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The economy was also changing in the early 1990s: a recession was descending, and that did not bode well for Thrust Music Magazine, a free local rag whose revenue depended solely on advertising. But we persevered, sometimes going bi-monthly, and had some great coverage and saw some epic shows. I’ve also saved some fun promotional materials that the labels sent to the magazine. In particular, check out the Warner Brother Records brochure on the metal scene…a good read. Also make sure to check out the 1991 Tampa Bay Metal Awards show brochure in September for some local nostalgia \w/.

Once again I need to give a shout out to setlist.fm and concert archives.net for confirming the show dates and opening acts listed below. Both fantastic concert data archive sites.

January 1991

ABOVE: The January issue of Thrust music magazine featured Kings X with substories on The Simpsons, Killing Joke, Tesla, and the Cocteau Twins. The King’s X interview in that issue is included. The Bleeding Hearts with St. Warren and Belle Vue Boyz on 3-1-1991 at Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg, Florida. $4.98 advance/$6.98 day of show. And a few record store album release ads, reminding us we had to go to the store to get our music back then: GWAR at Peaches, Concrete Blonde at Tracks/Record Bar, Alias at Turtles, and a “Win Backstage Passes to Cinderella” ad, whose album could be found “at music stores everywhere.” Also included is a Dezo Hoffman photo exhibit ad and the monthly installment of The Great American Stiff, the punk/hard core scene update. #RIPstiff.

February 1991

The February issue of Thrust featured The Charlatans UK, Living Colour, and Saigon Kick. I’ve included the interview with Florida’s own Saigon Kick, as well as some new album release reviews. Note reviewer Steve Turner, aka Steve Rock aka The Rock Tourist, who now runs some very cool sites including a YouTube channel at @concertrocks. A 95YNF ad for Living Colour with King’s X on 3-3-1991 at USF Special Events Center (see pass and ad below), Neil Young with Sonic Youth and Social Distortion on 3-10-1991 at the USF Sundome, Poison with Slaughter on 3-22-1991 at the USF Sundome all in Tampa, Florida. The Grateful Dead on 4-7 and 8, 1991 at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida, and ZZ Top with the Black Crowes on 4-10 & 11 at the Lakeland Civic Center in Lakeland, Florida. Update: I’ve learned the Black Crowes did NOT open for ZZ Top at that show due to being kicked off the tour over Miller Lite sponsorships issues…seem more at this Ultimate Classic Rock article How a Corporate Sponsorship Costs the Black Crowes A Tour With ZZ Top.

ABOVE: Jane’s Addiction with Suicidal Tendencies on 2-19-1991 at the Bayfront Arena in St. Petersburg, Florida, along with a “Guest After Show” backstage pass. A google search found a cool band site at janesaddiction.org with detailed information with band ads and a variety of local reviews.

ABOVE: AC/DC with King’s X on 2-22-1991 at the Florida Suncoast Dome (now Tropicana Field) in St. Petersburg, Florida. Floor seats, Section F7, Row C, looks like $19.75. Yet another cool band archival concert data site can be seen at ac-dc.net. I actually remember (wow, lol) being backstage at this show but I think the King’s X backstage pass I had was accidentally assigned to a King’s X show in my 1990 post.

March/April 1991

ABOVE: The March/April issue of Thrust featured the Divinyls with sub stories on Funhouse and the Ojays. A very different sort of cover….I really don’t recall why Thrust went in these musical directions. I’ve also included an interesting advertisement for the Extreme Pornograffiti album – again, back when we had to go to the store to buy music.

Living Colour with King’s X on 3-3-1991 at the USF Special Event Center in Tampa, Florida. Backstage pass and concert advertisement from the January issue of Thrust magazine.

ABOVE: A very rumpled 3″ x 2″ paper pass to Probe A Private Club Guest Pass dated 4-15-1991 with an address at 836 Highland Avenue in Los Angeles, California – the same address as the second location of Riki Rachtman’s and Taime Downe’s World Famous Cathouse (at which I spent many o’ fun evenings – see my Cathouse post). I had no recollection whatsoever of what this might be and online research quickly reminded me that I was clueless about the amazing early 1990s live music venue in L.A.: the pass is from Club With No Name. Apparently Probe was one of the numerous Los Angeles venues that changed themes on various nights (ala Cathouse). According to a cool 2016 article in L.A. Weekly entitled The 20 Best LA Music Venues that are Gone but not Forgotten, Probe began as a private gay club for men and morphed into several theme-night homed clubs: the “teen” industrial Kontrol Faktory, the goth Helter Skelter, 1970s themed Club 1970, the “dark alternative dance night” Stigmata, and live music at Club With No Name. An internet search finds no specific band on this date, but according to setlist.fm, numerous soon-to-be huge artists played there: Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Rage Against the Machine, and more.

May 1991

ABOVE: The May issue of Thrust featured Drivin’N’Cryin’. I remember going with Chris to this interview, which took place on the tour bus. One thing stands out clearly in my mind: the singer said he had just sent money home for a layaway payment on a swing set for his kid, who was around the same age as ours ;o). I’ve included that interview. Who remembers the 98 Rock Flock Card? I still have mine (of course lol – check out my post at 1982-1987 Tampa Bay Area Band Flyers).

ABOVE: Scorpions with Trixter and Great White on 5-25-1991 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. One ticket is comped and the other is a floor seat Row L at $18.75. Autographed Trixter 12″x12″ cardboard promo piece (photo of front and back) with a Scorpions “Support Act Guest” backstage pass stuck to it.

ABOVE: Since it’s in my album I’ll throw this one in for the price shock: Walt Disney World Florida Resident One Park/One Day Ticket on 5-26-1991 for $23.20.

ABOVE: The Rock-It Club ad for a few weeks in May: Heartless, Circus, Arazmo, St. Warren, Katz Kill, Innocent Exile, Mad Athcu, and Silent Scream.

June 1991

The June issue of Thrust featured Bang Tango with with sub stories on Fishbone, Kik Tracee, and Voodoo Gurus. A 8-9-1991 Ratt Detonation World Tour 90/91 support act – Bang Tango – backstage pass is stuck to the cover. See more on that show under August below.

ABOVE: David Lee Roth with Cinderella and Extreme on 6-13-1991 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. Comped tickets with a Cinderella Heartbreak Station “Before Show” backstage pass.

July 1991

The July issue of Thrust featured L.A. Guns with sub stories on Stu Hamm, Blackeyed Susan, Lynryd Skynyrd, Braille Closet and the Mavericks. I’ve also included a Warrant Blood Sweat & Beers Tour ‘91 ad and show with Trixter and Firehouse on 8-21-1991 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida and 8-23-1991 at the West Palm Beach Auditorium, and 8-24-1991 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida.

ABOVE: Queensryche with Suicidal Tendencies on 7-2-1991 at the Bayfront Arena in St. Petersburg, Florida. Two comped tickets and an autographed Queensryche World Tour ’90-’91 AFTER SHOW backstage pass, along with a note from a rabid-Queensryche-fan friend we took to the show and to the meet and greet. RIP, Kelly. This was the most amazing backstage experience ever: a few band members did an acoustic version of Silent Lucidity in front of a small group in a cement block room somewhere in the Bayfront Center. I wish I remembered more details; sigh…whether it’s just bad memory banks or not being “in the present moment,” I do remember it was one of the best backstage treats I’d ever experienced.

August/September/October 1991

ABOVE: The August/September issue of Thrust featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with sub stories on Frontline Massive, Stranger, Faith Nation, Slow, and Valdez. I’ve also included the Tom Petty interview, and an ad for local legends Crimson Glory album release. There apparently was no October issue of Thrust.

A rather generic Rock-It Club ad but showcasing it’s amazing live act history in the Tampa Bay Area music scene.

ABOVE: Warrant with Trixter and Firehouse on 8-24-1991 at the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. Comped ticket and backstage pass.

ABOVE: Foreigner on 9-1-1991 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. Comped ticket and an octagonal Foreigner “Tampa” V.I.P. backstage pass. I cannot find anything about this show at the regular places (setlist.fm and concert archives.org) in an online search, but other shows in the same time frame list XYZ as the opening band. The Foreigner Wikipedia site states this tour was for the only album they recorded with a singer I never heard of, Johnny Edwards, who spent time with Montrose (interesting).

ABOVE: Program from The Tampa Bay Metal Awards on 9-1-1991 at the Ritz Theater in Tampa (Ybor City), Florida. Memories of 98 Rock, Ace’s Records at the Oldsmar Market, Keith Collins, No Clubs Productions, Daddy Cool Records, Trax video show, SST Records, Road Racer Records, and Thrust Magazine. Performances by Obituary, Atheist, Gardy Loo, Mortuary Society, Raped Ape, Krunch, Darth Vadar’s Church (DVC), and The Guff. The nominees and winners included Signed Bands: Atheist, Morbid Angel Obituary (winner), and Savatage; Death Bands: Atheist, Deicide, Morbid Angel, and Obituary (winner); Unsigned Bands: Brutality, Gardy loo, Havoc Mass (winner), Krunch, Silent Scream; Hardcore Bands: Awake, Gardy Loo, The Guff (winner) and No Fraud; New Bands: Buriel, Gardy Loo (winner) and Havoc Mass. Other musicians and regionalized band winners are listed as well. The back features a Hollywood Records ad for The Scream and Sacred Reich.

ABOVE: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Chris Whitley on 10-23-1991 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. Comped ticket. Also a Thrust advertisement for several Tom Petty Florida shows.

November/December 1991

ABOVE: The November/December issue of Thrust featured a variety of artistic: Savatage, Following the Now, Ozzy Osbourne, local favorites Tyger Tyger , The Itch, and Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids. I’ve included the Savatage interview, and a Firehouse/Spec’s Music advertisement for their self-titled debut album.

ABOVE: Les Paul autograph on his interview page from the November issue of Thrust, along with a related contest.

1991 Band Press Photos, Kits, and Autographs

ABOVE: Kix 1991 Hot Wire album release press materials, including the coveted Girl Money piggy bank. The Girl Money front/back is postcard size, and the band poster is 15″x 24″.

ABOVE: Autographed 9″x12″ cardboard promo from Tesla‘s 1991 album release Psychotic Supper. I seem to recall they played at Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg, Florida for this tour but I can’t seem to confirm that. Anybody have a ticket stub?

ABOVE: A Warner Bros. Records promotional brochure called Hot Shots and Sweet Spots…”From yr lewd crude unglued friends at Warner Bros.” A REALLY GOOD read on the legendary Sunset Strip clubs and bands of that scene. Autographed by the singer of Life Sex Death, who scratched out the “homeless” part. I recall that autograph happened at Concrete Foundations Forum.

ABOVE: Autographed label promo shots for XYZ and McQueen Street. XYZ’s 1991 release Hungry and McQueen Streets self-titled debut. Both were amazing albums but I was really partial to the McQueen Street CD. We still get to hear XYZ’s hit Inside Out on Sirius XM but McQueen Street sadly seemed to have disappeared completely.

ABOVE: This promo shot is for Extreme‘s 1990 release Pornograffitti, but I think the autographed backstage pass is from the 3-23-1991 Winger, Extreme, and Tangier show at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

Above: Press kit for Aldo Nova‘s 1991 release Blood on the Bricks. A great album, even though my favorite will always be 1983’s Subject – my very favorite road trip album. The first and only time I saw Aldo Nova was 1982…and the second time will be on the Monsters of Rock Cruise in March, 2025. Looking forward to it!

Above: Autographed (to my son Adrian) press photo from Adrian Belew for his 1991 Desire of the Rhino King album release. Also a press photo for the self-titled Tribe After Tribe 1991 release.

Above: Four fold flyer for U2‘s 1991 Achtung Baby release.

ABOVE: 1991 press kit for The Doors biographical movie release…a fantastic major motion picture directed by Oliver Stone. It includes a 25-page history of the Doors but I’ve only included pages 1 and 25. If anyone wants to read the entire thing, please reach out to me in the comments and I can share. I absolutely adore the call out of St. Petersburg Junior College on the bottom of page one…my hometown community college, my alma mater, and my employer for the past 6 years.