Jim Gillette

58 minutes ago

FIT FOR A KING … Ex-Nitro frontman Jim Gillette shares his new real estate project CASTLE BAY MANOR found on Florida’s SAINT GEORGE ISLAND

SUNSHINE STATE, U.S.A. — From rock n’ roll to real estate the word extreme in synonymous with Jim Gillette. Gillette first launched himself into the eyes and ears of music fans while still a teenager and that was a few years before NITRO even hit MTV‘s Headbanger’s Ball with their over-the-top track “Freight Train”. Gillette was strewn across rock magazines as a 19 year old selling his Metal Power vocal lessons to young Hard Rock[…]

October 15, 2025

THE DARKNESS … Justin Hawkins on NITRO: “No one is going to be able to sing higher than Jim Gillette (and) nobody’s going to play as fast or as ridiculous as Michael Angelo Batio”

“I think he was born 10 years too late,” Hawkins sighs in reference to Bettencourt. “Because he’d be competing with Eddie Van Halen if he were a bit younger.” — Justin Hawkins of The Darkness, courtesy of Guitar World by way of the Rick Beato podcast SAY IT ISN’T SO — In news you didn’t expect to read today, we’ll be sharing the latest from Justin Hawkins and him talking about Nitro! Wait, what? Correct,[…]

November 12, 2023

FIGHTING WORDS … Did Poison drummer Rikki Rockett just Challenge Nitro’s Jim Gillette to an MMA Fight?

“Is that the guy who took Lita Ford’s kids away?” — Rikki Rockett on Jim Gillette Metal Sludge — Welcome to 2023 where your social media comments just might land you on the pages of some rock n’ roll website like Metal Sludge. Or, in the middle of an MMA cage. It seems Rikki Rockett‘s recent comment on Facebook has lit a small fire under a certain singer’s ass. Here is what we know… Howie[…]

July 12, 2021

HIGH PRAISE … Jim Gillette of Nitro comments on Tim “Ripper” Owens voice: “He’s a phenomenal singer!”

Metal Sludge — In a brand new installment of the Waste Some Time with Jason Green Podcast, Nitro’s vocalist Jim Gillette is the guest. Gillette talks about his early years singing in local Phoenix area bands, and eventually releasing the Vocal Power voice instructional lessons in 1986 as a teenager. Green touches on a variety of subjects with the semi-retired singer including those popular vocal tapes, the singers who emulate his famous screams on Youtube[…]

July 3, 2021

FREIGHT TRAIN INVASION … Nitro’s Jim Gillette: “I was approached by Dana Strum about singing with Vinnie, before they had Mark Slaughter”

Brave Words — In the latest episode of the 80’s Glam metal Podcast. host Metal Mike catches up with Jim Gillette from Nitro. They revisit Nitro’s classic debut, O.F.R., Gillette’s influences, and reveals why the Nitro reunion that began to take shape in 2016 fizzled out. Nitro was launched in 1988 featuring Gillette, guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, bassist T. J. Racer and drummer Bobby Rock. Nitro released thier debut album, O.F.R. in 1989. The second[…]

June 22, 2020

PUPPY LOVE … Donny Osmond was in studio during NITRO debut sessions says Michael Angelo-Batio

Metal Sludge — Michael Angelo-Batio recently did a new interview with our friend and journalist Ruben Mosqueda over at Sleazeroxx. The Nitro guitarist says: “The label wanted people to either love us or hate us and it worked. They told us that if we did what they said, we’d ship 100,000 copies and they’d give tour support and we did everything they said [laughs]! And it worked [laughs]!” The band Nitro was known for being[…]

July 5, 2018

TUFF DIARIES #3 … My Tuff audition, Jim Gillette screams, a near fist fight and our debut show with Warrant. By Stevie Rachelle

TUFF DIARIES (Entry #3) My Tuff audition, Jim Gillette screams, a near fist fight and our debut show with Warrant. AXL ROSE, W.A.S.P., PAIR-A-DICE, PARADISE, TAZ AND SEX WITH AN OLDER WOMAN. — It was July 7th 1987 and I woke up in Van Nuys California. I had been hanging out with Todd Chaisson (Tuff bassist) for the last several days, and tonight was going to be my first Tuff rehearsal. This is weird, because I went to the rehearsal[…]

June 28, 2018

TUFF DIARIES #2 … My first meeting with Tuff, “Is That All Your Real Hair?” By Stevie Rachelle

TUFF DIARIES #2 My first meeting with Tuff, “Is That All Your Real Hair?” By Stevie Rachelle STEVE MEETS TODD, JORGE AND MICHAEL…THE TUFF BAND! July 1st 1987 — It’s Saturday monring June 27th 1987. I wake up after my first night out in Hollywood. I had went to see ANGORA at Troubadour with my new apartment neighbors Fredy and Greg. At some point over the weekend, we all had a cookout if memory is correct. You know the balcony[…]

July 23, 2017

METAL SLUDGE 20 QUESTIONS with NITRO singer and Jiu-Jitsu world champion JIM GILLETTE

METAL SLUDGE 20 QUESTIONS with NITRO singer and Jiu-Jitsu world champion JIM GILLETTE METAL SLUDGE — Just when you thought it was safe to turn on your spotify we must warn you….. prepare to cover your ears. As it may get louder and heavier sounding than it has in a while. You may have heard or maybe not, but NITRO is back, and they are making a new record. Not only are founding members Jim Gillette[…]

July 18, 2017

WORTH A GRAMMY? Nitro releases a short film that will make you laugh, cry or want to join their band

WORTH A GRAMMY? Nitro releases a short film that will make you laugh, cry or want to join their band SOMEWHERE, U.S.A. — NITRO has released a short film as part of their Indiegogo crowd funding campaign which can be viewed, here. The video can adequately be described as “purposely satirical” and a “Spinal Tapish” way of weaving NITRO‘s (glamorous) history into what’s going on currently with the band. TIM MACMILLAR and LUKE HOSKIN from PROTEST THE HERO make guest appearances in the film and[…]