Tonight I planned on staying home considering I have been running for weeks, however… I got an e-mail from one of my old friends from back in my music career days. He was seeing if I was around so he could drag my ass out! Yes, the ONE… the ONLY… BAGEL!!! LoL… I can’t tell you how much I missed this guy over the last decade.

Bagel & Brimstone

Well, Bagel is quite simply THE man you want to speak with for anything or anyone who has to do with Metal. He’s been working over at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, New York when he’s not running rampant on the road as a photographer shooting for bands like Metallica, Aerosmith, & Lamb of God. Bagel’s career in photography has grown successfully over the years and has been extremely busy recently shooting the photos for The Starting Line DVD. He’s preparing to head out to L.A. to shoot Iron Maiden and Anthrax as well as the Rock on the Range project. Meanwhile, he JUST came home after shooting for Shadow’s Fall.

Now I have to tell you that I really enjoyed everything about this place. It felt so damn good to get back to my roots in the music scene after so long. The vibe was chill and just being able to kick back and relax was refreshing in a sense. WBAB happened to be there as well and while taking a photo for the radio stations’ website… I was introduced to a legend in the world of New York Heavy Metal, Fingers of Fingers Metal Shop. Fingers was the host at the evenings soiree which was being headlined by Derringer. Fingers and I spoke for quite awhile in between acts and he filled me in on some of the thing that he’s up to including a tv pilot that he filmed. I’m looking forward to staying in touch with him, I need to talk to some people about getting his show picked up, it’s a great idea and with the guests he has in the pilot… a guaranteed success!

Brimstone & Fingers of WBAB

Fingers then personally introduced me to one of the kindest guys I’ve met in awhile, not to mention one of my influences when drumming years ago… Drum G-D, Rod Morgenstein! Rod is probably best known for his work with the band Winger and with the jazz fusion band Dixie Dregs. The man is a true technical genius behind the kit and I am honored to have been in his presence! He is currently a professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and still continues to stay very busy with his music. Having the pleasure of spending time talking with Rod brought me back to good times of my youth. Anyway… to make a long story short, Rod happened to be VERY high on my list of people I HAD to eventually meet! It’s funny how things turn out huh?

Brimstone & Drum LEGEND Rod Morgenstein of Winger

It was starting to get pretty late and since I forgot to bring earplugs, my ears were starting to get that ringing you get after going to a concert! Bagel, Dawg, and I watched Derringer from the back of the V.I.P. section with Rod and another legendary drummer, Carmine Appice. Derringer was great and it was good to see them on stage again. I was too exhausted to stick around to meet Rick Derringer, although we would have had a lot to talk about considering he recorded Hulk Hogan’s entrance music, “Real American” as well as the entrance theme for Demolition (Blast is my partner now!). We would have probably spoke for hours! I think I’ll call my buddy Beefcake and tell him to let Hogan know Derringer is out and about. As we started leaving, Bagel got a call that some of the boys from Anthrax were on their way over. I figured I would stick around a little longer considering I have not seen Scott in years! Well, Scott didn’t make it out but I was introduced to Bassist Frank Bello.

Brimstone & Frank Bello of Anthrax

Anthrax had just been over at Sam Ash nearby to do a signing and decided to come check the place out. We both agreed that we had never been to the Donkey before but had heard good things. Frank let me know that they are currently in the studio producing a new album, and he is doing a Sam Ash clinic tour. Make sure you get out there and support Frank!!! Stand up guy! It was a really good night for me being in an environment that I enjoy.