Rik Fox
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Richard Suligowski (born December 28, 1955), better known today as Rik Fox, is an American heavy metal bassist. He was active mainly during the 1970s and 1980s, in the New York City and Hollywood area rock and metal scenes.


Early life

Fox was born in
Amityville, New York Amityville () is a village near the Town of Babylon in Suffolk County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York. The population was 9,523 at the 2010 census. History Huntington settlers first visited the Amityville area in 1653 du ...
, on Long Island, and raised in the
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neighborhood of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. While in high school, Fox was interested in
rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States an ...
and
photography Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employe ...
, choosing as his subjects, the flashy personalities of the
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
glam scene of the early 1970s. Among many other famous New York City bands performing on the city's club scene at such famous locales as
Max's Kansas City Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South in New York City, which became a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s. It was opened by Mickey Ruskin (1933–1983) in Decembe ...
and
CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kr ...
(clubs he would also later perform in with a group he joined during the height of the New York City club scene marking his professional debut on Halloween in 1975 at Max's, the Martian Rock Band), he also photographed early
Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
. During this period, he dated
younger sister
of original Kiss drummer
Peter Criss George Peter John Criscuola (born December 20, 1945), better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established The Ca ...
. Fox and Criss became friends and Fox witnessed the formation of legendary rock band Kiss from the very beginning, including the addition of lead guitarist
Ace Frehley Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley (; born April 27, 1951) is an American musician, best known as the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of the hard rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman (a.k.a. Space Ace) and played wit ...
. During his formative club band years, after establishing himself on the 'scene', with the Martian Rock Band and performing at the famed NYC club
Max's Kansas City Max's Kansas City was a nightclub and restaurant at 213 Park Avenue South in New York City, which became a gathering spot for musicians, poets, artists and politicians in the 1960s and 1970s. It was opened by Mickey Ruskin (1933–1983) in Decembe ...
and
CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in Manhattan's East Village. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for '' Country'', '' BlueGrass'', and '' Blues'', Kr ...
, in 1976, Fox found himself joining a well-established New Jersey glam-heavy club band making the rounds named Virgin. Virgin eventually became known as SIN upon Fox's suggested band name change. From the band's biography: "SIN was originally formed in New York/New Jersey in 1976 -77, coming out of the ashes of New Jersey club circuit bands VIRGIN and LUST, with the name SIN first being coined by bassist Rik Fox, bringing with him, drummer Basil Stanley (Stan Bassel from Long Island), joining Ian Criss and Keith (Vinny Matthews) Starz. In this line-up the band performed until 1978-79, when Criss left to join another band called Angelface. Fox retained the rights to the name SIN and, after moving to L.A. in 1982 to join Sister and name the heavy metal band W.A.S.P. After departing W.A.S.P., Fox networked around L.A. and eventually rehearsed for a short time with both
Warlord A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...
and Hellion (although never recording or performing live with either band), eventually joining Steeler Steeler (American album) for one album and after leaving Steeler, with now-proven club-drawing power, reformed two Los Angeles versions of SIN once again."


Career


W.A.S.P.

After moving to
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, at the invitation of Blackie Lawless, and arriving on February 4, 1982, Fox played bass-guitar in several bands, including Steeler, Sin, and W.A.S.P.. Although the band was called Sister upon his arrival, relatively speaking, he was only associated with W.A.S.P. for four months, February 1982-the end of May, 1982), and recorded a 'live' three-track cassette demo. He came up with the name "W.A.S.P.", (there were no periods in the band name at this time—which was validated in an interview by former W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper). The idea is said to have occurred to him after he stepped on a
wasp A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. ...
in the courtyard of the house where he lived with band leader Blackie Lawless. The story of W.A.S.P. is retold in the books ''Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal'' by David Konow, and "W.A.S.P.; A Sting in the Tale" by Darren P. Upton, As stated, this is confirmed by W.A.S.P. guitarist Randy Piper at a time of Piper's height of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as in several online interviews with him. On the other hand, some who witnessed the formation of W.A.S.P. explain that Rik Fox participated in the band after drummer Tony Richards showed up in the scene; according to Richards, the name was not Circus Circus when he joined the band. Fox contends that to his recollection, the band was named
Sister A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to r ...
when he joined. Lawless has since begrudgingly confirmed that Rik Fox had indeed, been a band member but, 'only for a couple of rehearsals', which may not be entirely accurate, since Fox spent some 4 months rehearsing and writing with the band. Fox is also shown in early band photographs taken by Don Adkins Jr. during the band's first photo session. Causing a firestorm of controversy thirty years later after the fact, despite the grumblings by some die-hard W.A.S.P. fans desperately attempting to re-write a revisionist history of the band, it should be submitted for consideration that, since Fox created the bands' name while he was, in fact, an early co-founding band member, at that moment of the creation of it becoming the band now-known as W.A.S.P., technically speaking, no matter what happened to the band after Fox left, that historic point still qualifies him as an original founding member along with Lawless, Piper and Richards. All this, has been verified and validated by former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes who has stated he agrees to all of the information as being true. Many unverified allegations usually follow band membership changes, and Fox was no stranger to that. Both Lawless and Richards' narrative, allege that "Rik Fox couldn't do it in the band, his playing was just not right", so they "let him go in a very short period of time." Which comes off as plausible, only because of Lawless's career being much stronger. However, Fox's bass tracks, found on the now rare, collectible live, 'original' W.A.S.P. 3-track demo recorded at Pipers' studio tell a very different story; showing a very solid and melodic bass style by Fox and how much Lawless' narrative was apparently incorrectly misinforming the public. Further, it should also be considered that since it is widely recognized that 'power associates itself with power', it is abundantly clear that if Fox had moved on to a larger successful career, that, thirty years later, nobody would bother attempting to dismiss or dispute his membership in W.A.S.P.; it would have obviously been openly acknowledged by Lawless. Case in point; New York City guitarist Ivan Kral co-founded the band Blondie and left before the band's first album, similar to Fox's relation to W.A.S.P. Nobody contends or disputes that point, but for Fox's situation, such is the case of being denied membership or credit in the band's history. Furthermore, the question has been put forth in many interviews: "What would W.A.S.P. have been called, if not for Fox's membership in that first original line-up and suggestion in the first place?"


Steeler

After leaving W.A.S.P., Fox spent a short time rehearsing briefly with both
Warlord A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...
and Hellion, and then joined the Ron Keel fronted band Steeler in 1983. He'd put an ad in a Los Angeles music magazine looking for a gig and got a call from Keel himself. Fox auditioned for Steeler and was offered the job, but before he'd accepted it, he was offered the bassist duties in the band
Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inclu ...
by keyboardist Greg Giuffria. Fox had a bit of a dilemma, being tempted by Giuffria's offer since Angel was his 'dream band'. After considering both offers, Fox decided to join the hot, up and coming Steeler. Fox spent five months in Steeler, long enough to record the self-titled album and play some amazing gigs before being unceremoniously let go from the band. This apparently happened to many musicians in L.A. at the time, known for its 'revolving door' with many players constantly switching membership in bands. The decision to release Fox was apparently made by Keel and drummer Mark Edwards (who was responsible for informing Fox) for 'unspecified reasons', and caught Fox completely by surprise. Considering that the band was gaining huge momentum and doing well, this move confused both Fox and the fans, with Steeler changing line-ups twice more again within several months before finally becoming the band
Keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
. According to Fox, Edwards has since spoken with him in 2009 and stated that he "regretted the way the dissolution of the album line-up occurred", further stating that "had that line-up been able to stay together, that a major label signing would definitely have been forthcoming, and the band would have moved to the next plateau of national and international success." Fox actually received more mileage from his time with Steeler after his tenure with W.A.S.P., and contends that Steeler "was one of the seminal cornerstones of the Hollywood rock scene in the early 1980s." This laid the groundwork that was integral for many of the bands yet to follow, such as Poison and Guns N' Roses, just as the MTV era was being introduced to rock music fans. At the time of the original membership change, after Fox's membership was confirmed, Steeler acquired the services of a young, up-an-coming Swedish guitar-whiz virtuoso named Yngwie J. Malmsteen, which gave the band some much-garnered attention, selling out venues and opening for the likes of
Hughes/Thrall Hughes/ Thrall was a musical project formed in 1982 by former Deep Purple and Trapeze bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes and guitarist Pat Thrall. History While Pat Thrall had spent the late 1970s and early 1980s making a name for himself by pl ...
, Vandenberg, and
Quiet Riot Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in Los Angeles in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni. The original lineup featured Rhoads and Garni with lead vocalist Kevin DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth, though th ...
at a high point in their respective careers. Unfortunately, Steeler changed their line-up several more times before calling it quits, with Ron Keel eventually forming KEEL under his surname
Keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
. In addition to the 'classic' Steeler debut album, two more Steeler releases have surfaced over the years in the Steeler legacy: '' Steeler; Excited '83'' (Perkins Palace, Pasadena, CA, USA, supporting
Quiet Riot Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in Los Angeles in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni. The original lineup featured Rhoads and Garni with lead vocalist Kevin DuBrow and drummer Drew Forsyth, though th ...
- a rare, excellent quality, live, collectors bootleg), and the Ron Keel released '' Metal Generation: The Steeler Anthology''. Rik Fox appears on all three albums. There are also several YouTube live bootleg Steeler performances recorded off the 'board mix' showing how talented as musicians this band really was. With show host
Eddie Trunk Edward Scott Trunk (born August 8, 1964) is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author, best known as the host of several hard rock- and heavy metal-themed radio and television shows. Biography Trunk was born on ...
admittedly being a big fan of Steelers' (small by comparison but equally integral) contribution to heavy metal music history, the question on the minds of the fans of
That Metal Show ''That Metal Show'' is a talk show that premiered on VH1 Classic on November 15, 2008 and ended on May 9, 2015 with a span of 14 seasons. Hosted by Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, the series features three hosts interviewing musi ...
, is the oversight, 'while Yngwie Malmsteen has been a guest of the show several times, why then, has Steeler (as a band-together) been denied consideration as guests?' *Updated note: May 10, 2019 saw a long-awaited Steeler reunion during the KEELFEST concert event held at the Alrosa Villa club in Columbus, Ohio, featuring legendary guitarist
Mitch Perry Mitchell Perry (born 27 April 2000) is an Australian cricketer. He made his List A debut on 19 November 2019, for Victoria in the 2019–20 Marsh One-Day Cup. He made his first-class debut on 30 October 2020, for Victoria in the 2020–21 Sheffi ...
.


Going solo with SIN

Meanwhile, after leaving Steeler, Fox was now 'on the map' and had a bankable reputation and sizable following, enough to now attempt to sell out clubs on his name alone. And so, Fox re-founded the band SIN. (This happened when he formed a band and referred back to the band name he used back in his New Jersey club days going back to 1977-SIN). Fox's first L.A. line-up began to sell out clubs rapidly drawing attention, following on the heels of his popular notoriety from Steeler. However, within six months, despite recording and releasing a 'heavy' Angel-meets Judas Priest sounding, now-rare, snake-shaped collectors' picture disc single of the Fox/Drossin penned "On the Run" backed with "Captured in Time", disagreements erupted over a potential new band management direction that Fox questioned, which resulted in the previously unknown band members beginning to publicly entertain ideas of stealing the SIN band name and kicking Fox out of his own band and replace him. Things came to a head during recording what would have been their first album when, after apologizing to the producer of these sessions,
Bill Metoyer Bill Metoyer is an American record producer who has recorded with Slayer, Deliverance, Hirax, Morbid Angel, Trouble and Tourniquet. He has worked at Metal Blade Records for several years as house producer and currently works as A&R. He also wo ...
, Fox stormed out of the session. Wasting no time, Fox quickly re-formed another line up using three newly relocated members of the New York band, Mongol Horde recording artists Alien, who had recently disbanded in New York, contacted Fox and came to Los Angeles to join him in reforming a new line-up of SIN. This line-up enjoyed some well-noticed success, and outstandingly outdid his previous band's accomplishments, finding themselves being voted in a Los Angeles music magazine's fans poll for 'The top drawing rock/metal band cumulative for 1984 over Keel, Stryper and Odin.' They headlined in dozens of packed-house concerts and shows, including the annual ' Los Angeles Street Scene' before some 5,000 people. This line-up of Sin also co-headlined a show with Christian metal band Stryper and directly supported a show with his former Steeler bandmate band Ron Keel's band
Keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
. Doors were now opening for Fox and SIN. After being approached and picked up by Jerry Weintraub's 'Management 3' in Beverly Hills, Fox was 'advised' (coerced) to replace vocalist Frank C. Starr (see The Four Horsemen) and drummer Mark Anthony Benquechea who were replaced by musicians of producer Dana Strum's choosing and, with singer Mark Slaughter singing the tracking vocals they entered Encore Studios in 1985 to record album master demos, being produced by
Vinnie Vincent Vincent John Cusano (born August 6, 1952), better known by his stage name Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist. He is a former member of the rock band Kiss from 1982 until mid-1984 during the band's transition out of their 1973–1983 make ...
bassist Dana Strum (who also produced among other L.A. bands, the band
Burn A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ultraviolet radiation (like sunburn). Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire. Burns occur ma ...
). Showing promise, SIN now began receiving attention from the major record labels. However, despite Fox trying desperately to keep it together, misfortune struck again and the band's internal chemistry and Management issues caused Fox to disband Sin which then fell apart. To add insult to injury, producer Strum then openly violated copyright laws by handing over Fox' song "On the Run" to Vincent Vincent who changed the lyrics and re-recorded it as "Let Freedom Rock" for his own album '' All Systems Go (Vinnie Vincent Invasion album)''. When Fox attempted to sue, Strum threatened with a counter-suit to 'bleed Fox dry' and then following, Vincent claimed bankruptcy. (See also, the Number 1 fan -voted Decibel Geek Podcast episode: http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.com/2011/07/vinnie-vincent-special-part-1.html ).


New band life - Burn and Surgical Steel

Upon the break-up of Sin, Fox was quickly approached by Niji Management (associated with Wendy Dio, wife of
Ronnie James Ronnie James (8 October 1917 – 12 June 1977) was a British Lightweight boxing champion. Born in Swansea, Wales, James had over 130 professional bouts winning 114 of them, 61 through knockout. In 1946 he challenged Ike Williams at Cardiff fo ...
)'s band
Burn A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ultraviolet radiation (like sunburn). Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire. Burns occur ma ...
(formerly Hellion), who shared the same producer ( Dana Strum), and was accepted into the band, spending several months rehearsing with them in 1986. Shortly after, the band eventually dismissed their singer, Richard Parico. Fox then approached a fellow New Yorker, former Anthrax lead singer
Neil Turbin Neil Turbin (born December 24, 1963) is an American singer known for being the first full-time vocalist for thrash metal band Anthrax (American band), Anthrax. He is the current lead vocalist and songwriter of Heavy metal music, heavy metal ban ...
to offer him the gig, which Turbin turned down in favor of his own project. During a break in rehearsals, Fox flew to Arizona to scout potential gigs for Burn. At a Loudness concert there, he was approached to join Arizona heavy metal band Surgical Steel, (a band formerly fronted by Jeff Martin later in
Badlands Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded."Badlands" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 47. They are characterized by steep slopes, m ...
and Racer X, and featuring Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford on one of their demos). This meeting led to spending several months performing and recording an album with them and supporting the
Lita Ford Lita Rossana Ford (born 19 September 1958) is an English-born American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She was the lead guitarist for the all-female rock band the Runaways in the late 1970s, before embarking on a successful glam metal sol ...
band for a 1987 New Year's Eve concert. Unfortunately, misfortune struck again when Surgical Steel's financial backing fell through to finish the album, and the recording deal fell through leaving the album unfinished. Fox eventually left the band, returning to Hollywood, (with apparently no 'playing issues' at fault claimed there, either). Fox had successfully recorded with
Dokken Dokken is an American glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. It split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The band had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as " Alone Again", " In My Dreams", and " Burn ...
drummer
Mick Brown (musician) Michael J. Brown (born September 8, 1956), a.k.a. "Wild" Mick Brown, is an American drummer who has played in the rock bands Dokken, Ted Nugent, Lynch Mob, and Xciter. Early life Brown was born in San Mateo County, California, on September ...
for the Surgical Steel sessions. Fox stated in his interviews that "this pattern of bad luck began to take on the appearance of his developing a penchant for joining popular name bands that, despite looking very promising going in, were, in effect, already sinking ships... it began to look like I couldn't stay with a band for very long, which, despite outward appearances, as anyone can easily see, was not the case, since they fell part on their own soon after I left them and I had moved on to other ventures." However, in the waning years of the 1980s, Rik Fox has had the good fortune to have shared the stage and performed with some of Rock's Legends, including the late Ronnie James Dio and rock comedian
Sam Kinison Samuel Burl Kinison ( ; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. A former Pentecostal preacher, he performed stand-up routines that were characterized by intense sudden tirades, punctuated with his distinc ...
, Little Steven, Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo, as well as Kiss guitarist Mark St. John, and Bruce Springsteen's drummer, ‘Mighty’ Max Weinberg, (in the late 1970s), Roseanne's
John Goodman John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is an American actor. He gained national fame for his role as the family patriarch Dan Conner in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC comedy series ''Roseanne'' (1988–1997; 2018), for which he rec ...
, producer
Jean Beauvoir Jean Beauvoir is an American singer, bassist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and entertainment executive. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with the punk group the Plasmatics and went on to work with Little Steven ...
, as well as the band Warrant and Guns N' Roses, among others at various all-star jams, or, jamming with the likes of Steppenwolf's legendary guitarist Michael Monarch.


1990s

Not one to stand still, despite some mistaken rumors being circulated that Fox has 'not done anything significant since he left Steeler', nothing could be further from the truth; Fox's music career may have taken a slight turn, but never entirely ended. After he abandoned his last popular band, Thunderball, and then Flyboyz, in the early 1990s. He abandoned his 'pretty-boy look' and played in a local, low-key Hollywood band Wiseguys, radically camouflaging himself into a rather incognito image that better fit the band Ministry, than the more Glam-looking bands he created or performed with. Seeing the writing on the wall, with the arena styled rock music of the 1980s being phased out in the 1990s, many musicians began to look elsewhere for employment to survive, and so, Fox began to broaden his horizons and take a personal break from music for a while, and try some new ventures.


New interests

After having served five years in the California State Military Reserve (which is a lower civilian branch of the U.S. Army), as a radio operator/communications NCO with the rank of E4 (Corporal), his interest moved on in all things military, which brought him to working in the film industry as an assistant
property master The property master, often called the prop(s) master, is an artistic and organizational employee in a film, television or theatrical production who is responsible for purchasing, acquiring, manufacturing, properly placing, and/or overseeing any p ...
, and weapons handler, working on some direct-to-video lower budget films and on the Network syndicated television series '' Air America'', featuring
Lorenzo Lamas Lorenzo Fernando Lamas (born January 20, 1958) is an American actor. He is widely known for his role of Lance Cumson, the irresponsible grandson of Angela Channing—played by Jane Wyman—in the soap opera ''Falcon Crest'' (1981–1990), for ...
, and the late
Scott Plank Scott Chapman Plank (November 11, 1958 – October 24, 2002) was an American actor who played Nick Reardon on ''Melrose Place'', and as Wiley Farrell on '' Air America''. Life and acting career Scott Plank was born in Washington, D.C. on Nove ...
, with whom Fox became close friends. Fox also dabbled in acting and took several film roles. He worked on the film 'Surface to Air' with
Chad McQueen Chadwick Steven McQueen (born December 28, 1960) is an American actor, film producer, martial artist, and race-car driver. As an actor and producer, he was known for playing Dutch in ''The Karate Kid'' and ''The Karate Kid Part II''. He is the ...
, Melanie Shatner, and
Michael Madsen Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1957) is an American actor. He has starred in many films and television series, frequently collaborating with director Quentin Tarantino, most famously in the latter's debut film '' Reservoir Dogs'' (1 ...
. Fox acted briefly on the television soap opera '' General Hospital'', acting directly with series anchor 'Luke'- Anthony Geary. Rik was also one of the featured interview subjects for the VH-1 Cable series 'Driven' for the episode "The Rise of Mötley Crüe" being a close friend of
Nikki Sixx Nikki Sixx (born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr.; December 11, 1958) is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a me ...
and the band, and recommended to VH-1 producers by former Hollywood booking agent Vicky Hamilton (music executive). Rik is also remembered as one of the featured interview subjects for the legendary Rock film parody, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years by friend and director
Penelope Spheeris Penelope Spheeris (born December 2, 1945 or 1946; sources differ) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. She has directed both documentary and scripted films. Her best-known works include the trilogy titled '' The Decline of ...
.


Renaissance and living history/re-enactment pioneer

Through acting, he eventually became involved with the
Renaissance Faire A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire or Renaissance festival is an outdoor gathering open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which purportedly recreates a historical setting for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent the ...
scene, and military timeline events such as the Old Fort MacArthur Days where he actively sought and succeeded to bring the noticeably absent Polish 17th century military history into the forefront. Fox has been referred to by many Polish media correspondents and others as a 'recognized pioneer' in this venture, of creating the first representation in the U.S., of the Polish winged hussar cavalry of central Europe which, apparently, is a part of his ancestry. Polish 17th century military author Bartosz Musialowicz had interviewed him and written an article about Rik, dubbing him with the honorary title of 'The First Saber of the U.S.' for founding and creating the first officially recognized representation of the Polish winged hussar cavalry in American history. Apart from being an internationally recognized rock musician, it is of interest to note that Rik is the first Polish-American of Polish noble (not 'royal') ancestry, to 'formally', represent the Polish Winged Hussar cavalry in U.S. history. Rock On Press/Polish Origin Among other accomplishments, Fox had been nominated as the vice-president of the Los Angeles chapter of the
Polish American Congress The Polish American Congress (PAC) is an American umbrella organization of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations. Its membership has fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, political organizations, and i ...
, in which he served a 4-year term augmenting his position in accomplishing raising Polish Historic Awareness and Culture with some recognition of his efforts by the Polish Consul in Los Angeles. He then stepped aside a second-term for family-related reasons.


Back to music and the Winged Hussars

Fox is also involved in co-promotion of the European and Japanese market release of ''The Steeler Anthology'' with former bandmate Ron Keel. A discussion of a possible Steeler reunion performance has been left open-ended so far. Although he has not left the music field entirely, broadening his horizons, in recent years, Fox has taken a new interest in learning the field of
natural horsemanship Natural horsemanship is a collective term for a variety of horse training techniques which have seen rapid growth in popularity since the 1980s. The techniques vary in their precise tenets but generally share principles of "a kinder and gentler ...
through his wife Tamara, (married on October 1, 2009 in a small private ceremony), and they train their (rescued) horses, while he continues to work on his pursuit of raising Polish historical awareness and culture and military history with their winged hussar group. Fox, today, is also making a comeback in music. Through Shrapnel Records producer
Mike Varney Mike Varney is an American record producer and music publisher. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records, and Blues Bureau International. He also has a 50% stake in Magna Carta Recor ...
, Fox has recently re-connected with fellow Steeler bandmate and drummer Mark Edwards. Renewed interest is being shown to Steeler, by
DJ Shadow Joshua Paul Davis (born June 29, 1972), better known by his stage name DJ Shadow, is an American DJ, songwriter and record producer. His debut studio album, '' Endtroducing.....'' was released in 1996. Biography Early years (1989–1995) DJ Sh ...
, who expressed interest in using some of Steeler's music for a new project, which will possibly revive an interest in Steeler once again for the next 'Metal Generation' to come as well as previous fans who still listen to their classic album. Rik Fox was interviewed in the 2011 book release ''W.A.S.P.; A Sting in the Tale'' by author Darren P. Upton, and asked to share his input on the early days of the band's creation of which he is now known to have been an original founding member of. Fox was also featured in three more book releases. The first book which will feature Fox, is by NPR personality Charlie Schroeder, titled ''Man of War'', regarding Schroeder's Walter Mitty-like embedded experiences of participating with various re-enactments of warriors of military history to see and experience what it was like to be those historical warriors. Among the many historical impressions in the book, Schroeder spent a day with Fox's Polish Winged Hussar living history group fully suited up in the famous winged armor. In the meantime, The second book, by KISS author Ken Sharp for the ''New York Times'' bestseller ''Nothing to Lose'' regarding the band
KISS A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
in their formative years, of which Fox was an active part. The book features various first-hand historical anecdotes and exclusive early live photos contributed by Fox. Rik Fox is also slated to be among the featured popular performers in the upcoming coffee table book 'Lost Rockers' scheduled for a 2015 publication release. The third book, by historian Miltiades Varvounis, titled ''Made in Poland: The Women and Men Who Changed the World'', in which Rik Fox was included among author's list of the 100 most influential Polish people that changed the world. In promoting his ancestral noble Polish heritage, Rik was featured as a 17th-century Polish winged hussar cavalry-knight figure in the Documentary film " Path to Glory; The Rise and Rise of the Polish Arabian Horse", as well as having been the featured subject in 2013, for the (Canadian) History Channel cable television series
Museum Secrets ''Museum Secrets'' is a TV series on History Television in Canada and a website with videos and games exploring the world's renowned museums and their most enigmatic objects. Narrated by Canadian actor Colm Feore, the TV series ran for three seas ...
(Kensington Productions), which selects various curious topics of history and expounds upon them. In Rik's case, for the episode dealing with the Moscow State Museum in Russia, and a suit of Polish winged armor on display there, the director and producer sought him out because, in the words of the segment producer: 'of all his active research on the subject and what he has brought to the table with regard to his being the most highly visible contributions of promoting the winged hussars and Polish history in the United States.' The episode dedicated to the winged hussars for Season Three is considered ground-breaking for finally producing valuable information being made available to the mainstream public in the English-language on the winged hussars, which was a major accomplishment and a dream come true for Fox. In addition to returning to music or reform another band line-up, Rik Fox has also recorded bass tracks for the re-make Rascal's song 'I Ain't Gonna Eat Out my Heart Anymore' (originally covered by the band Angel) for the Spiders & Snakes 2014 album release 'The Year of the Snake', and stepped in temporarily replacing bassist Phil St. Vincent for several live shows until Vincent returned. Fox also left his endorsement deal as an artist endorsing the GHS company, and currently has switched to promoting the DR brand of bass strings, and, has although finally become the owner of a white neck-thru-body
Epiphone Epiphone is an American musical instrument brand that traces its roots to a musical instrument manufacturing business founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire, and moved to New York City in 1908. After taking over his f ...
Thunderbird-IV™ bass, Fox has signed a deal to endorse the Esola Custom Guitar Company which will be making his own signature Rik Fox "Thunder Eagle™"(c) model bass. This will join his promotion and usage of the EMG bass pickups and Babicz custom bass bridge. Already being a published writer, (based on the entertainment value seen in his many online interviews and adventures), public demand has motivated Fox to pen his own biography, currently in the works, which promises to be a real catharsis of sorts. Fox is also writing a book on his creation and introduction of the winged hussars' representation in America. Rik Fox is re-entering the music scene making a comeback and, continues to give interviews and currently, is enjoying a resurgence in popularity and in contact with his friends and international fans in Facebook where many facets of his background can be seen there. Fox is also a graduate and active member of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is an Emergency Management Services augmentation support organization under the Los Angeles City and County Fire Department and
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), initially created under President Jimmy Carter by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978 and implemented by two Ex ...
(FEMA). He also holds a FEMA certificate and four completion certificates from the St. Petersburg College - Southeastern Public Safety Institute - Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force. Additionally, Fox is a licensed Security Officer, and a licensed Ham Radio operator, call-sign KM6CDJ.


Discography

Rik Fox Discography / Credits With the Martian Rock Band * 1975: New York City, N.Y. No recorded releases. Band photos by Leee Black Childers/Mainman. Several live performances (including the Max's Kansas City and CBGB's) Band photos, no demo, no known video. With SIN * 1977, First Sin Demo- Rock ‘n Reel Studios, L.I., N.Y. September *1977 “Lady Killer” (Rik Fox), “Dance Momma, Dance” (Ian Criss/Rik Fox/Vinnie Matthews), “Slasher” (Ian Criss), “Little Girl” (Ian Criss. Rik Fox). Band photos and demo only. No known video. With The E. Walker Band * 1980–81: Cover band - New Jersey/N.Y. Demo session/original songs. Bass credits only. Live Performances six nights per week, 1980–1981. Band photos and demo only. No known video. With Aggressor * 1982: Cover band - New Jersey/N.Y. Live performances / band photos only. Shrapnel Records recording artist, Guitarist Dave Ferrara was band member. No known video or recorded material with Fox. With W.A.S.P. * 1982, W.A.S.P. Demo (mistakenly referred to as ‘Face the Attack’), Magnum Opus rehearsal Studios, Buena Park, CA. April, 1982 Six songs. Wrote and played bass on; * B.A.D. * School Daze * On Your Knees * Sleeping in the Fire * Hellion * (One song not properly credited) “Master of Disaster” (Blackie Lawless/Rik Fox-Bass & lyrics). No live performances – band photos by Don Adkins Jr. With
Warlord A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...
* 1982: No Recorded releases/ no known band photos – taped rehearsals only. With Hellion * 1982: No recorded releases/ no known band photos – auditions/rehearsals only. With Steeler * 1982-83, Steeler Debut album, Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, CA. Shrapnel Records release. Recorded bass – entire album/all tracks. One cut credited: “Abduction” (Theme). Live performances March 1983—May 1983. No known video of this line-up. Studio: * 1983 - '' Steeler'' Live: * Steeler Excited '83, (Live album) Perkins Palace, Pasadena, CA, USA * Metal Generation: The Steeler Anthology With Chris Impeliteri – 1983: Rehearsals only /produced no known product/photos. With Sin * 1983, Sin (L.A. Mach I), Snake picture disc single released: “On the Run” (Rik Fox/H. Drossin), b/w “Captured in Time”. Now considered a rare collector's item. Several live performances, band photos, no known video available. * 1984, Sin (L.A. Mach II), Demo, Sunburst Studios, Culver City, CA. September 2, 1984. Producer: Rik Fox. Eight songs. Writing credits: “On the Run” (Fox/Drossin), “Ladies man” (Fox/Martel/Starr), “I’m No Angel” (Fox), “Vendetta” (Fox/Martel/Kristi). Dozens of live performances, band photos, no known video available. * 1985, SIN (Album Master Demos), Kendun/Encore Recording Studios, Burbank, CA. Producer: Dana Strum. Four songs. “On the Run” (Rik Fox), “Don’t Say Goodbye” (Kristi/Starr), “We Got Your Rock” (M. Kupersmith), “Break Down the Walls (That Stop the Rock) (Fox, Kristi/Martel). With Burn * 1986/87: No Recorded releases/no known band photos – rehearsals only. With Surgical Steel * 1986-87: Debut album, El Chaton Studios, Phoenix, AZ. Producer: Dan Wexler. Eight-nine songs (?) Unspecified. Song credits two (?), recorded entire album. Recorded with
Dokken Dokken is an American glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. It split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The band had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as " Alone Again", " In My Dreams", and " Burn ...
drummer Mick Brown on one track. Album Project unfinished/shelved; lack of budget to complete project. Several live performances including support for Lita Ford. Band photos, no known video available. With Thunderball * 1987-88: Demo, Pro Rock Studios, North Hollywood, CA. Producer: Rik Fox Three songs. “Gypsy Brandy” (Rik Fox), “Love Trap” (C. Freeman/J. Aguar), “Cry of Love” (Fox/Mazzola). Other songs: “Back in Action” (Fox/Mazzola), “Bitchin’ Bewitchin’ “(Fox), “The Fire Still Burnz” (Fox/Mazzola). Several live performances recorded on video, band photos. With Dr. Starr & the Medics * 1989: One Live Guest Performance, Phoenix, AZ. No known video. With Saints Ghosts & Thieves * 1990: (w/ Carlo Bartolini from Dramarama) One Live Guest performance, Madam Wong's West. No known video. With Johnny Crash * 1990 Johnny Crash debut album “Neighborhood Threat”. Song: “Freedom Road” - Background vocals - no known promotional photos or video documentation available. With Kings Horses (with Randy Piper of W.A.S.P.) * 1991: One live performance, The Waters Club, San Pedro, CA. Live photos, no known video available. With Flyboyz * 1992: Demo, Five songs. Two songs credited: “Fascination” (Rik Fox), “Bad Reputation” (Fox/D. James). Several live shows - no video. With Spiders & Snakes * 1993: two live performance, several live band photos, no known video. * 2014: Recorded bass tracks for the re-make Rascal's song 'I Ain't Gonna Eat Out my Heart Anymore' Spiders & Snakes 2014 album release 'The Year of the Snake'. Several show performances videotaped and uploaded on to YouTube. Live Guest Performances With: Mark St. John (KISS) 4/1/1987 * “Rock ‘n Roll”—Joshua's Parlor, Orange Co. CA.
Sam Kinison Samuel Burl Kinison ( ; December 8, 1953 – April 10, 1992) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. A former Pentecostal preacher, he performed stand-up routines that were characterized by intense sudden tirades, punctuated with his distinc ...
, 1988 * “Wild Thing”-The China Club, Hollywood, CA. (including
John Goodman John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952) is an American actor. He gained national fame for his role as the family patriarch Dan Conner in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC comedy series ''Roseanne'' (1988–1997; 2018), for which he rec ...
, Steven Van Zant, Randy Castillo,
Jean Beauvoir Jean Beauvoir is an American singer, bassist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and entertainment executive. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with the punk group the Plasmatics and went on to work with Little Steven ...
,
Randy Hansen Randy Hansen (born December 8, 1954) is an American guitarist best known for his "Rock Tribute Act" honoring Jimi Hendrix.Ronnie James Dio (Dio) 7/26/1986 * “We’re Stars” - Irvine Meadows, (Sacred Heart Tour show), and the following weekend with
Rough Cutt Rough Cutt is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles who released two studio albums on Warner Bros. Records in the mid-1980s. Rough Cutt never achieved the commercial success enjoyed by many other Los Angeles bands of that time but vari ...
at the Country Club, Reseda, CA. With Jim Crean * recorded 2018/released 2019 album "The London Fog" Guest performances on album, single "Broken" with
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
/ Dio drummer
Vinny Appice Vincent Samson Appice (born September 13, 1957) is an American rock drummer best known for his work with the bands Dio, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell. Of Italian descent, he is the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice. Career Appic ...
, Robby Lochner and Steph Honde. Recorded on Angel cover song "Don't take Your Love" with Angel vocalist Frank DiMino and
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...
/ Dio drummer
Vinny Appice Vincent Samson Appice (born September 13, 1957) is an American rock drummer best known for his work with the bands Dio, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell. Of Italian descent, he is the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice. Career Appic ...
. Album contains many A-List Industry performers such as
Carmine Appice Carmine Appice ( , born December 15, 1946) is an American rock drummer. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge; Cactus; the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice; Rod Stewart; King Kobra; and Blue Murder. He is also Vinny Appice's ...
and
Vinny Appice Vincent Samson Appice (born September 13, 1957) is an American rock drummer best known for his work with the bands Dio, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell. Of Italian descent, he is the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice. Career Appic ...
, Tony Franklin,
Rudy Sarzo Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont (born November 18, 1950) is a Cuban American hard rock/ heavy metal bassist. He remains best known for his work with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, and Whitesnake, and has also played ...
,
Mike Tramp Michael Trempenau (born 14 January 1961), better known as Mike Tramp, is a Danish singer best known for his work with the glam metal band White Lion. Since 1998, he has also released several solo albums. In 2012, Tramp went on a solo acoustic to ...
, Chris Holmes,
Mitch Perry Mitchell Perry (born 27 April 2000) is an Australian cricketer. He made his List A debut on 19 November 2019, for Victoria in the 2019–20 Marsh One-Day Cup. He made his first-class debut on 30 October 2020, for Victoria in the 2020–21 Sheffi ...
and many others. As of 2019, Fox has been performing as a member of "The World's Best Deep Purple Tribute" from Los Angeles, known as " Child in Time. Several All-Star Jams in Los Angeles 2013 to present: * "Cold Day in Hell" and "Serenade" with
Keel The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element on a vessel. On some sailboats, it may have a hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose, as well. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in the construction of a ship, in Br ...
at The Whisky a Go-Go, Hollywood, CA., "You Drive me Nervous", "Touch Too Much" at The Dave Brown Cancer Charity Benefit at Paladino's Club, with Betsy Bitch and her 'Knockers' band. Several Kevin Estrada (Photographer) Birthday Jams and a performance at the Rock Against Trafficking Benefit with both Kevin Estrada and Spiders & Snakes. "The Trooper" at Lucy 51's Club with August Zadra, Pauly Z and
Brian Tichy Brian Tichy (born August 18, 1968) is an American musician, best known as having been the drummer for Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Sass Jordan, and Ozzy Osbourne. He was the drummer of Whitesnake from 2010 to 2013. His surname means ''si ...
, Several performances with Los Angeles bands White Lie and Spiders & Snakes. (all video performances on YouTube)


Equipment

Rik has or is endorsing the following musical equipment gear: * Esola Custom Guitars * DR Strings DR Bass Strings * Babicz Guitars Babicz Bridges * Randall Bass
Amplifier An amplifier, electronic amplifier or (informally) amp is an electronic device that can increase the magnitude of a signal (a time-varying voltage or current). It may increase the power significantly, or its main effect may be to boost t ...
s (1983 to present) *
Ampeg Ampeg is a manufacturer best known for its bass amplifiers. Originally established in 1946 in Linden, New Jersey by Everett Hull and Stanley Michaels as "Michael-Hull Electronic Labs," today Ampeg is part of the Yamaha Guitar Group. Although ...
Bass Amplifiers (1970's thru 1983) * B.C. Rich Custom Basses (1985 to present) *
Ibanez is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as ...
Destroyer Bass (1970's to 1983) * Aria Pro II Custom Blood Bass (1983 to present) * Gibson 1975 EB-3 Bass (1985 to present) *
Epiphone Epiphone is an American musical instrument brand that traces its roots to a musical instrument manufacturing business founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire, and moved to New York City in 1908. After taking over his f ...
Thunderbird Basses (2010 to present) * GHS Bass Strings (1983 to present) * DiMarzio Bass Pickups * EMG Bass Pickups * NADY Wireless Systems * Dunlop Custom Picks * Belden (and other) Cables * M. Honer Blues Harp Harmonicas * DiMarzio Guitar straps


References


External links

*https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1126794637 *http://www.rikfoxbass.wix.com/rikfox {{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Rik American heavy metal musicians American people of Polish descent Living people 1955 births People from Amityville, New York W.A.S.P. members 20th-century American bass guitarists Steeler (American band) members