRY BAND THAT WANTED IT WAS THE STORY OF THE TIME AND THE PLACE.TALENT WASN'T THE KEY--IT WAS TIMING AND THANKFULNESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHOENIX MUSIC SCENE IN 2004. THE YEARS DRIVEN FROM CONFUSION AND THE METH WOULD FINALLY EVEN MAKE ME DOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO REPEAT OR OUT DO,WHAT I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I LIVED. THE FACT I WAS JUST A OKIE PULLING OFF AN AMAZING LIFE IN METAL MUSIC AFTER MANY MAJOR SET BACKS,KEPT ME LOOKING FOR THAT ONE BIG BREAK---YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WERE IT WILL COME FROM OR KNOW IF IT REALLY EXSIST.
"THE BREAK TO KEEP BELIEVING IS THE BIGGEST BREAK A PERSON CAN GET."
AFTER WORKING TOWARDS JUST SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE RETURN TO A SMALL STAGE IN A SMALL CLUB WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO LIVE WITHOUT. AFTER WORKING TOWARDS IT FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NON STOP.
I FELL AS LOW AS BASICALLY GIVING UP THE IDEA, R.H.S. MIGHT REFORM LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE STAGE AGAIN. I JOINED A BAND UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME FOR AWEEK OR TWO. IN 5-6 PRACTICES I TOOK A COVER BAND AND WHAT ORIGINALS MUSIC THEY HAD AND TURN THEM INTO 4 SONGS, THAT I MUST SAY WOULD HAVE TURNED INTO KILLER TRACKS BY THE TIME THEY WOULD HAVE REACHED THE STUDIO. THE NIGHT I ARRIVED TO PRACTICE TO SEE THE SIGNS OF NON BELIEF AND THE OVER WHELMING VISIONS OF THE FALL OF PHOENIX---MIXED WITH THE FALL OF FORT LAUDERDALE WOULD HIT ROCK BOTTOM AND TAKE ME AS LOW AS I THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE. QUESTIONS IN MY MIND ASKED QUESTIONS LIKE; "WAS THE FIRST 7 YEARS OF R.H.S. JUST A FLUKE?"
YOU KNOW YOU HIT BOTTOM WHEN YOU ARE FIRED BY A COVER BAND YOU HAVE SHOWN HOW TO CREATE ORIGINAL MUSIC,KNOWING THAT THEY HAD NEVER BEEN IN A RECORDING STUDIO AND NEVER BEEN ON STAGE LIVE IS A LOW LEVEL OF THE TRUTH---YOU'VE BEEN AXED BY BEGINNERS. PLUS ON TOP OF THAT SINCE BEING BACK IN MY HOME STATE OF OKLAHOMA IT SEEMED THAT THE MUSIC SCENE TURNED ALL THE FACTS OF R.H.S. INTO MYTH. AFTER 2 DAYS OF MAJOR SHOCK ALL I COULD DO OTHER THAN DIE WAS TO TAKE MY LAST $50 AND PLACE ADS IN OKLAHOMA AND KANSAS NEWS PAPERS TRYING TO REFORM R.H.S. FOR TIME #7.
R.H.S. VERSION 7 WOULD RECORD 1/2 THE NEW CD IN A VERY QUICK TIME WITH LITTLE EFFORT OTHER THAN FINANCES. WE LATER WOULD LOOSE OUR DRUMMER TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DRUG DEALER GIRL FRIEND---GONE SCARY. HIS REPLACEMEMT WOULD BE ABLE TO COVER, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER WE LOVED AND MISSED. THE COST OF THE RECORDING TO FINISH THE CD TRIGGERED ME TO TRACK DOWN THE COMPANY THAT HOSTED THE BATTLE IN PHOENIX THAT FAILED TO SEND THE CHECK TO COVER OUR PRIZE OF 20 HOURS OF RECORDING-TO BE TORN BETWEEN RENT OR THE RECORDING TO FINISH THE CD WAS SOMETHING I HAD TO CHOOSE KNOWING THAT I COULD STILL SUBMIT TO THE 4 MAJOR LABELS THAT THE BATTLE COMPANY PROMISED AS PART OF OUR 1ST PLACE PRIZE.
AFTER FINALLY CONTACTING THE HOST OF THE BATTLE, I LEARNED THAT THEY WERE NOW HOSTING A BATTLE IN OKLAHOMA CITY WHICH WE WOULD ENTER. TO GO ALMOST 7 YEARS ONLY DOING MY SMACK TALKING -LIVE AND ON STAGE TOWARDS THOSE THAT HAD IT COMING,I OPENED MY MOUTH TO THE BATTLE AGENT TELLING HIM TO GET MY CHAMPIONSHIP READY I WAS COMING FROM KANSAS TO GIVE THE OKC BANDS A "BEATING" RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE STYLE! FOR ME EVER TO SAY SOMETHING SO STUPID KNOW I'M STILL SHOCKED AT MYSELF AND I WANT ALL TO KNOW I WAS MENTALLY GOING TO PAY FOR MY MOUTHS MISTAKE-LOL.
TO COME FROM OKLAHOMA--- TO PHOENIX AND IN 7 SHOWS WIN IT ALL WAS HISTORY MAKING UNDER ODDS NO OKLAHOMA BAND WILL PROBABLY EVER ATTEMPT. ---TO OUT DO THAT I CLEARLY KNEW THE ODDS WERE STACKED DOUBLE AGAINST MAKING U.S. BATTLE HISTORY A SECOND TIME
.
JUST KNOW THE VOICES THAT HAUNTED ME SINCE FEB OF 2005 FROM EX-MEMBERS,MANAGEMENT THAT QUITE MONTHS BEFORE THE BAND BROKE UP DOWN TO MY WIFE THAT HAD STOPPED BELIEVING AND DOWN TO THE JUDGEMENT OF THE LOCAL BANDS I CONSIDERED BROTHER BANDS-MY MIND PUSHED ME INTO PER PLANNING MY THOUGHTS TO ACCEPT IDEAS---THAT WERE EASIER REMIND MYSELF AT LEASTED I TRIED---
DO OR DIE MY CRIDICS HAD TO GO, AT LEAST IN MY MIND.
IF I KNEW WHAT WOULD COME TO PASS TO TURN THE CHANCE/INCREASE THE ODDS OF FAILING---AS TO BE THE FIRST BAND IN U.S. TO REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS IN THIS NATIONAL RECONIZED BATTLE OF THE BANDS INTO NOTHING "LESS THAN IMPOSSIBLE" I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN A SMART MOUTH THAT DAY ON THE PHONE.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED:
MY BASSIST AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE WAS BUSTED FOR D.U.I. #? AND WAS GOING AWAY TO PRISON FOR UP TO A YEAR AND THEN THE NEXT DAY THE NEW DRUMMER QUIT USING WORK AS HIS REASON TO FLAKE.
TO BE SITTING 3 WEEKS AWAY FROM THE BATTLE TO HEAL MY BRAIN. I WAS SITTING ASKING GOD WHAT ON EARTH DID I DO TO HAVE TO PAY LIKE THIS? WHY WAS IT SO HARD TO JUST GET MY BAND GOING LONG ENOUGH TO SAY "IT WASN'T SOMETHING A BAND GETS TO REPEAT-OR IT WAS ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EVENT?"
TO BE SITTING WITH MY ONE LEGGED GUITARIST FROM A TOWN POPULATION 120 TRYING TO BE POSITIVE WAS NOT MY IDEA OF DRUGS SEX AND ROCK-N-ROLL-LOL.
YES I SCREAMED AND I HAD TO HOLD BACK THE TEARS OF MY TRUTH.
BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE "CAN'T NEVER COULD" AND THE FACTS ABOUT YOUR BROTHER BANDS AND THERE IMPORTANCE----WELL IT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN BOTH BATTLES. FACT BEING TO SAVE THE OPPERTUNITY I JUST SO HAPPEN TO RUN INTO 2 FORMER MEMBERS OF AN OLD BROTHER BAND I HAD MADE-WAY BACK IN 2002. A DRUMMER AND BASSIST AND AFTER BEGGING AND GIVING MY SOB STORY THEY DECIDED TO HELP OUT "MY BEAT DOWN HIND END" FOR REASONS ,I'LL ALWAYS BE INDEBTED..
HERE'S HOW THE ODDS STACKED:
R.H.S. WOULD BATTLE THE ENTIRE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSIC SCENE AS A KANSAS BAND.
R.H.S. WOULD BATTLE IN OKC WITH NO LOCAL FAN BASE-ZERO.
R.H.S. VERSION 8 WOULD HAVE 2 PRACTICES AND A TOTAL OF 10 HOURS PRACTICE TO GET READY DURING THOSE 3 WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE BATTLE.
R.H.S. VERSION 8 HAD NEVER PLAYED TOGETHER "LIVE" AS A BAND.
R.H.S. WOULD HAVE TO BRING THEIR CROWD/FANS AS FAR AWAY AS 2 HOURS FROM OKC TO GAIN ANY SUPPORT.
AND THE ODDS OF REPEATING AS CHAMPIONS WITH A COMPLETELY NEW VERSION OF R.H.S.AND IN ANOTHER STATE THAN BEFORE-WAS TOTALLY INSANE.
WELL THAT NIGHT R.H.S. HAD OKC SCREAM "BLOODY MURDER" AS WE WENT INTO A ROOM OF 8 TO 9 BANDS ON A EGO TRIP AND BRING HALF THE FANS WE BROUGHT--- AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY "LAZY BANDS DIE YOUNG!"
1ST PLACE WENT TO R.H.S. --- AND WE ADVANCING TO THE FINALS 1 MONTH LATER.
WHEN HISTORY IS MADE, IT ISN'T ALWAYS PERFECT, BUT TO OVER COME MY FIRST STEP IN BECOMING EQUAL AS R.H.S. OF ARIZONA TOOK THE FACTS THAT ALL I NEEDED WAS TO BREAK THE ODDS. THAT NIGHT AT THE FINALS R.H.S. DID MAKE U.S. BATTLE HISTORY WHEN WE BEAT EVERY ROCK,METAL,BLUES,EMU AND PUNK BAND IN THE OKC BATTLE OF THE BANDS..
R.H.S. WOULD "FALL ONE STEP SHORT" OF BEING THE REPEATING CHAMPION WHEN R.H.S. WOULD FINISH 2ND OVER ALL IN THE 2008 OKLAHOMA CITY BATTLE OF THE BANDS. LOOSING TO A LOCAL COUNTRY BAND---REGUARDLESS---I COULD BREATH AGAIN.
THIS WOULD LEAD TO R.H.S. GOING TO CLEVELAND,OH AND BACK TO OKC TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH:
"MUSHROOM HEAD"
AND BY THAT SUMMER "SCREAMFEST 2008" WOULD MAKE LOCAL HISTORY IN IT'S 8TH SEASON---- BUT AS BEFORE AN ILLUSION SET TO HIDE THE PERSONAL CRASH THAT WAS JUST WEEKS DOWN THE ROAD WAITING ON ME---I WAS BLIND TO THE FUTURE---AND HOW MANY TIMES I'D RIDE THIS ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS-LOL.
I WOULD LOSE MY, THEN 3RD WIFE AND BASICALLY BE HOMELESS LIVING OUT OF MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND THEN LIVING IN A 6 X 10 CAMPER FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO---TRUST ME I PRAYED MANY NIGHTS FOR SOME TYPE OF ANSWER AS I JUST KEPT WORKING AND SPEEDING MY MIND AWAY---TRYING TO GET A BREAK---
"THE WORST THING ABOUT A BREAK IS THE BREAK DOWN!"---LOL
TO PULL OFF SCREAMFEST 2008 , AFTER LOCATION AFTER LOCATION FELL THROUGH, I CAN SAY IT NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY 2 PARTNERS THAT HELPED ME LAUNCH "JUGULAR VEIN RECORDS"-"RIPPING OUT THE MEAT HOOKS OUT OF YOUR MUSIC!' AND "JUGULAR VEIN PRODUCTIONS"-"BURNING ONE STAGE AT A TIME!" THIS CONCERT WAS HELD ON THE GROUNDS FORMERLY OWNED BY THE FIRST PROMOTE TO EVER PUBLICALLY SAY R.H.S. WOULD NEVER TAKE IT ANYWERE! OR PLAY HIS VENUE AGAIN! IT TOOK HIS DEATH TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO DO IT ON HIS FORMER PROPERTY AND WITH IN 2 MONTHS THE DOORS WOULD FINALLY OPEN TO "STEPCHYLDE'S MUSIC VENUE" WHICH WOULD HOUSE THE LABEL AND THE PRODUCTION COMPANY AND STUDIO.
FROM THE DITCH -----TO MY FIRST 10,000 SQ FT MANSON OVER LOOKING THE CITY OUR BAND WAS FOUNDED. IT WAS DIFFENITLY A STORY BOOK CHAPTER ONLY TO MAKE LOCAL HISTORY AND SLAP ME WITH THE FACTS OF THE GAME PLAYED IN THE MUSIC WORLD-------"KILL #1"--------ATLEAST IN THE CAMPER I HAD MY HARLY, FURNITURE STILL IN STORAGE AND MY CAR. THE PRICE OF THIS VENUE/OKIE MANSON, WOULD TAKE IT ALL AND ALMOST EVERY DIME GAINED THROUGH MY SMALL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
THEY LOVE TO WATCH ME BURN AND I LOVE THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES AS I WALKED OUT OF THE FLAMES. ---LOL. OVER THE YEARS THE WORDS THAT CUT ME BY THE ONES I CALLED MY MUSIC FAMILY HURT DEEPLY, NO MATTER THE THICKNESS OF OUR BIO.
"BUT SOMEDAYS I WAS BULLET PROOF AND MANY NIGHTS I WAS BLEEDING TO DEATH FROM THE CONFUSION OF IT ALL!"
4-5 MONTHS LATER-"STEPCHYLDE'S" WAS GONE!
THIS PUSH US MUSICALLY OUT OF OUR HOME TOWN AND SENT THE BAND ON A 5 MONTH EXPLOSION ON TULSA,OK TILL SCREAMFEST 2009 BROKE THE BAND ALONG WITH THE PRICE TO TRAVEL.
THE VIDEOS YOU CAN SEE AT REDHEADEDSTEPCHYLDE.COM IS A PRODUCT OF HOW BROKE IT GOT. AND TO THIS DAY I'M SLOWLY BEATING THE DREADED CUT OFF NOTICE-LOL. IT GOT DOWN TO NO MONEY TO LEAVE TOWN TO GROW MUSICALLY--
AND AS FAR AS THE ONCE UNITED MUSIC SCENE OF PONCA CITY,OK, DUE TO SCREAMFEST AND STEPCHYLDE'S OF 2002 BEING THE ONLY REASON TO GIVE CLAIM OF THE REASON WHY. THERE WOULD BE A "METAL BAND BOYCOTT" PLACED IN EFFECT AT ALL THE OTHER CLUBS IN OUR AREA. ALL I HAD WAS THE WINDOWS VIDEO PROGRAM WITH NO INTERNET TO PROMOTE OUR BAND. THE VIDEOS TELL THE STORY!
IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 9 MONTHS TO SEE THE LIGHT AGAIN, WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE SHOW THAT TOOK R.H.S. BACK TO SCOTTSDALE,AZ TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE YEAR 2004 AND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION?
"CAN THE NEW R.H.S. ROCK LIKE THE OLD R.H.S.???"
R.H.S. WOULD SHARE THE STAGE THAT NIGHT WITH:
"HALESTORM"
AND WHEN THE FACTS ROLLED IN AFTER 5 1/2 YEARS IT READ LIKE THIS!
THE PEOPLE HAD HEARD OF US AND AS LIKE YEARS BEFORE THE CROWD SCREAMED AND SUNG ALONG WITH ME ON DEMAND--- LIKE WE NEVER HAD LEFT---THE NEW FACES AND THEIR VOICE LET ME KNOW THAT THE NIGHTMARE WAS OVER IN ARIZONA.
ALSO THAT SUMMER OF 2009 R.H.S. RETURNED TO KANSAS AND EXPLODED ON THE SCENE AS A OKLAHOMA BAND AND OPENING FOR THESE BANDS:
PUDDLE OF MUDD
EVE 6
SALIVA
CANDLE BOX
FASTER PUSSY CAT
SISTER SIN{SWEDEN}
BANG TANGO &
BULLET BOYS!
THE SUMMER WOULD DOCUMENT THE FACTS THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND ALL THOSE THAT BELIVED OR AT LEAST FELT SORRY FOR US--- RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE COULD COMPLETELY REPEAT WHAT THOSE FOUGHT AND REFUSED TO BELIEVE THE TRUTH OF OUR BANDS HISTORY. AND THOSE THAT JUST WANTED THIS BAND DEAD OVER A RANKING SYSTEM ---TURN UGLY GAME---
BY THE POWER MONEY PLAYERS OF THE MUSIC WORLD FORCE US ALL INTO KNOWING THE FACTS THAT EVERYONE EVENTALLY GETS HURT FROM IT.
AND THE PRICE TO PULL THIS OFF AND TO SOMEHOW TO LEARN HOW TO BEAT "YOURSELF" IN THIS RATING GAME IS WHAT I'M HERE TO OPEN EVERYONE'S EYES TO WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO BECOME THE #1 UNSIGNED BAND IN THE U.S.
THIS IS THE TITLE I'M ASHAMED OF AFTER KILLING OFF THOSE THAT WANTED WHAT I HAD --- AND THE VISUAL PICTURE OF A GUY LIKE MYSELF CHASING DOWN A MUSIC DREAM TO FIND MYSELF FIGHTING ALL REASON PURPOSE AND BEATING MY OWN ASS BEFORE I COULD FINALLY LIVE WITH HOW I WAS FORCED TO RANK MYSELF.
OF COURSE THE TWO MEMBERS THAT TOOK THE RIDE THAT REGUARDLESS SAVED MY ADDCTION FROM KILLING MYSELF--- DIDN'T GET THEIR WAY DURING THE MONTH OF THE PRICELESS THING THEY WERE VERY LUCKY TO LIVE---AND THEY LEFT WRONGLY,AS TO PUNISH ME--ONLY TO GO START A NEW BAND THAT DIDN'T WORK BEFORE. THIS ALL LEAD TO THE DRUMMER LOST TO A BAD RELATIONSHIP AND THAT BASSIST THAT FINALLY GOT OUT OF PRISON. REUNITING VERSION 7 THAT CURRENTLY HAS R.H.S. BACK ON THE STAGE---
R.H.S. IS GETTING READY FOR SCREAMFEST 2010, IT'S 10TH YEAR.
AND OUR TRIP TO NEW YORK TO PLAY THE "TMT METALFEST 2010 IN AUGUST OPENING FOR:
TEXAS HIPPIE COLILITION
DIE CAST
AND BRIAN HEADWELCH FORMALY OF KORN AND MANY-MANY OTHERS.
A FEW MONTHS AFTER MY BROTHERS FROM R.H.S. VERSION 8- LEFT, I FINALLY GOT A MESSAGE FROM THAT GUY THAT OWNED THE BATTLE COMPANY THAT OWED R.H.S. THE RECORDING TIME AND THE 4 MAJOR LABEL SUBMISSIONS.
AND AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS-INFORMING ALL "WHAT'S POSSIBLE" SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WAIT AS LONG AS 6 YEARS TO GET YOUR PRIZES LIKE I HAVE---YOU STILL MUST REMEMBER TO DIG DEEP FOR PROFESSINALIZM --SO JUST BY CHANCE,WHEN THOSE THAT HAVE SEEM TO TAKEN YOU FOR A RIDE AT THE POINT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE RISK OF REJECTION AND REACH OUT TO COMMUNICATE REGUARDLESS OF "NO RESPONSES" THAT MORE THAN LIKELY WILL HAVE MADE YOU FEEL CONFUSED AND ANGRY.
REMEMBER SOMETIMES YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF LEARNING FOR THE 100TH TIME IT ALL MIGHT WORK OUT IN THE WASH-LIKE IT DID A MONTH OR SO IN MY CASE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THAT REPLY THAT OFFERED ME SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THE PRIZE I WAS OWED.
WHEN I FEEL TO MY KNEES AND HAD NO STRENGHT LEFT TO HOLD BACK MY TEARS I FINALLY BROKE DOWN AFTER READING I WAS FINALLY GOING TO RECIEVE THOSE MAJOR SUBMISSIONS AND I WAS INVITED BACK TO CLEVELAND TO FINISH RECORDING THE CD I'VE WORKED ON FOR 6 YEARS.
AND HERE'S HOW IT READS:
RED HEADED STEPCHYLDE UPDATE!
R.H.S. WILL RETURN TO CLEVELAND,OH TO FINISH THE SECOND HALF OF THEIR LONG AWAITED "HIPPIE HAND GRENADE" CD WITH EX-FRONTMAN OF MUSHROOM HEAD--"J-MANN
IN THEIR NEW RECORDING STUDIO. DATE TO BE SET BEFORE OR AFTER THE TMT METALFEST 2010.
SO IF YOU ASK HOW I MADE IT THROUGH IT?
KNOW THIS:
"I GOT BLINDED ALONG THE WAY, I DID THINGS I'M ASHAMED OF AND THINGS I COULDN'T OF HAVE MADE IT THROUGH WITH OUT ENCOURAGEMENT, I LEARNED TO RESPECT THE DRIVE MY CRIDICS INJECTED ME WITH AND WHEN I WAS TO THE LEVEL I EVEN COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE---
THOSE THAT HURT ME ALSO SOMEHOW GAVE ME ENERGY THAT MY SPEED ADDICTION WAS HIDING FROM ME AND AFTER THE FULL BREAKDOWN DUE TO MY ADDICTION OF MY RANKING MYSELF ALONG WITH THE WORLD AND THE METH I FINALLY BEAT----IT HIT ME ----HARD AS A HAMMER!
I GOT MY BIG BREAK WAY BEFORE I FORMERED R.H.S. OR SET REORDS IN "UNSIGNED MUSIC" TO MAKE HISTORY. IT WAS THE DAY I BECAME A CHRISTIAN!
A SINNER WHO BELIEVES IN JESUS CHRIST AS MY SAVIOUR! AND THE LESSONS HE WAS TRYING TO TEACH ME WHILE I HAS TO WASTED TO BELIEVE HE REALLY TALKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US---I SEEN THE MIRACLE. AND EVERYTHING ELSE TRIED TO MAKE ME BELIEVE I WAS JUST CRAZY-LOL
JESUS TAUGH ME WHAT FAITH WAS!
HE TAUGHT ME WHAT COMPASSION WAS---I SHOWED THIS TO OUR FANS AND BROTHER BANDS.
HE SHOWED ME FORGIVENESS AND THAT'S HOW I FORGAVE MYSELF AND THAT UGLY SIDE OF ME THAT PUNISHED THOSE THAT JUDGED ME A HURT ME JUST WANTING WHAT I WAS CLEARLY LUCKY TO OBTAIN.
.
AND THEN JESUS TRAPPED ME IN MY TRUTH---
I ALLOWED HIS GIFT OF MUSIC TO BE PAINFUL---I'M TO BLAME FOR MY NIGHTMARES AND ALLOWING THE RANKING GAME TO BE THE CONTROLLER OVER MY HAPPINESS.
THE STRENGHT I GAINED THROUGH HIM KEPT MY FAITH ROLLING LONG ENOUGH TO LET YOU ALL KNOW "TALENT" IS ONLY 10% OF THE MACHINE.
"ANYONE CAN BECOME A KILLER OF THY ENEMIES DREAM,AND IT TAKES THE GIFT OF SIGHT TO ADMIT WHEN WERE BLESSED".
I MADE IT THIS FAR FOR ONLY ONE REASON!
AND WHY HE WOULD SEND A EX-METH HEAD/METALHEAD THAT GOT HIS FEELINGS HURT TO TELL YOU---YOU'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT-LOL.
THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE---
MUSIC IS A GIFT FROM GOD TO THE WORLD-----
DON'T LET YOUR DEMONS MISS THE TRUTH OF THE RIDE!
CAUSE IT'S HARD TO STEER WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVING!
Founder and Frontman of
Red Headed Stepchylde:
"MIKE ARMSTRONG"
Born in Morrison ,IL in 1969
Influnances:
David Lee Roth ,Vince Neil & Sabastion Bach
1st Album - Alice Cooper "Welcome to my Nightmare" 1977
1st Concert - Van Halen "Diver Down Tour" 1982
