Mark

Favourite Band: AC/DC

Favourite album: You missed Episode 2, then?

Most memorable show: So many. Kiss - anytime and anywhere, but particularly at the O2 in 2019; Motley Crue, Theatre of Pain tour, Hammersmith Odeon, Valentine’s Day 1986; Queen at Knebworth in ‘86, Deep Purple, also at Knebworth, in ‘85, Metallica opening the Freddie Mercury Tribute.

But … I don’t think I’ll ever forget the slack-jawed awe I felt watching my very first AC/DC show - the For Those About to Rock tour, Birmingham NEC, 1982 (which had the double advantage of also having Y&T as the support act)

Best guitar solo: Steve Vai’s on Yankee Rose is pretty spesh.

Coolest dude/dudette in rock: James Hetfield circa 1986. The hair. The sideburns. The moustache. The leer. The snarl. The voice. The beer. Closely followed by Doro, obvs.

Desert Island track: Stargazer by Rainbow

Band you wished you’d seen, but didn’t: AC/DC with Bon. Pink Floyd. Rainbow or Sabbath with RDJ.

Top bucket list concert: On the basis that it’s actually possible to tick it off, then I’m going to say Rammstein.

Favourite hard rock/heavy metal lyric: Courtesy of one R J Dio Esq., formerly of this parish, from the title track of Heaven and Hell #lifelessons

They say that life’s a carousel / Spinning fast - you gotta ride it well / The world is full of kings and queens / Who blind your eyes then steal your dreams / It’s heaven and hell / And they’ll tell you black is really white / The moon is just a sun at night / And when you walk in golden halls / You get to keep the gold that falls / It’s heaven and hell

You secretly want to be which rock star? Paul Stanley

Why (in no more than 5 words): Seriously? You have to ask?

Metallica, Motley or Maiden? Metallica

Favourite Donington Monsters of Rock act? Oh God. How to choose? Van Halen in 1984 is hard to beat.

Best concert special effect: Anything Kiss do on any tour. But in the interests of being a little different to Rich, I’ll go for Tommy Lee’s acrobatic (or perhaps aerobatic) drum cage.

Band you’ve seen most often: AC/DC (36 times)

If you were a betting man (which Steve obviously is), which famous album won’t make the Hall of Fame? Bon Jovi - New Jersey. Over my cold, dead body.

If you were a rock star, what would be your rock star name? Johnny Wolfe

Richard

Favourite Band: Rush

Favourite album: Moving Pictures by Rush

Most memorable show: So difficult ... As a boy - Scorpions on the Blackout tour at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982. In my prime - Queensryche at the Royal Albert Hall. Most recently - Queens of the Stone Age at Finsbury Park in 2019.

Best guitar solo: I’ve always loved Chris De Garmo’s solo on Queensryche’s Empire. Concise; Powerful; Not a note wasted; Perfectly matched to the rest of the song.

Coolest dude/dudette in rock: James Hetfield - he became a bit of an arse for a while, but he’s back in the groove now

Desert Island track: Red Barchetta by Rush

Band you wished you’d seen, but didn’t: So many! Led Zeppelin. Deep Purple Mk2. AC/DC with Bon Scott. 

Top bucket list concert: See above!

Favourite hard rock/heavy metal lyric: Not surprisingly I will opt for a Neil Peart lyric. There are so many but I love his lyrics in “The Pass” from the album Presto …

All of us get lost in the darkness / Dreamers learn to steer by the stars / All of us do time in the gutter / Dreamers turn to look at the cars / Turn around and turn around and turn around / Turn around and walk the razor's edge

You secretly want to be which rock star? James Hetfield

Why (in no more than 5 words): Cool. Power. Control. Riffs. Metallica.

Metallica, Motley or Maiden? Metallica

Favourite Donington Monsters of Rock act? AC/DC

Best concert special effect: In terms of wonderfully extravagant I’d go for Kiss. Their opening (with Detroit Rock City obv.) of their last “final” tour in 2019 was so brilliantly over the top it was hilarious.

Band you’ve seen most often: Rush (13 times)

If you were a betting man (which Steve obviously is), which famous album won’t make the Hall of Fame? I’ll go for Metallica - St Anger. I love them to bits but every time I go back and give St Anger one more try I wish I hadn’t.

If you were a rock star, what would be your rock star name? Richie Napalm

Steve

Favourite Band: Van Halen

Favourite album: Women and Children First - Van Halen

Most memorable show: AC/DC, Dokken - Wembley, 1988. Second row (so effectively front row back in the days when security couldn’t give a toss). What’s not to love.

Best guitar solo: Best of Times - Dream Theater (John Petrucci)

Coolest dude/dudette in rock: Is DLR too obvious?

Desert Island track: Supper’s Ready by Genesis. You’d want something to last, no?

Band you wished you’d seen, but didn’t: Genesis. With Gabriel up top, obviously.

Top bucket list concert: Diamond Dave (quick costume change) and Van Halen. Supported by Sepultura. Never did catch the boys from Brazil live.

Favourite hard rock/heavy metal lyric: My mother was a witch / She was burned alive / Thankless little bitch / For the tears I cried

Am I Evil? - Diamond Head

You secretly want to be which rock star? David Lee Roth. And it’s no secret!

Why (in no more than 5 words)? Why the heck wouldn’t you?

Metallica, Motley or Maiden? Metallica

Favourite Donington Monsters of Rock act? Toss of a coin between ZZ Top ‘85 and Bad News ‘86. Not.

Best concert special effect: I’m sure the drummer from Loudness set his sticks on fire once upon a time, though for pyrotechnic impact it can’t pip the gun-blazing farewell to an AC/DC gig.

Band you’ve seen most often: Christ, I can’t remember. Y&T about ten times; reckon they just pip AC/DC.

If you were a betting man (which Steve obviously is), which famous album won’t make the Hall of Fame? Nirvana’s Nevermind. But never mind.

If you were a rock star, what would be your rock star name? Since Bad Steve has been taken by, er, Bad Steve, I’ll go for Smut Shaft.