Hollywood Saints: Other People's Music From the Heart

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The Hollywood Saints don't mess around.  The brainchild of bassist Naked Dave, who coincidentally owns Naked Dave's Music, the guitar/drum shop where the band practices, the group cover 80s hair-metal classics, but also put their Aqua Net sheen on classics by C.C.R. and Thin Lizzy. Lead by charismatic, booze swilling front-man Geno Dellamorte, the band have opened for Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns at neighboring Club Red, which, when combined with Rockzone Records, Naked Dave's and Waffle House make up some sort of butt-rock nexus in Tempe.  The 'Saints open for Firehouse at Club Red on April 10th. "We play music the way it's supposed to be played," Naked Dave tells me.  "From the heart, you know?" 

"Yeah," Dellamorte chuckles.  "We express what's in our heart by playing other people's music." 

Despite his wry grin, the band takes their fun seriously.  "Practice always starts out pretty rough," Dellamorte states.  "But after a few drinks, it gets really awesome." 

Smells Like: What kind of smell does a guitar shop have?  The smell of ambitious dreams?  The smell of "Stairway to Heaven?"  The smell of bad credit?  I'm not sure, but that's what Naked Dave's smells like.   

Most Cherished Piece of Gear: Asking gear-heads like Hollywood Saints about their most cherished piece of equipment is trouble.  Drummer Robbie Sixx, who teaches drum lessons at the store,  was beaming in pride about his new "totally butt-rock drum-set."  Dellamorte showed off his new Fender Bassman head, despite the fact that he "never plays it." But the ultimate bandanna goes off to Naked Dave himself, who's bass-rig was taller than me.    

Odds N' Ends: The store features plenty of memorabilia, the wall's covered in rock n' roll posters and oddities, including a signed poster from Creepsville 666, the psycho-billy act that includes both Dellamorte and Sixx, who also practice at Naked Dave's.  

Clearly, this band has no shame.

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No one is more metal than Jack Johnson...

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All of these bass are required to correctly play Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom"

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It's a certain breed that shops for clothes at a guitar shop...

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