Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – In an effort to increase morale and bring the gift of music to Soldiers serving in Iraq, a rock 'n' roll band comprised of top-notch acts from the '70s and '80s visited Soldiers from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, and performed a live concert on Camp Taji, Sept. 11, 2008.

The members of Big Noize, a band consisting of members from Deep Purple, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot and AC/DC, were provided first-hand knowledge during the day on combat aviation operations throughout MND-B by Soldiers from the CAB.

Later that evening, the band provided everyone working and living on the camp first-hand knowledge on how to rock.

"I got this project together, named Big Noize, and this is a perfect mixture of guys," said Joe Lynn Turner, lead singer for the band who also sang for Deep Purple and Rainbow. "This is something we wanted to do – to help the guys [service members stationed in Kuwait and Iraq]. Also, we wanted to show the people back in the U.S. and the whole world all the great things going on over here.

"This is a life-changing experience for us, and we want to let people know all the sacrifices you are making for world peace," he said. "Most people don't realize – 'To have world peace, you have to make sacrifices.' With all the rebuilding going on in this country, it is unbelievable. You are doing a great, great job. You guys are the real rock stars."

During the day's events, the band was escorted to the Camp Taji Airfield where Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, showed off one of the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.

Then after spending more than an hour taking turns sitting in the cockpit and being shown how the combat aircraft operates, the band was whisked to the Apache helicopter simulator, where each rocker took turns flying combat missions in the high-tech piece of equipment.

"This [the simulator] is way harder than I thought it was going to be," said Carlos Cavazo, lead guitar player for the band who also was one of the founding members of the '80s rock band Quiet Riot. "There is so much to think about when you are flying in the simulator.

"I've always wanted to be an Army guy, and being here for ten days gives me a brief chance to do that," said the head banger, whose classic songs include "Metal Health" and "Come on Feel the Noize." Quiet Riot was an American Band whose success in 1983 and 1984 contributed to launching the glam metal scene during the '80s.

During their visit, Big Noize visited service members stationed in Kuwait and Iraq for ten days and they put on five electric guitar-pumping shows. The band consists of Turner's lead vocal talents, Phil Soussan, who played bass guitar for Ozzy Osbourne, Cavazo and Simon Wright, who played drums for AC/DC and Ronnie James Dio.

Camp Taji was the last gig on the bands world wind tour, where the group belted out heavy metal classics to a crowd of more than 300 screaming Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and civilians working on the dusty camp surrounded by Iraqi farmlands.

Some of the hits performed by the group were "Crazy Train," originally sung by Osbourne, "Smoke on the Water," originally performed by Deep Purple, "Hells Bells" originally performed by AC/DC, and "Holy Diver," originally sung by Ronnie James Dio.

"I grew up on classic rock, and this concert is the biggest morale booster since I've been here," said Pfc. Johnathan Shufeldt, 23, Company G, 2nd Bn., 4th Avn. Regt., CAB. "My favorite songs they performed were by Ronnie James Dio. They rock, and I love Dio. These types of events definitely help you blow off steam from the long work days."

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