Heavy Metal Celebs to Participate in the Decade That Rocked Livestream

On May 30, the David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation, the nonprofit charity started by Megadeth co-founder and bassist David Ellefson, is teaming up with the Grammy Music Education Coalition to present the Decade That Rocked, the third offering in the organizations’ Oh Say Can You Stream livestream series. 

Hosted by Ellefson, singer and journalist Thom Hazaert, and music photographer Mark “Weissguy” Weiss, the Decade That Rocked will be “a loving nod to all things metal and hard rock” and “a decadent celebration” of Weiss’ upcoming book, The Decade That Rocked: The Photography of Mark ‘Weissguy’ Weiss. The book comes out on June 2.

Featuring a foreword by Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, the book features almost 400 pages of Weiss’ images, with over 700 photographs of artists such as Motley Crue, Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Megadeth, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Van Halen, Aerosmith, KISS, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin and many more.

As one of the driving artistic forces of the ’80s, and one of its most notable “go-to” music photographers, Weiss has worked with acts such as Bon Jovi, Dokken, Twisted Sister, Anthrax, Suicidal Tendencies, Skid Row, Raven, W.A.S.P., and more.

Weiss along with Zakk Wylde, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and Charlie Benante, Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Marc Storace (Krokus), Mark Slaughter, JJ French (Twisted Sister), Don Dokken, Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat), Roxy Petrucci (Vixen, Madam X), Dean Davidson (Britny Fox, Blackeyed Susan), PJ Farley (Trixter), Steve Whiteman (KIX), Jack Russell (Great White), Bruce Kulick (KISS), and many more will participate in the online event.

The David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation (DEYMF) has also set up an eBay auction in connection with the event, with auctions that include signed Mark Weiss prints, a collection of Ellefson’s stage-used clothing and gear, and other donated items.

 “The first two Oh Say Can You Stream events were a phenomenal success, really beyond our wildest imaginations, and we were so thrilled with the outpouring of support and excitement that came with it,” says co-host Hazaert in a statement. “Since then, David and I have livestreamed several times a week, just, if anything, to try and keep people entertained, and aside from raising awareness, and funds, for the Ellefson Youth Music Foundation, and all of our work there, that’s really what these events are about. And I think, as far as entertainment goes, we are definitely going to outdo ourselves this time around.”

 “We’re so appreciative for all the support from our friends on the first two Oh Say Can You Stream events, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, our partners at Cisco, Jackson Guitars, Hartke, Samson, Shure, Peterson Tuners, of course the Grammy Music Education Coalition and so many more of our amazing friends who joined, and supported us,” Ellefson adds. “It’s always a great time when you can get that many friends together, all with a common goal and purpose. Not only has it given us an incredible platform to support and inspire kids around the world through music, but to bring people together in a time when I think we all so desperately need it. And we will continue that with the Decade That Rocked, not only paying homage to Mark [Weiss], his incomparable career, and the incredible book that it has now inspired, but to the decade that spawned not only Megadeth, but, really, all of our contemporaries. And it’s really an amazing event to be able to get so many of us together to talk about it.”

The David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation is an affiliate of the Grammy Music Education Coalition, a collaborative movement whose goal is “ensuring all students in public schools across America have music education.”

“Our coalition of supporters of public music education numbers more than 70 organizations, and the David Ellefson Youth Music Foundation joined us early on,” says Lee Whitmore, the coalition’s executive director. “David’s enduring support for what music does in students’ lives is unwavering. Oh Say Can You Stream has an amazing lineup. It will be awe-inspiring, supporting kids, music education, and helping provide COVID-19 relief in our communities.”