Former MTV Headbanger’s Ball host Riki Rachtman has provided and update on what’s happening with him these days:
I always preach NEVER GIVE UP. I believe I have had many ups and downs in my career. I feel that I have reached a turning point and it was very tough to swallow. I’m going to be very honest with you all and please when you read this know. I am not fishing for compliments. I am also not whining. I am just telling you where I am at today. I am very proud of the accomplishments I have made in rock n roll. To know that over 35 years ago I opened a club called Cathouse Hollywood and today we sell more apparel than we ever did is flattering, to say the least. I know that I hosted several very successful rock shows in the past and even though I have not been on MTV for decades I will always be that HEADBANGERS BALL guy and I am more than proud of it.
I think the conversations I have had with bands on camera or on the microphone are different and unique. I am proud that even though I can not get a band airplay or help boost sales that many top-selling metal acts call me simply as a friend.
I’m older and getting older. I do not get recognized nearly as much when I go to a show. It’s ok I never asked for that. My ego sometimes tells me I’m still a big deal even though I need to come to terms that times have changed.
For several years I have tried to Bring Back the Ball.
I wrote filmed and hosted a metal video show with great guests like Dave Mustaine, Lamb of God, Code Orange, Exodus, and more. I was very proud of the show that aired on an app.
I did 5 episodes and that’s it. Not very many people saw the show because it was like I said on an app. They never called me back
I would hit up some of metal festivals just seeing if they had any interest in having me, host…….Nothing
I think the really embarassing thing was checking if 2 shows that had Tom Kiefer LA Guns and Faster Pussycat wanted me to show up and MC…………..Nothing
I think Eddie Trunk and Jose Magnin are great at what they do. I like them both and I also think they are very different from me. I am not and never have been a journalist. I’m just a fan I can not tell you how many times I reached out to SiriusXM SiriusXM Ozzy’s Boneyard or Liquid Metal. I never even got an email back NOTHING
I kept tryng and nobody was interested. I took it personally I have always said never give up never give up. I kept trying and everytime I reached out to a perfect gig. I was shut down.
There is nobody in rock n roll that comes close to riding a motorcycle as far as me. I have worked with Dio so many times. Yet when a Ronnie James Dio ride was planned Eddie Trunk hosted. PLEASE KNOW I LIKE EDDIE……. I just thought Dio, biker cmon who better than me.. Why was I not the one hosting a rock motorcycle event…..It’s simple…….nobody was interested
I kept beating myself up questioning why I couldnt even get a call back. Why when there was a heavy metal tv show nobody tried to see if I was available.
I HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH ALL OF THIS
It ain’t going to happen. I’m not going to do a metal tv show or a metal radio show. My day is done. Why would I keep on submitting while I am gettimg ignored. I am not mad at anyone I am not going to sit here cursing all those that are not interested. They have reasons that my ego won’t let me see….until now
So I am giving up…… It has gotten to the point of being pathetic. We all know that 80-90’s rock star that keeps on rehashing the same old stuff that nobody really wants too hear anymore. I don’t want to be that guy. Ya know the “what ever happened to” that keeps reminding everyone HEY LOOK AT ME I USED TO BE !!!!!!!
Here is the worst part about it. I have been getting really down that nobody is interested at SiriusXM or MTV VH1 AXS TV I kept on submitting myself to see if a huge festival was interested in having me, they don’t even call back. I have been letting this get me down and the stupid thing is I don’t even realize how great my life is right now. I am trying to rehash the past trying to get these jobs instead of focusing on how rad everything currently is….
THIS IS WHAT MY JOBS ARE TODAY-
For 19 years I have hosted a Nationally syndicated radio show called Racing Rocks. 2 hours every weekend for 19 years
I am currently on FOX SPORTS as a pit reporter for American Flat TRack
I own an apparel company that has 2 offices and a small warehouse that does very well and continues to grow
I married a gorgeous woman that is talented succesful and fully digs me even when I get in these funks like I have been in as of late…Thanks Lea Vendetta
I get to ride a motorcycle all over America. I have raised almost $200,000 for charities not keeping a dime. Hell currently on TheRide22 I have already raised $18,000
I don’t want to boast but financially I’m better than I ever was and I should be more than happy with that
Most importantly I have some of the most loyal supportive ( I don’t say fans ) people backing me #RacPac I see them at every stop on my rides and they are fucking amazing
So why the hell am I focusing on all those jobs I’m not getting,
SO NOW WHAT
I’m going to do what I know how to do. I’m bringing back the #CathouseHollywoodPodcast because I know those shows were awesome and people really enjoyed them. I’m going to write. Perhaps create a spoken word that I could do in front of a dozen or so people in a tiny club.
I’m going to work on my apparel company, maybe roast some of my own coffee. I’m going to improve what I do and STOP COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS
People NEVER GIVE UP NEVER GIVE UP but know when it’s time to turn the page.
Time to write some more chapters
Info about the Cathouse Podcast:
Back in 1986, years before he was the infamous host of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, Riki Rachtman transformed a rundown Los Angeles disco into a one night-a-week rock club that would become, not only a part of rock history but a music and fashion culture that defined The Los Angeles rock scene. With assistance from his roommate Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat, they created CATHOUSE The most NOTORIOUS ROCK CLUB EVER . Riki had a strict policy of NO CAMERAS so anything could and did usually happen at the Cathouse. These stories have never been told
UNTIL NOW
Each episode Riki Rachtman travels back to Cathouse with a witness that experienced the events of that particular evening. It may be a musician that sold 5 million records or the girl that worked the coat check. It didn’t matter at the Cathouse we were all rock stars
Listen to Riki Rachtman’s Cathouse Podcast on Spotify by clicking right here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tjkHsCvsACgZt0MCxeh9Y
