“Are you done with BulletBoys?” — The Hair Metal Guru

“Yes!” — Mick Sweda

THE HAIR METAL GURU — The latest from The Hair Metal Guru is a brand new 90 minute action packed interview with Mick Sweda.

Sweda, 65, has had a career spanning 40+ years including stints with King Kobra, BulletBoys, The Hot Summers and more recently The Rockett Mafia.

This latest interview from the guitarist covers a lot but near the 75 minute mark The Guru asks the million dollar question: “Are you done with BulletBoys?“

Sweda responds with: “Yes.”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s just… there is no, I mean there are some things you just can’t overcome. I mean even… I consider myself a pretty forgiving guy, I don’t really… I know… what they say about grudges, it’s like drinking poison and hope the other person will die.

Sweda continues (all translation by Metal Sludge): “So, I tried to battle that. Umm… but, yeah, it’s too bad, and it’s a shame. Because… you know I am sure there are going to be people who say, ‘Like wow! You bitch and moan a lot don’t you?’, well, yeah, cuz it’s my baby, and I worked f#@king hard on it. And I devoted a large portion of my life, to getting (BulletBoys) there to that point, and to have… you know, such as I said before, self-destructive, ahh, elements and to see it all just fall apart, totally unnecessarily. You know, it rubs you the wrong way. And you would have to be there to understand, I (would) think.”

The Guru also asks: “Have you talked to Lonnie (Vencent)?“

Sweda says: “I haven’t talked to any of those guys… since”, which is referencing the BulletBoys ‘Whisky-A-Go-Go” gig in December 2021 that singer Marq Torien opted to play acoustically after bassist Vencent missed his flight to Los Angeles.

Metal Sludge covered that incident, which amounted to the end (yet again) of the original BulletBoys lineup.

That implosion of the 4 original members was detailed by Metal Sludge back on January 6th 2022 with our article: “1, 2, F#@K YOU … Mick Sweda helps describe the unfortunate side of being in BulletBoys: “Toxic and Poisonous and nobody needs that at our age”

A few months later (April 20th 2022) former BulletBoys drummer Jimmy D’Anda went on record as well in our article: “BULLETBLAST … Jimmy D’Anda talks BulletBoys implosion: “I don’t think I need to point any fingers because everyone knows who it’s about“, who also detailed what had happened.

During the interview Sweda covers all the bases, and talks in-depth about what went on inside the BulletBoys camp from the start.

The band’s run has lasted 35+ years with varying lineups and member changes, and Sweda shares plenty including; the many break-ups and make-ups, how song-writing happened and publishing was split, along with various drama related to the individual members.

One incident that is mentioned is the alleged ‘stolen amplifier‘ situation involving Sweda, Torien, and former BulletBoys guitarist Ira Black who was in the group from 2022-2024.

Sweda breaks down his side of the story stating: “Ira’s girlfriend or partner (Jessica Chase) sent me an email saying, ‘Hey Mick, we need Ira‘s amp back’, Mick replied, ‘I don’t have Ira’s amp, Marq came and picked it up a long time ago’, that’s when all the machinations start to coalesce and – and you see what’s going on there.”

Sweda continues; “He (Marq) ended up taking the guy’s amp, trying to pin it on me, and I don’t know if he sold it, or if the guy (Ira) ever got it back, or what, but that’s just part parcel of what you get.”

We covered this as well in our article: “BULLETBOMBS … Ira Black on Marq Torien of BulletBoys; “I am Going to Tell you Something, Marq Borrowed my Amp and then Sold It.”

To hear the full interview on The Hair Metal Guru with Mick Sweda, listen and watch below.

Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.

BulletBoys members

• Marq Torien – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, congas (1987–present)
• Fred Aching – drums (2022–present)
• Lonnie Vencent – bass, backing vocals (1987–2000, 2006, 2009–2014, 2019–2022, 2024–present)
• Jake Faun – lead guitar (2024–present)

Former members

• Mick Sweda – lead guitar, backing vocals (1987–1993, 1999–2000, 2011, 2019–2022)
• Jimmy D’Anda – drums, backing vocals (1987–1993, 1999–2000, 2011, 2019–2022)
• Tommy Pittam – lead guitar (1993–1998)
• Robby Karras – drums (1993–1998) (died 2012)
• Tony Marcus – lead guitar (1993, 2009–2010)
• DJ Ashba – lead guitar (1998–1999)
• Steven Adler – drums (1998–1999)
• Jason Hook – lead guitar (2000–2002)
• Brent Fitz – drums (2000–2001)
• Vik Foxx – drums (2000)
• Scott Taylor – bass (2002–2006)
• Keri Kelli – lead guitar (2002–2004)
• Ryche Green – drums (2005–2010, 2012–2013)
• Michael Thomas – lead guitar (2006, 2007–2008)
• Scott Griffin – bass (2007)
• Don “Dish” Bish – drums (2007)
• Rob Lane – bass (2008–2009)
• Tory Stoffregen – lead guitar (2009)
• Nick Rozz – guitars (2010–2011, 2012–2019)
• Troy Patrick Farrell – drums (2010–2011)
• Johnny Giosa – drums (2010) (died 2011)
• Chad MacDonald – bass, backing vocals (2011, 2014–2019)
• Stephen Jude Mills – drums (2012–2014, 2015, 2019)
• Shawn Duncan – drums (2014–2016, 2019)
• Joaquin Revuelta – drums (2016–2018)
• Phil Varone – drums (2018)
• Anthony “Tiny” Biuso – drums (2018–2019)
• Ira Black – lead guitar (2022–2024)
• Brad Lang – bass (2022–2024)