EDGE ENTERTAINMENT ONLINE volume 2 September | Page 14

former member of a California gang became his “celly” and brought him to Christianity. So it was with some disposable “time” on his hands that he began to visualize Crimson Storm —metal with a message. Ames has always had a musical dream, and recalls the rock heroes he admired in his youth. He was most impacted by Judas Priest and lists singer Rob Halford as a mentor, along with the Christian metal band Stryper (besides this EDGE Entertainment News feature, one of his proudest moments was his recent interview by “Stryper Mom” Janice Sweet). So with a new lease on life after his “release”, Ames was literally on a mission from God (resisting any “Blues Brothers” reference here) and formulated Crimson Storm’s original line-up, garnered from former “roomies” at his luxury accommadations at the Uncle Sam Hotel.

Crimson Storm got right to work writing, recording, and making appearances, all the
while building a world-wide fan base aided by marketing and social media. It was at this time that Ames made the acquaintance of Janet Hirth Brock, who was to become Crimson Storm’s Manager and investor (“I put my money where my mouth was…I believed in these musicians THAT much!”). Ames and Brock met quite by chance on an obscure site called Facebook. Says Brock “I opened up my Facebook page and there was this pic of a dude with hair flying about 4 feet in the air and rocking out. I listened to the music and was BLOWN AWAY! Song after song in their music catalogue grabbed me. I loved the ballsy, nasty metal sound and Ames’s unique voice that resonated so clearly. I was hooked!” Brock has since been annointed with the moniker “Storm Angel” by band members. And as this unbiased newswoman is obliged to report fact, chicks rule, and my sources tell me that Brock is one with major “breasticles”. And so it was, that Brock Artist Management out of Knoxville, Tennessee came to represent Crimson Storm, in Phoenix, Arizona. With dynamic management onboard, Crimson Storm continued to grow their audience and was poised to make some serious noise in the industry. But as the world of rock and roll turns and is often the case, Crimson Storm had its “growing pains” and there was a parting of the ways due to differing visions and varying values