Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
I feel like a kid again as I compose this, not just because it has connections to my childhood “gateway band” KISS, but also because of its ties to the metal bands of my later years too.
I have been made privy to the insider’s circle of a new project that is underway. Although still yet unnamed at this time, the union is one of massive proportions as it sees former Hades members Dan Lorenzo (Vessel Of Light, Non-Fiction, The Cursed) and Jimmy Schulman teaming with another powerhouse duo.
That duo is none other than current Generation Kill, Dukes, Fragile Mortals – and former Exodus – vocalist Rob Dukes and ex-Overkill drummer Ron Lipnicki. Whoa, can you say “Metal AF x4”?!!
This fantastic foursome has begun working and recording together, bonding over their shared love of classic rock and metal music. Part of that bonding is their unanimously embraced love for KISS and Black Sabbath, which led to them recently recording a cover of the KISS staple, “God Of Thunder“.
Dan Lorenzo shared the following about these events, saying: “Ron [Lipnicki’s] first recording was the Hades DamNation CD in 2001. About a year after that Hades stopped recording when Ron got cancer. When Ron was undergoing chemo he told me he wanted to record some old Kiss songs just for fun and that became the impetus for me to actually record three solo CDs in 2003 and 2004. A few years later I introduced Ron to Overkill’s Bobby Blitz at my Super Bowl party. Blitz and I did The Cursed Room Full Of Sinners together and Ron went on to tour and recorded with Overkill for a decade.“
Lipnicki adds: “I’ve loved Kiss since I was a kid. They are the reason I cut my mom’s broomstick into drumsticks and started bashing garbage cans! When I was sick Dan, Jimmy and all the Hades guys would come over to my place and we would hang out and listen to Kiss and Sabbath and Dan got me a ton of cool music from Metal Blade Records. We always talked about recording some of our favorite Kiss tunes. It was very uplifting when going through something like that ( cancer) and it does keep you young.“
Now, the pair, along with Schulman and Dukes, have made good on their plans. The quartet was kind enough to share their collaborative work on “God Of Thunder” with us (streaming below). Also included is a video of Dukes, Lorenzo, and Lipnicki’s jamming Black Sabbath’s “Snowblind” at a stopover with the Talking Metal guys, John Ostronomy and Mark Strigl.
Visit Dan Lorenzo‘s site [HERE] for this and further developments.
“God Of Thunder“:
“Snowblind“:
