Metal Sludge The Power and the Glory
DREAM ON
Metal Sludge heads to Las Vegas for an exclusive with Cherry St. alum Chris VanDahl, a Steven Tyler tribute act in Legends in Concert
By Gerry Gittelson
Metal Sludge Editor at Large
LAS VEGAS — Remember Chris “Roxy” VanDahl, the former singer for Sunset Strip hopefuls Cherry St., who later went on to join L.A. Guns in 1995 for a few years.
He is a star now in Las Vegas as a Steven Tyler tribute act in Legends in Concert at the legendary Flamingo Hotel.
VanDahl is among the best in the world, and he has even formed a friendship with the real Steven Tyler — no surprise because the two could be twins, plus VanDahl does one heck of a good job.
“People always told me I looked just like him, so I just finally embraced it and started to work towards looking that way intentionally,” VanDahl said. “I love what I do. I’ve always loved it. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
They look so much alike that in VanDahl’s everyday life, he often has to break it to fans that no, he is not really Steven Tyler.
“It happens on a daily basis,” VanDahl said. “People are like, ‘Oh my god, you’re Steven Tyler,’ and they’re so excited. I mean, I’m 30 years younger, but I guess they think he just has the best plastic surgeons that money can buy.”
So tell us the truth, Mr. VanDahl, have you ever NOT let on that you’re really a lookalike, and then taken things all the way?
“Not really,” VanDahl said. “By now I’ve gotten to know Steven, and we’ve become friends, so the idea just seems wrong to me. But there was this one time at the airport, really crowded, when a security guard came up to me and said I didn’t have to wait in line and ushered me through. I was OK with that.”
VanDahl invited Metal Sludge to a Flamingo show the other night, and his performance proved utterly impressive. He’s got the look, the sound, the little mannerisms, all down pat. Plus, there is a loud, capable backup band and some beautiful backup dancers, and overall the Tyler portion of Legends in Concert proved a major highlight in a lineup that included tribute artists for Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and a few others.
VanDahl also fronts a California-based tribute band called Aeromyth, but the Legends in Concert gig is his main thing. In addition to the Vegas runs, he has also traveled for events in Atlantic City, Myrtle Beach, Honolulu and other destinations.
“I’m absolutely very grateful,” he said.
Like so many, VanDahl first moved to Las Vegas to make a new start. After all, it’s the city of lost dreams and new hope, right? The good thing is, VanDahl didn’t crap out.
He was one of the lucky winners in Las Vegas. As close to a jackpot as a rocker can get these days.
“When I first got here, the last thing I ever wanted to do was impersonate Steven Tyler because I had been running from him my whole life,” VanDahl said. “But then the phone rang, and the whole thing kind of snow-balled. But you’re right. It’s like a rolling a seven, a whole new career.”
VanDahl is not the only Cherry St. alum to find success: Tom Mathers founded Perris Records; Jamie Scott joined Tyketto; Taz Bangs opened a succesful studio; and Marc Waldon played for Jennifer Love Hewitt.
“Everybody is still in the business,” VanDahl said.
Dude looks like Steven Tyler
Chris VanDahl as Steven Tyler in Las Vegas
VanDahl with Craig Knight, a Billy Idol impersonator & a Bono tribute in #SinCity
Sunset Strip Fun Fact: The above Billy Idol impersonator is Craig Knight. Craig fronted the band Crystal Pistol from the Sunset Strip back in the late 80s. Check out his killer Billy Idol project called Generation Idol right HERE
The whole thing makes you wonder why Cherry St. never made it big.
“We definitely had our time. We were actually known as having the biggest hair on the Strip,” VanDahl said. “Eventually, we did a get a record deal with JRS through BMG, but this was in 1991, and you know what happened. There was no where for us to go with it. The writing was on the wall.”
VanDahl was actually featured in Metal Sludge all the way back in August of 1999. You can read his old skool ’20 Questions’ interview right HERE.
VanDahl can laugh about it now. The real truth, he swears, is he never actually executed that interview. It was done through email — Metal Sludge was anonymous in those days — and someone else sent the answers while pretending to be VanDahl, a situation that is now ironic in its own right considering what the man does for a living.
“I was living on the floor at the house of my friend, Tony Cavazo, at the time, and I didn’t really have access to email,” VanDahl said. “It was a pissed-off ex-member of one of my bands who filled it out, so when I finally saw it, I was like, ‘What the fuck? Why is Metal Sludge coming after me?'”
All water under the bridge, VanDahl proclaims.
After all, living well is the best revenge.
“We play for up to 3,000 people every night, and it’s not a bad gig,” VanDahl said. “And the pay is not bad, either.”
Chris VanDahl & Aeromyth @ WebSite – Facebook – YouTube
Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv
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