WOW! 4 years and we’re still here!!!

Before I even get started on my yearly dissertation, let me just give a very special thanks to all of you… our readers. Without you, none of us would be here doing what we’re doing so thanks to all of you for your continued support and keeping us going for so long.

Next, I would just like to take a moment to remember all the great, great musicians we lost over the past year including Bobby Ferrara (07/65 - 01/08), Buddy Miles (09/47 – 02/08), Mike Smith (12/43 – 02/08), Jeff Healey (03/66 – 03/08), Israel “Cachao” Lopez (09/18 – 03/08), Danny Federici (01/50 – 04/08), Al Wilson (06/39 – 04/08), Eddy Arnold (05/18 – 05/08), Bo Diddley (12/28 – 06/08), Levi Stubbs (06/36 – 10/08), and Mitch Mitchell (07/47 – 11/08) just to name a few. Thank you for all the great music and your contributions to the music industry over the years… you all will be sorely missed.

I would once again like to thank all the artists, musicians and friends (new and old) I have had the pleasure of meeting, interviewing or hanging out with over the past year including our old friends Ted Poley, Vic Rivera, John Macaluso, Jim Santos (NORWAY), Tony Harnell, Bill Farley (RITUAL), Randy Jackson (ZEBRA) and Ray West… all of you guys are the best! Thank you so much for all your support. Mark “Gus” Scott (TRIXTER)… more than just a great musician but simply an incredible person and class act to the end, Phil Vincent, all of the GYPSY PISTOLEROS, Jeff Pilson, HOUSE OF LORDS, Don Dokken, Chip Z’Nuff, the amazing Vernon Reid and all the guys in LIVING COLOUR, Veronica Freeman (BENEDICTUM)… thank you for all your kindness and support, all the guys in NIGHT RANGER, EXTREME, Kevin Chalfant, Josh Ramos, Doug Odell, Eric Ragno, Chigger and the rest of HOSTEL INC., world-class guitar legend George Lynch... thanks for the interview and all your kindness in ROCKLAHOMA, Oni Logan, Jamie St. James, Ron Keel, Pete Loran, PJ Farley & Steve Brown from TRIXTER, the man, the voice… Mr. Joe Lynn Turner, Sebastian Bach, Michael Ross, TESLA, Miljenko Matijevic (STEELHEART), Mark Allen Lanoue (BILOXI), LIZHARD, and very, very special thanks to Jimi Jamison… thanks so much for all your support AND FINALLY, Hugo, Adam Holland, Gerrard Zappa and all the guys in VALENTINE/ EVOLUTION… thanks for everything!

I would also like to thank all the publicists, managers, media relations representatives and anyone else I have had the pleasure of working with over the past year including; our favorite PR rep. Lisa Walker at TO THE MAX, Mark Weis… just a great, great person to work with and all-around awesome person… thank for everything!, everyone at CHIPSTER P.R., LION MUSIC, Eddie Trunk, FRONTIERS RECORDS, Tom and everyone at PERRIS RECORDS, “LADY ACE”, Oliver at ARTISTWORKS, Krissy Macaluso, Carol Kaye and everyone else at KAYOS PRODUCTIONS, all the staff at DEXTER’S ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX, Merrie at H2H Management, everyone at ARM ENTERTAINMENT, Doug Weber at NEW OCEAN MEDIA, Jason and everyone at RHINO RECORDS, Roger at SELVERNE, MANDELBAUM & MINTZ, LLP, everyone at TWO SIDE MOON PROMOTIONS, ARIEL PUBLICITY, WOLFSON PROMOTIONS, Janie Hoffman at ALL THINGS POSSIBLE and finally (and without getting into as much detail as I did in our ROCKLAHOMA day 6 coverage), Rob Miller, Crissy, everyone at EVENT MARKETING GROUP and anyone and EVERYONE involved with ROCKLAHOMA 2008!!! Thanks so much for the once in a lifetime experience and for having ROCKEYEZ along for the ride.

Then finally I would like to first thank my beautiful wife and editor Judy for yet another incredible year. Thank you so much for all you do and for all your love and support. Brian & Stephanie Rademacher whose contributions to this site are simply invaluable… even on a daily basis. Thank you for all that you do and for all the years of friendship. Our best writer and friend for over 20 years, Mark Balogh… and now staff photographer as well!!! Joe Manno, Greg & Jennifer Schmitt, Bill & Donna DeMild, Lance Tarazona, Sara Rademacher and Andrew McNeice at MELODICROCK.com, Stickman Radio. And lastly, Segundo & Fabiola Fernandez (whom I more affectionately know as “Mom & Dad”) and all of my family, friends and their families who have been so supportive over the years. Thanks guys… you know who you are!