Rocklahoma

Rocklahoma is one of the more premier rock festivals every year in the United States.  I've have been going for 4 years to this event.  The lineup has changed it's format over the past couple of years but it has enabled younger generations to come to love rock music.  I have tried to stay at hotels nearby but I have found camping onsite to be the best alternative.  One doesn't have to worry about driving before or after the show... and there are shows going on all night long in the campground.  At Rocklahoma, you can almost listen to live music 24 hours a day.

I, personally, look forward to this event every year.  I plan my work and vacation around this event.

Never have made it out due to OUTRAGEOUS service charge on TOP of high ticket price. Service charges of greater than 25% of ticket price is not within the realm of reason. Quit trying to gouge people SHAME on you!

It's been a wild and wacky trip to the Heartland, as your heroes of RCTV  endured many trials and tribulations. However, we endeavor to persevere, and the results will speak for themselves!

The trip started out weird enough, as DDDanny and I were taking off from LAX for the stretch run to OKC, when we had to turn around due to a "pressurization problem". Luckily, United swiftly got a replacement plane, and we were back in the air in under an hour. Never seen that before! We only got in an hour or so late--although we still had to drive out to Pryor by the venue, which was 2+ hours away. We eventually got settled in at 4am, and then were up early on day 2.

After we arrived at Rocklahoma proper, and just before JETBOY kicked stuff off, it RAINED like a motherfucker, causing swamp-like conditions throughout the site. Regardless, our boys hit the stage to a small crowd of diehards, and simply killed. That got the day started right, despite the mud everywhere. Congrats to them for getting back out there, and doing it so well.

VAIN also represented the SF Bay, and sounded as good as I've seen them over the years. we all got to hang out and it seemed like we were all just chilling back in SF, only a lot hotter, and wetter.

Fortunately, the rain let up, and we continued to get good interviews with peeps like STEVEN ADLER (X-G'N'R), JOE LESTE (BANG TANGO) and even our old pal SEBASTIAN BACH stopped by to say hi.  Also notable were the wildmen from GYPSY PISTOLEROS, a side-stage act who were doing it up old-school style--getting loaded and having a laugh. Good guys.

Day 2 was hot and humid, but no rain, thankfully. Caught up with Corey Glover of LIVING COLOUR, who were amazing as usual. ARMORED SAINT were the first band we saw, and they were sick as always. We're pretty tight with the guys, so we got some good interviews done, and hung out on and off most of the day.

TRIUMPH, the big headliner of the day, got to the show late, and it was all because they were pulled over by the state Police on the way to the gig. apparently, their driver had expired plates, an expired license, and also had a few drinks in him too. The promoters had to rescue them to get them to the Press Conference and they had very little time to get prepped for the stage. This may have contributed to some tech problems that distracted from what was otherwise a cool set. At one point, guitarist Rik Emmett threw his hands up in frustration when he couldn't hear himself on stage. Nonetheless, it was good to finally see these guys back together, and I finally got to see them and even briefly say hi at the end of the nite. Hit a cool afterparty in the VIP campground late nite, then nearly got locked in at 3am when we were leaving!

We ran into lots of friends like Neil Turbin of Deathriders, a cool metal band from LA. Saw the lovely PINK SNOW from NYC severl times and we had fun hanging, although we missed her set. Had a chance to chat with LA Guns mainman Traci Guns, and also old pal Jaime St. James of Black & Blue, who were awesome. Also got the irrepressible Chip Znuff on camera, who was a fun interview. Brad Gillis of Night Ranger was another good get, and has always been a friend of RCTV.

Day 3 (technically the 4th day of the Event) was super hot and muggy, and several people were overcome by the heat, especially onstage. But what was to come made for a real test of the spirit of the Event. As TRIXSTER was rapping up a solid set on the Mainstage, a storm that was rumbling in the distance overwhelmed the site with a deluge of wind and rain, scattering the public and forcing the performers, press and crew to find shelter wherever possible. At the same time, as Black & Blue were doing a meet and greet in one of the merch tents, the side stages both were blown over. Amazingly, only one person suffered a broken arm, and no one panicked or lost his or her cool. After the worst of it was over (it continued to pour rain, but the wind died down), the show resumed, and bands like KIX and LITA FORD crushed, especially Lita. Saw new pal Michael T. Ross (also of Angel), who said hi and chatted after Lita's awesome set.

By that point, we we soggy, muddy and wiped out, so we skipped Warrant's set.

The last day of the show was clear, cooler, and most importantly, dry. Got to see and interview ZEBRA, who I saw many times back in the day in NYC. We chatted with UFO, who were solid, and ACE FREHLEY bandmembers Anthony Esposito and Scot Coogan told me about Ace's upcoming album and tour, as well as his skill at poker. I'm invited to try my luck with them next time they're in SF! TESLA guitarist Dave Rude saw us, and we chatted after their awesome set.  QUEENSRYCHE closed the show in superb style, performing 'Operation: Mindcrime' in full, plus a few choice tunes as encores.

We wrapped up by drinking 'til the wee hours with Texas Hippie Coalition, and grubbed with the Rock 'n' Roll Chef, which capped an amazing but muddy week!