On June 26, 2021, I travel back to 1988 for an all-day 80’s hard rock/glam metal concert. It was like watching MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball LIVE without Riki Rachtman. This was also my first music festival of 2021, covering for All Music Magazine. Colorado Freedom Fest is an all-day 80’s hard rock/glam metal concert for veterans to have fun and connect with other fans. A rally to support and show love and respect for our nation’s current, past, and future military members. Dean Gary founded the 80s music festival in 2015. The festival aims to support and fund nonprofit veteran organizations (The Fallen Heroes Foundation and American Soldier Network). Colorado Freedom Fest aims to bring help and awareness to the #NOTONEMORE PTSD Soldier Suicide Prevention Campaign for our American Soldiers and their families.
The crazy Colorado weather of rain and sun couldn’t stop a very successful sold-out music festival. The festival lineup is a time machine of 80’s hard rock/glam metal concert bands. They included Autograph, Bulletboys, Kix, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt with his band the Ratt Bastards, Slaughter, and Warrant. The bands played on two covered outdoor stages (Stage A & B) on the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, Colorado, with plenty of local food trucks and beer & spirit stations. Hair metal fans, including many veterans and their families, were reliving their youth in the audience.
The rain showers delayed the beginning of the 2021 Colorado Freedom Fest. The festival skipped the two local bands and started with Autograph. The patriotic music festival began a little after two with the singing of the national anthem by Angie Leedholm. Eighties hard rock band, Autograph was the opening band. The first song, “You Are Us, We Are You,” is dedicated to the fans and veterans in the audience. Autograph brought a high-energy performance to the cloudy and wet Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.
The dedicated fans of Autograph were in front singing to every song of the band played. The 45-minute set was a bit short, and most of the audience wished they would’ve played longer. I was happy to hear my favorite Autograph song, “Blondes in Black Cars,” followed by “Send Her To Me.” A guitar solo by Autograph’s Jimi Bell followed by their 2018 single, “Every Generation.” Autograph ended their set with the classic ‘Get Off Your Ass’ and their most significant and best-known hit, “Turn Up The Radio,” with the fans singing with them.
Band:
Simon Daniels – Lead vocals/guitar
Randy Rand – Bass/vocals
Jimi Bell – Lead guitar/vocals
Marc Wieland – Drums
Setlist:
You Are Us, We Are You
Bad Boy
All I’m Gonna Take
Blondes in Black Cars
Send Her to Me
Guitar Solo
Every Generation
Get Off Your Ass!
Turn Up the Radio
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A little confusion on who was up next and on which of the two stages. There was a rumor Bulletboys were running late, and Kix would be the next act on Stage B. This didn’t happen. Sunset Strip’s Bulletboys came on with a quick set change on Stage A. Marq Torien, and Mick Sweda did selfies with the audience as the band was setting up.
The original Bulletboys lineup of Marq Torien, Mick Sweda, Lonnie Vincent, and Jimmy D’Anda was the festival’s highlight. Marq Torien brought the crazy energy and showmanship of Diamond Dave. His voice hasn’t changed much as he is almost 60. He was strutting, jumping, and dancing throughout the set. The set started with “Hard as “a Rock,” “Hell on My Heels,” and “Hell Yeah!” Two covers, O’Jay’s “For the Love of Money” and Tom Wait’s Hang on St. Christopher followed. They ended the set with the classic “Kissin’ Kitty,” the best-known hit single, “Smooth Up” in Ya, and a cover of Queen’s, “We Will Rock You.”
Band:
Marq Torien – Vocals
Lonnie Vincent – Bass/vocals
Mick Sweda – Lead guitar/vocals
Jimmy D’Anda – Drums
Setlist:
War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover) (Guitar and Drum Solo)
Hard as a Rock
Hell on My Heels
Hell Yeah!
For the Love of Money (The O’Jays cover)
Hang on St. Christopher (Tom Waits cover)
Kissin’ Kitty
Smooth Up in Ya
We Will Rock You (Queen cover)
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A fifteen-minute break allowed the standing crowd to move to Stage B, where ’80s glam metal/sleaze rock band Kix started. The rain shower just started as Kix began to play. The high-energy showmanship of the ageless Steve Whiteman and the band got the audience singing and dancing as it rained through most of the concert. They took command of the stage and engaged the audience as they navigated through a powerful setlist of songs from all their albums.
Kix started the set with the classic Midnite Dynamite, followed by “Lie Like a Rug,” “Sex,” “The Itch,” “No Ring Around Rosie,” “Get It While It’s Hot,” and “Scarlet Fever.” Steve Whiteman brought out his dollar sign sunglasses for the song “Girl Money.” It was followed by a 2014 single, “Love Me With Your Top Down.” Kix slowed down for their hit ballad, “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” as the rain stopped. It was followed by “Wheels” in “Motion,” “Cold Shower” (Bob Paré Guitar Solo), “Cold Blood,” and Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant Drum Solo in his American flag suit. Steve Whiteman announced audience his first solo album, YOU’RE WELCOME, is coming out on July 2nd, 2021, before the last song. They ended the high-energy set with their 80s hit, “Blow My Fuse.” Whiteman ended the concert with his famous leap on stage.
Band:
Steve Whiteman – Vocals
Brian “Damage” Forsythe – Guitar
Bob Paré – Guitar
Mark Schenker – Bass
Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant – Drums
Setlist:
Midnite Dynamite
Lie Like a Rug
Sex
The Itch
No Ring Around Rosie
Get It While It’s Hot
Scarlet Fever
Girl Money
Love Me With Your Top Down
Don’t Close Your Eyes
Wheels in Motion
Cold Shower
Guitar Solo
Cold Blood
Drum Solo
Blow My Fuse
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Stephen Pearcy and his Ratt Bastards came on next on stage A as the rain stopped with a set of Ratt’s hits and one from Pearcy’s solo album. Ratt Bastards gives a harder metal sound to all the 80’s pop-metal Ratt songs they played. Plus, former Danzig bassist Jerry Montano looks like Nathan Explosion from Dethklok on Metalocalypse.
The set started with “You’re in Love,” followed by the hit “Lay It Down,” “Lack of Communication,” “Ten Miles Wide,” “Wanted Man,” “Slip of the Lip,” “I’m Insane, You Think,” and “You’re Tough.” They ended the set with the MTV classics “Way Cool Jr.” and “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job,” followed by “U Got It,” “Back for More,” and Ratt’s biggest hit, “Round and Round.” The audience was screaming and singing to almost every song the band played.
Band:
Stephen Pearcy – Vocals
Erik Ferentinos – Lead Guitar & Backup Vocals
Frankie Wilsey – Guitars
Jerry Montano – Bass
Scot Coogan – Drums & Backup Vocals
Setlist:
You’re in Love
Lay It Down
Lack of Communication
Ten Miles Wide
Wanted Man
Slip of the Lip
I’m Insane
You Think You’re Tough
Way Cool Jr.
Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job
You Got It
Back for More
Round and Round
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Jessica Workman was awarded the America Soldier Network, The Wind Beneath My Wings Military Spouse Hero Award Freedom Fest. It was followed by the unveiling of a remembrance honor flag to the family of Glen Stivison, Jr. A solemn reminder with the Honor Bell tolling seven times, with seven seconds between each toll to represent the stages in a veteran’s life in honor of those we have lost. The “All Veteran Group,” a parachute team performance, was canceled because of the weather.
Slaughter came on stage as the sun was peaking through the clouds. MTV-era heartthrob Mark Slaughter hasn’t aged much. I noticed there were several women in the crowd fighting to get a better view of him. Bassist Dana Strum at 62 continues to be very active on stage. And guest drumming for Slaughter is Will Hunt, in between his Evanescence gig.
The set rested heavily on their double platinum album Stick it to Ya. They started with “Mad About You” and “Burnin’ Bridges.” Jeff “Blando” Bland did a guitar solo, followed by “Spend My Life.” Slaughter followed with a great cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” Mark Slaughter admitted they didn’t mind being called a hair metal band, which brought the crowd’s laughter. Slaughter closed the set with their biggest hits, “Fly to the Angels” and “Up All Night,” with an audience singing along.
Band:
Mark Slaughter – Vocals & Guitar
Dana Strum – Bass
Jeff “Blando” Bland – Guitar
Will Hunt – Drums
Setlist:
Mad About You
Burnin’ Bridges
Guitar Solo
Spend My Life
Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
Eye to Eye
Desperately
The Wild Life
Days Gone By
Real Love
Fly to the Angels
Up All Night
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Warrant ended Colorado Freedom Fest with a robust set of their greatest hits. The front part of the stage wasn’t lit very well. It was hard to see Robert Mason and the band for the first part of the set. The lighting improved as the concert progressed. It reminded me of shooting in dark indoor music venues.
Warrant started with “Sure Feels Good to Me,” “Love in Stereo,” “Bed of Roses,” and “You’re The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised.” They continued with the hit balled “I Saw Red,” “Song and Dance Man,” “Blind Faith,” Joey Allen Guitar Solo, followed with a cover of Blackfoot’s “Train, Train.” More recognized hits with “The Down Boys,” “Mr. Rainmaker,” “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich,” and the ballad “Sometimes She Cries.” “32 Pennies” is dedicated to a Pro Bull Rider friend of the band watching in the audience who rode the bull, “32 Picking Up Pennies”.
Warrant ended the night with their MTV video hits. Robert Mason had the audience hold up their lighters, glow sticks, or flashlights on their phones during the song “Heaven”. It was in dedication to honor the military personnel who have lost and their love ones. They followed with the classic “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Warrant ended the night with their biggest hit, “Cherry Pie” sing-along.
Band:
Robert Mason – Vocals
Erik Turner – Guitar
Joey Allen – Guitar
Jerry Dixon – Bass
Steven Sweet – Drums
Setlist:
Sure Feels Good to Me
Love in Stereo
Bed of Roses
You’re the Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
I Saw Red
Song and Dance Man
Blind Faith
Guitar Solo
Train, Train (Blackfoot cover)
Down Boys
Mr. Rainmaker
Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
Sometimes She Cries
32 Pennies
Heaven
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Cherry Pie
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It was great to see and hear bands from the 80s still going strong. Great to watch many original lineups playing all their hits we saw on MTV and heard on the 80s radio growing up. Bulletboys’ Marq Torien, Steve Whiteman of Kix and Stephen Pearcy were the highlights of the festival as they each took control of the stage and engage the fans like old friends.
