This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ride for Dime, a charity event that raises funds for Little Kids Rock Foundation and pays homage to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.
Every year co-founder Rob Elchelberger gathers bands from all across the country to play two nights of mind-blowing metal in honor of the local metal scene's fallen brother. And every year more and more bands want to play the two-day tribute show.
"I've been doing the Ride for Dime for so long, especially in the Dallas area, I've made friends with a lot of bands," says Elchelberger. "It's real tough to determine who you want to play. I don't want it to be just me who does it, and I wanted everybody to have an opportunity."
To solve this problem, Elchelberger decided to hold a battle of the bands on Saturday, April 19, at The Rail Club and offer the winner a chance to fill the final spot of Ride for Dime's tribute show on either Friday or Saturday night, August 15 - 16.
The first 20 bands who sign up by clicking <here> will have a shot at making the final cut to prove their metal chops against four other lucky ones.
Fourteen bands have already submitted their names.
Elchelberger and Joe Jones, the national vice president of Ride for Dime, will select the top five bands to compete in the battle. A panel of special judges - Debbie Sexxton of 97.1 The Eagle, Bob "Zilla" Kakaha of Damageplan/Hellyeah and Mike Luce of Drowning Pool - will be at The Rail judging the chosen few.
The bands will be judged not only on the crowd they bring but also on their music talent and stage presence.
"This is the 10th anniversary of Dime's passing," says Elchelberger, "and we want to make sure whoever does end up making the stage is somebody worthy of being up there."
The winner will join some the heaviest bands in the metal scene today, as well as a few thousand people, in their salute to Dime and his legacy. The winner will also receive the guitar pictured below.
Sign up ends April 12. For more information check out Ride for Dime's Facebook page or send an email to [email protected].
