Tons of great music came out of the 1980’s… Big hair metal and alternative were arguably the two most influential genres of that era. So much of that music still plays on the radio in regular rotation everywhere and used in movies, TV and commercials proving that decade’s music has stood the test of time for over 25 years and counting.
As a long time supporter of the Southern California based weekly television show “Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames” All Access Magazine is excited to announce two DVD compilations just released out of Cleopatra Records’ Deadline Music of the TV show’s top 80s Heavy Metal and 80s New Wave rock star interviews conducted over the past 2 years packed with naughty details regarding their professional and personal lives!
Cleopatra Records President BRIAN PERERA approached TV Host DENISE AMES with the idea of putting together the best moments from her interviews and making the compilations available to music fans worldwide. “Denise has some great interviews” Perera notes, “and I thought it would be great if more people to could see these around the globe. I also feel that documenting onto DVD gives the fans something to hold on to.”
Both Perera and Ames are products of the early 80s Sunset Strip Heavy Metal scene. While Perera was out establishing himself as a self-made entrepreneur at an early age selling T-shirts at local concert venues, Ames was hanging out at the Rainbow and the Troubadour watching MOTLEY CRUE, RATT, GREAT WHITE, POISON and GUNS N’ ROSES make it big. In 1988 she met and became close friends with MIKE SCORE of A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, gaining access to the new wave side of that decade’s music scene.
“I love Denise’s show” says Perera. “She asks intelligent questions and always makes her guests feel comfortable.” Ames, who now finds herself interviewing many of those same people she saw play at Gazzari’s, the Roxy and the Troubadour prior to their lucrative record and tour deals, adds “I find you get way more honesty out of the ‘rock stars’ when the sun’s up!” she laughs. “So though some interviews were conducted backstage at a Hollywood venue, the majority were done in studio or on location, in their homes even…during the day.” And they’re all caught on both of these must-have DVD compilations:
The ‘Best of’ 80s Metal Interviews DVD offers riveting and revealing interviews with legends of the Hollywood Sunset Strip metal scene confessing their most intimate secrets of life on the road and at home. JUAN CROUCIER from RATT, RUDY SARZO of QUIET RIOT and OZZY (Sarzo speaks of his best friend, the late RANDY RHOADS), QUIET RIOT’s CARLOS CAVAZO (including comments on the untimely death of former band mate 
KEVIN DUBROW), DON DOKKEN and GEORGE LYNCH of DOKKEN, JANI LANE of WARRANT, PHIL LEWIS and STEVE RILEY of L.A. GUNS, LYNN LOUISE LOWREY of VIXEN and more are all captured. Ames also takes you on a tour of where it all began, The Rainbow Bar & Grill on the Sunset Strip and interviews MARIO MAGLIERI, owner of the Rainbow and the world famous Whisky A Go Go right down the street. Cleopatra Records also inserted a free bonus CD featuring HOLLYWOOD ROSE (early G n’ R).
80s New Wave ‘Best of’ interviews compilation contains inside scoops and exclusives from some of the biggest bands of 80’s alternative music including LOL TOLHURST and MICAHEL DEMPSEY from THE CURE, CY CURNIN of THE FIXX, CRAIG ADAMS of SISTERS OF MERCY and THE MISSION UK, GENE LOVES JEZEBEL’S JAY ASTON and JAMES STEVENSON, MIKE PETERS of THE ALARM, DAVE WAKELING of THE ENGLISH BEAT, SLIM JIM PHANTOM of THE STRAY CATS, and 80’s deejay RICHARD BLADE.
A surprise appearance by MOTORHEAD’S LEMMY KILMISTER is also included as well as a bonus CD featuring A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS, DEAD OR ALIVE and more.
“We have done documentaries on DVD, but never interviews like this” Perera reveals (pictured with partner Tim Yasui). “We are excited to be working with Denise and the great crew she has surrounding her.”
“I feel so lucky that Brian and Cleopatra Records believe in what I’m doing,” says Ames. “This is such a fantastic way to get these killer interviews out there to the masses without having to watch every episode because the best parts are now all on these two DVDs!”
The following “Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames” TV show sponsors made these interviews possible: Colombo’s Italian Restaurant and Jazz Club in Eagle Rock, Vendome Wine and Spirits in Toluca Lake, Feisty Piranhas, Barbra Porter Photography, Middle Finger Mob and of course All Access Magazine. 
The weekly series currently tapes on location at Cleopatra Records headquarters in Los Angeles. 
Recent guests include BUCK DHARMA and ERIC BLOOM of BLUE OYSTER CULT, ALLISON ROBERTSON of THE DONNAS, CHERIE CURRIE of THE RUNAWAYS, EDDIE MONEY and IAN MITCHELL of BAY CITY ROLLERS.
“Focus in the Mix with Denise Ames” currently airs on Time Warner’s On Demand all over So Cal reaching almost 3 million homes (Go to On Demand, Free On Demand, Arts & Entertainment, Focus in the Mix) and on Charter cable channels 16 & 289 Fridays at 7:30pm.
The ‘Best Of’ 80s Metal & 80s New Wave interview DVDs are available at Myspace.com/DeniseAmes and DeniseAmes15@hotmail.com, including a special package discount for both, and Amazon.com.
