Rockin’ Upon A Wikkid Starr Interview by Ken Morton Wikkid Starr is back and ready to launch into the stratosphere with the arrival of Return To Glory - their new album on Lion’s Pride Music. Upcoming shows include direct support for the likes of Jefferson Starship and Quiet Riot! Highwire Daze recently interviewed front man Toney Richards to find out more about the very amazing Wikkid Starr! Read on... Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in WIKKID STARR and how long has been together? Howdy, I’m Toney Richards the Lead Vocalist, Lyricist, P.R. Guy, Booking Agent, Producer and co/founder of WIKKID STARR. The band was originally formed in 2006 by myself and guitarist Ashlyn Childs (Black Star Sinners). Ashlyn had to abandon the project, due to some personal issues and our engineer, Bill Krodel (Gilby Clarke, Great White, Ratt, Don Dokken, Bullet Boys, etc.) - passed away from cancer which complicated matters even further. I thought about aborting the whole project and putting together something new but after playing songs like Karma, Zombie TV and Feed Me to musician friends of mine, they encouraged me to go balls out and make it happen - so I did. In 2015, I hired a publicist and went on a promotional tour of South America - Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay and passed out 800 CDs of our first album Collision Course - (if you have one, keep it- it’s a collector’s item). The highlight of the trip was definitely connecting strongly with the Hard Rock/Metal community in Buenos Aires. In 2016, I came back out to Argentina and headlined two shows in Buenos Aires- La Roca (The Rock) and Red Bell. Both shows were sell-outs but the highlight of the trip was without a doubt playing the Roxy in Buenos Aires and opening up for fellow American Jeff Scott Soto. I appeared on the biggest Rock Station in Argentina- Vorterix Radio and also appeared on the biggest music channel in Buenos Aires (Canal Musica). All in all, it was a great experience and that’s how I was able to restart my music career. We’ve had several line-up changes through the years but I’m proud of everyone that has been a part of this band. I’ve been lucky that I have managed to improve our line-up with every change and feel like the current line-up, is the best one yet!! 46
Is there any overall story or concept behind the Return To Glory album title? The concept behind the album is symbolic and the album cover says it all. The dragon symbolizes China and the East and the Arch Angel Michael symbolizes the U.S. and the West. The Arch Angel is chopping off the dragon’s head meaning we are victorious, thus remaining the number one super power in the world and doing our best to keep the planet safe from any sort of aggression from negative forces. WE can never allow a foreign adversary to divide us. WE must stay united as Americans and learn to agree to disagree. WE are the last vestige of hope for the free world. If we fall, our whole way of life will fall with it and the world will become a much different place. On a personal level, Return To Glory is about empowering ourselves. It’s about overcoming our own fears, deficiencies and mental limitations. It’s about having a deep understanding of who we are and believing in ourselves and our ability, to manifest whatever reality we create- through intention, focus and actions. It’s our own personal triumph in the physical world- it’s our personal Return To Glory- victory is ours and it’s there for the taking. May/June 2022
HIGHWIRE DAZE
