Meet the Hardrock Haven Staff:

Chris A. Staff Writer Chris A is a writer, photographer, guitar player, businessman and retired USAF Security Police Master Sergeant. Chris served 20 years in the USAF on assignments that took him from the corn fields of Indiana to the halls of the Pentagon. A rock 'n' roll and metal fan for 35 years, Chris has attended hundreds of concerts and as seen some of the world's greatest rock and metal acts. In 2004, he became a free-lance writer and photographer for Guitar Digest. Chris has interviewed and or photographed the likes of Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Joe Bonamassa, Zakk Wylde, Nick Catanese, Eric Loy, Yngvie Malmsteen, Rob Zombie, Johnny A., BB King, Mark Knopfler, Godsmack, Disturbed and many others. In 2005 Chris was made a "patched" member of the Black Label Society Doom Crew by Zakk Wylde. He has written three books, his most recent is "A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa" the story of the people and the events leading to the murders of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, Jeff Thompson, Erin Halk and Nathan Bray.

Chris's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Danny Clark Staff Writer I was born in Anderson, Indiana. I have lived in 7 different states and currently reside in Columbus, Ohio. I have been a hard rock/metal head my whole life. I totally dig ‘80s style metal. I love bands such as Motley Crue, Mr. Big, Kiss, Van Halen and Dream Theater, just to name a few. Have you ever known a guy who reads all the liner notes when he gets a new CD? I am that guy. I tend to read everything I can find on the bands I enjoy. I have also been known to correct people when their facts are incorrect in various web forums. I’ve always been the guy that people call when they want to know who does a particular song. I’ve been told I live, eat and breathe music. I don’t know about that, but Metal does ooze from my pores when I sweat. I am looking forward to a great year in Metal!

Clark's Top 10 CDs for 2005 1. Big Cock - Year Of The Cock 2. Crashdiet - Rest In Sleeze 3. Gotthard - Lip Service 4. The Mob - The Mob 5. TNT - All The Way To The Sun 6. Starbreaker - Starbreaker 7. Khymera - A New Promise 8. Bombay Black - Mercy 9. Tango Down - Take 1 10. Joe Lynn Turner - The Usual Suspects

Mike Debbage Staff Writer I was raised in the blue collar northeast of England, home of shipbuilding, coal mining and Newcastle Brown Ale. The working class tradition that arises from the roots of metal and rock and roll was a natural attraction. I departed the Mother Country at the tender testosterone age of 11 years old and migrated to Funky Nassau in the Bahamas, where I spent my adolescent years. In 1983, I finally landed Stateside, which included stays in Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles. All these cultural centers only helped diversify my musical tastes, yet the drive of rock and roll, even at the age of 43, is a still a thrill. Musically, the glitter bands Slade and T. Rex were my earliest exposures and that I continue to enjoy today. However, the televised California Jam was an eye-opening experience that introduced me to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Before I knew it, I was exploring the likes of Uriah Heep, Angel, UFO. It only seemed like a blink of an eye when the decadent “poodle” bands crept up on me. I have been reviewing for about five years with About.com. I then connected up with the Swedish website The Northern Light that was run by Lennart Hedenstrom, who also ran the official Glenn Hughes website. Since I’m a huge Glenn Hughes fan, Lennart and I had much to talk about.

Debbage's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. House Of Lords - World Upside Down 2. Sammy Hagar - Livin’ It Up 3. All American Rejects- Move Along 4. Harem Scarem - Human Nature 5. John Mayer - Continuum 6. Sunstorm - Sunstorm 7. Glenn Hughes - Music For The Divine 8. Chris Francis - Studs N’ Sisters 9. Final Frontier - Freelight 10. Akira Kajiyama and Joe Lynn Turner - Fire Without Flame

Curt Hauff Staff Writer Werd yo! I guess since I’m technically a “critic”, I should list the “qualifications” I have for being a complete ass and ripping on your favorite band(s). First off, I am a failed guitar player (that means I play bass guitar). I’ve been a performing musician for over 20 years and I love the stage. I have written and co-written over 50 songs (none of which have made the top 40). I have worked with many bands as a promoter and have recorded 3+ albums as a producer and engineer. I love anything with a hook in it and am constantly looking for new inspiration whether it comes from metal, pop, punk, country or none of the above. Enough about me, what’s up wit’ you?

Hauff 's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Head Automatica - Popaganda 2. Army of Freshmen - Under the Radar 3. Skillet - Comatose 4. Forty Deuce - Nothing to Lose 5. Bowling for Soup - The Great Burrito Extortion Case 6. City Sleeps - Hotel 7. Family Force 5 - Business Up Front/Party in the Back 8. Buckcherry - 15 9. Sugarcult - Lights Out 10. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don’t You Fake It

Matthew Hoffman Staff Writer 33 years old. Bachelors degree in History. U.S Army Combat Veteran(Operation Desert Storm). Born in Baltimore, Md currently reside in York, Pa. Have seen 14 Countries and 30 states. Speak a lot of German and a little Russian. Fought one Professional prize-fight earning 400 dollars to be TKO'd in the first round. Met and Married the perfect woman.(Ania) Believe there is nothing better on earth than a George Lynch guitar solo!

Hoffman's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals 2. Ankla - Steep Trails 3. OSI - Free 4. Lyzanxia - UNSU 5. Masi - Late Night at Desert Rimrock, Hatesphere - The Sickness Within 6. Strapping Young Lad - The New Black, In Flames - Come Clarity 7. Twisted Into Form - Then Comes Affliction to Awaken The Dreamer 8. Unearth - III - In the Eyes of Fire 9. Cellador - Enter Deception, Ground Zero System - Newropa 10. Derek Sherinian - Blood of the Snake

John Kindred Publisher Born and raised in the Midwest…Kansas to be exact, my life has been tied to music in one form or another since my childhood. I have been playing guitar since I was 14 years old, writing, recording and performing from then on. Hardrock Haven was born more than three years ago, when I decided to put my passion for music into prit via the Internet. So here we are in 2005, and Hardrock Haven is poised to have a breakout year as we bring more labels, artists and bands to our doorstep for your reading pleasure. I can’t say enough positive things about the current Hardrock Haven staff. Derric, Scott, Edwin, Mike, Gary, Crusader, Terie and Jake, you guys rock! Cheers to are resident guitarists; Cyril Lepizzera, Alan Williamson, Ken Orth, Danny Jones and Kurt Phillips for providing lessons when their time permits them.

Kindred's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Jorn - The Duke 2. Leverage - Tides 3. House of Lords - World Upside Down 4. Alex Rudi Pell - Mystica 5. Domain - Stardawn 6. Harem Scarem - Human Nature 7. J.R. Blackmore - Between Darkness And Light 8. Wolf - The Black Flame 9. Rain - Stronger 10. Ten - The Twilight Chronicles

Derric Miller Staff Writer Hey ya’ll! I hail from South Dakota, born and raised, and I’m still there. I'm a guy who has published horror and nonfiction in the mainstream markets. But what got me into metal? That’d be Dokken’s Tooth and Nail, which is still one of my all-time favorites. I joined Hardrock Haven last summer, and I have had the pleasure of interviewing some of my favorite singers and bands since I got on board. I’ve interviewed Jaime St. James, Ron Keel, Kip Winger, and Tony Harnell. I’m a glutton for ’80s style hard rock/metal, and anything slightly Queensryche-inspired. I hope my reviews help you make some decisions on which metal albums rule or suck, and my interviews do more than cause blurred vision and drowsiness. Oh wait, that’s Jim Beam. Anyway, here is my Top 10 list for 2004, a year that hopefully exhumes the great melodic rock/metal that went away in the early 1990s. Peace.

Miller's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Zero Hour - Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond 2. Bloodbound - Nosferatu 3. Slayer - Christ Illusion 4. Ron Keel - Alone at Last 5. Miss Crazy - Miss Crazy 6. Vanden Plas - Christo 7. 3 Legged Dogg - Frozen Summer 8. Bombay Black - Anger Management 9. Metal Church - A Light in the Dark 10. Big Cock - Big Cock

Kim Shockley Staff Writer Hey there Rock Fans! My name is Kim Shockley and I am the newest member of the hardrockhaven.net team. I live in the state of Missouri and have for the last 23 years. My music experience doesn’t include playing a guitar or writing the songs. I've never been the lead singer in a band, nor have I been featured in Playboy magazine. I am just a chick who absolutely loves listening to music. I cannot go a single day without my rock music "fix', and it's been that way since my first concert - Ten Years After in 1974. Maybe you caught their show during the ‘74 tour as well? I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music styles: Pop, Blues, Metal, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative Rock, Southern Rock...well, you get the idea. My top 10 favorite bands of all time would be (in no particular order) are Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Who, Rush, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Evanescence, Buck Cherry, Candlebox, Three Days Grace, Kansas and Proto-Kaw (the "original" Kansas) with Kerry Livgren. It's really kind of a rush to get to not only hear new music first, and be asked to write a review. I know a few of you will likely disagree with my opinion at least once. No problem. I only hope you find my reviews to be fair - but most of all, an interesting read.

Shockley 's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Evanescense - The Open Door 2. Terra Diablo - Terra Diablo 3. Sarah McLaughlin - Mirror Ball the Complete Concert 4. Buck Cherry - 15 5. Three Days Grace - 1 X 6. Pat Benetar - Best Shots 7. Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way 8. The Who - Endless Wire 9. Disciple - Scars Remain 10. Proto-Kaw - The Wait of Glory

Steve Trager Staff Writer Steve currently resides in Philadelphia, pa, where he has lived since birth. He enjoys all aspects of photography with his majority focused on Concert Photography, where he likes to add a finishing touch with a in depth concert review. Steve not only has earned himself a name with local bands over the years, he has also clinched publishing's both locally and nationally as music Photographer. He also works as a pro Photo tech, where he strives to not only capture his own work in print at the highest level of perfection, he also re creates people's most cherished moments both on film and the day and age of digital photography. Steve enjoys all genre's of music including 80's metal, today's alternative bands, classic rock and even country artists. Living in Philadelphia has such a diverse market with major concert tours often passing through defiantly keeps Steve quite busy shooting and writing which is his passion and favorite past times above anything else. Steve has also earned himself world wide exposure as music fanatic with credits on the internet to date.

Trager's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Children Of Bodem - Stockholm Knockout Live 2. Dream Evil - United 3. Godsmack - IV 4. Dragon Force - InHuman Rampage 5. Disturbed - 10,000 Fists 6. Joe Satriani - Super Colossal 7. Papa Roach - Paramour Sessions 8. In Flames - Come Clarity 9. Sevendust - The Very Best Of 10. Breakin Benjamin - Phobia

Edwin Van Hoof Staff Writer I am Edwin van Hoof, a 34-year-old working journalist and photographer in rock music. I have been doing this for 15 years. I have established a wide range of friends and a network from which I can now let newcomer acts and bands profit. I did get involved with acts while shopping for deals in the beginning and landed several record deals for acts like Elegy, Zaxas, Empyria, Kamelot, etc. I have been working for acts like Tiles and Vanden-pla as well with their tours and promotion for Dream Circle Records. I also have been contributing artwork for bands as a photographer. My main involvements have been mostly live shots of STAR ONE, KAMELOT, and SAVIOUR MACHINE. My story started out in the 1979 as a 9-year-old on the back of my uncle at Pinkpop Festival. It was the first time I experienced RUSH. You can imagine that this would set the course for me and music for the next 30 years to follow.

Van Hoof's Top 10 CDs for 2006 1. Cannata - Mysterium Magnum 2. Vanden Plas - Christ O. 3. Slamer - Nowhere Land 4. Angtoria - God has a Plan for us all 5. Zeno - Runway to the Gods 6. Survivor - Reach 7. Rush - X3 8. GPS - Window to the Soul 9. Saga - Trust 10. Veangeance - Back in the Ring

Savings - New York Hotel - Mortgage - Secured Loans