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However earlier than touchdown the Headbangers Ball gig, Rachtman was the co-owner of the LA rock membership the Cathouse with Sooner Pussycat frontman Taime Downe (a few of rock’s then-top names could possibly be noticed sporting Cathouse shirts in photographs inside rock mags on the time). And now, Rachtman is launching a one-man present, titled One Foot within the Gutter (which was a part of a phrase he would say on the conclusion of every Headbangers Ball episode).
Rachtman spoke to AllMusic shortly earlier than hitting the highway for a string of ‘OFITG’ dates in December 2022, and was up for sharing some reminiscences and tales from the times when he served because the face of Headbangers Ball.
AllMusic: What can followers anticipate out of your one-man present?
Rachtman: “I feel they’ll get what they anticipate in the way in which of listening to some first-hand experiences with a few of these unimaginable moments in rock n’ roll – whether or not it’s what was it like on Headbangers Ball on the water park with Alice in Chains, or with Nirvana. And so they’re additionally going to listen to the tales from the Cathouse.”
“However I feel there’s going to be plenty of stuff that they don’t seem to be going to anticipate – as a result of there’s plenty of tales that I’ve by no means advised, and there is additionally plenty of private issues that I speak about. So, as a lot as you are going to get all of the loopy raunch n’ roll and sleaze and debauchery of that period, there’s additionally plenty of tales that individuals had no concept – from getting arrested for beating up a DJ to medicine to…it is a bit little bit of the whole lot.”
“Anyone that noticed the primary present stated that they have been stunned it was so inspiring – which I did not give it some thought like that, however it was very, very flattering. I feel the entire present is surprising. However, in case you’re anticipating to listen to some nice rock n’ roll tales, you will hear that as nicely.”
“I promise anyone that goes, the primary three minutes of the present, they are going to say, ‘OK. I by no means anticipated that to occur in any respect.’ I can promise that. In one million years, nobody’s gonna guess what’s going to occur within the first three minutes.”
AllMusic: Are there plans to do additional reveals into 2023?
Rachtman: “Completely. I’d like to say that I did 30 reveals in 2023 or extra. I do know that Halloween subsequent yr I am on the Headbangers Boat, and I am doing my present there, and persons are asking when am I going to do present in LA, what about New York Metropolis. I would love greater than something to have the ability to make this ‘my gig’ – to have the ability to exit on a much bigger tour and do 100 reveals.”
AllMusic: Is it true {that a} sure well-known singer helped you land the Headbangers Ball gig?
Rachtman: “Completely. To say would I’ve gotten the job if it wasn’t for Axl Rose? Most likely not. As a result of he was the one which advised I do it, and Axl stated, ‘Would you like me to go to New York with you once you audition?’ And I am like ‘OK!’ He received the lodge room and we stayed in a very nice lodge. He determined to ‘slum it’ and fly enterprise class and we went to New York.”
“And I simply bear in mind again then, once you journey with a giant rock star and also you get off the aircraft, anyone escorts you to a unique space the airport, and also you get right into a automobile. It was like sort of cool.”
“Axl was a really large a part of each a part of my profession, and to at the present time Slash is continually carrying Cathouse shirts, and anytime Slash is on stage and he is carrying a Cathouse shirt, I promote extra Cathouse shirts! So, Weapons N’ Roses has at all times been a vital a part of my profession and has at all times been extraordinarily useful.”
AllMusic: Who have been your favourite visitors on Headbangers Ball?
Rachtman: “I feel the reveals that individuals bear in mind essentially the most are the reveals that have been the perfect. Clearly, any time I received to spend time with Lemmy was a pleasure. And Lemmy was anyone that I spent plenty of time with once we weren’t on MTV.”
“However the reveals that individuals bear in mind essentially the most are the Alice in Chains reveals, Pantera…though individuals wish to consider there was this actual large feud between me and Dave Mustaine, Dave Mustaine was at all times nice as a result of he at all times stored me on my toes, as a result of I knew he was going to provide me a tough time however it was at all times enjoyable.”
“I am going to always remember interviewing Brian Johnson from AC/DC. I am sitting there speaking to Brian Johnson and him saying to me, ‘Effectively, now if I see you as a result of we’re buddies…’ and I used to be similar to, ‘Did Brian Johnson simply referred to as me ‘a good friend’?!'”
“I’m not a journalist, I am not a reporter – by no means actually been accused of being one. I am nothing however a glorified rock fan that had the best job on the earth. So, when anyone says, ‘You bought to go to England to interview Aerosmith,’ there’s not an opportunity I am not going to be like, ‘Oh my God. Are you kidding me? I’ll interview Aerosmith?!’ It was at all times nice.”
“And to be ready the place these bands…the ‘Cathouse period ‘ was totally different, as a result of on the Cathouse, I grew to become buddies with most of those bands earlier than they even had report offers. However to fulfill legendary masters, to abruptly be in Brazil hanging out with Rob Halford, I am like, ‘That is sort of like the best factor on the earth.’ And I used to be ‘that man.’ If I got here off like this goofy man on a regular basis it is as a result of I am excited. This was wonderful.”
AllMusic: What do you recall about Nirvana’s notorious look?
Rachtman: “I speak about that so much in my present. However the factor was only a whole apathy that Kurt confirmed – that he didn’t wish to be there. He didn’t wish to be there. And would have Nirvana been enormous with out Headbangers Ball? Completely they might have. However Headbangers Ball did expose lots of people to Nirvana. And I do not take credit score for that and I do not suppose Headbangers Ball ought to take credit score for that. Nevertheless it was a giant factor for them.”
“And he was simply wasted, and the entire thing was similar to…I used to be bummed out, as a result of I used to be a giant fan of the album Bleach. I believed Bleach was only a nice report. And when there is a band that I’ve by no means met that did not go to the Cathouse that I am a fan of, I’m excited to fulfill them. And other people stated, ‘Oh, you regarded so uncomfortable.’ I wasn’t uncomfortable. I used to be similar to, ‘He would not even wish to be right here.’ I used to be similar to, ‘Yeah, no matter. He appears so excited.’ As a result of that was what he gave out – he did not actually care about being there.”
AllMusic: There’s a common perception that grunge killed steel, or slightly, hair steel. However in case you watch a number of the Headbangers Ball reveals from ’92/’93 on YouTube, you see that it was nonetheless a fairly huge number of movies that have been being proven.
Rachtman: “I am simply gonna make this up and let’s simply see if this analogy even works. If heavy steel within the ’90s was an individual, you want to suppose that that particular person was a foul ass. That particular person was powerful. And that particular person is big and robust. And abruptly, this new sort of music comes on and pushes you apart. Effectively, that signifies that your music shouldn’t be that sturdy.”
“Do I consider that grunge killed steel? Completely not. I do not consider that for a bit bit. As a result of I do not suppose steel ever died. As a result of there have been bands like Soundgarden and Alice In Chains coming and Pearl Jam, and MTV was taking part in them. In case you’re saying that this sort of music killed your sort of music, meaning your sort of music was weak.”
“Who cares if it is being performed in regular airplay? The bands that I take heed to do not get radio play, weren’t performed throughout prime time MTV. And if you are going to say, ‘Effectively, Soundgarden’s this…and now take a look at grunge.’ No. First, I do not say ‘grunge.’ Similar to I do not say ‘hair steel.’ Once I take heed to Soundgarden, I do not hear this ‘Seattle sound.’ I hear a band to me that’s closely influenced by Black Sabbath. Once I take heed to previous Sabbath, I hear Soundgarden and vice versa. Alice in Chains is a superb rock band.”
“In case you suppose that individuals would nonetheless be trying and dressing like Warrant and Poison if there wasn’t grunge – no. That was one thing that was an period and it was a style and it was a sort. And plenty of the bands of that period – and I get plenty of crap for this – have been very weak, and did not have any substance. And generally, bands like Cinderella – that have been so extremely wonderful – received pigeonholed into being a few of these ‘fluffy bands’ that did not have any substance.”
“Bands like Cinderella and Skid Row are simply killer, kickass rock bands. And since each these bands broke up…issues change. It’s like saying if abruptly all people’s ingesting a sure sort of beverage as an alternative of one other, hey it is a new taste and other people prefer it. However nothing killed heavy steel.”
“I went and I noticed WASP a pair nights in the past, and it was packed. So, clearly steel shouldn’t be lifeless. And if I’d go see Alice in Chains, it is packed they usually’re promoting out arenas. So, I do not consider that something killed something. I feel this sort of music would have died out by itself if it wasn’t substantial and had sufficient meat to it.”
“Why do not individuals say that Weapons N’ Roses was hair steel? As a result of Weapons N’ Roses by no means stopped taking part in – they grew to become one of many largest rock’n’roll bands on the earth. And to show that it was by no means lifeless, if it died, then how did the Stadium Tour [with Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Joan Jett] do in addition to it did? This music has by no means died. To say that grunge killed it’s to insinuate that it is lifeless. And in case you used to take heed to Mötley Crüe and then you definitely began listening to Stone Temple Pilots, nicely that is that particular person’s alternative – they carry on going with the flavour. They are not going to take heed to the identical factor. Individuals like no matter’s sizzling.”
“Issues are available in waves, and the people who like steel are nonetheless going to steel reveals. And I do not suppose that that scene was killed. I feel it may not have gotten the identical publicity, however a real fan by no means stopped going to see Iron Maiden. A real fan nonetheless helps that sort of music – it doesn’t matter what occurred. And sure, does it generally not have the luster and the shiny newness that it as soon as did? Yeah, that occurred. Nevertheless it did not occur due to sure sort of sound out of Seattle.”
AllMusic: Did you might have any say during which movies could be performed on Headbangers Ball?
Rachtman: “None. Ever. In my whole time on the Headbangers Ball, I received one video picked to play – and it is most likely as a result of they have been going to play it anyway. I used to be like, ‘It is my birthday. Can I decide the movies?’ And so they’re like, ‘You possibly can decide one video, that we already play.’ And I am like, ‘Motörhead. Simply play a Motörhead video for my birthday.'”
“As a result of there’s plenty of bands that I do not consider ought to have been performed on Headbangers Ball. I consider in case you’re a band that is performed through the prime time of MTV, then you definitely shouldn’t be on the Headbangers Ball. I’ve at all times believed that Headbangers Ball ought to have been the music that we do not get anyplace else. And lots of people thought that I picked all of the movies. That I sat right here like, ‘I’ll play this video right here and that video there.’ There have been tons of movies that I grit my enamel having to play – as a result of I did not like them.”
“Persons are like, ‘Effectively, it is best to have advised them ‘Do not play that video’.’ It is like, ‘That is my job! I am getting paid a crap load of cash to speak about rock n’ roll!’ It is like, ‘Oh, I am gonna go to Burger King and say, ‘Hey, screw these burgers…we’re making tacos now’.’ This was my job. I by no means received on Headbangers Ball and stated I like a band that I did not like, however there have been movies that I performed that I did not like. However that was my job.”
“And since there the music fanbase was so broad, since you had simply as many individuals that needed to listen to, y’know…Warrant, that needed to listen to Nuclear Assault. I imply, you had all these individuals wanting to listen to the totally different genres, and plenty of these bands must be performed, as a result of that is the one place to play them. That was why I consider we by no means ought to have performed any movies that have been being performed through the daytime.”
AllMusic: What have been a few of your favourite movies that have been performed on the time?
Rachtman: “My favourite band at all times has been Motörhead. I like Motörhead. I’ve received Motörhead tattoos. I am unable to say sufficient in regards to the band Motörhead. However throughout my period on Headbangers Ball, I cherished Danzig, I cherished Suicidal Tendencies, I cherished Megadeth. I imply, these are all bands I nonetheless take heed to, however movies that I bear in mind going to love, ‘Hey, now we have got one thing from Suicidal or Danzig,’ and I additionally appreciated bands just like the London Quireboys – which have been a really Rod Stewart/Faces sort band. And I nonetheless received love for my brothers Sooner Pussycat, and a number of the LA bands.”
“Some individuals become old they usually take heed to the lighter stuff. Once I become old, I take heed to even heavier music – as a result of it makes me smile. Typically, the stuff that is so ‘ARGHHH!’ makes me smile. However I take heed to the whole lot. Spotify simply put out the record of the songs that I listened to essentially the most in 2022, and I used to be like, ‘Actually? THAT was what I listened to essentially the most?!’ It is sort of stunning.”
AllMusic: How essential was Headbangers Ball in breaking bands, and in addition, might a present like which have the identical affect as we speak?
Rachtman: “It was very important in breaking bands. I hear it on a regular basis, individuals saying, ‘Riki, you turned me on to Pantera.’ Which, I respect it, however I do not consider I ought to take credit score – as a result of I used to be only a host. But when individuals heard me say how a lot I like Pantera and ‘Pantera is nice, Pantera is likely one of the biggest reside bands,’ they may suppose, ‘Oh. I ponder what this Pantera seems like.'”
“See, the factor is we did not have YouTube then. Now, we’re on this ‘TikTok technology,’ that if there’s one thing that we do not like within the first 10 seconds – scroll, scroll, scroll. In case you needed to see a video from Pantera on Headbangers Ball, you may need to take a seat by way of six movies that you’ve got by no means heard earlier than, and three of them you may hate, however three of them you may like.”
“Now, we will decide up our cellphone and say, ‘Present me a video from Megadeth,’ and we’re gonna see them immediately. Which due to that and that instantaneous achievement of what we wish, we’re not going to get turned on to new stuff as a lot. Which is sort of a disgrace. In case you needed to see a video from Pantera on Headbangers Ball, you watched Headbangers Ball, and you are going to see different bands throughout that point that you simply would not have recognized about. And now, if there’s one thing that you do not know about – scroll, go, delete. Go proper by some good things. So it might be powerful.”
“However I consider – particularly the way in which that I hosted Headbangers Ball, for higher or for worse – I did not thoughts being a butt-end of a joke. I did not thoughts doing goofy stuff. I did not thoughts bowling with Chris Cornell, skydiving with Megadeth, or strolling by way of the streets of San Francisco with Metallica. These are issues that that have been enjoyable, and what I hoped is I confirmed individuals extra of the character of those artists. That is why I by no means minded if an artist gave me a tough time on digital camera – as a result of I consider the people who have been watching actually loved that.”
AllMusic: Who’re a few of your favourite modern-day steel or rock artists?
Rachtman: “I simply noticed Amon Amarth reside, and holy crap – that was probably the most enjoyable reveals I’ve seen. I actually like Amon Amarth. So far as bands that I like as we speak, I imply yeah, I’ll a Lamb of God present – I like Lamb of God – however even that is not new anymore. Lamb of God have been round twenty years.”
“I am a giant fan of Shooter Jennings and Yelawolf. That is not steel in any respect, and I feel that [Sometimes Y] is likely one of the biggest albums of the yr. I additionally like Municipal Waste. Individuals give me a tough time, however I actually like My Chemical Romance. I like that band. I like Turnstile. I additionally rediscover previous catalogs. Again once I was on Headbangers Ball, consider it or not I used to be not that into Venom. And now, I discover myself listening to extra Venom.”
“However to me, going to see Amon Amarth was enjoyable – like going to see Maiden for the primary time was. It was only a enjoyable present. I like seeing bands that that do goofy, enjoyable stuff. Y’know, they’re Vikings, come on! It would not matter what number of occasions I’ve heard a Motörhead album, there’s so many albums of their discography. And I take heed to my Misfits, I take heed to plenty of previous punk rock so much. However I like the whole lot.”
AllMusic: It looks like now greater than ever, individuals take heed to a little bit of the whole lot.
Rachtman: “I hope so. There’s lots of people which have a tough time listening to new music, and there is so many bands that I take heed to that to me really feel like previous bands. I prefer it when there is a new band taking part in that has that ‘previous really feel’ to it, as a result of I like thrash, I like Exodus, I like Slayer – I like that stuff. So, once I hear newer thrash bands, I am like, ‘Oh, proper on.’ As a result of they pay homage to that sort of music, and I feel the explanation I like thrash a lot is as a result of it kind of has a punk rock really feel to it.”
AllMusic: It was enjoyable talking with you, Riki – as I used to be a loyal Headbangers Ball viewer again within the day, tuning in each Saturday night time.
Rachtman: “That was bizarre that we have been on Saturday nights, as a result of Saturday nights…that is why there have been plenty of children that watched it, as a result of children didn’t exit on Saturday night time. To be trustworthy, I didn’t watch Headbangers Ball – as a result of I shot it on Fridays, however I’d exit on Saturday night time!”
To view Riki’s upcoming spoken phrase dates and Headbangers Ball and Cathouse merch, click on right here.
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