Stevie Rachelle of Metal Sludge/Tuff: “A tidbit about Bret Michaels of Poison but they used my picture” – INTERVIEW
Stevie Rachelle:
I believe this was in Kerrang magazine in a celebrity news & gossip column. 🤣 A tidbit about Bret Michaels of Poison but they used my picture. Ahh.. the good ole’ days when I had long flowing blond hair.
full in bloom: While looking at old magazines, have you ever mistaken yourself for Poison’s Bret Michaels?
Stevie:
Absolutely. Sometimes I have flipped through a magazine and thought it was me when it was Bret and thought it was Bret when it was really me. I can’t say it happened a lot, but it did happen three or four times. As a matter of fact, there’s something online where there’s a pin-up of me in RIP Magazine and a pin-up of him in a similar magazine. The pose, the headband, the hair, everything was identical. You put them up next to each other and we could have been the Nelson twins or something.
FULL IN BLOOM INTERVIEW EXCERPT
w/ Tuff Vocalist/Metal Sludge CEO Stevie Rachelle
full in bloom: This is the Metal Sludge portion of the interview. Are you cool with that?
Stevie:
Live by the sword, die by the sword. Go ahead.
full in bloom: What’s the most disgusting thing you ever did to a groupie besides bang her?
Stevie:
Ummmmmmmm. I would say, as I man up here, I am ashamed to say that I once had a groupie give me her phone card, and I said that I needed to make a phone call. Then I wrote down all the numbers. When I left on tour, I used the phone card and ran her phone bill up. I look back on that….of course, that’s what you do when you’re a dumb, young rock guy on the road. But I look back at that and think: “Ok, that’s pretty disgusting. I’m ashamed of that.”
full in bloom: Big fake boobs or nice small titties?
Stevie:
Small titties. I’ve never been into big boobs or fake boobs.
full in bloom: What are 3 high points and 3 low points of your career.
Stevie:
High Points
1. Getting signed. I set out to get a record deal and I got signed to Atlantic Records.
2. Not only being on MTV but being the number 3 video behind Guns n Roses and Metallica.
3. Flying to London and playing the Astoria, which was like a 1500-to-2000-seater. The fact that people knew me and knew the lyrics, that was a really big deal to me.
Low Points
1. Getting dropped. It wasn’t like I was devasted. It was more like, “Ok, let’s move on,” but it was a low point.
2. Getting our truck stolen in Memphis, TN in 1991. That was really bad, we lost everything.
3. I would have to say when Todd Chaisson quit the band. Todd was the one who started the band, and he quit to join a metal band. We went through our phases and fights but as much as we went forward, he was a part of the original equation.
full in bloom: Have you met all the other Chaisson brothers?
Stevie:
Yeah, and that was part of the problem, too. The family didn’t really like me. Over the years that kind of stuff has been washed under the rug. But yes, I met Kenny and Greg. It’s all good now. For the record, Todd has been back with the band for the last couple of years. We get along better than ever, and we used to be fire and ice at one point. He understands and respects me, and I understand and respect him.
full in bloom: What rock star deserves a smack in the mouth and why?
Stevie:
Well, as of late, Jani Lane (this interview was done prior to Jani’s death). I have been friends with Jani the last couple of years. But the fact that he has fallen again, canceling shows and being drunk; I think it’s pathetic. Shame on him.
full in bloom: He’s all messed up again?
Stevie:
Yeah, we got some news that it was going to happen again. I had actually heard that he was in a detox. He’s a disaster. Everyone else says to say a prayer for him, or they feel sorry for him, I don’t. He’s a grown man, he’s got children. Dude, man up, time to get your act together. It’s a joke that we’re even talking about it again. He’s been going through this for over a decade, and I just find that to be disturbing. I don’t wish any ill will on him, but I do think it is absolutely pathetic.
full in bloom: Who has been the biggest jerk to Metal Sludge?
Stevie:
We’ve had a few people who have written back and told us to fuck off. I know we have had people approach Sebastian Bach on multiple occasions, people who wanted to interview him or talk to him. People have approached him wearing a Metal Sludge t-shirt on, just a fan who wanted a picture. We’ve done this thing called ‘Captures,’ where we say, “Hey wear our shirt and take a picture with a rock star.” Over the years, hundreds of famous people have taken a picture with someone wearing a Metal Sludge t-shirt. Of course, a lot of them already know what it is and will point at the shirt, or maybe give us a finger. Recently, Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) took a picture with someone wearing a Metal Sludge shirt. Stephen is a friend of mine, but he gets it.
But I would say, Sebastian Bach. I wouldn’t say he’s been a jerk, but he’s kind of been a baby about it. He’s very upset at Metal Sludge and, even more so, me. It’s funny because he was one of the first celebrities to write us that said he loved the site and thought we had big balls and that he was really a big fan of it. But as soon as he was on the other end of the Sludging, he suddenly turned, and he’s gotten very volatile and hot-headed and screamed and had people kicked out if they were wearing a Metal Sludge t-shirt. Pretty much acting like a little brat. Yeah, we’ve talked about him and thrown him around a little bit, but, hey, we wouldn’t do stories on Sebastian Bach if he wouldn’t have done some of the things he’s done. Like when he was arrested in New Jersey for drunk and disorderly conduct and had pot on him. Where he told everyone that he was going to go get guns and come back and kill everybody. That was all public record. He was arrested for it and had to pay fines. Similarly, just last year, he had his tirade in a bar in Canada. He smashed a glass off the wall and was arrested. We’re just reporting the news.
full in bloom: What band needs to pack it in and call it a day?
Stevie:
I’m going to answer this like other people have answered it. Nobody. There are two ways to look at it. Jani Lane should pack it in and go to a serious rehab for 24 months or 12 months. But anyone that wants to make music, tour, and do their thing, I support it.
Whether it’s Kiss or Warrant with a new singer or Skid Row with a new singer, whatever. If anyone should pack it in and call it a day, it should be someone who can’t get it together. But for someone like Jani who was just booked on these shows, given a guarantee and a contract, and likely a deposit – flights were booked, and hotels were booked, advertising dollars were spent, and people made plans to go see him, and he can’t get it together. Then he needs to call it day.
Sebastian Bach might be a jerk to me or hate the site, but at the end of the day, Sebastian is the type of guy that’s out there working, recording, and touring. You never hear about him not being able to make a show, or not being able to do his job. I have respect for anyone who is out there playing and performing.
full in bloom: Of all the bands you played with, who were the coolest and who were the biggest dicks?
Stevie:
I was psyched to play with anyone. I never was like, “Fuck them, I don’t want them on the bill.” As far as the biggest dicks, I would have to say Shotgun Messiah. In about 1993, we were on tour, we were supposed to play the Limelight in New York City, where Tuff was going to open for Shotgun Messiah. At the time, Shotgun Messiah had put out a record that was heavier and more industrial and we got word, from our agency, that Shotgun Messiah said that Tuff was not allowed on the bill. They said if Tuff was on the bill, then Shotgun Messiah would not perform. They said they didn’t want to be on the bill because we were a hair band. As much as we had evolved and changed, they did as well.
I was annoyed with that for a few reasons. One, I like Shotgun Messiah, they had a couple of good songs. Two, we’re on the road trying to make it day to day, week to week, and that $250 to $500 is part of our week. We need that to survive. Three, we were really excited to not only play New York City but also the Limelight, which was one of the coolest clubs I have ever seen in my 25 years of touring. I just thought “Fuck these guys, what a bunch of assholes.” I am sure it’s water under the bridge for them, or maybe they don’t even remember.
The coolest…God, there’s plenty. I remember we played Santa Monica Civic with the BulletBoys, Marq (Torien) was super cool. We played the Orange County Celebrity Theatre with Kix, Steve (Whiteman) to this day is still my friend, love that band. I want to say we played with Racer X and Paul Gilbert wore a Tuff shirt on stage. There were tons of bands that were cool to us. We played shows with Bang Tango, friends of ours, Wildside, friends of ours, Enuff Z Nuff, Dangerous Toys. We had great times with all those bands.
full in bloom: Have you ever slept with two women in the same week and not bathed between them?
Stevie:
I’ve probably slept with three women in the same night and not bathed between them. Probably the most was four in one night.
full in bloom: Not all at the same time, right?
Stevie:
All not knowing about the other.
full in bloom: In the last two weeks, have you taken a crap and not washed your hands afterward?
Stevie:
Probably.
full in bloom: Have you ever touched another man’s penis?
Stevie:
Probably. I remember being on the road and someone would be there taking a leak in the bathroom, or outside. You know, sneak up on him and give him a real hard flick in the nuts.
full in bloom: Have you ever received penis pictures from Brett Favre?
Stevie:
No
full in bloom: Have you edited the Metal Sludge Wikipedia page?
Stevie:
Absolutely.
full in bloom: Be honest. Have you ever sold a single copy of Jim Gillette’s “Proud to be Loud?”
Stevie:
Yes. I signed him to a deal to distribute it.
full in bloom: Have you ever beat anyone up that was famous?
Stevie:
Well, I almost got in a fight. I threatened him but didn’t do it. Henrik (Ostergaard) from Dirty Looks. RIP brother, he recently passed away. We were playing a festival show somewhere and they were screwing around and delaying at soundcheck. It was Tuff, Dirty Looks, Wildside, and maybe Bang Tango. There was an argument and I got up in Henrik’s face and I was getting ready to beat him up but Drew (Hannah) from Wildside and Cory Draper from the radio station and a couple of other guys stopped it. Then years later I remember we played a show at Sherlock’s in Erie, PA, where Henrik had been living for the last 10 or 15 years. He came to the show and he kind of looked at me and smiled. We shook hands. It was all just stupid kid stuff earlier in our career.
full in bloom: Didn’t you beat up your roadie for telling people you had hair extensions?
Stevie:
(Laughs) Robbie Crane broke that up.
full in bloom: How did all that go down?
Stevie:
We were playing Bangles in Denver. It was like 1989, we had a tour bus. I was outside meeting girls and giving autographs. I look over and see all these guitars sitting out that hadn’t been put up yet. So, I talk to Todd and Jorge and say, “Hey, all your guitars are sitting out here,” meanwhile the roadie, who will remain nameless, is inside. I was commanding and barking orders. So, they went and yelled at him and said “Hey, put the guitars away, Stevie is pissed.”
As I am standing out there, he starts putting the guitars away, and he starts yelling: “Nice fucking hair extensions. Nice hair extensions on the singer.” He was yelling this at the top of his lungs and everyone’s looking, and I’m all embarrassed because I was wearing hair extensions. At some point, I say to Robbie that I am going to beat his ass. He said, “Don’t do it.” I started to go at him, and Robbie held me back. Then at some point, Robbie forgot about it and let go, so I went running and I jumped and kneed the guy in the face as hard as I could. He fell down and then I started punching him and kicking him. Then Robbie came over and pulled me off, and I went on the bus limping. I had a giant goose egg on my knee from where I kneed him in the skull. I could barely walk. I went on the bus and took his bags from his bunk and said, “Tell that fucking prick to find his way home from Denver,” and then they put me in the back of the bus and put a bunch of ice on my knee.
The next day I woke up and I go to the front of the bus, we were getting ready to stop at a truck stop for lunch. I walked out and the roadie was sitting there (laughs) in the front lounge, and he had a bunch of band-aids on his face from where he had been cut and had been bleeding. Only the place they stopped at to get the band-aids didn’t have regular ones, they only had Snoopy band-aids (laughs). So, there he was with all these Snoopy band-aids on his face (laughs). They told me that they couldn’t kick him off the bus, that we had to give him a ride home.
full in bloom: While looking at old magazines, have you ever mistaken yourself for Poison’s Bret Michaels?
Stevie:
Absolutely. Sometimes I have flipped through a magazine and thought it was me when it was Bret and thought it was Bret when it was really me. I can’t say it happened a lot, but it did happen three or four times. As a matter of fact, there’s something online where there’s a pin-up of me in RIP Magazine and a pin-up of him in a similar magazine. The pose, the headband, the hair, everything was identical. You put them up next to each other and we could have been the Nelson twins or something.
The Last of Stevie Rachelle
full in bloom: Last fast food joint you ate at.
Stevie:
McDonald’s
full in bloom: Last time you wanted to kill yourself.
Stevie:
Probably when I was driving to NAMM last January and I was stuck on I-5 for 3 1/2 hours. I was just like “You’re fucking kidding me, right?” (laughs). It would usually take me about an hour to get there, and I was on there for 3 1/2 hours. I was losing my mind.
full in bloom: Last time you jerked off thinking about Bobbie Brown.
Stevie:
Yeah, that’s been a long time. I was probably jerking off and thinking about her in 1990 but fast forward to the mid-’90s and that fantasy became a reality. I have already been there and done that (laughs). I love Bobbie…she’s very cool and the little time we did spend together was pretty kick ass.
full in bloom: Last time you had a venereal disease.
Stevie:
Ummmmmm. Last time I was at the doctor and that’s been a while, so I should probably go get checked again (laughs).
full in bloom: Last time you slept with two women in the same night.
Stevie:
It has been a while, I can’t recall.
full in bloom: Last time you signed an autograph.
Stevie:
I know I did a bunch last fall when I was on tour in Italy, Germany, Sweden, and France. That would be in person, but I would say the last time I signed something would be last week because people buy CDs from me every week and I will autograph them. Usually, whenever anyone buys something that has to do with Tuff or Stevie Rachelle, I will usually automatically autograph it.
full in bloom: Last time you saw Vicky Hamilton.
Stevie:
The last time I saw her was at the Michael Monroe show at the Viper Room last March. I would say it was March 13th or 14th. I remember that because Lizzie DeVine quit the band like two days after that show. Vains of Jenna had opened up for Michael Monroe.
full in bloom: Last famous person you shook hands with.
Stevie:
(laughs) The last person was the black actor ‘High Top’ from the movie Colors. His real name is Glenn (Plummer), his kid is a schoolmate with my son, and I saw him yesterday and shook his hand. His son and my son are buddies.
full in bloom: Last time you punched someone in the face.
Stevie:
It’s been a long time. As I have become an adult. I don’t want to try to claim that I some sort of badass, but over the years, in my twenties, I got into a few fights, and I hurt some people pretty bad. At one point I said to myself that I have to try to contain myself. You see these things on the news. Someone will get drunk at a party, and they get into a fight at a party. The guy punches the other guy, and he falls and gets brain damage or dies. Robbie Crane, he always seems to be around when I fight. Robbie was with me at the Whisky one time, many years ago, and these guys were harassing me. After trying to get the guys to chill out, I took my jacket off. They kept on antagonizing me, and I finally went over there and beat this guy up really bad. Robbie had to stop it. The guy went to the bathroom with his friends, and he’s just covered in blood and his eye was literally about to fall out of his fucking head. That was a long time ago, but it was probably the last time I really physically attacked someone, more than ten years, maybe more than fifteen.
Happy Birthday Metal Sludge -fib
Born 24 Years Ago on September 1, 1998
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