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THIRSTY Merc’s Ray Thistlethwayte continues to kick goals in the US – although to our readers his latest manoeuvre may not be seen as an upgrade.

The 45-year-old multi-instrumentalist from Westmead in western Sydney has been treated as a near-equal to Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Kenny Aronoff/Jason Bonham since the Red Rocker launched his Best Of All Worlds tour two years back.

See below the way Hagar introduced him to the crowd in Nashville.

He’s been doing more than playing keyboards in the band that celebrates the life of Edward Van Halen, providing backing vocal and playing guitar as well. And he’s expected to fill those roles in an upcoming Vegas residency.

But beyond that, on a US and European Tour, the man on keys is named as Toto’s Greg Phillinganes. When Hagar was asked on social media what happened to Thistlethwayte, he responded: “He joined Toto so we swapped keyboard players.”

Hagar hits England on July 4 with a gig in Manchester, followed by further shows in Birmingham, Leeds and London.

READ AND HEAR INTERVIEWS WITH DOZENS OF ARTISTS VIA OUR PATREON PAGE. EAVESDROP AS WE CHAT TO THE BIGGEST NAMES IN ROCK AND METAL – FROM 1987 TO THE PRESENT!

Features:

AC/DC

Ace Frehley

Aerosmith

Alice Cooper

The Angels

Angry Anderson

Avantasia

BB Steal

Black Star Riders

The Bombers

Bonham

Candy Harlots

Cinderella: Fred Coury

Cinderella: Jeff LaBar

Cinderella: Eric Brittingham

Cinderella: Tom Keifer

D’Mont

Danko Jones

Dave Ellefson

Dead Daisies

Dead Flowers

Def Leppard

Disneyland After Dark

Femme Fatale

Georgia Satellites

Gotthard

Guns N’Roses

Hard-Ons

Heaven

Inglorious

Jane’s Addiction

Jane’s Addition (1989)

Johnny Diesel and the Injectors

Johnny Diesel and the Injectors (1989)

Joe Perry

Jon Bon Jovi (1989)

KISS (1989)

KISS (1990)

Kings Of The Sun

Living Colour

Metal Church

Metallica

Mike Tramp

Mr Big

Motorhead

Nick Barker and the Reptiles

Poison

Poison (1989)

Ratt

Richie Sambora (1992)

Rhino Bucket

Rose Tattoo

Roxus

Scarymother

Screaming Jets

Silverchair

Slaughter

Steve Vai

Stone Rider

Stryper

Tom Keifer (1991)

Vinnie Vincent

Vivian Campbell

Winger

Yngwie Malmsteen (1990)

Audio interviews:

Buckcherry

Burnt Out Wreck

Chuck Billy

The Casanovas

Bob Catley

Danko Jones

Duff McKagan 1989

Gotthard

Jason Newstead (1988)

Joel Hoekstra

Eric Martin

Kelly Nickels

Kurdt Vanderhoof

Rikki Rockett (1989)

Ugly Kid Joe

Donnie Vie

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Steve Mascord

Author Steve Mascord

Steve came up with the name of Hot Metal magazine in 1989 and worked for the magazine in its early years. He is HM's editor and proprietor in 2022.

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