HANG ON BENNY
Former WildSide guitarist Benny Rhynedance compares their debut to a Bugatti or Gold Medal

Metal Sludge — Former WildSide guitarist Benny Rhynedance speaks openly in a brand new interview at Sleazeroxx.

Rhynedance once again gives fans an interesting and unique perspective into the band’s history, muchlike he did with his 5 part series The History of WildSide (1-2-3–4–5).

Reflecting on his disappointment that their record was not a huge hit Rhynedance tells Sleazeroxx: “The whole package was a Bugatti. How is it that Capitol could not sell this record to the public? We handed them a solid 9.9 out of 10. It was an easy gold medal, top of the podium winner for us.”

As most hairband fans know, WildSide released “Under The Influence” via Capitol Records in 1992.

And most also know that by that time Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the city of Seattle were walking all over hairbands.

Ironically, Rhynedance is from Seatlle along with WildSide frontman Drew Hannah.

The pair had first moved to Hollywood years earlier and played in a local band called Rogue.

For those who were not familiar with Rogue, image wise… think Johnny Rod meets C.C. DeVille.

But to their credit the guys stuck around, and eventually formed Young Gunns.

Young Gunns also included former Sciacca guitarist Brent Woods and St. Valentine bassist Marc Simon.

They went through a laundry list of drummers and even had ideas of poaching Anthony Focx from Tommi Gunn but that failed.

Eventually the band landed a pro in Jimmy Darby to finish out their 5-piece line-up.

In the latest interview Rhynedance once again talks drugs, muchlike he had previously when detailing his overdose and near death experience in The History Of WildSide Part 4.

“The streets looked like a ski resort there was so much coke in the gutters of that town. As for most bands back then, when you got a little money, power, and fame, things began to come easy. Women? Everywhere. All sorts of new friends? Yep. Guys giving you free weed or whatever? Pitfall. Around every corner” says the former WildSide guitarist.

To read a few excerpts from the latest Benny Rhynedance interview found on Sleazeroxx see below.

Benny Rhynedance

Sleaze Roxx: Reading your series ‘The History of WildSide’, it seems that there was a real sense of disappointment that ‘Under The Influence’ didn’t go platinum and take the band to that coveted next level of success. Looking back now, do you still feel that way or are you happy with what was accomplished in the very tough grunge era?

Benny Rhynedance: WildSide was a straight up hard rock band. We stopped any guyliner or Aqua Net after 1987. Not glam, not hair band. Yeah, I know I had hair three feet long, but still! Our focus was on creating well crafted anthemic rock hits. We paid our dues on the Sunset Strip in the mid ’80s for years. We played everywhere. Did it by the book. It took four years after arriving in Los Angeles to get a record contract for Drew and I. We worked hard. We learned the business of music. Our lives were about one thing — getting to the highest level we could in the hard rock game. We could do this because it was possible at that time. Signing a $2 million / seven album career contract with Capitol, one of the biggest and most prestigious, time-honored major labels on the planet was more than anyone could have hoped for. No disappointment there.

Having Paul Stanley from KISS, and master songsmith Jim Vallance contribute to our debut was humbling. There are no words to describe what working with legendary rock producer Andy Johns was like. Having Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero mix our record was amazing. These producers were responsible for some of the greatest and most iconic rock albums of all time. Basic tracks at A&M Studios Room A? What? Jesus! Overdubs and guitar at 5150 in Eddie Van Halen’s house for a few months? What the fuck? Let me say that again… hanging out at 5150 for a few months. Heavenly. The famed George Marino at Sterling Sound mastered the debut? The whole package was a Bugatti. How is it that Capitol could not sell this record to the public? We handed them a solid 9.9 out of 10. It was an easy gold medal, top of the podium winner for us. Van Halen wanted us to get our record out fast and open their ’91/’92 tour. Van Fucking Halen! How could ‘Under The Influence’ fail? Simple… no one factored in that the industry had been pumping out this same formula with rock bands for 15 years. The market was flooded with 100 bands that were very similar. It became a parody of itself. The kids had heard enough. They wanted an anti-hero. Kurt Cobain walked through that door.

Looking back now? I marvel at all the band achieved and have a deep sense of pride about how far I got in LA. I have a real appreciation for the journey we embarked on to get to the level WildSide made it to. We went so far and defied so many horrible odds that were against us. How many bands ever get a recording contract with a major label? How many musicians ever get to be on the same playing field as their idols? How many guys ever get to hang around at the house for months of someone that changed the musical landscape of rock guitar and how it’s played, a person they idolized, and one that shaped the path of their hard rock life? Ed Van Halen was the most pleasurable person and most accommodating musician I’ve ever had the pleasure of hanging around with. But he didn’t remember me in 2004 backstage in Vegas. ‘You’re who? Wild What?’ and then denied that WildSide ever recorded at his house. ‘Oh no, only Van Halen at 5150, ever…’ No. Ha! Ed rules! Still love him. Hey, it was 2004. Ed was in his “dark years” then and just a little messed up!

Sleaze Roxx: In Part IV of your series ‘The History of WildSide’, you shared that you were a cocaine addict from 1989 to your near death experience in April 1993, and that you’ve been clean ever since. Do you think that your cocaine addiction had a negative impact on WildSide during that time and if so, what was it?

Benny Rhynedance: I was definitely a young 20 something “party-favor” partaker! Uh, along with WildSide and everyone else in Hollywood! 1980s Los Angeles? Sunset Strip? In a rock band? The streets looked like a ski resort there was so much coke in the gutters of that town. As for most bands back then, when you got a little money, power, and fame, things began to come easy. Women? Everywhere. All sorts of new friends? Yep. Guys giving you free weed or whatever? Pitfall. Around every corner. More guitars, amps, and gear endorsements? Check. Bigger shows, more people chanting your name, tons of admiration, bouncing breasts, even idol worshipping? Yep. The hard part is trying to recognize where that imaginary line is that separates after show party and real life, and not buying in to the hype of people telling you how awesome you are all the time. For WildSide, most of the time we hung out on the party side of that imaginary line, 24/7. It was fun there. Thing is, it’s not sustainable, and it’s a young man’s game. The longer you roll the dice, the higher your chances are of losing it all. I found that out the hard way in 1993, teetered on the edge, but learned my lesson from it. Clean and sober for 26 years.