Tag: Kings of Thrash

Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini Performing Ratt, Trixter, Enuff Z’Nuff and Pretty Boy Floyd at Ferg’s Concert Pavilion in St. Pete, FL on 10/17/25 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

I really hadn’t planned on taking two back-to-back weekend trips to the Tampa/St. Pete area after having just traveled with the fam to the west coast the weekend prior for the Megadeth-spinoff band Kings of Thrash. But literally just two nights prior to the show, the wife and kid surprised me when they said they had won tickets from local rock station WJRR for the Stephen Pearcy/Warren DeMartini of Ratt fame show at the Ferg’s Concert Pavilion in St. Pete, FL on Friday, October 17. And hence, another Rewind It Magazine road show was born.

While initially hesitant about making the drive down there again so soon, it turned out to be a much better experience than the last show, with Pretty Boy Floyd – who Rewind It have covered two shows for now (one as far back as 2018, and another as recent as just two months ago this past August) were the first band we were fully able to catch (we arrived just as the first opening act, Permacrush, were finishing up, and I cannot give an honest assessment of them), and while I’ll try not to dwell on my medical issues here again, but will just say I was beyond relieved to see we had actual seats for the show (and the venue was a noticeable upgrade in comparison to some of the more recent ones we’ve visited as well).

My always reliable (and beautiful) wife/photographer Brooke instantly sprung into action while I hung back with our son (and sometimes secondary photographer) Jacob who, for the first time ever, had his girlfriend Em along for the ride with us this time as well. And with legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley having just passed the day prior, there were plenty images of the late musician’s face adorning many a fans’ t-shirts that night (yours truly included), and of course some mentions of him from some of the bands that night, too.

Pretty Boy Floyd performing at the Ferg’s Concert Pavilion in St. Pete, FL on 10-17-25 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

But I digress, Pretty Boy Floyd took the stage with a fury as always, with “Your Mama Won’t Know” paving way for more classics like their cover of Motley Crue’s “Toast of the Town,” “48 Hours,” and “Rock n’ Roll Outlaws.” At one point frontman Steve Summers – always the showman – teased a cover of Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” with the rest of the band before announcing “We don’t do that one!,” before ending their set with the one-two punch of “I Wanna Be with You” and “Rock n’ Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire).”

I’ve known of the next act, Enuff Z’ Nuff, for as long as I can remember, though I cannot say I was ever much of a fan (their sound has always been a bit too “out there” and soft for my taste to be honest). But alas, we watched as Chip Z’Nuff and company went through tracks like “The World is a Gutter,” “Baby Loves You,” “Heavy Metal,” “Jet” (Paul McCartney cover), “Fly High Michelle,” and “New Thing.” After their set, I can say I could at least understand their like-ability a bit more than I had beforehand.

Enuff Z’Nuff performing at the Ferg’s Concert Pavilion in St. Pete, FL on 10-17-25 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

It was at this point that the story really gets interesting. Thinking we had some time in between acts to make it back before Trixter hit the stage, Brooke and I wandered off for a bit. In our travels we briefly ran into Enuff Z’ Nuff co-founder/bassist/vocalist Chip Z’Nuff, and Pretty Boy Floyd’s Steve Summers and Jake Curtis Allard (always great seeing them!). But it was what came next that really took us both by surprise.

The thought did not even occur to me that local St. Pete rocker Todd La Torre of Queensryche might be on hand that night. But alas, a chance encounter found us briefly chatting with the lead singer/former drummer right then and there, and neither of us could believe it (It should be noted, Brooke and I had previously reviewed/photographed a Queensryche show for Rewind It back in 2019, as well as gone to see them at our first major show together when we were still just starting to date in early 2013, so the history is definitely there for us).

Rewind It’s Jesse Striewski (left) with Queensryche frontman Todd La Torre at Ferg’s in St. Pete, FL on 10-17-25 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

By the time we got back to our seats, we saw members of Trixter still on stage, which we thought were still just setting up their equipment. It turns out though, they were actually breaking it down – our adventures mingling actually caused us to miss their set entirely. While disappointing at first, in the end, it was worth it to have the experiences that we did in the interim (we were also informed after the fact that Trixter’s set was also apparently cut short, which no doubt contributed to this).

And finally, the band everyone had come to see above all else – which features core Ratt members Stephen Pearcy (vocals) and Warren DeMartini (guitar), as well as alumni Carlos Cavazo (guitar/also former Quiet Riot) and Matt Thorne (early Ratt bassist from ’81-’82 and also former Rough Cutt), and ex-Slaughter drummer Blas Elias rounding things out – finally took the stage (not before some Spinal Tap-esque issues with the sound causing them to be a few minutes late at first), coming out swinging with their signature opener, “Wanted Man.”

A cover of “Walkin’ the Dog” followed before “I Want a Woman,” “Slip of the Lip,” “Body Talk,” “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job,” “I’m Insane,” “Nobody Rides For Free,” “Way Cool, Jr.,” “Lack of Communication,” and “Lay It Down” all kept the momentum going.

Stephen Pearcy performing at Ferg’s Concert Pavilion in St. Pete, FL on 10-17-25 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

Somewhere along the way, Pearcy teased doing “a love song that they don’t play very often,” alluding to their oft-forgotten 1990 minor hit “Givin’ Yourself Away,” which I would’ve loved to have actually heard them perform (the two times I saw Ratt previously they shy-ed away from doing it then as well). But in typical Ratt fashion, the song was nixed, with Pearcy proclaiming “Here’s your love song!” at the start of “You’re In Love.”

By that point, there really was not much left to do other than unleash the big guns with “Back For More” and “”Round and Round,” which of course drew the biggest responses from the crowd. While Pearcy’s chops might not be what they once were, the band on stage that night was undoubtedly tighter than any other lineup of theirs I had seen previously, noticeably improving since the last time the Mrs. and I caught them in Orlando back in 2017. Is it perfect? Of course not…but that’s just rock n’ roll baby!

Kings of Thrash, Deth FX, and more at The Brass Mug in Tampa, FL on 10/11/25 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

Those who know me well, know what a pivotal role Megadeth have played in my developing years as a young musician/bass player. First jumping on board around the Countdown to Extinction era (middle school days for me), I instantly gravitated towards bassist David Ellefson’s style the same way I had the likes of Steve Harris and Geezer Butler.

It would take several years before I would finally see the band live for the first of several times (in 2006), and a few more years until it would actually be with Ellefson back on stage with them finally by 2010. But it would be worth the wait indeed – not only was I able to meet him that very same day at a bass clinic in Orlando, FL, but just one year later I would find myself face-to-face (well, over the phone anyway) with Ellefson yet again, interviewing one of my bass idols for a nationally-published magazine at the time in 2011.

Fourteen years since that last encounter, I knew as soon as I heard Ellefson would be coming to The Brass Mug in Tampa, FL with his latest band, Kings of Thrash (which also features former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young from the So Far, So Good…So What! era) that it was a show for Rewind It Magazine through and through.

What I did not know upon originally setting up coverage, however, is that I’d once again be put back on IV medications shortly before it thanks to the never-ending bone infection I’m still fighting right now (always a blast!), so it came as a bit of a surprise to find out after arriving at the Mug (with my usual photography crew/wife and son Brooke and Jacob Striewski in tow) this past Saturday, October 11 (each their first time hearing any Megadeth performed live), that there would be a whooping six bands to endure prior to the headliners (a lot for an old dog like me to take in right now indeed!).

The first act of the night, Killproof, were already mid-set upon entering the venue, and no doubt held their own on the stage. The follow-up group, The Hand of Reason, had their own unique indie-influenced sound that I did my best to watch all of. But for most of their set, as well as the following two bands Love Pit and Kalas, I found myself trying to stay off of my leg on the back porch area.

I paid a little more attention to Gravel from Colorado Springs, whose down-and-dirty style found them covering not only Airbourne’s “Runnin’ Wild,” but also an amped-up version of “I Think We’re Alone Now,” the pop hit originally from the ’60s before Tiffany got her hands on it in the late ’80s.

Local Florida rockers Deth FX (sometimes stylized DETHFX) were up next, and finally started scratching that thrash metal itch with tracks like “War Morality” and “Unnatural Reign” from their debut album. The guys truly gave it their all with each and every note that night, showcasing their talents for surely many a new follower.

Deth FX performing at The Brass Mug in Tampa, FL this past Saturday, October 11 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

And last but not least, the Kings of Thrash (which is rounded out by vocalist/guitarist Chaz Leon of Black Daze, and Fred Aching, who has served some time with BulletBoys) finally took the stage just before midnight, instantly living up to their name with the intro to the said So Far… album, “Into the Lungs of Hell.” Not one member of the crowd was sitting down at this point, and rightfully so.

“Rattlehead” from the band’s 1985 debut Killing Is My Business…and Business Is Good! was up next before “Hook in Mouth,” “Train of Consequences,” “Victory,” “The Skull Beneath the Skin,” and “502” all kept the momentum going.

A brief drum solo segued into “In My Darkest Hour” and the haunting “Bad Omen” before the band started with their original track, “Lockdown,” which by then felt like the perfect stopping point for the night.

But not before briefly meeting legendary music producer/recording engineer Max Norman, who was there in the crowd that night. Not only has Norman worked with Megadeth on several of their ’90s-era releases ranging from Rust in Peace to the Hidden Treasures EP, he also had a hand in several of the late Ozzy Osbourne’s early solo albums, but also efforts from the likes of Y&T, Grim Reaper, and Armored Saint (among many others), so it was an absolute honor to actually shake his hand!

The author Jesse Striewski (right) with said recording engineer/producer Max Norman at The Brass Mug in Tampa, FL this past Saturday night, 10/11. (Photo by Brooke Striewski)

Of the numerous times I’ve seen Megadeth live over the years, not once can I recall them performing the majority of the songs heard this past Saturday night (sans of course the likes of “In My Darkest Hour”), especially any of the extremely earlier material from that first album. The Kings of Thrash show brought things back to exactly how I’d imagine a Megadeth club show to be “back in the day,” celebrating the music the way it indeed should be; I’m forever grateful to have witnessed it firsthand.