| Looking back Roxy Petrucci may not
have known the Rock Gods were feeling frisky the day she was
born in the City of Detroit well before the ‘Blue Ribbon’
generation. As an Italian American brought up in humble beginnings
it was very clear at an early age she’d better be great
at something. |
Petrucci was raised within a family
of talented musicians. A first chair clarinetist in high school
then onto college she decided drumsticks and black leather seemed
a better fit, thus forming the all-female band Pantagruel later
to be known as Black Lace. Inspiration then rocked Petrucci
when Bonham & Moon still rolled and her proverbial cup began
to overflow. “Music was in my heart but metal was in my
veins” and the road would soon call. Madam X proved to
be her next outlet and born unto the cast of characters; molten-lava
guitarist and sister Maxine Petrucci, bassist Chris ‘Godzilla’
Doliber and vocalist Bret Kaiser. Visually stunning, their performances
were a brilliant blend of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' with 'Spinal
Tap' moments. The outrageous Madam X attained cult status as
Petrucci paid her dues on an infamous 4-year tour.
Fueled by Madam X, Petrucci continued to make noise of her own
on the West Coast scene when she auditioned for David Lee Roth.
The Roth opportunity was a near miss as master drummer Greg
Bissonette edged her out for the prized gig. |
| For Petrucci the black leather got
even hotter when 1986 proved to be the year of the Vixen. MTV
and Vixen would be a match made in heaven and the engine of
the most successful all female rock band revved. Worldwide tours
opening for Ozzy, Scorpions, Deep Purple and Kiss caused the
flames of success to burn too hot so eventually Petrucci and
Vixen parted ways in 1991 with occasional performances up to
2001. |
Side projects such as Hell’s
Belles and Titania never caught fire but in 2004 VH1 came courting
Vixen when “Bands Reunited” found Petrucci hiding
out in Germantown, WI. Leaving the fans wanting more, Vixen
only performed a one-off show and then Petrucci retreated back
to her side project Roktopuss featuring Lorraine Lewis of Femme
Fatale and
face melting guitarist Jeff Young (Megadeth). |
| “It wasn’t until 2010
that inspiration struck me once again like a bolt of lightning.
While in Nova Scotia I was presented with the prestigious Cape
Breton International Drum Festival Legends Award along with
drum greats Carmine Appice, Alan White, Jerry Mercer and Virgil
Donati.” “It was at that specific time and place,
in the presence of so much extraordinary talent when my circle
closed on my destiny in music. Awards and accolades may look
impressive on the wall but to inspire other potential rock legends
is an unparalleled achievement and along with rock n’ roll,
will live forever.” |
| “So they say lightning never
strikes twice and you never know what the future may bring.
It might be a Detroit thing but I will only speak for myself
when I say; "Who the hell are they and what do they know?"
"Ultimately they will find me slumped over my drum kit
still grasping my sticks in my cold dead hands… but I’m
not dead yet!” |
