Posts Tagged ‘reading’
Headbangers – The Worldwide MegaBook of Heavy Metal Bands
Back in 1995/1996 I was still married to my now ex-wife. She was a voracious reader and during our brief marriage it inspired me to do some reading. Most of the time it was band/musician biographies. Sometimes it was just catching up on John Saul books (all of which suck anymore). One day I went to the library and was just thumbing through the reference books and came across “Headbangers – The Worldwide MegaBook of Heavy Metal Bands” by Mark Hale. I cracked it open and just started freaking out. This book had just about everyone in it that was a metal band. It spans from the late 60s to about 1990 and does a wonderful job of cross-referencing bands, listing albums and catalog numbers. There’s an index in the back of musicians, band names, countries of origin and record labels with catalog 
numbers. It’s a pretty extensive hardcover book.
Hale gives descriptions of the bands and does his best not to inject bias. It’s 540+ pages of heavy metal goodness.
My ex and I split up in late 1996 and by early 1997 I had started my own CD sales business. I was mostly doing it by word of mouth between friends, eBay and had started an online music store, Acacia Music (defunct). I checked the book out from the library several times and finally called the publisher to see if they still had any copies. Luckily they did. Having a business license and tax ID number, they sold me a copy for $75. One of the best investments that I have ever made.
The book has 2 editions. The first edition had a run of 750 copies and the second run had 250 copies. That’s it!
Somewhere along the line I decided to get it signed by bands that were in it. If I remember correctly the first signatures were by Warrell Dane/Jim Shepherd (Sanctuary) and Jon Schaffer (Purgatory 60 aka Iced Earth) when Nevermore and Iced Earth were touring together in 1999.
Over the years I’ve met a lot of bands who are in it and some of the encounters were pretty random. On my Facebook page, I’ve written about how I obtained each of the sigs. Many of them had some good stories attached to them. Typically I get the same reaction, “What the hell is this and where the hell did you get it?”
If you’re a fan of metal, especially the pre-1990 stuff, this book is a must have. They typically don’t come cheaply but you can generally find some on Amazon.com. Most of the copies I’ve found are ex-library copies.
Here’s the current list of signatures (updated 7/30/2025):
| AC/DC | – | Simon Wright |
| Accept | – | Udo, Peter Baltes, Wolf Hoffman, Herman Frank |
| Ace Frehley | – | Anton Fig |
| Aerosmith | – | Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford |
| Aftermath | – | Charlie Tsisolis, Steve Sacco, John Lovette, Ray Schmidt, Eric ? (not in the book) |
| Agony Column | – | Stuart Laurence, Richie Turner |
| Alcatrazz | – | Graham Bonnet, Gary Shea, Jimmy Waldo |
| Alice Cooper | – | Alice Cooper |
| Amulance | – | Rick Baez, Bob Luman, Chuck Hamilton (not in the book) |
| Anthrax | – | Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna, Charlie Benante, Frank Bello |
| Armored Saint | – | Joey Vera, John Bush, Phil Sondoval, Gonzo Sandoval |
| Assalant | – | Mike Botello |
| At War | – | Paul Arnold, Shawn Helsel |
| Attacker | – | Mike Sabatini, Pat Marinello |
| Autograph | – | Steve Lynch, Randy Rand |
| Banshee | – | Terry Dunn |
| Baron Steele | – | Joe Szabo, Al Ortiz |
| Battlezone | – | Paul Di’Anno |
| Bitch | – | Betsy |
| Black N Blue | – | Pete Holmes, Jaime St James, Patrick Young |
| Black Roses | – | Chuck Wright |
| Black Sabbath | – | Glenn Hughes |
| Bloodcum | – | John Araya |
| Bloodlust | – | Sandy K |
| Britny Fox | – | Johnny Dee |
| Bullet | – | Fitty |
| Bullet Boys | – | Marq Torien, Jimmy D’Anda, Mick Sweda |
| Celtic Frost | – | Tom G Warrior |
| Chastain | – | Leather Leone, David T. Chastain, Mike Skimmerhorn, Ken Mary, David Harbour |
| Cheap Trick | – | Tom Petersson, Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen |
| Cinderella | – | Tom Keifer |
| Cirith Ungol | – | Tim Baker, Robert Garven, Mike Flint, Greg Lindstrom, Jim Barraza (not in the book but verified inclusion based on other resources) |
| CJSS | – | Les Sharpe, Russell Jenkins |
| Damien Thorne | – | Ken Starr, Rick Browz (not in book but played on original demos) |
| Dangerous Toys | – | Scott Dalhover, Meark Geary, Mike Watson |
| Dark Angel | – | Gene Hoglan |
| Death Tripper | – | Jerry Blanco |
| Deceased | – | King Fowley |
| Deliverance | – | Glenn Rogers |
| Destruction | – | Schmier, Mike |
| Détente | – | Steve Hochheiser |
| Devastation | – | Rodney Dunsmore, Alex Dominguez, Louie Carrisalez |
| Diamond Head | – | Brian Tatler |
| Diamond Rexx | – | S.St. Lust, Andre |
| The Dictators | – | Handsome Dick Manitoba |
| DIO | – | Rowan Robertson, Craig Goldy, Vinny Appice |
| Dirty Looks | – | Paul Lidel |
| Dokken | – | Jeff Pilson, George Lynch |
| DRI | – | Felix Griffin, Josh Pappe (RIP) |
| English Dogs | – | Graham Butt (one of the funniest inscriptions ever…you had to be there)(signed while playing with Sabbat) |
| Enuff Z’Nuff | – | Chip Znuff, 3 non-original members; none of them in the book; signed in the back |
| Escape (Stratus) | – | Bernie Shaw |
| Exciter | – | Dan Beehler, Allan Johnson |
| Exodus | – | Gary Holt, Tom Hunting |
| Faster Pussycat | – | Taime Down, Brent Muscat, 2 non-original members |
| Fates Warning | – | Frank Aresti, John Arch, Jim Matheos, Victor Arduini, Steve Zimmerman, Joe DiBiase |
| Ferrari | – | Oni Logan |
| Flotsam and Jetsam | – | Eric AK, Kelly David Smith, Ed Carlson, Michael Gilbert |
| Forbidden | – | Tim Calvert, Paul Bostaph |
| Forte’ | – | Rev Jones (band not in the book) |
| Gammacide | – | Scott Shelby |
| Girlschool | – | Kim McAuliffe |
| Glacier | – | Mike Podrybau |
| Great White | – | Jack Russell |
| Grim Reaper | – | Steve Grimmett |
| Joe Hasselvander | – | Joe Hasselvander |
| Hawkwind | – | Nik Turner |
| Hellion | – | Ann Boleyn |
| Helstar | – | James Rivera, Larry Barragan |
| Hirax | – | Katon W. DePena |
| Hurricane | – | Kelley Hansen |
| Impaler | – | Bill Lindsey, Commander Court |
| Iron Maiden | – | Nicko McBrain |
| Jag Panzer | – | Chris Cronk (also listed with Fates Warning), Harry Conklin, Joey Tafolla, Rikard Stjernquist, Mark Briody, John Tetley |
| Jaguar | – | Garry Peppard |
| Jet Red | – | Brad Rang |
| Juggernaut | – | Harlan Glenn, Eddie Katilus, Scott Womack |
| Keel | – | Scott Warren |
| Killer Dwarfs | – | Russ Dwarf, Bryce Dwarf |
| King Diamond | – | Mikkey Dee, Pete Blakk |
| Kingdom Come | – | James Kottak |
| Kreator | – | Ventor |
| Krokus | – | Marc Storace, Chris Von Rohr, Mandy Meier |
| LA Guns | – | Philip Lewis, Tracii Guns, Steve Riley |
| Lethal | – | Tom Mallicoat, Glen Cook, Dell Hull, Jerry Hartman (not in book but played on Programmed) |
| Liege Lord | – | Joe Comeau, Tony Truglio, Matt Vinci |
| Lillian Axe | – | Steve Blaze |
| Lion | – | Doug Aldrich |
| Lizzy Borden | – | Alex Nelson (RIP), Lizzy Borden, Joey Scott Harges |
| Loudness | – | Minoru Niihara, Akira Takasaki, Masayoshi Yamashita, Masayuki Suzuki (not in the book) |
| Lydia Von Huston | – | Jennifer Batten |
| Manowar | – | Ross the Boss |
| Manilla Road | – | Mark Shelton |
| Medieval Steel | – | John Roth, Bobby Franklin, Jeff Boydston |
| Megadeth | – | Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson |
| Metal Blade Records | – | Brian Slagel |
| Metal Church | – | Craig Wels |
| Mindless Sinner | – | Christer Göransson, Magnus Danneblad, Jerker Edman, Christer Carlson, Tommy Viktorsson (Formerly Johansson) |
| Militia | – | Mike Soliz, Rob Willingham, Phil Achee, Tony Smith, Jesse Villegas, Phil Patterson |
| Vinnie Moore | – | Vinnie Moore |
| Motorhead | – | Lemmy Kilmister (RIP) |
| MSG | – | Michael Schenker |
| Mythra | – | Vince High, John Roach, Alex Perry |
| Mystic Force | – | Keith Menser |
| Necrophagia | – | Killjoy (RIP) |
| Nuclear Assault | – | Dan Lilker, John Connelly, Glenn Evans |
| Obituary | – | James Murphy |
| The Obsessed | – | Wino |
| Odin | – | Shawn, Jeff and Matt Duncan, Randy O., Aaron Samson |
| Omen | – | Kenny Powell, Steve Wittig |
| Ostrogoth | – | Mario “Grizzly” Pauvels |
| Overkill | – | Bobby Ellsworth, D.D. Verni |
| Ozzy | – | Tommy Aldridge |
| Pentagram | – | Bobby Liebling, Victor Griffin |
| Picture | – | Laurens Bakker, Rinus Vreugdenhil |
| Plasmatics | – | TC Tolliver |
| Pretty Boy Floyd | – | Steve Summers, 2 non-original members |
| Purgatory 60 (Iced Earth) | – | John Schafer |
| Q5 | – | Evan Sheeley, Rick Pierce, Jonathan Kay |
| Queensyche | – | Geoff Tate |
| Quiet Riot | – | Rudy Sarzo, Sean McNabb, Frankie Banali (RIP) |
| Racer X | – | Juan Alderete (as “Jeff” in the book) |
| Rage | – | Peavey Wagner, Manni Schmidt, Chris Efthimiadis |
| Rainbow | – | Joe Lynn Turner |
| Randy California | – | Mark Andes (while playing with Firefall) |
| Rapid Tears | – | Brian Frank |
| Ratt | – | Stephen Pearcy |
| Raven | – | John Gallagher, Mark Gallagher |
| Rigor Mortis | – | Bruce Corbtt (RIP), Casey Orr, Harden Harrison |
| Riot | – | Don Van Stavern, Bobby Jarzombek, Rick Ventura |
| Rising Force | – | Yngwie Malmsteen, Anders Johansson, Jeff Scott Soto |
| Rods | – | Carl Canedy, David Feinstein, Gary Bordonaro |
| Ulrich Roth | – | Uli Jon Roth |
| Rotting Corpse | – | John Perez, Mando Tovar, Steve Murphy |
| Rough Cutt | – | Matt Thorne, Chris Hager |
| Running Wild | – | Stefan Schwartzmann |
| Ruthless | – | Sami DeJohn |
| S.A. Slayer | – | Bob Catlin, Art Villareal |
| Sabbat | – | Martin Walkyier, Andy Sneap, Simon Negus, Simon Jones |
| Sacred Rite | – | Peter Crane, Jimmy Caterine, Mark Kaleiwahea |
| Sadus | – | Steve DiGiorgio |
| Saint Vitus | – | Mark Adams, David Chandler, Scott Reagers |
| Salty Dog | – | Michael Hannon |
| Sanctuary | – | Warrel Dane (RIP), Jim Sheppard |
| Satan | – | Brian Ross, Russ Tippins, Graeme English, Steve Ramsey, Sean Taylor |
| Satan’s Host | – | Patrick Evil (not in book but confirmed original) |
| Saxon | – | Biff Byford, Nibbs Carter, Nigel Glockler |
| Scorpions | – | Francis Buchholz, Herman Rarebell |
| Screamer | – | Jim Dofka |
| Sentinel Beast | – | Michael Spencer |
| Sepultura | – | Paolo, Jr, Andreas Kisser |
| Skid Row | – | Sebastian Bach |
| Slauter Xstroyes | – | Paul Krathy |
| Slayer | – | Dave Lombardo |
| SOD | – | Billy Milano |
| Steel Prophet | – | Steve Kachinsky |
| Stryper | – | Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, Oz Fox, Tim Gaines |
| Syrus | – | Al Berlanga, Michael Vasquez, John Castilleja, Julio Paz |
| Takashi | – | Danny Stanton |
| Ted Nugent | – | Derek St. Holmes |
| Tesla | – | Troy Lucketta, Tommy Skeoch, Brian Wheat, Frank Hannon, Jeff Keith |
| Testament | – | Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, Greg Christian, Eric Peterson |
| The Rods | – | Carl Canedy, David Feinstein, Garry Bordonaro |
| Thin Lizzy | – | John Sykes, Scott Gorham |
| Thrust | – | Ron Cooke |
| Triumph | – | Rik Emmett |
| Trouble | – | Ron Holtzman, Eric Wagner, Jeff “Oly” Olson |
| T.T. Quick | – | Mark Tornillo |
| Turbin | – | Doug Morrison, Neil Turbin |
| Twisted Sister | – | AJ Pero (RIP) |
| Tygers of Pan Tang | – | Robb Weir |
| Tyrant | – | Greg May |
| Tyrant’s Reign | – | Phil Fouch, Ken Miller |
| Uriah Heep | – | Mick Box |
| UFO | – | Paul Chapman (RIP), Phil Mogg, Paul Raymond (RIP), Andy Parker |
| Vatican | – | Vince Vatican, Vic Grabouski, Brian McNasty |
| Venom | – | Mantas, Abaddon, Demolition Man |
| Vendetta (Chicago) | – | Klyph Black |
| Vinnie Moore | – | Vinnie Moore |
| Voi Vod | – | Away, Snake, Blacky |
| War Cry | – | Rich Rozek, Phil Fouch, Karl Miller (neither in the book) |
| Warlock (Ger) | – | Doro Pesch |
| Warlock (TX) | – | Rick Perry |
| Watchtower | – | Jason McMaster, Ron Jarzombek, Billy White, Rick Colaluca, Doug Keyser |
| Wendy O. Williams | – | Greg Smith |
| Whitesnake | – | David Coverdale |
| White Lion | – | Greg D’Angelo |
| Wicked Angel | – | Joseph Valdez (book only lists the singer, validated here) |
| Winger | – | Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Rod Morgenstein |
| Wishbone Ash | – | Andy Powell |
| Wolfsbane | – | Blaze Bayley |
| Wyzard | – | John Alvarado, Buster Grant (as Gilbert Grant Guzman in the book) |
| Y&T | – | Dave Meniketti |
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