Hello Rik - I see you have registered for the forum. Please tell us what you've been up to?

Thanks
Sheldon

I just posted a really nice reply, and it became 'lost'...Don't know what happened, I lost my post...
I'l l try again later...
Cheers,
Rik

Rik - great to hear from you. I look forward to reading your posts.

Sheldon

Sheldon, Ok, here goes, another try at posting here. Last time, I hit 'preview post' before sending, and the whole post dissappeared!

Anyway, if I can remember what I'd said...Oh, After one of my last bands I had in Hollywood, a group called "THUNDERBALL" (named after the James Bond film), with the most amazing guitarist I ever had the honor of sharing the stage with, named Joey Price (real name Joe Mazola), who was from Motor City, Detroit. His style was awesome, I saw that the "Seattle" movement was moving in and spelled "DOOM" for the rest of us players who were from "The Old Guard". Joey's style was a cross between George Lynch-meets-Michael Schenker, with a very healthy dose of Jim McCarty (CACTUS), thrown in.
Those of us who were more suited and seen as 'arena rock' bands, like our heroes before us, like KISS, ANGEL, STARZ, AEROSMITH, etc... Well, KISS and AEROSMITH have had the longevity that some us us couldn't sustain...

Around 1990, I went into working in the film industry as a Propmaster/Assistant Propmaster/weapons handler, in films and TV shows. After a few years of that nutty 'unstable nature' of the film industry (work, don't work/work, don't work), I went back to doing the 'day-job' thing, and found myself moving to entertaining in a different field...
Renaissance Faires. (Different stage, still wearing costumes, LOL!).

Having been weaned on all those Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power action/swashbuckler films, I fit right in, and by 1999, re-discovered my Polish ancestry and noble roots.

Eventually, I've found that I've become the first Polish-American of noble ancestry, to represent that famous, awesome Polish Cavalry known as The Polish Winged Hussars in U.S. History. I guess I pretty much pioneered and spearheaded the movement here in the U.S., and now, there are several other groups who have followed my lead, in the Michigan and Virginia areas, with a few other winged hussars in Conneticut, and New Hampshire. I dabble a bit with the SCA as well...

Here's some online galleries and info of pics to see:
http://photos.yahoo.com/wngdhussr
http://www.geocities.com/rik_fox/husaria

(I'm the guy in the winged armor).
Pretty much any search engine on the subject, will now bring up something on this topic. When I started, there wasn't much out there on the internet. Not in English, anyway.
That's pretty much what I've been up to since about 1999.
Recently, Ron contacted me regarding the pending release of the STEELER ANTHOLOGY album, and asked if I would be interested in being involved...I said yes, and if there's any plans in the works for any live events, I have let Ron know, that I would be interested in being involved.

I haven't done anything in the music industry since about 1989, so, being back, involved with STEELER is refreshing.
However, as for any details on this issue, I'll leave that all up to Ron, and I'm happy to be aboard once again...

Hope that helps, Sheldon, and thanks for asking...
Cheers,
Rik Fox

I forgot to mention, although you'd never know it from what we played in STEELER, among the groups that influenced me the most were CACTUS, STEPPENWOLF, and URIAH HEEP, and ANGEL!
Cheers,
Rik

It is so cool to have Rik Fox on here with us!!! Rik and I have been out of touch for over 20 years, but have recently renewed our communication and friendship due to the impending STEELER anthology. I can tell you all, don't let the armor and weaponry fool you - he is a sweetheart of a guy with a big heart.

But he's also quite handy with a sword...I remember when we were at Prairie Sun Studios, which is on a ranch in northern California, recording the Steeler album - one morning we were awakened by a racket outside the window, and we looked out to see Rik with a huge broadsword hacking away at the fenceposts....That brings a whole new meaning to 'Cutting A Record'...

Welcome Rik, thanks for hanging out with us here.

Hi Ron,
Yes, I remember that morning with the sword. It was a Spanish, El Cid, medieval sword that I had just gotten in a trade with Scott Free, the singer of the Brooklyn Brats.

Because of my lack of proper training back then in period weaponry, I wound up breaking that sword on a piece of wood too thick for it. As well, it was what we, in the business, refer to as a 'wall-hanger', and not made for striking against anything else. Suffice to say,I learned my lesson the hard way. Since then,I have a nice little collection of swords, sabers, at home now. In addition to other period weaponry,such as my kopia (lance), a Koncerz (apiercing rapier to defeat chainmail), a few nadziaks (war hammers), and such...
The only 'axes' I have, are my basses. Aria, B.C. Rich, and Gibson,Lol...;-)))
I'm looking fwd with some expected anticipation, to the release of the STEELER ANTHOLOGY album as well!
I recently sent my 'letter of agreement' to you Ron,and just received the signed, return-receipt card that you signed for it.

So, now we're 'in the park' so to speak. I'm looking fwd to any potential live dates you may have in mind to support the album's release, if you have any plans for such. If it happens,let's get together and let me know what you have in mind. ;-) "Like they say in the military(and the film "ALIENS"): "Anytime, Anywhere"!

An although I may have put on a few pounds over the years, and survived a head-on collision as a passenger in an auto accident back in 1990, which hurt my back and neck, I was, (As Ron so succicently once wrote) : "BORN TO ROCK"!
And still kick-ass with the best of them.
Best regards to all the members in the Forum!
Cheers,
Rik