Metal Sludge — In a new interview with The Hair Metal Guru Youtube channel, Drew Rose of WildSide talks about his teenage years starting out in music, and the decades that followed.
Rose, now 60, talks in depth about how he grew up listening to Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and early Def Leppard to getting a major label record contract with Capitol Records off the Sunset Strip.
Rose, who went by Hannah during the hey-day, admits he was initially a failed guitarist, and sub-par bassist… but eventually found himself fronting bands and performing as the lead vocalist even though he had no experience singing.
Rose shares a ton in the 2 hour interview and takes listeners on a ride that started out with jamming in the High School Talent Show to playing local bars in Seattle before relocating to Southern California.
The WildSide frontman talks about when their band was known as Young Gunns and its formative years… starting out playing 1st slot in the Valley to 18 people (waitresses included) eventually leading up to the 5-piece headlining Hollywood’s elite venues.
Rose shares memories about the hits and misses doing industry show-cases, meeting with Managers and Producers, which eventually culminated with the guys signing a recording contract and cutting tracks at Eddie Van Halen‘s home studio 5150.
After the 1992 release of “Under The Influence” and a few solid years of touring, they soon found themselves on the short-end of the stick as the 90’s unfolded.
Rose says he watched their record label’s biggest cheerleaders all turn away and the career musician had to switch gears and soon found himself as an Executive in the adult industry.
Rose talks about working hand-in-hand, day to day with legendary pornographer Larry Flynt and acting as his Director of Operations at Hustler for over a decade.
In more recent years… Rose recalls hitting the stage with local covers bands in Florida and having to read the lyrics off an iPad while on stage.
In a nutshell, this whole interview Rose is very open, and says he’s an open-book with nothing to hide.
There were dark times as well, with Rose admitting to heavy drug use and realizing later in life, he could no longer sing (the higher stuff) like he did in his 20’s.
There was an attempted WildSide comeback or two, with 80% of the classic era lineup in tow when Rose, along with Brent Woods (Lead Guitars), Marc Simon (Bass) and Jimmy D (Drums) all gave it a go in the 2000’s and 2010’s, but after their last show, Rose simply told the guys; “I’m done” and walked away.
Another tidbit Rose shares is his latest project which is called Get On The Bus.
Get On The Bus has morphed from the 80’s Metal Recycle Bin Youtube channel that he started in late 2020 with WildSide drummer Jimmy Darby.
The duo’s Youtube platform has garnered close to 40,000 subscribers in a few short years with their high quality content.
The channel going forward will be known as Get On The Bus, a tour bus tricked out to interview anyone and everyone, coast to coast, from clubs to stadiums, from the entertainment world and beyond.
Watch the full video interview with Drew Rose on the Hair Metal Guru Youtube channel below.
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for Breaking News, Updates and Features along with New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
More articles on WildSide found below here on Metal Sludge.
December 2024 – NEW VINYL ALERT … WildSide “Under The Influence” has been reissued on Colored Vinyl
July 2024 – HAIR METAL SPECTACULAR: The Top 19 Sappiest — and Greatest — Power Ballads of All-Time
August 2021 – TUFF DIARIES #18 … WildSide, Dee Snider, Tour Drama, Baywatch, New Label Search and Living in Reseda
November 2020 – Former WildSide guitarist Brent Woods diagnosed with Leukemia
June 2019 – HANG ON BENNY … Former WildSide guitarist Benny Rhynedance compares their debut to a Bugatti or Gold Medal
April 2019 – LIVE ?!*@ LIKE A WILDSIDE … WildSide issue classic years “Live” Recording, + Unreleased Rare Demos
September 2016 – HANG ON LUCY! The Triumphant Return of WILDSIDE at ‘Wolf Fest’
August 2016 – WILDSIDE SET FOR COMEBACK CONCERT Metal Sludge exclusive: Singer Drew Hannah and drummer Jimmy Darby weigh in
July 2016 – WILD RIDE … Brent Woods talks about working with Kiss, Sebastian Bach, Vince Neil and WildSide
March 2016 – METAL SLUDGE EXCLUSIVE: Taking a walk on the WildSide with singer Drew Hannah
