UPDATED: Supersuckers Carry On
By
Frank Meyer,
Contributing Editor
Monday, February 11, 2002 @ 3:29 PM
Supersuckers Guitarist Ron Hea
Fans of the greatest rock n’ roll band in the world, the Supersuckers, will notice a new face on stage this spring. The band has brought in former Panic/current Hog Molly guitarist Martin "Metal Marty" Chandler to fill in for longtime axe-slinger Ron “Rontrose” Heathman, who is temporarily taking a leave of absence from the band to attend to some personal matters. The good news is that Ron and his wife Dawn had a beautiful baby girl four days ago. The bad news is that she was born with a rare heart defect. We’ll let lead Supersucker Eddie Spaghetti tell you the rest in his own words:
“Ruby Grace Heathman was born with an extremely rare heart defect called Truncus Arteriosis and will need several open heart surgeries throughout her life. Ron, Dawn and Ruby have gone through an awful lot these last few days and have a lot of trying days to come, bbut they are incredibly strong people and will get through all of them. They just want everyone to know about their daughter and to get as many people as possible to be thinking good thoughts for her. This will have an effect on the up-coming Supersuckers shows as well. Ron will be staying by his family's side for as long as it takes to know that ruby is as healthy and stable as she can be for her operation. Filling in for Ron will be his good friend, Martin "Metal Marty" Chandler. I can't think of someone more perfect for the job. Marty currently plays guitar for hog molly and he and Ron have spent many an evening together ‘talkin' rock and trading licks.’”
In related news, Eddie and his wife had a baby boy last year and drummer Dancing Eagle and his wife had a son two months ago. It’s a genuine Supersuckers baby boom!!!
Fan can send an email messages of support to Ron via www.supersuckers.com. KNAC.COM would like to send our best wishes to Ron, Dawn and Ruby.
Here are the Supersuckers tour dates in March:
3/17/02 Austin, TX Antone's
3/18/02 Austin, TX Antone's
3/19/02 Houston, TX Continental Club
3/20/02 Dallas, TX Trees
Dain - 4/21/2002 9:28:22 PM This is for GodGaveRnRToYou,LOL He should have gave some to you to. The Supersuckers ARE the greatest RnR band in the world I just went down to Seattle I was truly blessed by the precense of the one and only MR. Rontrose Heathman for the whole show. Little Ruby has been home for a few weeks things are going pretty good & he should be back in the saddle with the rest of the Suckers converting all those unfortunate souls yet to be blessed enough to witness them unleash the EVIL powers of Rock n Roll.
Cheers
2unesgrl - 3/17/2002 7:58:53 AM This is an old story but have to rant about it anyhow. It has been about 6+ years now since I took my housemate for his first time to see the SuperSuckers. It was such a great show. Stefan, a research doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital was one of my housemates at the time and I saw that the Supersuckers were playing in Baltimore, where I was living at the time. Stefan went in his work clothes. At some point in the show I lost him in the pit up front. When he returned it was like he had been in a cat fight or somethin'. His use to be nice white polo shirt was shredded. He came up to me all sweaty and panting telling me how rad he thought the Supersuckers were and how much fun he was having. So anyhow later Stefan moved back to Italy and as one of his going away gifts I gave him my copy of "The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers". I believe I have given away at least 5 copies of it and the last copy I bought was the best copy yet...it was like a gift for giving away the others. IT had a super cool insert of the cover. I will not be giving this copy away...for now on if I feel the urge I will either buy a copy to give or I will jus tell the person to get it themselves. A week or so later we caught the show in DC where Supersuckers opened for Social D. Soon I will be seeing two shows in a row here where I live now in San Francisco and I have to say I am super psyched. I plan to take some poor soul with me that has never heard of the band. They will feel the rockin' and hopefully a few more torn shirts...
JUDGE666 - 2/13/2002 8:14:37 AM Supersuckers fukkin' ROCK! I just wish KNAC would get their heads out of their asses and PLAY SOME OF THEIR MUSIC!!!!!
Head_Injury - 2/12/2002 1:47:25 PM Got blown by a fat pig on the rag?
illyae - 2/12/2002 11:19:09 AM I like these guys.. good band except rr is a fan.
sirkus17 - 2/12/2002 10:47:31 AM passed on these guys live show for years, finally went and saw 'em open for X and they are kick ass! long live the supersuckers!
nodeerforamonth - 2/12/2002 9:54:52 AM I've seen the Supersuckers about 30 times and they have ALWAYS delivered a class act rawk show complete with loud guitars, well executed solos, great songs, and a fun time. Good luck Ron, sorry to hear about all the problems.
Owlknight - 2/12/2002 8:31:29 AM Ron Heathman, MUCH LOVE AND PRAYERS !!!! To Your Family Sincerely. From Owl , just a fan.
Owlknight - 2/12/2002 8:28:05 AM Liked their teaming up with Steve Earle !!!!!!
VicRattlehead502 - 2/12/2002 8:05:44 AM These guys seem to like Austin, TX. So, they HAVE to be cool.
Repoman61 - 2/12/2002 7:10:33 AM Ron, best of luck to you and your family, your priorities are in the right place. See ya soon when you come back to Maxwell's in NJ, I'll pass a "fat one" up to Eddie. Long live the Supersuckers!
dsanchez - 2/12/2002 3:27:09 AM Good luck to Ron and his family, hope to hear his blazing Marshalls back in the fold soon.
Suckerhead75 - 2/11/2002 10:19:34 PM Good luck Ron.I'll be thinkin' 'bout you guys.Please come back to Champaign ,Il. soon.We're jonesin' for the greatest rock'n roll show in the galaxy.
eclectiched - 2/11/2002 6:29:51 PM Supersuckers fuckin rule. Check out their classic album 'The Smoke of Hell'. I first heard about these guys when their video played on Beavis and Butthead. How cool is that?
tbirdbass - 2/11/2002 5:13:59 PM i saw 'em at the troubadour, and they ruled. then i listened to one of their disc, and my opinion changed quickly. maybe the disc wasn't one of their best? maybe they are a better live band? i dunno.
“Ruby Grace Heathman was born with an extremely rare heart defect called Truncus Arteriosis and will need several open heart surgeries throughout her life. Ron, Dawn and Ruby have gone through an awful lot these last few days and have a lot of trying days to come, bbut they are incredibly strong people and will get through all of them. They just want everyone to know about their daughter and to get as many people as possible to be thinking good thoughts for her. This will have an effect on the up-coming Supersuckers shows as well. Ron will be staying by his family's side for as long as it takes to know that ruby is as healthy and stable as she can be for her operation. Filling in for Ron will be his good friend, Martin "Metal Marty" Chandler. I can't think of someone more perfect for the job. Marty currently plays guitar for hog molly and he and Ron have spent many an evening together ‘talkin' rock and trading licks.’” 
