By Andrew Bansal
It’s the month of January, which means it’s that time of the year again when the music industry shifts its focus to NAMM, acronym for National Association Of Music Merchants. This year marks the 112th edition of the NAMM convention, and as always, it’s set to bring together musicians from all over America and various other parts of the world. But while most of the activity is going to revolve around the Anaheim Convention Center, adjacent hotels and nearby concert venues, there is no shortage of related events elsewhere either, such as the NAMM Metal Jam which will take place at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood this Wednesday January 22. Organized by Boston MA-based guitarist/ Berklee graduate Dave Reffett and original Anthrax singer Neil Turbin, this event has become an annual tradition in recent years, and as always, the 2014 edition will be co-headlined by Reffett and Turbin, along with virtuosic guitar player Michael Angelo Batio. Besides, the all-star lineup is set to include the following names:
• Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent) – Vocals, Guitar
• Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper) – Drums
• Michael Devin (Whitesnake) – Bass Guitar
• Rowan Robertson (Dio, DC4) – Guitar
• Mark Boals (Dio Disciples, Ring Of Fire, Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force) – Vocals
• Matt Thompson (King Diamond) – Drummer
• Andrea Martongelli (Arthemis) – Guitar
• Bill Hudson (Emphatic, Circle II Circle, Cellador) – Guitar
• Ralph Santolla (Obituary, Deicide) – Guitar
• Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry) – Guitar
• Aquiles Priester (Angra, Hangar, Vinnie Moore)
• Mike Hansen (Hurricane, George Lynch, Steve Vai) – Drums
• Tony Cavazo (Hurricane) – Bass Guitar
• Mitch Stewart (Circle II Circle) – Bass Guitar
• Jeff Williams (Onslaught) – Bass Guitar
• Eli Santana (Holy Grail) – Guitar
• Courtney Cox (The Iron Maidens) – Guitar
• Linda MacDonald (The Iron Maidens) – Drums
• Kirsten Rosenberg (The Iron Maidens) – Vocals
• Rigo Amezcua (Agent Steel) – Drums
• Juan Garcia (Agent Steel, Masters of Metal) – Guitar
• Shane Gibson (Korn) – Guitar
• Robert Cardenas (Possessed, Agent Steel) – Bass Guitar
• Jeff Bowders (Paul Gilbert Band, G3, POD) – Drums
• Veronica Freeman (Benedictum) – Vocals
• Leather Leone (Chastain) – Vocals
• Clammy (Exciter) – Bass Guitar
• Greg Walls (Anthrax) – Guitar
• Howie Simon (Alcatrazz, Nelson) – Guitar
• Dino Deluke (Sledd, Nemesis) – Drums
• Peter Deluke (Sledd, Nemesis) – Keyboards
• August Zadra (Dennis DeYoung (Styx) Band) – Guitar
• Michael Lee Smith (STARZ, Looking Glass, Hellcats) – Vocals
• Steve “Zeus” Johnstad of Mayday, Son, NRG – Vocals
• Thane Farace (Ghost Of War, Bloodied Angels) – Guitar
• Stuart Fujinami (Reverend, Heretic) – Guitar
• Annie Grunwald (Formless) – Guitar
• Sean Elg (DeathRiders, Nihilist) – Drums
• Arnold Gonzalez (DeathRiders) – Guitar
• Michael Lopez (DeathRiders) – Bass
• Casey Trask (DeathRiders) – Guitar
• Joe Gettler (Razormaze) – Guitar
• Xander Demos (Sabbath Judas Sabbath) – Guitar
• Joe Rose (Michael Angelo Batio’s Intermezzo album) – Guitar
• Lisa Margaroli (Celebrity Trash) – Vocals
• Dan Lauzon (Entropy) – Guitar
The event is sponsored by Madison Amps LLC, and Caleb Smith of New Zealand’s “The Sick Room” Radio Show will be hosting it. It is open to the public and does not require attendees to have NAMM passes, so for folks in the area this coming Wednesday, make sure you head over to the Whisky to check out this all-star jam.
Buy tickets here, and for more info, visit nammmetaljam.com.