Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp to Feature Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses, and Poison Stars
There are droves of self-tough musicians who simply picked up an instrument, learnt how to get different tunes out of it, and then got to work seeking to replicate the riffs and tunes of their favorite stars. Many others come online to get our music tips to help them along their journey or reach that extra step. For some, though, it’s all about getting that star experience and even meeting their idols, and this is where the Fantasy Camp comes into play.
With all playing levels welcome, the Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp runs from May 4 to 7 in Los Angeles, and this year, the 80s-themed experience will be bringing along three active rock stars. Here’s what you need to know if you fancy a stay in LA to jam with legends of the genre.
2023’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp stars
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp is designed to let you make your rock star dreams a reality, with the 2023 edition being all about 1980s anthems. Headlining the camp are current band members of three of the biggest acts of all time. Attending this year will be Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus, and Poison drummer and co-founder Rikki Rockett. It’s a star-studded line-up for sure.
There will also be so-called “rock star counselors” at the camp, including Ashley Reeve, Jeff Scott Soto, Gary Hoey, Spike Edney, and Jennifer Batten. Those who attend will be getting tips from the greats and, at the end of the camp, will take part in two live performances at the Whisky a Go Go and Viper Room. The poster even says that Rikki Rockett will be joining campers for one of the performances.
Anyone can register for the camp, with $599 holding the spot. The camp has been running for a while, with 2023 being its 25th anniversary. Anyone who’s unfamiliar with the camp and its legacy can now watch a documentary movie on Amazon Prime. Rock Camp follows four campers at the experience, featuring stars like Slash, Alice Cooper, and Paul Stanley along the way. Of course, to truly sell the experience this year, it’s best to know more about the headliners.
John 5, Richard Fortus, and Rikki Rockett
John 5 has a grand career in rock music but only recently joined the ranks of Mötley Crüe. He was formerly a member of Rob Zombie, The David Lee Roth Band, and Marilyn Manson, with the glut of his work coming in collaboration with artists across the music industry. It was in 2022, following the retirement of Mick Mars from touring, that John 5 decided to pick up the axe for Mötley Crüe and join them on their live tour.
You only need to look as far as John 5’s official social media pages to see his devotion to the band. He’s been putting up regular clips of him covering some of their greatest hits, including “Louder Than Hell” and “Bastard”. By all accounts, John 5 has taken up the mantle very well, helping to extend the legend of the infamous band to the modern day.
Mötley Crüe was also known for their hedonistic ways, with Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, and Mars being as rock ‘n’ roll as they come. For such a high-powered heavy metal band, they experienced very little turnover, with only brief stints from replacement vocalists and drummers in the 90s.
Still very well-known to this day, the band has sold over 100 million albums and is beloved by rock music fans. Such is their appeal that other lines of entertainment have tried to draw from their fandom. In the iGaming sector, some of the best slot sites boast music-themed titles. Ranking fourth on the list, Casumo, which offers a welcome bonus and 20 extra spins, hosts the official, hard-rocking Mötley Crüe slot. It stars the iconic original quartet, a motorcycle club setting, and, of course, the Wild Side.
When people think of Guns N’ Roses, they think of Axl Rose going mad as the frontman, Slash in his top hat on the guitar, and Duff McKagan on bass guitar. However, since 2002, Richard Fortus has been a key part of the band, featuring for 14 years before McKagan and Slash returned in 2016. Along with Rose and Dizzy Reed, he’s the longest-serving member of GNR.
Fortus has also been a part of The Dead Daisies, worked a great deal with The Psychedelic Furs, and was a member of Thin Lizzy. Most recently, while on tour, he’s been working in close collaboration with Gretsch Guitars on a pair of Richard Fortus Signature Falcon models, which are designed to survive even the toughest of tours. Given his spell with GNR through the Chinese Democracy album to the return of McKagan and Slash, he’s the best guitarist to model such specs on.
Finally, there’ll be Rikki Rockett, who founded and has played drums for Poison from its very inception. Since 1983, Rockett has been sitting behind his set, smashing the backing for the glam metal band. However, he’s also forged his own solo album, Glitter 4 Your Soul, and in 2015, created a supergroup. The Devil City Angels were made up of Rockett, Tracii Guns, Brandon Gibbs, and Eric Brittingham, and they released one album.
For your chance to rock out with these three legends, be sure to book your spot at Rock Camp this year!
