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01-30-12 - New Damien Music video "I'm Alive" to be aired at halftime during the Super Bowl. Video to appear on YouTube, Facebook, and all Damien affiliated websites!
04-09-11 - Thank you so much for coming out. It was awesome to see everyone and I am very grateful for it. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
Next up, a very sweet video from last night. I'm thinking June or July at the latest. Stay tuned!
04-09-11 - See you all at the Omni tonight! Looking forward to it my friends.
12-27-10 - Well ladies and gents....it snowed in hell last night as the band Damien came to a decision at the conclusion of a two-hour meeting.
On Saturday, April 9, 2011, Damien will make a special one night appearance at the Omni in Toledo, Ohio. I keep thinking of the fat dude
with the mischievous grin in Animal House saying, "Oh boy, is this great!"
12-20-10 - I was on a conference call with the rest of the members of Damien last night. We are hashing out what could be the first Damien concert in 6 years.
I would say it all looks very encouraging right now. Stay tuned!
11-02-10 - Well I am headed to Detroit this Saturday for a week to mix down the new Damien CD. Hooking up with Black Label at the Filmore on Sunday.
Looks like a very good week to me!
PRESS RELEASE - Erotica, horror, and a complete reworking of vampire mythology!
Randy V, inspired by the Marquis de Sade’s Juliette and Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, reworks vampire mythology in his debut novel
Coven of Celsus – Elizabeth to create “the most dangerous vampire story ever told.” In this unique and original complete reworking of vampire
mythology, the author introduces us to vampires with an overwhelming affinity for sadistic orgies and what they consider justifiable homicide,
preferably at the same time. These vampires live for 117 years and then become spirits for 117 years, with this cycle of reincarnation lasting
forever. The story takes place in the present, which happens to be the 17th reincarnation.
Coven of Celsus – Elizabeth centers around nine vampires, one man and eight women, each of whom feeds in a different manner. Celsus and Nona come back into
each reincarnation with their full memories, while the haunted, world-weary lycanthrope Celsus, in a variety of increasingly sadistic sexual orgies, releases
both the memories and the “true selves” of the other seven women at each reincarnation. In this novel of erotic horror, the title character, Elizabeth, is
the eighth member of the nine-member coven. The novel follows the beautiful, deeply disaffected Elizabeth as she finds her “true” self, all while Celsus pulls
her strings, notes the author, “like a puppet.” Concurrently, the other members of the coven sexually overwhelm and execute two pedophile priests and a former
brutal boyfriend, as well as others, in increasingly bizarre and sexually gruesome ways that take vampires, and their deadly desires, to an entirely new level.
Celsus’ philosophy throughout the book – eat to excess, drink to excess, fornicate to excess – creates what the author calls “an incendiary, very sexual book
with dialog regarding organized religion that is difficult to refute.”
07-19-10 - No words can describe the new Damien material. All I can say is that this is the best work I have ever done, both as a singer
and a lyricist. I do hope it is unleashed upon the world sooner rather than later. It will surprise you and turn many heads. These songs are certainly
not what anyone (including myself) was expecting. The best part of the new songs is their uniqueness, an amazing feat by any genre in the year 2010.
OK my darlings, I have finally started the sequel to my debut novel. The new book is titled Coven of Celsus – Heather, and will prove every bit as provocative
as the first story. With all the main characters firmly established I can get right into the new story with minimal explanation. The open pages are already
shocking, albeit not unexpected (yeah, I'm grinning like the devil). I'll keep you posted.
05-19-10 - Remembering Ronnie James Dio - Four days have passed since Ronnie James Dio, my idol and mentor, passed on. I wanted to relate what this
man ment to me personally. To tell this story, we have to travel way back in time.
For me, the initial 'bite' of the music biz came from 'Kiss'. It was the grandeur and spectacular stage show, with the rising stages, pyro, and larger-than-life
characters that moved me as a young teen. There is no doubt that 'Kiss' started the ball rolling for me; I will concede that. But then my ears were exposed to
one of the most operatic and dramatic songs ever written/recorded, "Gates of Babylon" by Rainbow. While KISS had created a visual obsession, Ronnie's voice
got right into my soul. It was immediate. I had goosebumps – inspiration – spiritual – magical – and "on and on" as Ronnie would say. I aspired to be that
kind of singer and songwriter right then and there. For me, he was the top, the absolute pinnacle of an undeniable presence - a power that could drop you into
a terrible sadness or lift your spirit infinitely with merely a few lines. His tone was rich beyond reason and he always had perfect pitch and amazing control.
I still remember how bummed I was when he was no longer with Rainbow. When I heard that he was the new singer of Black Sabbath, I was in disbelief. I just
couldn't fathom him being in that band, and I was a huge Sabbath fan myself. I went out and immediately purchased "Heaven and Hell", without question one of
the most iconic records of all time. I turned listening to that album into a ritual when I heard it the first time. That was the moment in time when I knew
exactly what I wanted to be. I was moved to tears when I first heard Children of the Sea. There was no turning back.
The second concert of my life was Black Sabbath on the Mob Rules tour. I fought my way right to the front of the stage. I'm always amazed I didn't get my ass
kicked that night. I would not be denied seeing Ronnie up close and personal. It was a spiritual and pivotal event for me. Besides the obvious, his lyrics and
his voice, there was the absolute command of the audience. As all concert goers know, being at the front barrier can be a life and death situation…as in getting
crushed. There were moments during that concert when the entire crowd just eased back, almost like mass hypnosis. I walked away from that show with total
resolve…inspired by the pure magic that was Ronnie James Dio.
In the early 80s, Damien was the unquestionable power in Northwestern Ohio. They were at the top of their game and had just lost their drummer and their singer.
Chuck and Fritz were headhunting for Johnny, who was playing in a cover band at the time. I was just a scrawny crazy-haired teen from Iowa singing
in Johnny's band. The two guitarists showed up incognito at a Moose Lodge of all places, where we were playing a teen dance. Even those two will admit they never
even considered asking me for an audition (Johnny had it wrapped) until they heard me sing "Man on the Silver Mountain" by Rainbow. That alone secured my audition.
Fritz told me about the cold winter night when I came downtown and started singing one of Ronnie's "You’re the man" solos on the night of the
audition. I didn't look the part yet, but that moment sealed it.
Within four years I was signed to Select/Elektra. The fist reviews that came out stated that my voice was Dio-esque or "much like Dio". I took that as a compliment.
If you listen to the Damien song "Season of the Arrow" you'll understand what I am talking about. I'll never forget what he did for me. I became the singer for Damien
solely because of my obsession to be like him. I knew after that record that I would have to work on my own sound, but I owe the part and the deal to Ronnie.
Getting signed comes with great perks. I finally got to meet him. He was in the middle of his "Sacred Heart" tour. A private meeting had been arranged after his show
in Toledo. I actually got to sit and talk alone with him for about 15 minutes. I am forever grateful to the universe for those 15 minutes. I asked him about the meaning
of some of my favorite songs, gave him the 1st Damien CD, and an unpublished song which he signed for me, stating the lyrics were great. I was floored. I remember the
conclusion of that meeting. I remember when he said, "Randy, don't ever sell out. Always do what you love." I told him that everything that I was as a singer and
lyricist I owed to him. He just walked up to me and hugged me, and that was it. I walked away from that meeting empowered. What sticks out in my mind was his
sweetness, his humbleness. He was a great singer and songwriter, no doubt, but more than that, he was an amazing human being.
I will miss you Ronnie, as many others will, but I have enough of your work to sustain me for the remainder of my life. Thank you.
05-16-10 - Ronnie James Dio was my mentor. It was he who taught me how to sing and write. He was an amazing soul. Today my heart is broken…
05-14-10 - To my cowardly enemy who can't face me -
Someone (who has no life of their own apparently) has attempted to sabotage my livelihood because they found the book offensive.
Thankfully, the powers that be have decided I have done no wrong. To this poor soul with nothing better to do than watch my every move religiously,
I submit the following story.
But before I do, let me give you this; I am not the forgiving type. I will not crawl and hide because you think you have exposed me. On the contrary,
I am above your judgments and far beyond your reproach. I will bite you back, and you better know it will hurt like hell. You've been warned.
Now, about my character, I submit this to the "whole" world…
I find myself in a place of extreme religious intolerance and patriotic hypocrisy. This incident occurred a little over ten years ago. For legal reasons,
I may not give the name of the charging party nor the respondent. I was an investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC). My job was
to investigate, and possibly remedy, discrimination in the work place. One day a woman came to me saying that she was being discriminated against because she
was a Christian. I did not excuse myself, nor give myself away as a practitioner of Shamanism and Wicca (aka The Old Religion). The woman told me that it
was against her beliefs to attend Halloween parties. She explained to me that she had her minister write a letter to her employer (one of the top universities
in the country) to please excuse her from attending the annual Halloween party. She explained that the previous year, she would help decorate, but that she
would not attend. She did not attend, and the university gave her written notice that if she did not attend another social function, her employment would be
terminated. And so it was that her minister wrote yet another letter for her asking that she please be excused from the next Halloween party. She again did
not attend, and was fired.
In her religion (some form of Christianity) Halloween is evil. In The Old Religion it is sacred as the greatest of our harvest festivals, a time when
we give thanks to the Mother Earth for all She has given us, and a time to remember those who have gone on to the spirit plane. It is our New Year's Eve. Here
I was, defending her right to her beliefs. It is a fact that she would have requested another investigator, had she known what I believed in. As it was, I got
her job back, and a substantial cash settlement. Why? Because I believe in tolerance, to allow someone to think, act, worship, and pursue happiness as they please,
free from harassment and free from discrimination, no matter what their beliefs.
This is who I am.
03-29-10 - BOOKS ARE FINALLY IN! Back orders will ship out tomorrow. Heading into the studio next week with Damien for nine nights of killer recordings.
You never know, we may get the bulk of the CD done. All I can tell you right now is this is the best I have ever done lyrically and vocally. You will not be disappointed.
03-11-10 - UPDATES AND RANTS
1) If you haven't done so, write a review on
Amazon.com. Everything helps right now, and that's a big one for me. Come on fans, write that review!
2) The Damien songwriting process is running smoothly considering I'm 2,500 miles away from the rest of the band. Gearing up for the studio and heading to Toledo for
the first week in April to get a lot of shit done. Our goal is to lay down the drums, bass, and melodies for 5 to 8 songs. The music is really something special. I'm
sure you'll love it. We're looking to get most of it done this summer; autumn at the latest.
3) I am under the impression that there are quite a few "enlightened souls" that believe Johnny is straying from the path by participating in a new Damien project. Since
I could not defend him on Facebook (still having a problem with their privacy protocols), I have decided to speak my mind here and will repost this on the MySpace page.
This project is all about the music. I have known Johnny most of my life and he has been the principle drummer in the three great music projects that represent my time
as a singer and lyricist. It was Johnny's famous aunt, the late great Ruby Star, who introduced us when we were still in our teens. This project has nothing to do with
religion, nor should it reflect badly on Johnny. I believe his faith is rock solid. The environment is healthy and relaxed, and for once the four of us are writing for
ourselves without any preconceived motive such as a recording deal or to appease the void in the rock music world. That is a pure writing environment that I have never
experienced before. This is about friendship and artistry, not religion. Since I am the lyricist and singer, a hard-core libertarian, and sneer at any attempts at
censoring what I decide to write, I say this to you as nice and as politely as I can, "Mind your own F'N business."
Have a good night and as always, thank you for your support,
Randy
02-01-10 - HAPPY IMBOLC! - New featured author article in Paper Dragon Ink - CLICK HERE!
12-22-09 - TOLEDO CITY PAPER (edited for mistakes) - Sex, blood, and rock-n-roll by Jason Weber - Once upon a time, before Twilight and The Vampire Diaries defanged them, turned them into pretty boy
metrosexuals and damned them to a hell of posters, lunchboxes, and Trapper Keepers, vampires were vampires — dark and macabre creatures of the night representing mankind’s fear of death and repressed sexual desires.
University of Toledo grad and musician-cum-author Randy V is making vampires evil and sexy once again with his new book Coven of Celsus: Elizabeth, a 270-page erotic horror story loaded with elements
that would make any Twilight fan blush — sadomasochism, cannibalism, torture, and sex. Lots of it. There’s a reason why the book is being marketed as ‘The Most Dangerous Vampire Story Ever Told.’
“This book is graphic beyond belief, there’s no getting around that,” said Randy, who now lives in Seattle. “I have an eight-year old daughter and if I can help it, she’ll never read the book.”
Randy’s fiction may be odd, strange and shocking, but that’s nothing compared to the life he’s lived. A Twin Cities native, Randy first came to Toledo in the early-‘80s when he was 16 years old after meeting
Black Oak Arkansas vocalist — and Toledo native — Ruby Starr (aka: Connie Little) at a gig in Burlington, Iowa where he was living at the time. Starr introduced Randy to her nephew Johnny Cappelletty, a
young aspiring musician living in Toledo. Randy subsequently moved to Toledo, joining the heavy metal band Damien with Cappelletty.
Throughout the late ‘80s, Damien flirted with mainstream success, receiving significant airplay on MTV’s “Headbanger’s Ball,” releasing albums on Select Records,
and touring with metal legends like Yngwie Malmsteen and Quiet Riot. Following the implosion of Damien in the early ‘90s (though the band reunited in 2004), Randy’s life
took dozens of interesting twists. Among the more novel events — living in Stockholm, Sweden for six months. Enlisting in the U.S. Army at age 30 (“They called me
‘Gramps’ when I was in basic training”) and later joining the U.S Air Marshalls; forming another metal band (Fetish Doll) and nearly getting fired by the government
after they got a look at one of the band’s blood and gore-filled videos.
But all of these frenzied, surreal life changes in some way contributed to Coven of Celsus: Elizabeth, which Randy first self-published in 2007 — under the pseudonym
Shauna Tully, as to avoid raising his employer’s ire any further. Randy spent much of early 2009 editing and rewriting the novel. The revised version focuses more on character and plot and less on sex and gore — though there’s still plenty for everyone.
“I took out some sadism and put in some more story,” says Randy. “Now, I’m really happy with it.”
And what of the book itself? For one thing, parts of the story take place in Toledo, with landmarks like the Toledo Repertoire Theatre and the University of Toledo
referred to in the story. Plotwise, it’s pretty complex, describing the erotic and vampiric adventures of a young Toledo woman named Elizabeth and her induction into a
clan of vampires, all of whom have different methods of feeding. Though the book’s cheerfully grotesque content will put off more sensitive readers, those with a taste
for the macabre will find Coven of Celsus: Elizabeth a bloody good time.
“This is not a book for all tastes, but the (readers) who love it, really love it.”
Coven of Celsus: Elizabeth is available for at Amazon.com and through RANDY's website (www.r-hole.com). Also visit the Coven of Celsus fan page at www.myspace.com/wickedshauna
12-07-09 - Released today. First review! - Independent Collegian - CLICK HERE!
11-17-09 - The book signing was an absolute success! – Thank you Toledo for all your support. It was truly great to see everyone that showed up for the event,
including some very dear friends who I have not seen in ages. A special thanks to The Toledo Blade, Nick Bruno from The Independent Collegian, "Cyber-Bill" Getz,
Rob from RamaLama Records, Julia "Doll Face" Stein, the great Lady Artemis, and of course Kelly for her tireless devotion in telling the world about this book.
Thanks again everyone. I am truly grateful! – Randy
Supplemental – Damien spent four nights in a downtown Toledo studio working on a new song entitled Breathe. The five of us are committed to making a new CD.
It really is in the birth stages and working on it from Seattle will be the biggest challenge, but I have faith. Stay tuned.
11-14-09 - BOOK SIGNING TODAY!
11-08-09 - THE TOLEDO BLADE (section E, page 5 - book marks) - Randy V, former lead singer of Toledo bands Fetish Doll and Damien who now lives in Seattle,
will be in Toledo Saturday to sign copies of his self-published book Coven of Celsus at Ramalama Records, 3151 West Central Ave. The book is an erotic tale of a
coven of vampires and it will be on sale for $18 during the signing, which is from 4 to 5 p.m.
08-25-09 - Eugene, Oregon - Waited at will call, but no one showed. Then I started hearing some ugly rumors, some which turned out to be true. Their tour
manager Mark Furguson sent me an email saying he was swamped with the tour's cancellation. Here is the official press release from the BLS website about what happened today.
"BLACK LABEL SOCIETY FRONTMAN ZAKK WYLDE'S HEALTH TAKES CENTER STAGE - MEDICAL CONDITION HAS FORCED THE BAND TO DEPART THE PEDAL TO THE METAL TOUR IMMEDIATELY
LOS ANGELES, CA: August 25, 2009 - Black Label Society has performed their last show on “The Pedal To The Metal Tour” due to the health of frontman Zakk Wylde.
Wylde has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs, and has been admitted into the hospital in Eugene, OR this afternoon. Today's BLS appearance in Eugene has been
canceled, along with the remaining BLS appearances on the tour." Keep him in your thoughts and prayers and for updates, just go to any of their fan sites, or Zakk on
Twitter. For myself, I'll be catching up with the band when the book is finally out. He's a strong dude. I have no doubt he'll pull through this.
08-23-09 - Pedal To the Metal baby! Portland, Oregon. Mudvayne, Black Label Society, Static-X, Suicide Silence, Dope,
Bury Your Dead, and the extremely twisted Hellzapoppin' sideshow review. Got to meet Zakk, Nick, Craig, JD, and their tour manager Mark. They were down to earth and very
cool. They took a great photo with Zakk holding up a copy of my new book. A BLS song was referenced in the story, but you'll have to purchase a copy to find out what that was all
about. I'm heading down to Eugene to hook up with them again on Tuesday. Zakk left a great phone greeting on my cell and I deleted it. That sucked! It went something
like this; "Hi, this is Zakk Wylde from Black Label Society. Randy can't come to the phone right now because ... well it's too disgusting to get into. I'm just glad there aren't
any children around to see it. He'll get back to you when he's done." AND I ACCIDENTLY DELETED IT! Oh well, we'll try again Tuesday.
08-22-09 - Happy Birthday Layne. Still miss you so much. Hit the Showbox in Seattle for the 8th annual Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert. This was the
second time I attended this event and it affected me the same way. Seattle's Faceless and The Crying Spell tore up the stage and did awesome renditions of AIC that
were so good, you could close your eyes and feel Layne's spirit, which I did several times. Eddie Kowalczyk from the band Live finished out the night with "Man in the Box"
with The Crying Spell hammering out the melody. I got to hang out with Nancy McCallum (Layne's mom) for a bit. She has so much class and magic. The highlight of the
evening for me was when Nancy got on stage and sang to "Wake Up" by Mad Season. She did a perfect harmony over Layne's vocal and it was chilling to say the least. Paul Crosby
from Saliva stopped by and told us Slip Knot cancelled at the last minute due to some health problem with their drummer. Paul's band was opening here in Seattle at Auburn Hills
and told us that Mudvayne had to do a two-hour set to cover. I'm thinking that didn't go over well...
7-23-05 - TO DAMIEN & FETISH DOLL FANS:
I have spent most of my life in the music business and the music 'business' is why I am taking a big break.
Damien had an awesome run and continues to sell CDs to this day, thanks to the vision of Power Play Records.
There have been several individuals from the Toledo area that made a name for themselves in the field of rock,
but to my knowledge only the band Damien had a major record deal with two CDs out worldwide, two videos on MTV
and MTV Europe, and many appearances in national and international rock magazines, radio and television. I am
proud of the music I have made over the years and grateful to have worked in the company of great musicians from
Damien to Wolf Gang, and the fearsome Fetish Doll. I have no regrets whatsoever regarding my life in music.
I want to thank our fans around the globe for their continued support today, nearly a quarter of a century since
our inception. Without the fans, it's all meaningless. To those in the music business that bent over backward
for us, took a chance on us, and stuck by us, I salute you. To radio stations throughout Europe and the United States,
a huge thanks goes out to you. And to the awesome crew chiefs, crews, and techs I worked with, I could never give
enough praise.
My reasons for taking a step back are singular in nature. I have a beautiful daughter who I love more than my own
life. She has started singing and dancing and could very well be a second generation entertainer. My focus is
totally on her welfare now. Those of you close to me know that I can be a little temperamental. Well I've taken
about all I can stomach with regard to the music 'business', especially at the local level. Life is good and I
intend to keep it that way by eliminating that which consistently puts me in a gruesome mood.
Anyway, I wish the best for every musician I had the pleasure of working with over the years. I wish the best for
our families and fans that always made it happen. You might see me now and then and it looks like you might see
my daughter doing the same thing down the road. All I can leave you with is this; have a good life, it is far too
short to be pissed all the time.
Blessed be,
Randy
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