Metal Sludge Mastermind Comes Clean
By
Sefany Jones,
Contributing Editor
Tuesday, August 3, 2004 @ 1:30 AM
Even KISS Took Off Their Makeu
- advertisement -
Eventually the makeup and masks come off, and the face is revealed: Stevie Rachelle finally uncloaks the truth about one rock's most talked-about and highly-trafficked websites...
From "Jani Bon Neil/ Bastard Boy Floyd" et al:
Date: Monday August 2nd 2004
Re: The termination of my ‘webmaster’ for Metal Sludge
From: Stevie Rachelle / CEO / Metal Sludge, LLC.
To The Rock n’ Roll Planet,
After many, many years I have decided to step forward and break my vow of silence. Thus claiming and acknowledging my roll as ‘the guy’ behind Metal Sludge. I am sick of hiding the fact that I am ‘the guy’ and have no shame in saying this. I’ve had countless friends, comrades, fans and industry people comment to me in regards to Metal Sludge for years and it’s no longer going to be a secret.
I have wanted to do this for some time now (years), but due to various issues related, mainly my ‘webmaster’ – I was forced to wait until now.
For the record, I am and have always been the sole proprietor of Metal Sludge, Metal Sludge Entertainment, Metal Sludge Records, Metal Sludge LLC, and all related domain names. Ultimately I was responsible for the initial overall direction and entire concept of Metal Sludge since inception. Including but not limited to the brand name Metal Sludge, the no frills style interview questions, Donnas World Famous Penis Chart, the Hair Chart, and Exposed, Sludge Scans, the MSX tour, the Parties, and the CD release.
Unfortunately, I was not completely in control of the actual site itself for its entire history. I had hired a ‘webmaster’ who over time decided to appoint themselves ‘editor’ and ‘moderator’ to the many message boards as well. Basically I was locked out from having access to the multiple e-mail accounts, and the ability to upload or delete anything from the site. So, after many years of arguments about the content, direction, quality, and timely response to news and more I’ve released this person of their duties and have now stepped forward.
Weather or not any of you care is really up to you, but here is why I am coming forward and what has unfolded over the years.
I originally brain stormed the idea of Metal Sludge in the summer of 1998 after realizing that press was at a bare minimum for me, my bands and related projects. More specifically after a phone conversation that detailed some less than positive comments from a certain magazine editor about me, more on that down the road.
So, in an effort to try and drum up some exposure for myself, and many other bands that seemed to fall into a similar category, I moved forward with my idea and called it Metal Sludge. The initial plan was to build a cyber-zine that would hit a demographic for 80s hair bands, the Sunset Strip scene, Hollywood, groupies and even more directly - my very own fan base.
It was very simple; I can’t get press from the press, so I’ll create my own press. ...continued....
evelursus - 8/28/2004 11:53:08 AM Sludge WAS a fucking hilarious site regardless of WHO was behind it. I personally, was never a Tuff fan. Couldn't name ONE song by them. It is a bit sad that the "mystique" of the site is now gone by KNOWING who the creators are. Stevie will NEVER get the response he did while remaining anonymous & running the site. Most "stars" will NEVER do 20 questions NOW. Of course..... for the uneducated, Poison's Rikki Rockett & Ratt's Jizzy Pearl are/were HEAVILY INVOLVED in the site's maintenance & development. NO SECRET THERE. Actually, I'd heard for years that Stevie Rachelle was the "mad genius" behind sludge. Well, I doubt it will EVER resurface....... but IF it does....... I'll certainly give it a shot because the site itself was GREAT, INFORMATIVE & HILARIOUS! Oh, by the way, saw & talked with VITO BRATTA (ex-White Lion guitarist) at the Dallas, Texas OZZFEST concert. He was there to visit old bandmate James Lorenzo (now in Black Label Society). Vito looks exactly the same & is a super nice guy. Just thought I'd add that little nuggett of knowledge. So long from DALLAS, TEXAS - home of THE DALLAS COWBOYS & BILL PARCELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {PLAYOFFS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toddbrew - 8/27/2004 9:55:27 AM On Friday, August 20th, at approximately 12:35 p.m. Eastern Time, Metal Sludge’s server stopped responding to requests during the flow of otherwise normal Internet traffic, becoming inaccessible for the better part of the past several days. :(
Preliminary findings indicated that Metal Sludge’s server had (likely) been a victim of what is known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. A DDoS attack is a hacker tactic in which a Web site's servers are bombarded with fake packets of requests for information. When the server responds, the attackers' system steps up the barrage by sending more requests. The affected Web site’s server struggles to keep up with the increasingly overwhelming number of requests, which ultimately crashes the system. It’s essentially Cyber Terrorism. DDoS attacks have been used to temporarily shut down the Web sites of CNN, Yahoo, eBay, Amazon.com, Datek, Citibank, MTV, Al Jazeera, Microsoft, the RIAA, and, now, Metal Sludge. :|
Related to that, our ISP, who was in the process of setting up and moving our site to our own dedicated server, reported that additional hacks into the system caused a dual hard drive failure on the machine that was temporarily hosting our Web site.
Not only did this alleged attack affect our site, but it also affected our entire ISP, our ISP’s ISP, and all of their collective clients. Needless to say, there are a lot of very pissed-off people. The collective amount of damages endured by all afflicted parties is estimated into the tens of thousands, effectively fast-tracking this incident to the attention of Cybercrime divisions within various local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Whoever ordered and executed such an attack, for some reason, really doesn’t want anyone going to Metal Sludge. Some ‘bad apple’ wants to spoil it for the whole bunch. We’re not sure who would have conceived and carried out such a blatant, wanton act of malevolence, but please be aware that we have been fully cooperating with law enforcement agents, supplying them with any and all information per their request, including the names and contact information for persons who may have had a reason to conduct such an attack on our servers. We guess it's safe to say that these person(s) should be on notice that their EVERY Internet/Computer related move could likely be under the surveilance of some very serious 'next level' people. ;)
At present, there are additional safeguards beyond normal security measures being implemented by our ISP, designed to help thwart a repeated attack, so we hope that such an unfortunate incident will not occur in the future. We apologize to our fans, friends, guests, partners and clients for the downtime.
We will soon be returning to your regularly scheduled Sludge.
In Sludge terms, the above is defined as follows: Some dumb asses might be in a lot more shit than they could of ever dreamed of. In addition, Jani Lane is NOT back in Warrant (yet), Vince Neil is not back in shape (yet), Axl Rose looks more like Joan Rivers son than the singer for Guns n' Roses, and Metal Skool rools!
Metal Sludge flatlined, but just like Nikki Sixx, we'll be coming back shortly to kick your fuckin' asses even harder!
Metal Sludge is more than a Web site… it’s a way of life. Get used to it.
Regards,
The Globally Aware Staff at Metal Sludge
rockgirl68 - 8/27/2004 6:35:18 AM Metal Sludge about to be back up. Appears some jackasses crashed their server. No matter, it will be back up soon and I can continue to waste time at work keeping up with the music that still rocks my world!! Sludge Rules!
glamdead87 - 8/25/2004 9:47:37 AM new site won't open. that sucks. was a musician in the la scene. heard in april through friend that stevie was behind it. hope it continues. probably won't be the same with people knowing who is asking the questions. love the site and hope it continues in one form or another. will kep trying to access it.
R_Planet - 8/22/2004 4:57:03 PM I thought Steve kicked ass. This site was a blast.
Say what you want about Steve but guess what? you are saying something about Steve. Get it? He is a very smart guy. I always thought he was stand up and one of the few who had balls.
Regulation Planet
http://groups.msn.com/RegulationPlanet
Cree - 8/22/2004 9:11:07 AM lifer72 LOL
....and the site doesn't open Kill
Cree - 8/22/2004 9:06:38 AM I just found out about this yesterday. I was away for awhile and when I came back I only stayed online for a few so I thought they just changed format and dropped EZ. (now the site doesn't open?)
Ya'know I love Sludge as a whole andI was on the boards alot (and miss a lot of those people) and eventhough everyone suspected (and a few must have known) it was operated by someone in the business it didn't make a difference. I don't have all the facts so I can't comment too much about went down and since I haven't read much from the webmaster (although I did read he did most of the writing...etc;) A few of the reasons I loved Sludge was...its format...and the witty/kick ass writing style of the 'characters'
BBF...OS...JBN...etc; and of course the whole anonymity aspect. Now IMO it just isn't (or wont be)the same...now its just a Stevie Rachelle web site...and honestly who is going to 'look at' it in the same way? For example what (established band member(s) or others in the busines etc;) is going to put up with the "crude...have a tall glass of STFU) writing style of...BBF...or JBN...etc; in a 20 questions or whatever when people now know its only Stevie? I can't see him pulling off most of those (20)questions on people when they know its him...they're either not going to do it or tell him STFU! LOL
skeebo666blah - 8/22/2004 8:39:26 AM Where the hell is sludge?
killminus9 - 8/22/2004 5:58:40 AM http://www.metalsludge.tv/ is down.
This pisses me off. Whay did they have to go and change shit?
preciouscleo - 8/21/2004 9:07:14 AM Is Metal Sludge offline or something? I've been trying to get it to come up for the past 2 days....(even using .TV). It'll be interesting to see who else was/is behind it!
Glitter24 - 8/20/2004 12:57:16 PM Someone told me this several months ago--no WONDER I keep getting spam relating to Tuff and Steve and could never figure out WHY until a certain someone gave me this info in May. Interesting...
crazydave17 - 8/17/2004 10:19:26 PM LOL
fkblackie - 8/13/2004 1:34:34 PM Special Report by Vinnie Strum Ulrich
With the recent coming clean of Tuff's lead singer Stevie Rachelle as the man behind Metal Sludge, it was only a matter of time before other Sludge names would surface. Shawn Card was the man at the center of the recent Sludge controversy and firing. Having taken over the power from Rachelle, Card's days were numbered at the site. Shawn Card is better known for his strong association with the band LIT. His recent work includes co-directing the band's upcoming DVD, photography for the band and being a trusted member of their road crew. Longtime Sludge readers will have noticed the numerous LIT interviews, quotes and inclusion on the Metal Sludge CD - all made possible by Shawn Card.
Only time will tell if current Round & Round singer and Unskinny Bop beat master will come clean or stay in the shadows.
Sefany_Jones - 8/12/2004 8:18:52 PM Diommi - Go to Metalsludge.TV, not .COM.
