2025 Monsters Of Rock Cruise Day 5
LAST DAY w/ MSG, Sisters Doll, Rose Tattoo, Winger and More!
The Wrap Up – 3/14/25
Coverage/Pics: Will
Ugh…The Worst. The Last Day. Not only do you have to fit in all the bands on the schedule, but you have to pack, squeeze out the last remnants from your drink package (if you partake) and gulp…say goodbye to friends. The Worst!
Music-wise, it was of course another fantastic day. Although it was a day that a lot of us bid farewell to some music giants. Namely, Winger and especially Rose Tattoo. Now I don’t doubt that we Monsters may have some opportunities to catch a Winger show here and there in the future as they aren’t ruling out one-off shows, but by all accounts it looks like it may be the end of the road for Rose Tattoo.
Winger
I already detailed my relationship with Winger during my Day 2 Coverage (check it out HERE). So I’m not going to regurgitate a review. Only that if this IS the last time we see the band on MORC, they went out with a banger of a show on the Pool Stage.
Rose Tattoo
Anyone know Boyz 2 Men’s “End Of The Road”? Sing along! Yep, the end of the road for Angry and the Lads from Rose Tattoo. Again, I covered their departure from touring in my Day 2 Coverage (HERE), but for those who caught them on this or previous cruises (and tours), we were blessed with seeing one of the legendary rock acts to come from “down unda”.
Sisters Doll
Keeping it Aussie, Sisters Doll played their third and final show of the cruise on the H2O Spice stage, and kept the rock, rollin’. As mentioned before, the Brothers Mileto caused quite a stir on the boat and after their first show, became one of the names being thrown around for inclusion on future cruises.
Also of note, kudos to Sisters Doll for having one of the best onboard, marketing campaigns. Their crew was handing out all sorts of SD items as you walked into their shows. Other bands, take note. It’s a great way to amp up the excitement before the music even started.
MSG
The final show of the 2025 Monsters Of Rock Cruise. And what a way to close it. German, Guitar Legend, Michael Schenker AND the added bonus of having Robin McAuley back behind the mic. There was a bit of a gasp as Robin took quite the spill during “Red Sky” after tripping on a monitor, but bounced back up pretty damn spryly for a 72 year old Irishman. You just can’t keep a good man down.
The set was about 60/40 to MSG/UFO songs, and upped the excitement factor by having Joel Hoekstra join the band for “Natural Thing” and Jeff Scott Soto jumping on vocals for “Too Hot To Handle“.
Setlist:
After the final notes of “Lights Out” faded into the air, it was time to finish what needed to be finished. The final pack and saying goodbye.
The goodbyes for a lot of people ended in the Q Texas Smokehouse where Izzy Presley was wrapping up the cruise with a karaoke celeb fest. And it was a site to be seen (And heard). Sebastian Bach lead a sing-along for Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing“. Julia Lage was there kicking ass on Heart songs.
But the main highlight being the “all-star” sing along to “We Are The World” that included Sebastian Bach, Reb Beach (Winger) , Chris Holmes, Jenna and Rachael from Paradise Kitty, Chad Stewart (Faster Pussycat), Jeff Keith (Tesla), Courtney Cox(Burning Witches), Patrick Kennison (Lita Ford), Howie Simon (Winger), Julia Lage (Vixen), Caleb Rappaport (Nerd Halen), and so many others I couldn’t count.
Another incredible cruise came to an end. I’ve seen many of these bands MANY times. And even though the music is pulsing through my veins, it’s still the friends that I have and the new people that I meet that make these sailings so memorable. Here are just a few of the people that I ran into along the way. And if we took a picture and it’s not here, feel free to send it to me and I’ll add them as I get ’em.
Even though the main lineup for 2026 is already out, we know there’s always some additions to come. If not for next year, how about including some of THESE acts down the line?!
Those Damn Crows, Dirty Honey, Plush, Dan Reed Network, Richie Sambora, Dorothy, Little Angels (Reunion) or Wayward Sons or Toby Jepson solo, The Pretty Reckless, Tuk Smith and the Restless Hearts, The Pat McManus Band (Former Mama’s Boys guitarist), The Struts, Helloween.
Just to name a few…
And…
How many of you are able to name the owner of these legs?
Winner gets absolutely nothing but my respect (for 20-30 seconds, MAX!)
Until next time…
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