“I died and saw pitch black, which freaked me out… I now weigh 135 pounds and still cannot walk or stand.”
— Howie Hubberman

Metal Sludge — What can I say, but share with you what I have been told by the man himself.

I just hung up the phone with our former Tuff manager Howie Hubberman, and hearing his voice was great… but learning of what he recently went through was quite the opposite.

Howie in reality shouldn’t even be here right now, simply because he recently died, twice.

At least that is what he told me.

Aside from our follow-up phone calls, this was one of the first texts I received from Howie since he was admitted into the hospital back nearly 2 months ago.

The following was Howie detailing to me what happened and he asked that I share this message with our readers.

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I recently had a grave health scare, it happened very suddenly without warning and if it wasn’t for my gal Joy Nolder, I would surely be dead.
September 23rd I was rushed into the ER at a Hospital in the Inland Empire.
My Appendix exploded and they removed it along with 1/2 my Colon and 1/3 of my Small Intestine.
I currently have 47 metal staples and 2 Silver Dollar size holes in my stomach and am holding at 130 lbs. (down from 175 lbs.)
I woke Up not knowing who or where I was, in 5 weeks I took in less than 2000 calories total, and died at least 2 times.
I still can not walk or stand.
All the Music/Entertainment community surrounded me with Love and Prayers.
But some of my people were left in the dark…
I had died and saw Pitch Black, which freaked me out.
Now I’m 100% on the mend but still in a Hospital…
My Surgeon will rebuild me in December…
I give you this story direct to my Life Long Friend Stevie Rachelle From Hell and the Metal Sludge Community… which is a strong one.
I trust Stevie with this sensitive story, as I probably would no one else.
Stevie and I share a similar sense of Humor…
Howie “King of Men” (Still) Hubberman


Editor’s Note: Howie also forwarded some images, but in truth they are far to graphic and of an extreme sensitive nature to share in this story.

Even though Howie gave the all clear to share, I decided against it.

In so many words, trust me when I say… Howie is in pretty rough shape.

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For anyone who has lived in the greater Los Angeles area over the last 4+ decades and more directly, if you were part of the music scene, then you have very likely heard the name Howie Hubberman.

Howie was instrumental in the development of many of your favorite Sunset Strip bands that music fans globally came to know and love from the 80s and into the 90s.

Bands like Poison and Guns N’ Roses who Howie was directly involved with from their early years, along with countless others including; Bang Bang, The Zeros, Nitro, The Wild, Tuff, Funhouse and many more.

There are endless stories and tie-ins with Howie and another infamous Hollywood manager and scenester in Vicky Hamilton, and much of that history can be read about in her book Appetite For Dysfunction.

I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to get Vicky‘s book, it’s absolutely great.

Howie also co-owned Guitars R’ Us on Sunset Strip for many years.

That guitar shop (directly across from where Guitar Center sits today) was frequented by the who’s-who of rock n’ roll, along with every other style of music… some of the greatest guitarists and musicians to ever step foot on Los Angeles soil visited this spot to buy, sell or trade an instrument with Howie and his then partner Albert.

The “who is” list is many more than I imagined… I mean, I knew Howie and that store dealt with everyone but wow.

I inquired to Howie about some of his past clients, and while I knew it was many… it’s truly mind-boggling when you see it.

Howie replied to my inquiry text with the following:

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Buying and Selling and advising .. Old Guitars .. Since 1969!

Client List: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, David Bowie, Earl Slick, Steve Hunter, Brian Setzer, Stevie D., Nikki Sixx, C.C. Deville, Slash, Duff, Tommy Thayer, Dizzy Reed, Joel Miller, Julian Raymond, Dan Smith, Alan Holdsworth, Mick Ralphs, Kim Simmons, INXS, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Norman Harris, Paul Brown, Steve Love Towel, Norman Brown, Tom Keifer, Rick James, Paul Volta, Ron Murray, Michael Jackson, Chris Corel, Alex Al, Donald Boyette, Jaco Pastorius,Tony Babylon, Prescott Niles, Sandy Stein, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Tiffani Niccole, Tiffani Niccole Hillin, Johnny Depp, Miles Copeland, Peter Frampton, Rick Derringer, Robin Trower, Michael Angelo Batio, Jim Gillette, Angelo Barbera, Kaya Jones, Jimmy Youngman, Greg Lake, Steve Vai, Monty Byrom, Eddie Money, Joe Perry, Ace Freeley, Dwight Yokam, Prince, Wesley Horrocks, Stevie Wonder, Zack Zotos, Tom Zotos, Easy E, Dr.Dre, Nancy Wilson, Mick Flynn, Al Kooper, Alice Cooper, The Bangles, The Go Go’s, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Jackson, Randy Jackson, John McEnroe, Chrissy, Martha Quinn, Jani Lane, Johnny Love, Ron Mancuso, Tim Bogart, Gary Myrick, CJ DeVillar, Paul Smith, Larry Hamby, CJ Lockaby, James Franco, Paul Alan, Binky Martin, George Martin, Timothy Leary, Dime Bag, Paul Brown, Zac Brown, P Diddy, Dick Dale, Tom Peterson, Robin Zander, Bunny Carlos, Rick Neilson, Tony West, Desi Rexx, Danny Johnson, Max RICK Derringer, Don Kirkpatrick (Rod Stewart), Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Billy West, Jack West, Albert Molinero, Frank Lucido, Max, Leslie West, Chris Isaac, Ethan Porter, Cher, Les Dudek, Bootsy Collins, Elton John, George Michaels, Bret Michaels, Peter Garrett, Angus Young, Paul Gilbert, Bob Kulick, Bruce Kulick, Michael Schenker, Yngwie, The Edge, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Eddy Van Halen, Les Paul, Randy Bachman, Seal, Cindy Lauper, Dale Bozzio, Frank Zappa, Karl D’Amico, Vinni Caliuta, Greg Leon, Sam Kinison, Rick Vito, Jackson Brown, David Lindley, Jeff Healey, Thumbs Carlisle, Hush Carlisle, Elliot Easton, Ric Ocasak, Nick Lucas, Ringo Starr, Lou Reed, Dan Sawyer, Tommy Tedesco, John Kernick, Joe Bonamassa, John Entwhistle, Pete Townsend, Prescott Niles ,Neal Schon, Randy California, Flea, Herb Mickman, Carol Kaye, Maestro, Stevie Nicks, David Carradine, Robert Valenzuela, Sylvester Stallone, Frank Stallone, Survivor, Thor, Uncle Lou, Glen Campbell, Sputnik Spooner, Fee Waybill, Terri Nunn, May May Ali, Blonde, Yungblud, MGK, Poodlehead, J. Geils, Cat Gatto, Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Gibbons, Randy Rhoads, Neil Zlowzower, Mick Box, Randy Smith, Wayne Charvel, Grover Jackson, Semi Mosley, Paul Hamer, Paul Rothschild, Eddie Edward Rothschild, Bob Perriello, Jeff Fredrickson, Pete Rose, Pete Stauber, Joe Hutchinson, Danny Lucus, Sammy Serious, Stevie Rachelle, Johnny X, Dizzy, Hurricane, Stevie Ray, James Hatfield, Cliff Burton, Hallie Berry, Gary Ballen, Jimmy Z, Teri Nunn, Johnny Carson, Doc Severensen, August Mark August Worchell, Tracy Gunn, Melissa Etheridge, Blackie Lawless, Tim Emmons, Ozzy, Lemmy, Mario, Tony Castillo, Michael Lockwood, Kim Shaheen,Tim Allen, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Arthur Lee, Lita Ford, The Knack, Phil Seymore, Steve Jordan, William Shatner, Chingy, Usher, Chris Rock, Angel,Fur, Kianna Dior, J.J.Cale, Speedy, Keanu Reeves, Kevin Bacon, Shuggy Otis,Beck, CSNY, Tom Verlaine, Fergie, Will I Am, J.C., Wendy O’ Williams, Beachy, Ian Anderson, Ian Hunter, Howard Leese, Mike Archer, Sting, Sammy Hagar, Steve Allen, Dino Cruz, Ian Hunter, Dave David Ravins, Buddy Miles, Will Lee, Billy Sheehan, Greg Loeb, Leif Garrett, Billy Mummy, Howard Kaufman, Micki Free, Marc Samuels, Doug Walther, Randy Johnson, Magic Johnson, Rick Fox, Denzel Washington, SIR, Tom Hilby, George Benson, Coco Montoya, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Bill Clinton, Roger Clinton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Michael Nesmith, Robert Shapiro, Dick Van Dyke, Corey Feldman, Charro and Thousands I left out, 55 Years is a long time !! But not on purpose. Feel Free to List Your Name in the Comments…. Howie H.

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Howie has been in the music game since the late 60’s, and moved to Los Angeles in 1978 so if my math is correct, he’s been in Southern California for 45 years.

So now it’s November 2023, and while Hubberman is a spry guy at 68, he definitely has a hard and challenging recovery road ahead of him after this recent health scare.

So why this post… the answer is simple, to let you all know, Howie Hubberman is still alive.

Secondly, to tell you, to share this message from Howie, and please reach out to him via social media, more directly his official Facebook page, say hello, and check in, I am sure he’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading… and get well soon Howie, we Love You!

Stevie Rachelle

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