‘The Roxy’ & ‘The Rainbow Bar & Grill’ on Sunset Strip share a parking lot and made for an amazing ‘Metal Hall of Fame’ Awards Show in Hollywood – January 21st 2026 / Photo By: Jeff Coggins
HOLLYWOOD, California — Last week the Metal Hall of Fame awards show hit the Sunset Strip for their event and it was a who’s-who on stage as well as in the crowd.
The Metal Hall of Fame celebrated its 10th Anniversary… and for the 1st time ever the event was held in the City of Angels on the very street that helped mold the 5 inductees.
This annual event’s newest members inducted were; Warren DeMartini (Ratt), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Rikki Rockett (Poison), Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses) and Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.).
The night started out with a packed Rainbow Bar & Grill and the crowd seamlessly flowed out into the parking lot as the Red Carpet was getting underway around 6:00pm.
The throng of rock royalty, along with friends and fans all filtered into The Roxy and the stage quickly turned into several short 2-4 song jam sessions that included the new MHoF members and a cast of their peers to back them playing some music from their respective bands that put them on the map.
Warren DeMartini @ Metal Hall of Fame Awards – January 21st 2026 / Photo: MissTruthorDare
Before the event even started the adjoining venues were both mobbed with a laundry list of attendees that once filled your MTV screen, your stereo speakers along with Hit Parader, Metal Edge and RIP magazines back 3 decades ago or more.
Aside from those who took the stage to receive an award or perform for the capacity crowd the floor was bustling with the following; Tony Harnell (TNT), Oni Logan (Lynch Mob), Keith St. John (Kindom Come), Stevie Rachelle (Tuff), Swan Montgomery (Led Zepagain), Lorraine Lewis (Femme Fatale), Tony West (Blacklist Union), Chad Stewart (Faster Pussycat), Brian Perera (Cleopatra Records), Roger Chouinard (All Sinners), Al Bane (For Leather), Tim Yasui (Cleopatra Records) and Sheri Lu (Riot Stitch).
The evenings first inductee was Rikki Rockett who accepted his award with a short speech after being introduced by Eddie Trunk.
Trunk was a co-host along with Cathy Rankin and both took turns on the mic awarding new inductees along with introducing their bands and the all-star cast of players.
Rockett grabbed some drum-sticks (from his back pocket) sat behind the kit and played a few Poison tunes with Britt Lightning of Vixen (guitar), Johnny Martin of L.A. Guns (bass) and Tommy London (Sirius Hair Nation) took over on the lead vocals.
Eddie Trunk and Cathy Rankin, the pair co-hosted the Metal Hall of Fame Awards at ‘The Roxy’
Up next was L.A. Guns founder Tracii Guns who accepted his award that was presented by Sam ‘Bam’ Koulton, who had a pre-written speech on paper which he shared with the crowd.
Guns then grabbed a guitar as did Koulton, the aforementioned Martin and Shawn Duncan (drums) along with guest vocalist Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat) launched into a few choice L.A. Guns cuts.
Guns without a doubt, had THE LOUDEST GUITAR SOUND of the entire night and it wasn’t even close.
Tracii Guns, Taime Downe, Stephen Pearcy and Kristi Adair on the ‘Red Carpet’ at the Metal Hall of Fame Awards @ ‘The Roxy’ on Sunset Strip. January 21st 2026 / Photo By: Jeff Coggins
In addition to the inductees, there were also a few other random jams that happened before, and in-between the newest member’s sets.
Quiet Riot was acknowledged as well, with classic era guitarist Carlos Cavazo playing a double-shot of QR classics that included a pair of guest vocalists… Dino Jelusick and Marq Torien (BulletBoys).
Jelusick also sang a few Whitesnake and Ozzy tunes with guitarist Doug Aldrich, bassist Sean McNaab and Ken Mary was on drums.
Dino Jelusick (T.S.O.) and Marq Torien (BulletBoys) at ‘The Roxy’ MHoF Awards – Photo By: Jeff Coggins
Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Rikki Rockett (Poison), Tommy London & Britt Lightning (Vixen) – Photo: Jeff Coggins
Oni Logan (Lynch Mob) & Keith St. John (Kingdom Come) – Photo: Jeff Coggins
Others who were on stage throughout the night included; Chris Impellitteri, Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, MSG), Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken), Jimmy D’Anda (BulletBoys),
Gilby Clarke hit the stage next to receive his award and played a few tunes closing with “Tijuana Jail” that featured McNaab and ????.
Warren DeMartini quickly accepted his award and got to work with mostly a rodent heavy lineup of sorts… Stephen Pearcy fronted the set with Cavazo, Matt Thorne (bass) and Blas Elias (Slaughter) on drums. *See a review of the PEARCY/DeMARTINI set below from the singer’s official site*
The evening closed with Chris Holmes who played some Kiss and of course W.A.S.P. (“Wild Child”). The band featured Holmes, Oliver Tindall (vocals / guitars), Sean McNaab (bass) and Stephen Jackson (drums).
Holmes told a few funny tidbits as he took the mic after accepting his award and joked about burning the candle at both ends, but using a blow-torch in the middle of that candle and the crowd roared when he shouted, “F#@k! How did I make it to this age?”
The former W.A.S.P. mad-man also was sure to thank his current wife (Catherine-Sarah Holmes) for saving his life and helping him continue to live the dream.
Stephen Pearcy of Ratt and Warren DeMartini on stage at ‘The Roxy’ for the Metal Hall of Fame
‘Night at The Roxy -Stephen Pearcy & Warren DeMartini light up the Stage at the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame’
By: MissTruthOrDare
January 21st, 2026 saw Stephen Pearcy light up The Roxy Theatre on L.A.’s notorious Sunset Blvd. during The Heavy Metal Hall of Fame induction of longtime friend and music collaborator Warren DeMartini. A packed house of musicians, industry power players, and die-hard fans came ready to RATT N’ ROLL.
Quiet Riot and RATT’s longtime guitarist, Carlos Cavazo presented Warren DeMartini with his award with a heartfelt tribute to his decades long friend and spoke of their early days both defining the early 80’s Sunset Strip sound that would soon take over the Rock scene. During his acceptance speech, DeMartini reflected on the last time he and Pearcy stood together on The Roxy stage: filming RATT’s iconic Back for More video, which featured a guest appearance by television legend Milton Berle.
Stephen Pearcy of Ratt on stage at ‘The Roxy’ for the Metal Hall of Fame on Sunset Strip in Hollywood
Following DeMartini’s induction, Pearcy and DeMartini were joined by Carlos Cavazo, Matt Thorne, and Blas Elias for a blistering four-song set.
The group set the stage ablaze with the RATT classics Lay It Down, Your in Love, Back for More, and Round and Round—a powerful reminder that the legacy, the chemistry, and the fire are still very much alive and well between two of the 1980’s most influential musicians!
Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini are one of only a few that are considered architects to the ORIGINAL 1980’s Sunset Strip scene, and the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame brought these 2 giants back to where it all began for them.
Join Stephen Pearcy from Road Trip to Red Carpet, for the Ultimate Behind the Scenes experience:
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