Special thanks to our friends and fans for all your support at our recent shows! It was great to see so many of you come out in full force!!
More dates to come!
THE RODS
BIOGRAPHY
BY: TODD K. SMITH
Something had to kill disco, and in the early eighties one band answered the call. The Rods, a power trio from central New York plugged in with enough blue-collar hard rock to derail a record industry saturated in satin-covered dance beats.
Slang for muscle cars, the band took the name that most fit their sound - tough guitars, rumbling bass and thunderous drums played so loud that even when the power failed they could be heard in the next county. Forged from the ashes of boogie bar band Elf (featuring Ronnie James Dio), guitarist David Feinstein joined bassist Stephen Starmer and drummer Carl Canedy to combine influences that included Blue Cheer, The Godz and Ted Nugent.
Their grassroots following produced the independent Rock Hard LP (1980) released on the band's homespun label Primal Records and gained them the support slot for a one-off Judas Priest show in Albany, NY. The raw mixture of power chords and amped-up pub rock engineered by Armand John Petri and Chris Bubacz (Metallica) was enough to catch the attention of Clive Davis and Arista Records. The high-profile New York label signed the band for a two record deal, and after Starmer was replaced by bassist Gary Bordonaro, repackaging Rock Hard with a stronger running order and the addition of two cover songs, Robert Fleischman's “Ace In The Whole” and White Honey's “Nothing Going On In The City.”
The Rods' self-titled, major label debut came as the rise of the New Wave of British Metal hit American shores in 1981. Referring to the Rods as the American Motörhead, UK paper Sounds and their Heavy Metal offshoot Kerrang! ran sensationalized stories of the three-piece guaranteed to sell both the band and the magazine. A European tour with Iron Maiden (Number Of The Beast) ensued during the spring of 1982 putting The Rods in the British Metal charts. Riding the wave, the band remained in Britain and went to work on “Wild Dogs,” their first proper release for Arista under the watchful eyes of producer Martin Pearson (Krokus). The record continued the band's love affair with heart-pound muscle rock but with Air Supply and Whitney Houston selling millions of records, the label chose not to renew their association even when AC/DC invited them out as support during their For Those About To Rock 1983 tour.
Quickly snatched up by the more fitting Shrapnel Records, The Rods assembled a strong set of demos titled In The Raw (1983). Boasting some of their strongest song ideas including the anthem “Hurricane,” the disc captured the band at their unruly heaviest. There were other records like the official Live (1984) and Let Them Eat Metal (1984) with it's controversial yet classic album art. However, all three members were being pulled in different directions and eventually retreated to their own pursuits. Two other projects would eventually fall under The Rods' name, Hollywood (1986) featuring Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro and Rick Caudle as well as Heavier Than Thou (1986) spotlighting Dutch singer Shmoulik Avigal (Horizon, Picture). But then all fell silent for nearly twenty years.
In 2003 David “Rock” Feinstein would again appear under the international spotlight, with Feinstein, his critically acclaimed metallic five-piece. The activity ignited Rods fever and in 2004 a reunited Rods took the stage for the 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany. Once the spark hit, the engine kicked into gear at full throttle. 2006-08 has seen the power trio of Feinstein, Canedy and Bordonaro enter the studio only to surface with the career defining Album, Soon to be released! The record's brilliance is in its return to the classic Rods sound of tough guitars, rumbling bass and thunderous drums. All the tracks reveal a band at their primal best with shear aggression and vitality! The live shows that they have done in 2008, have been a thunderous success! Friends and Fans have come out in full force! A fan base that includes all ages, showing their undying allegiance and support!
The RODS ARE BACK!!
The new CD drops 2009 (feat Ronnie James Dio on two tracks), stay tuned for further information!
Thank you so very much for the add love your music and your songs they kick fucking ass and you guys are a fucking awesome Heavy Metal band and thanks again for the add and take care.
Apologies if you've already registered. Hard to keep track these days! Please check out and register FREE at Metal Tome: Gateway to Shred - Heavy Metal Community and help support the Metal movement!
Hello The Rods Names Adam Its an Honor to meet you guys from the Band your music friggin Awesome and the songs total badass Keep Rocking on and send me a kickass Com ment to me on my page RockOn.
THERE'S JEWELRY, CLOTHING, SHOES, ROCK N ROLL...CHECK IT OUT, VERY COOL...CLICK ON THE BANNER BELOW AND CHECK IT OUT, VERY COOL STUFF AND MORE COMING SOON...
Welcome to HELLFIRE FESTIVAL - The UK's most exciting independent Metal and Rock Event.
Already confirmed: Fields of the Nephilim, My Dying Bride, Katatonia, Anathema, Saxon, CKY, Anvil, Benediction, Cancer Bats, Evile, Gama Bomb, Serotonal, Ted Maul, Senser, Malefice, Electric Eel Shock, Spit Like This, The Rotted, Sylosis, Tesseract, No Made Sense, October File, Sacred Mother Tongue, Viking Skull, Xerath, Trigger the Bloodshed and loads more.....www.hellfirefestival.com
Heavy Metal Rock N Roll Acessories!!! crazy ass gear that youll never find anywhere else! PURSES, BELTS, CUFFS, BOOT STRAPS, NECKLACES PILLOW CASES, GUITAR STRAPS guys and girls eh
Thanks to everyone that came out last night. To all the fans and all the bands, I know you all had a GREAT time. The weather worked in out favor and David made out very well. For all the bands that some some time with him, I know it meant the world to him.
That's what happens when real people come together to make things happen.
Thanks again to everyone that came and we're giving a special shout out to all the metal maniacs that came from Virgina, Massachusetts, Texas - HORNS UP!
Great Show at the Country Pines this past Saturday! The ROCK HARD RADIO Crew was there at the front of the stage Rockin' with you. Our ears are still ringing from Rock's Six 4x12 Cabs blasting right at us. Garry was all over the place and what a great knee slide across the stage. I bet his knees were sore the next day. Lol And Carl, you still got it! We'd pay just to come watch you play.
Keep Rockin' cuz ROCK HARD RADIO Loves THE RODS!!!
Online Now!
