Dirty Honey

After moving to Los Angeles in an attempt to duplicate the success of Guns N' Roses, guitarist John Notto met vocalist Marc LaBelle while he was playing various gigs, where Notto became part of LaBelle's then band Ground Zero, in which they played a mix of covers, as well as original songs written by LaBelle.[5][6][7] They decided to independently form their own band, then called The Shags,[8] in 2017 after performing their second show on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard in front of about 100 people.[6][2] Notto then recruited bassist Justin Smolian, and the trio had trouble finding a drummer until Smolian brought in Corey Coverstone, who enthusiastically asked to join.[9] LaBelle came up with the name Dirty Honey after hearing Robert Plant mention his band The Honeydrippers in a Howard Stern interview and thought it sounded like a "dirty" rock and roll name.[10]

After hearing their song "When I'm Gone", the band's longtime friend Mark DiDia, a music industry veteran from Columbia Records, became their manager and quickly got them gigs, opening for Slash in the fall of 2018.[9]

The band traveled to Australia to record their self-titled extended play with producer Nick DiDia.[2] It was self-released on March 22, 2019.[11] Eight hours later, the members were contacted by friends and family telling them their music was being played on the radio.[6]

Dirty Honey toured in 2019 as the opening act for Red Sun Rising on their Peel Tour.[12] On May 7, the band opened for The Who at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan as part of their Moving On! Tour.[13] Dirty Honey opened for Skillet and Alter Bridge on their Victorious Sky Tour from September 22 to October 25. They also supported Guns N' Roses on their Not in This Lifetime Tour on November 1 and 2 in Las Vegas.[14]

Originally having planned to once again travel to Australia to record their self-titled debut album in March 2020, flight restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to relocate to Henson Studios in Hollywood, California, with producer Nick DiDia virtually supervising them, along with the complete scrapping of the music video for the track "Heartbreaker" from their previous EP. The album was released April 23, 2021.[15]

In 2021, Dirty Honey toured in support of their debut album on the California Dreamin' tour with opening act Joyous Wolf,[16] as well as opening for The Black Crowes on their Shake Your Money Maker tour.[17] The group announced the Young Guns tour, a co-headlining tour with Mammoth WVH, set for 2022.[18]

• Marc LaBelle – vocals
• John Notto – guitar
• Justin Smolian – bass guitar
• Corey Coverstone – drums

• Official website