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Photo gallery: The Creative Type: Rock star Robert Mason
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Arizona Daily Star photography

  • Mamta Popat
  • Kelly Presnell
  • Grace Trejo

Photo gallery: The Creative Type: Rock star Robert Mason

  • Jun 24, 2010
  • Jun 24, 2010

Robert Mason's created a head-banging character that's cobbled together from the likes of Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose.

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Robert Mason, with microphone, pumps up the audience energy at Cactus Moon with his alter-ego band Nerd Alert. The band's performance is half-serious, half over-the-top theatrics. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Robert Mason, who claims to have an introverted side, jumps into the crowd during a recent Nerd Alert set at the Cactus Moon. Nerd Alert and Metal Head are both strong on audience participation and encourage fans to sing along. "It's kind of like a live karaoke," says Mason. JILL TORRANCE / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Manny Romero, left, Dusty Gauthier and Wendy Dickson savor the sound of Metal Head. The band's shows at Cactus Moon now have a regular following of hundreds. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
The energy is at a peak with the sound building to a climax as the lights go out during a Metal Head show in Tucson. For Robert Mason, the performances tap into something that's been inside him for a long time. "The people singing along with us is the greatest rush there is," he says. PHOTOS BY JILL TORRANCE / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
"You need to play well, but the audience listens with their eyes," says Robert Mason, left, with cohorts in full-on rock regalia. Using recorded tracks makes the covers sound more authentic. PHOTOS BY JILL TORRANCE / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Mason makes it hair-band real, painting his nails black before a Metal Head show. For Mason, the show has to be "visually impressive." JILL TORRANCE / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
It's all there: the hair, the shredded jeans, the sleeveless shirt. Robert Mason performs with Metal Head at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale, one of two regular gigs for the band. "I am absolutely happiest when I am singing a song," Mason says. JILL TORRANCE / ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Far from the stage, Robert Mason uses his laptop and guitar to compose songs at Tucson's Crave Espresso Bar. He also writes the occasional tune for Warrant. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
It's work being in a hair band. Mason brushes out his wig as he and guitarist Dallan Baumgarten, left, prepare for a show. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does

Can ya feeel the love? undying rocker does
Mason, center, is also the lead singer of Warrant, a real '80s hair band that performs dozens of shows each year. NEIL ZLOZOWER

Related to this collection

Can ya feeeel the love? Undying rocker does

Can ya feeeel the love? Undying rocker does

Robert Mason brushes his long blond hair from his eyes as he urges the audience at Cactus Moon to sing along. The hair is fake, but Mason's passion for hair bands of the 1980s is very real.

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