Rowan Robertson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Rowan Wingate Robertson is an English
rock
guitarist
, who currently plays for DC4
. In the past he has played for AM Radio, Dio
, VAST
, and Violet's Demise (aka Logan-Robertson). Robertson has also done work as a film composer for director Amber Moelter
's "Dirty Step Upstage" and has filmed numerous instructional guitar videos.
as an adolescent, at only 17 years of age. The experience launched the young guitarist from obscurity to international fame nearly overnight. He was recruited to join the band Dio
at the peak of the Heavy Metal
and Hard Rock
genres in the late 1980s. News that the band Dio
had replaced departing guitarist Craig Goldy
with an unusually young guitar player circulated in Hard Rock
and Heavy Metal
magazines such as Hit Parader
, Rip
, and Circus
months before Robertson's first and only album with the band ("Lock Up the Wolves
") was released on May 15, 1990.
fan himself, Robertson became aware of Craig Goldy
's departure from Dio
after the band's "Dream Evil
" album and subsequent tour. Robertson began an earnest effort to make contact with the band's management, asking for a chance to audition. His initial effort was unsuccessful. After reaching out to the band's label, Phonogram Records
, (not long after seeing Dio
with Craig Goldy
on guitars live at the Monsters Of Rock
festival at Donington Castle
, in the United Kingdom
, on August 22, 1987), Robertson received a generic-in-nature response declining his request for a personal audition. Robertson persisted and reached out to Dio
's official fan club, hoping to reach someone closer to and with stronger personal ties to the band's management. The latter effort proved successful. The Dio
fan club forwarded Robertson's demo, this time leading to an audition. At the beginning of 1989 Robertson was flown to Los Angeles
for a formal audition with Ronnie James and Wendy Dio. A second audition led to an offer and an official announcement that Robertson was now the band's official new guitarist. An announcement was sent to the media on July 18, 1989. Members of the press were invited to meet the new guitar player at Oliver's Pub, in New York City
on July 20, 1989. Between the Oliver's Pub event and the release of "Lock Up the Wolves
" media focus on the promising new guitar player was significant, with much attention given to his age and advanced maturity - both artistically and professionally.
" sessions initially included Jimmy Bain
, Vinny Appice
and Jens Johansson
. This line-up had already written and recorded parts of "Lock Up the Wolves
" before Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice were replaced with Teddy Cook and former AC/DC
drummer Simon Wright. (Recorded "Lock Up the Wolves
" sessions with Bain and Appice are rumored to exist but have never been released). "Lock Up the Wolves
" was released on May 15, 1990, and the band embarked on a tour in support of the album.
" represented a clear evolution for Dio
as a band. Ronnie James Dio
replaced his band's entire line-up from its previous album, but only after working with them to some degree on what would eventually become "Lock Up the Wolves
." In this sense, the album was not an abrupt change from the band's previous work, but a protracted evolution in the band's sound that was ultimately delivered by one of the band's strongest line-ups. The maturity and superior production quality of the album has been recognized by many critics. There's a fairly universal agreement that "Lock Up the Wolves
" may have been recognized as an artistic peak for the band Dio
had the music industry and commercial viability of Hard Rock
and Heavy Metal
continued the course that began in the early to mid 1980s and which peaked in the late 1980s. By 1990 and 1991 the music industry would go through a pretty dramatic shift as Grunge
began to make a commercially aggressive appearance in the music scene: Soundgarden
, Alice in Chains
, Screaming Trees
, had already been signed to major labels and had performed well commercially by then. If there was a critical watershed event on the year "Lock Up the Wolves
" was released that represented the diverging point that was to come, commercially, for the music industry it was Nirvana
's signing with a major label that year. The result was the release of "Nevermind
" the following year. "Lock Up the Wolves
" would become one of many Hard Rock
and Heavy Metal
albums that delivered superior production and musicianship at a point in which Grunge
was beginning to deliver greater commercial viability for record labels. (See Grunge
)
was cut short by music industry persistence for a Ronnie James Dio
reunion with Black Sabbath
. In 1991 it was announced that the highly anticipated reunion would take place. At that time, the band Dio
, (including Robertson), had been writing songs for an upcoming album that had been scheduled for a May, 1991 release. Once a Ronnie James Dio
and Black Sabbath
reunion was announced, what would have been Robertson's second album with Dio
was shelved. Robertson has confirmed the existence of rehearsal recordings for what would have been the follow-up to "Lock Up the Wolves
" but he has stated these will remain archived and he does not feel comfortable releasing any of this to the public, maintaining he would have only done that with permission from Ronnie James Dio
himself.
, which many fans had hoped for, didn't materialize before the singer's health declined and he passed away in May 2010. A reunion nearly took place, however: in 2001 Robertson was scheduled to replace Craig Goldy
on tour in South Africa
in support of Dio
's Magica
(Goldy had returned to Dio
following the original departure that led to Robertson's recruitment into the band) following an injury, but the events of 9-11 affected the band's tour plans and the reunion never took place, despite rehearsals.
"on ice" Rowan Robertson began pursuing two new projects: work on an an instruction video for guitar players and a new band with vocalist Oni Logan
(formerly of Lynch Mob) and drummer Jimmy Paxson
(formerly of Triangle
). They began to record an album for Atlantic Records. It appears the band's name changed over time: from Asylum, to Freedom, to Violet's Demise - the latter being the name the band finally settled on. Atlantic Records did not release their album, however, until much later (in 2002 - under yet a new name: Logan-Robertson; the album was titled "Revisited").
," recording guitar parts and writing lyrics though uncredited) he parted ways with VAST due to creative differences. Much of the work Robertson contributed to VAST was on rhythm guitars, while Robertson is specifically known for a wide range of ability spanning strong rhythm and lead guitars.
was a significant departure for Robertson given its Gothic
sound, AM Radio represented a mellower phase for the guitarist and probably an even more distant artistic juncture from his Dio
phase. For Robertson fans, these different periods spoke to Robertson's breadth as a musician while for some Heavy Metal
and Hard Rock
purists there was growing enthusiasm to see Robertson return to his Dio
roots. With the proliferation of music websites, and particularly Dio
fan websites on the internet, fans began following Robertson's career more closely.
Robertson was recruited by Kevin Ridel
and Weezer
's Rivers Cuomo
. Having relocated to Los Angeles
during his Dio
years, Robertson was intimately connected to the music scene that was developing and beginning to diversity the airwaves following the heavy rotation of Grunge
artists that began to wane following the genre's own peak in the late 1990s. AM Radio's was representative of the stripped down sound that had helped bands like Weezer
succeed. AM Radio developed a steady presence in Southern California
and particularly in Los Angeles
though they did open for Weezer
in Japan
("in 2002, the band toured with Weezer on the Dusty West Tour, Japan World Cup Tour, and the Enlightenment Tour"). Throughout this time, Robertson continued working with Violet's Demise's Oni Logan
- a collaboration that would eventually pave the way for the latent release of Violet's Demise's debut album, which had been shelved years earlier but which gave Robertson's Dio
era fans an opportunity to hear some of Robertson's unreleased and heaviest work.
The band's first full-length album, produced by Rivers Cuomo
, "Radioactive", was released on Elektra
in 2003. It included the single "Taken For A Ride" and "I Just Wanna Be Loved." "I Just Wanna Be Loved" was featured on "Smallville," a hit TV series on "The WB" and released on the show's soundtrack. Also in 2003, "Taken for a Ride" was featured on the videogame soundtrack for EA Sports’ John Madden Football 2003. The band received more support from "The WB" when "Taken for a Ride" was featured on an episode of "One Tree Hill." The song also appeared on a television trailer for the FOX feature film "The Girl Next Door" that same year.
's band, The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, according to Robertson's biography on a page for the firm that represents the artist legally.
and Europe
in 2006 according to Blabbermouth.net. Initial gestures to organize Wicket Outlaw actually dated back to as early as May 2004 and was known to be looking for a singer and drummer. Although the current status of Wicked Outlaw is unknown, Robertson has never stated that work on this project has concluded.
and Heavy Metal
. DC4 is among a series of Heavy Metal
bands that have pulled together some of the genre's best known musicians and are experiencing growing popularity. Consisting of Shawn Duncan on Drums (of Odin
), Matt Duncan on Bass, and Jeff Duncan on Vocals and Guitar (of Armored Saint
and Odin
), DC4 released their debut album, "Volume 1," with guitarist Hyland Church in 2002.
In 2006 DC4 replaced Church with Rowan Robertson. Now with Robertson on guitar, the band released their second album "Explode" in 2007 and in 2011 released their third album, "Electric Ministry."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, who currently plays for DC4
DC4
DC4 may refer to:*DC4 control code*Douglas DC-4...
. In the past he has played for AM Radio, Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, VAST
VAST
VAST is an American industrial rock band based in Austin, Texas. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby...
, and Violet's Demise (aka Logan-Robertson). Robertson has also done work as a film composer for director Amber Moelter
Amber Moelter
Amber Lynn Moelter is an American actress, film director and singer-songwriter.Amber Moelter was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota. After living in Seoul, South Korea, from age eight to eleven, she grew up in the northern suburbs of St...
's "Dirty Step Upstage" and has filmed numerous instructional guitar videos.
Dio (1989–1991)
Rowan Robertson was recruited to join the band DioDio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
as an adolescent, at only 17 years of age. The experience launched the young guitarist from obscurity to international fame nearly overnight. He was recruited to join the band Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
at the peak of the Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
genres in the late 1980s. News that the band Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
had replaced departing guitarist Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
with an unusually young guitar player circulated in Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
magazines such as Hit Parader
Hit Parader
Hit Parader is an American music magazine focusing on the genres of hard rock, pop, and heavy metal.The magazine was originally started as a pop song lyric magazine by Charlton Publications in 1942. Charlton sold off the magazine before the company went under in 1991...
, Rip
Rip
To rip is the act of tearing an object.Rip may also refer to:-Places:* Nioro du Rip, a town in Senegal* The Rip, entrance to Port Phillip from Bass Strait in Victoria, Australia* The Říp Mountain, a mountain in the Czech Republic-People:...
, and Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
months before Robertson's first and only album with the band ("Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
") was released on May 15, 1990.
Recruitment, Audition, Press Announcement
As a DioDio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
fan himself, Robertson became aware of Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
's departure from Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
after the band's "Dream Evil
Dream Evil
Dream Evil is a heavy metal band from Sweden, assembled and integrated by renowned musical producer Fredrik Nordström in 1999.-Biography:Producer Fredrik Nordström had the ambition of creating a power metal band of his own for a long time, but had difficulty finding anyone with musical ideals...
" album and subsequent tour. Robertson began an earnest effort to make contact with the band's management, asking for a chance to audition. His initial effort was unsuccessful. After reaching out to the band's label, Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
, (not long after seeing Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
with Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
on guitars live at the Monsters Of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
festival at Donington Castle
Donington Castle
Donington Castle was in the village of Castle Donington in Leicestershire to the north of East Midlands Airport .This early 12th century castle was held by the de Lacy family. It was attacked around the time of the Magna Carta. In 1311 it passed to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, the cousin of Edward...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, on August 22, 1987), Robertson received a generic-in-nature response declining his request for a personal audition. Robertson persisted and reached out to Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
's official fan club, hoping to reach someone closer to and with stronger personal ties to the band's management. The latter effort proved successful. The Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
fan club forwarded Robertson's demo, this time leading to an audition. At the beginning of 1989 Robertson was flown to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for a formal audition with Ronnie James and Wendy Dio. A second audition led to an offer and an official announcement that Robertson was now the band's official new guitarist. An announcement was sent to the media on July 18, 1989. Members of the press were invited to meet the new guitar player at Oliver's Pub, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on July 20, 1989. Between the Oliver's Pub event and the release of "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" media focus on the promising new guitar player was significant, with much attention given to his age and advanced maturity - both artistically and professionally.
Lock Up the Wolves
"Lock Up the WolvesLock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" sessions initially included Jimmy Bain
Jimmy Bain
James Stewart 'Jimmy' Bain is a Scottish bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Ronnie James Dio. He has worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums....
, Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice
Vincent Samson Appice , also known as Vinny Appice is a rock drummer of American Italian descent and the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice...
and Jens Johansson
Jens Johansson
Jens Ola Johansson is a Swedish power metal keyboardist and pianist. He is notable for his high-speed neoclassical and fusion style.-Biography:...
. This line-up had already written and recorded parts of "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" before Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice were replaced with Teddy Cook and former AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
drummer Simon Wright. (Recorded "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" sessions with Bain and Appice are rumored to exist but have never been released). "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" was released on May 15, 1990, and the band embarked on a tour in support of the album.
Lock Up the Wolves Reception
"Lock Up the WolvesLock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" represented a clear evolution for Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
as a band. Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
replaced his band's entire line-up from its previous album, but only after working with them to some degree on what would eventually become "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
." In this sense, the album was not an abrupt change from the band's previous work, but a protracted evolution in the band's sound that was ultimately delivered by one of the band's strongest line-ups. The maturity and superior production quality of the album has been recognized by many critics. There's a fairly universal agreement that "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" may have been recognized as an artistic peak for the band Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
had the music industry and commercial viability of Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
continued the course that began in the early to mid 1980s and which peaked in the late 1980s. By 1990 and 1991 the music industry would go through a pretty dramatic shift as Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
began to make a commercially aggressive appearance in the music scene: Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
, had already been signed to major labels and had performed well commercially by then. If there was a critical watershed event on the year "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" was released that represented the diverging point that was to come, commercially, for the music industry it was Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
's signing with a major label that year. The result was the release of "Nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991. Produced by Butch Vig, Nevermind was the group's first release on DGC Records...
" the following year. "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" would become one of many Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
albums that delivered superior production and musicianship at a point in which Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
was beginning to deliver greater commercial viability for record labels. (See Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
)
Second Album with Dio Shelved
Robertson's tenure in DioDio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
was cut short by music industry persistence for a Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
reunion with Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. In 1991 it was announced that the highly anticipated reunion would take place. At that time, the band Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, (including Robertson), had been writing songs for an upcoming album that had been scheduled for a May, 1991 release. Once a Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
reunion was announced, what would have been Robertson's second album with Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
was shelved. Robertson has confirmed the existence of rehearsal recordings for what would have been the follow-up to "Lock Up the Wolves
Lock up the Wolves
Lock Up the Wolves is Dio's fifth album, released on May 15, 1990. It displayed a complete change of musician line-up over the previous Dream Evil album, including eighteen year old guitarist Rowan Robertson, and Simon Wright on drums who played with AC/DC from 1983-88.-Track listing:All lyrics by...
" but he has stated these will remain archived and he does not feel comfortable releasing any of this to the public, maintaining he would have only done that with permission from Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
himself.
Reunion with Ronnie James Dio Unrealized
A Robertson reunion with DioDio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, which many fans had hoped for, didn't materialize before the singer's health declined and he passed away in May 2010. A reunion nearly took place, however: in 2001 Robertson was scheduled to replace Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy
Craig Goldy is an American guitarist, mostly notably of the band Dio.Before Dio, he played in the bands Vengeance, Rough Cutt, and Giuffria. He replaced Jake E. Lee in Rough Cutt and was himself replaced by Amir Derakh in this group. Prior to joining Rough Cutt, he had played in the band Vengeance...
on tour in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in support of Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
's Magica
Magica (album)
Magica is Dio's eighth studio album. It is a concept album and it was released on March 21, 2000, through Spitfire Records. A 2007 re-release puts Magica together with Killing the Dragon....
(Goldy had returned to Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
following the original departure that led to Robertson's recruitment into the band) following an injury, but the events of 9-11 affected the band's tour plans and the reunion never took place, despite rehearsals.
Violet's Demise (1991–1995)
With the band DioDio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
"on ice" Rowan Robertson began pursuing two new projects: work on an an instruction video for guitar players and a new band with vocalist Oni Logan
Oni Logan
Oni Logan is a hard rock vocalist. He was born Leonardo Agustus Jimenez in Argentina and raised in the United States . He is perhaps best recognized as the original lead singer of the band, Lynch Mob....
(formerly of Lynch Mob) and drummer Jimmy Paxson
Jimmy Paxson
Jimmy Paxson Jr. is an American drummer. He has played in a jazz trio with Stanley Clarke and Mike Garson and toured with Giorgia.- References :...
(formerly of Triangle
Triangle
A triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners or vertices and three sides or edges which are line segments. A triangle with vertices A, B, and C is denoted ....
). They began to record an album for Atlantic Records. It appears the band's name changed over time: from Asylum, to Freedom, to Violet's Demise - the latter being the name the band finally settled on. Atlantic Records did not release their album, however, until much later (in 2002 - under yet a new name: Logan-Robertson; the album was titled "Revisited").
Session Work in Los Angeles and Japan (1995–1998)
Between Violet's Demise and VAST, Robertson spent three years doing session work in Los Angeles, as well as some work in Japan, where he toured briefly.VAST (1998-2000)
Robertson worked with the band VAST, founded and fronted by Jon Crosby, on the tour supporting the project's first album. VAST (Visual Audio Sensory Theater) took a theatrical approach to performances. Although Robertson played live with the band after they had released their first album and he contributed to the development of the second VAST release, ("Music For The PeopleMusic For The People
Music for the People is the second studio album by Coventry-based band The Enemy, which was released 27 April 2009. It entered the UK charts at number two, losing out on the number one spot to Bob Dylan's Together Through Life....
," recording guitar parts and writing lyrics though uncredited) he parted ways with VAST due to creative differences. Much of the work Robertson contributed to VAST was on rhythm guitars, while Robertson is specifically known for a wide range of ability spanning strong rhythm and lead guitars.
AM Radio (2001-2004, 2006)
If VASTVAST
VAST is an American industrial rock band based in Austin, Texas. The acronym VAST stands for Visual Audio Sensory Theater and is the main creation of singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Crosby...
was a significant departure for Robertson given its Gothic
Gothic
-Germanic people:*Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes**Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language, spoken by the Goths**Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken by the Crimean Goths...
sound, AM Radio represented a mellower phase for the guitarist and probably an even more distant artistic juncture from his Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
phase. For Robertson fans, these different periods spoke to Robertson's breadth as a musician while for some Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and Hard Rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
purists there was growing enthusiasm to see Robertson return to his Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
roots. With the proliferation of music websites, and particularly Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
fan websites on the internet, fans began following Robertson's career more closely.
Robertson was recruited by Kevin Ridel
Kevin Ridel
Kevin Ridel is an American musician.-Early Life & Influences:A child of 80’s music, such as The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, U2, and a slew of unmentionable heavy metal acts, Kevin has played in bands since age 14. In 1989 he moved from Connecticut to Los Angeles with his band Avant Garde to pursue...
and Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
's Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
. Having relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
during his Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
years, Robertson was intimately connected to the music scene that was developing and beginning to diversity the airwaves following the heavy rotation of Grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
artists that began to wane following the genre's own peak in the late 1990s. AM Radio's was representative of the stripped down sound that had helped bands like Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
succeed. AM Radio developed a steady presence in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and particularly in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
though they did open for Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
("in 2002, the band toured with Weezer on the Dusty West Tour, Japan World Cup Tour, and the Enlightenment Tour"). Throughout this time, Robertson continued working with Violet's Demise's Oni Logan
Oni Logan
Oni Logan is a hard rock vocalist. He was born Leonardo Agustus Jimenez in Argentina and raised in the United States . He is perhaps best recognized as the original lead singer of the band, Lynch Mob....
- a collaboration that would eventually pave the way for the latent release of Violet's Demise's debut album, which had been shelved years earlier but which gave Robertson's Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
era fans an opportunity to hear some of Robertson's unreleased and heaviest work.
The band's first full-length album, produced by Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician, best known as the lead singer, lead guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer. Raised in an Ashram in Connecticut, Cuomo moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where he participated in a number of rock bands before founding Weezer in 1992...
, "Radioactive", was released on Elektra
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 2003. It included the single "Taken For A Ride" and "I Just Wanna Be Loved." "I Just Wanna Be Loved" was featured on "Smallville," a hit TV series on "The WB" and released on the show's soundtrack. Also in 2003, "Taken for a Ride" was featured on the videogame soundtrack for EA Sports’ John Madden Football 2003. The band received more support from "The WB" when "Taken for a Ride" was featured on an episode of "One Tree Hill." The song also appeared on a television trailer for the FOX feature film "The Girl Next Door" that same year.
Happy Birthday (2005)
One of Robertson's more obscure projects is a band called Happy Birthday. "In April 2005 Robertson embarked on a short West Coast tour with Happy Birthday, supporting Jimmy ChamberlinJimmy Chamberlin
Jimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
's band, The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, according to Robertson's biography on a page for the firm that represents the artist legally.
Wicked Outlaw (2005-Present)
In 2005 Robertson also began collaboration on a project called Wicket Outlaw. "The new band, featuring guitarist Rowan Robertson and Finnish composer and bassist Marko Pukkila (formerly of Altaria)," was "writing original material" and was expected to debut and tour the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 2006 according to Blabbermouth.net. Initial gestures to organize Wicket Outlaw actually dated back to as early as May 2004 and was known to be looking for a singer and drummer. Although the current status of Wicked Outlaw is unknown, Robertson has never stated that work on this project has concluded.
DC4 (2006-Present)
The mid-to-late 2000s brought a resurgence of Hard RockHard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
and Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. DC4 is among a series of Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands that have pulled together some of the genre's best known musicians and are experiencing growing popularity. Consisting of Shawn Duncan on Drums (of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
), Matt Duncan on Bass, and Jeff Duncan on Vocals and Guitar (of Armored Saint
Armored Saint
-Early career:Armored Saint was formed in 1982 by brothers Phil Sandoval and Gonzo Sandoval , and guitarist David Prichard, while attending South Pasadena High School. Next to join were singer John Bush also a South Pasadena High School Alumni and bassist Joey Vera...
and Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
), DC4 released their debut album, "Volume 1," with guitarist Hyland Church in 2002.
In 2006 DC4 replaced Church with Rowan Robertson. Now with Robertson on guitar, the band released their second album "Explode" in 2007 and in 2011 released their third album, "Electric Ministry."
Columnist
Since May, 2011, Rowan Robertson has served as a columnist for "Intense Guitar and Bass Magazine."Videography
- Star Licks Master Sessions: Simon Wright (2000)
- Star Licks: Speed Picking
- Star Licks Master Sessions: Rowan Robertson
- Rowan Robertson: Speed Picking