Badlands Bassist Greg Chaisson Talks Rob Halford & Surgical Steel - Phoenix, Arizona - Excerpt

[@Hallow334]

Really dug Badlands! Dreams in the Dark and Winter's Call are my favs from them.

[@lesreisinger1589]

Used to follow Surgical Steel and Icon(Schoolboys at the time) around Phoenix back then.

[@fullinbloom]

Very cool. Any Icon stories?

[@lesreisinger1589]

@@fullinbloom Not really, they were just a great local band, used to follow them around Phoenix, they were decent guys. It's too bad, they made the big time and it didn't last. I still listen to them today! I remember one night Surgical Steel played at Metro Center and Keeler got a little carried away and his guitar cord to his effects came unplugged and as I'm reaching to plug it back in he's pointing to the cord which I was already on it.

[@timwagner1897]

Greg, I absolutely love Badlands, met Jake and RDC at Marquee last year, you went on stage and did Highwire, . . anyways SS circa 83-86 played clubs, because i use to go to see Surgical Steel for metal mondays regularly at Clancy's off rural and apache in Tempe, and as i recall Rockers on Indian School . . though Bob was drummer, i recall singer Jeff Martin's drum kit would slide out for him to do drum solo also . . and i recall Halford singing with Madam X at Rockers also . .

[@MSneberger]

Greg did not mention here that Surgical Steel's singer when they were in their heydey - Jeff martin - who was also later the singer in Racer X, ended up being the drummer in Badlands after Eric Singer left. How about that for a connection? In preparation for the tour supporting the Turbo album Rob Halford sang an entire set with Surgical Steel at a tiny club in Phoenix called Rascals. For most of it the regular drummer Bob Milan took a break and Jeff played drums, then Bob got back on his kit and Jeff went out front and sang with Rob. All Priest covers and a few Steel songs. Jeff Martin is a fantastic singer, but Rob in a tiny venue was pretty amazing. And of course Scott Travis the drummer from Racer X ends up drumming for Priest!

[@ALANRMOREY]

I was there for ALL of it! I was Jim k. Guitar tech band roadie and friends

[@johnadams2063]

Priest is my definition of metal!!! Love the guitar stuff !!! It's just my idea of how it should be as far as metal goes..

[@jamesvickers2323]

I saw surgical steel and icon in downtown Phoenix

[@Offroadandmusicfan]

Remeber Moon ?

[@jeffmartin3451]

Metal God, end of!

[@dannops]

Greg used to love flexing his biceps.

[@rlaw1971]

Wasn't Halford dating Surgical Steel's lead singer???

[@dannops]

The joke was always that Mark had AIDS. Looking back, it was in bad taste.

[@rlaw1971]

@@dannops I recall reading a letter in Circus or Hit Parader from SS's lead being very open but not explicit about a "special" friend Rob helping him to improve in more ways then one..

[@imaouima]

When I was in high school (in AZ) back in the 80s, that was the big rumor.

[@ALANRMOREY]

Hey don't be scared! Take your meds