Redrumed: Local Band Signs Distribution Deal

Redrumed on stage at the Starlite Lounge in Glendale on Friday, October 13, 2023Photo bySuzy Jacobson Cherry

“Redrum! Redrum! Redrum!” Stephen King fans recognize the quote immediately. This word, which is “murder!” backwards is repeated by the child Danny in the horror story The Shining. When veteran Phoenix musician Scott Rowe retired from his long-popular Scott Rowe’s Alice Cooper Tribute Show in 2020, he was already in the process of establishing his solo band, Scott Rowe and Redrum. Beginning in March of 2018, Rowe and Redrum began working with his original hard rock music. Rowe’s original goal with Redrum was to be a heavy metal band. The band played their first gig on November 10, 2018 was at Chopper John's at 23^rd Street and Indian School in Phoenix, just a couple of blocks down the road from the once-famous Mason Jar, now known as The Rebel Lounge.

Scott Rowe and Redrum went through a number of guitarists before landing Doc Anthony Tarantino in January of 2020. Other members of the band are Rowe on vocals, Matthew Taylor on Drums, and Rob Erwin on bass. Ken Howey of Phoenix-based metal band Empire of Dezire will sometimes join Tarantino on guitar. Shortly after Tarantino joined the group, Redrumed opened the show for Soulfly at the Marquee Theatre, an experience which he will never forget.

2021 brought with it a shift in perspective and a name-change for the band. Rowe explains, “I decided with this awesome lineup, WE need to be A BAND. So, I dropped my name and added ED. Much easier to say and remember!”

Redrumed!

There have been quite a few bands in the world called Redrum, but none were – or are – quite like this! Arizona’s own Redrumed is described as a Death/Life Metal band with a theatrical feel. While they don’t think they sound like anyone else, they do have strong influences. Some of the musicians and bands Rowe credits as influences are Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Pantera, Sepultura, Anthrax, and Amon Armarth. Other members name bands like AC/DC, Metallica, Megadeth, Dethklok, and even Weird Al Yankovich as inspiration. For Tarantino, Brendon Small and John 5 are important inspirations as a guitarist.

Rowe writes all the lyrics to Redrumed’s songs and takes them to the band, who work together to write the music. Sometimes, Rowe says, he will hum a melody he has in his head and they will put it together or the musicians will play something instrumentally and Rowe will write lyrics to fit the sound. Thematically, Redrumed deals with both real life and fictitious tales to tantalize and horrify the imagination.

Rowe says they don’t take themselves so seriously that they feel there is a message to their music, but rather wish to provide “an awesome positive entertaining environment.” Guitarist Tarantino shared that he thinks the band reflects an attitude that says “be yourself and be proud of it. Enjoy your life and don't let anyone tell you you’re not worth anything. Do what you love and be happy in your life.” For him it’s also about getting the blood pumping, being active, and eliciting the feelings that metal and rock can bring forth, and sharing that with their fans.

Redrumed’s musical appeal reaches a large spectrum of people, particularly fans of hard rock and metal. The band has a fan base of loyal listeners who do their best to make most of the shows. A lot of that has to do with the energy and presence brought to the stage by everyone in the band. They love performing, talking with fans, and having a good time with everyone who attends the shows. “Scott is a great frontman and has an amazing amount of energy and presence,” says Tarantino. They feel love and support for each other and for their fans, as well as for those who run the venues where they perform. “Without them, we wouldn’t be going anywhere.”

Back Stories

All the members of Redrumed are local to the Phoenix area. Doc Tarantino is the only one who has not previously played in a gigging band. Erwin is also with Frankenshred, a Phoenix metal band formed in 1996, as well as Iron Ozzy, described as a “Killer Ozzy Tribute Show.” Taylor was with She Murdered Me when Rowe met him in 2013.

L - R: Michael Bruce, Alice Cooper, and Scott RowePhoto byScott Rowe

Rowe himself has had a long history of participation in the Phoenix rock scene since he first arrived in the area in 1990. His first original band, Planet Porno, was formed in 1998. The name comes from Flesh Gordon, the 1974 X-rated (later changed to R) spoof of the 1930s serial films Flash Gordon. Rowe’s subsequent bands include Levity Ball Stars, 21st Century Zoo, Thorazine, and Twelve Inch Tacks.

Rowe is mostly known in the Phoenix area for his long-running Scott Rowe’s Alice Cooper Tribute Show. He started the Alice Cooper Tribute in 1990, playing the famous frontman himself. He first performed the character in Phoenix on Thanksgiving 1990 at the Mason Jar, where Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford caught the show. Halford praised Rowe’s work, saying, “Oh mate, what you did was great. I loved your show.” Rowe took it as “words of wisdom” and ran with it.

Rowe’s first Agent was Jack Curtis. Curtis was the ex-disk jockey turned music promoter, songwriter, record producer, and entertainment writer who discovered young Vincent Furnier and produced and released three songs by Furnier’s band, The Spiders. Of course, The Spiders would go on to become Alice Cooper, and Furnier would legally change his name to be sure he would retain ownership of the name.

In the early years of Scott Rowe’s Alice Cooper Tribute Show, guitarist and founding member of Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce, played with the Show. His participation “was everything” in the beginning, says Rowe, “HELL, he wrote most of the Music!” In 2000, Get-Out Magazine interviewed Rowe, headlining the piece as “The Valley’s Founding Father of Copy Cat Rock”

After thirty years of portraying Alice, Rowe hung up his top hat on Halloween of 2020. For Scott Rowe, this was his most memorable performance so far. His then 85-year-old Mom, his little sister, and his niece attended. Rowe still runs the show on an interim basis, with singer Tülin Howey as Alice. Rowe says we can look forward to a show in early 2024.

What’s next for Redrumed?

Currently, Redrumed has eight songs available on all streaming platforms through Distrokid, produced by Tommy Gibbons and KMS Studios. In September, they signed a Promotion & Distribution Contract with Self Made Records LLC out of Kentucky, A Sub Label for Digital Distribution under Earache Records.

Self Made will be releasing Redrumed’s new music, as well as providing band merch when the company sends them out on tour in 2024. Rowe, Tarantino, Taylor, and Erwin look forward to playing bigger shows and festivals. They share a vision of bringing their passion and music to more people and grow their fan base by continuing to pump out music and growing as a band and as musicians. A second album is in the works. They want to see how far they can go to rock the crowds wherever they play.

If they have any say in the matter, Redrumed will soon be opening for Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, or even CRYPTA, Rowe’s new favorite all female Death Metal Band from Brazil. Maybe, says Tarantino, a sold-out statium gig!

Upcoming Scheduled Shows

Mason Jar Veterans concert. Redrumed will be playing the upcoming Mason Jar Veterans concert, organized by Patrick Flannery of St. Madness. This show, which features musicians who played at the famous Mason Jar venue, takes place this Wednesday, November 22 at the Rebel Lounge, 2303 East Indian School Road in Phoenix. The line-up includes a Scott Rowe solo performance, N2, featuring Anthony McLain/Stony T (formally of Rukkus, Oil, Ayva, and Phunk Junkees) and Lance Grant (Dislocated Styles, Driven To This, and Lightning Fury) and Brad Obrien (Twenty Twenty Faith and Driven to This), TORSO, St. Madness, and Frankenshred. Doors open at 6:30 pm. There is a cover charge of $10 in advance or $15 the night of the show.

Flyer for Mason Jar Veterans Concert on Wednesday, Noverber 22Photo byScott Rowe

Too Broke for Pudding is Rowe’s holiday benefit concert. This is the eighth year of the event, which aways takes place the night before Alice Cooper's Pudding. This year, the event has been renamed in honor of Rowe’s late wife Ronda. The show will bring together the talents of Redrumed, Vic Tims and The Kentucky Rifles (VTKR), Trixie and The Ego Machine, Kaydee Cage - The One Bitch Band, Bryon Mogul, Gordon Circle, Barebelly, and Joe Feldman's Acoustic Duo.

Attendees will also be able to see the “Death Defying Stunt” by Jack Petty, who will jump over a yet unknown number of lighted candlesticks. All proceeds of the event will go to the Arizona Animal Welfare League, Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter. AAWL was founded in 1971 by a group of animal lovers, led by actor Amanda Blake, best known as "Miss Kitty" on the television program Gunsmoke. You can attend the event at Gypsy’s Roadhouse, 5122 East McDowell Road in Phoenix, Friday, December 8 from 7 pm to 1 am. The event is free, but donations are requested. Needs include money, pet food, and blankets.

Too Broke for Pudding #8 Flyer, 2023Photo byScott Rowe

Pursuit of Vikings, the fantastic Redrumed cover of this Amon Armarth song will be released digitally worldwide on December 19. This release is in honor of Rowe’s late wife, Ronda Manning Rowe, who passed away two years ago.

How to contact Redrumed

Fans and anyone interested can follow Redrumed on Facebook or Instagram. Booking agents can touch base with Scott Rowe on Facebook or by email at rowescott63@gmail.com.