Rory Sullivan

Didn't quite make it as a Rock Star – blamed this on the arrival of Grunge rather than on himself. Still plays a Custom USA BC Rich Super Strat through a Marshall and some pedals.

Having spent 15 years in TV production, working on an array of live music events from Michael Jackson to Metallica, Rory decided to pack it all in and create ‘Sonic Décor’ (That’s Red Hot Rock’s ego friendly posters). A keen songwriter with several TV credits, he is still trying to find that elusive artist to give him a No. 1 hit.

Rory's love, passion and knowledge for all genres of Rock music is a well known fact, however he does love nearly all styles of music - as long as it’s any good!! He writes for a number of music publications, has just finished his first book and his column ‘The Red Hot Rocker’, reviews things, interviews people and he generally expresses his opinion all over alloutguitar.com

He adores Van Halen, Malmsteen, Lynch, Becker, Moore (Gary and Vinnie), Howe (Greg), Gilbert, Di Martini, Satriani, Timmons, Sykes, Blackmore, Norum, Nuno, Zakk, Dimebag, Kip Winger, Dan Reed, Muse and Rush. He also likes Football, Cricket, skiing and Golf.

He collects Rock photography and also loves Anthrax (with John Bush), as well as Megadeth, Metallica, Alter Bridge, Faith No More, Saraya, Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion and beer. He likes lots of other bands and musicians too like Ronnie J, Neil Peart, Vai, Sheehan and Jordan Rudess. Loves Motley Crue gigs. Never really liked Mods. Does like Danger Danger and Scandinavian Hair Bands a lot, especially TNT, Treat and Nation. He has a nice family and lives by the sea. He likes to cook and drink wine whilst listening to Elgar, Bach, Orson, A-HA, Keane, Divine Comedy, The Calling, Sting, Queen, Taxiride and Genesis in particular, but also Guns n’ Roses and Skid Row once the wine has kicked in...

Below are Rory's Top 10's and 20's - These Are Straight Off The Top Of His Head And Therefore Not Set In Stone.

Top Twenty Favourite Albums Of All Time In No Particular Order

1. Muse – Absolution
2. Faith No More – The Real Thing
3. Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion – Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion
4. Van Halen – 1984
5. Anthrax – Stomp 442
6. Rush – Permanent Waves
7. Genesis – Trick Of The Tail
8. Killswitch Engage – End Of The Heartache
9. Deep Purple – Made In Europe
10. Queen - A Night At The Opera
11. Dan Reed Network - Dan Reed Network
12. Radiohead – The Bends
13. Depeche Mode – Songs Of Faith And Devotion
14. Orson – Culture Vultures
15. Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Marching Out
16. Lynch Mob – Wicked Sensation
17. Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction
18. Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
19. Taxiride - Garage Mahal
20. The Blue Nile – Hats

Top Ten Albums Of The New Millennium So Far

1. Muse – Absolution
2. Killswitch Engage – End Of The Heartache
3. My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
4. Sevendust – Alpha
5. Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
6. Kip Winger - From the Moon To The Sun
7. Fall Out Boy – Infinity On High
8. Maroon 5 – Songs About Jane
9. The Divine Comedy – Absent Friends
10. Orson – Culture Vultures

Top Ten Shred Albums Probably

1. Vinnie Moore – Mind’s Eye
2. Darren Householder - Darren Householder
3. Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Marching Out
4. Greg Howe – Greg Howe
5. Racer X – Technical Difficulties
6. Tony MacAlpine – Maximum Security
7. Jason Becker – Perpetual Burn
8. Megadeth – Rust In Peace
9. Joe Satriani – Surfing With The Alien
10. Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Rising Force


Top Ten Live Albums

1. Rainbow – On Stage
2. Thin Lizzy – Life
3. UFO – Strangers In The Night
4. Deep Purple - Made In Europe
5. Mott The Hoople – Live
6. Rush – Exit Stage Left
7. The Who – Live At Leeds
8. Slade – Alive
9. Rush – All The World’s A Stage
10. Blackfoot – Highway Song

(Clearly he doesn't buy live albums anymore!)

Top Ten Hair Metal Albums

1. Danger Danger – Screw It!
2. Ratt – Out Of The Cellar
3. Winger – Pull
4. Dokken – Back For The Attack
5. Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion – Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion
6. Van Halen – 1984
7. Unruly Child – Unruly Child
8. Lynch Mob – Wicked Sensation
9. Extreme – Pornograffitti
10. TNT – Tell No Tales

Top Ten Metal Albums

1. Killswitch Engage – End Of The Heartache
2. Sevendust – Alpha
3. Ozzy Osbourne – No Rest For The Wicked
4. Anthrax – We’ve Come For You All
5. Machine Head – The Burning Red
6. Megadeth – Rust In Peace
7. Anthrax – Stomp 442
8. Testament – The Ritual
9. Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion – Vinnie Vincent’s Invasion
10. Marilyn Manson – The Golden Age Of Grotesque

Top Twenty Concerts

1. Motley Crue – Hammersmith Odeon 1985 (and many others)
2. Limp Bizkit – Brixton Academy 2003
3. Badlands – London Astoria 1991
4. Van Halen – Madison Square Gdns 2007, Wembley 1993 & Donington 1984
5. Skid Row – London Marquee 1989
6. Rush – Wembley Arena 1983
7. Dio – Hammersmith Odeon 1984 & London Astoria 2004
8. Georgia Satellites – London Town & Country Club 1990
9. Korn – Download 2007
10. Kip Winger – London Borderline 1997
11. Dream Theatre – Shepherds Bush Empire 2000
12. Dave Lee Roth – Hammersmith Odeon 1988
13. Mr. Big - London Marquee 1992
14. Extreme - London Astoria 1991
15. Billy Idol - Download 2005
16. Def Leppard – Earls Court Olympia 1992
17. Muse - Earls Court Olympia 2004 & Eden Project 2006
18. Anthrax – London Astoria 2003 & Hammersmith Odeon 1989
19. Guns N’ Roses – London Marquee 1987
20. Bon Jovi – Wembley Arena 1990

There are many more...