Whole Lotta Legacy: Trudi Keck Starr on 26 Years of Rosies and the Birth of the Tribute Band Hall of Fame

Whole Lotta Legacy: Trudi Keck Starr on 26 Years of Rosies and the Birth of the Tribute Band Hall of Fame

For twenty‑six years, Trudi Keck Starr has been steering Whole Lotta Rosies with the kind of grit, fire, and persistence that would make AC/DC themselves crack a smile. What began as a bold idea in the early 2000s — an all‑female tribute to one of rock’s most electrifying bands — has grown into a global force, a touring powerhouse, and a testament to what happens when passion refuses to quit. From snow‑covered stages in Norway to sharing bills with Alice Cooper and the Foo Fighters, Trudi has built a legacy rooted in musicianship, professionalism, and pure rock‑and‑roll joy.

Now she’s taking that same unstoppable energy into her newest mission: founding the Tribute Band Hall of Fame, a long‑overdue celebration of the artists who keep the soundtrack of our lives alive. With its launch event set for June 27th at Bar 10 at the Corbin Bowl, Trudi is once again proving that the tribute world deserves its spotlight — and she’s more than ready to turn it on.

We’re here with Trudi from Whole Lotta Rosies. Let’s go back to the beginning. What made you decide to start an all‑female AC/DC tribute band back in 2000?
Back in 2000, the Los Angeles music scene was flooded with male tribute bands. I was playing in a cover band and didn’t love the music we were doing. I wasn’t playing originals either, so I started thinking, What can I do that’s different? How can I stand out?

One night I was at a show on Melrose. The female singer broke into a Led Zeppelin song, and the entire room stopped and turned toward her. She owned that moment. And I thought: If the crowd goes this crazy for one woman singing Zeppelin, how crazy would they go for five women doing AC/DC? That idea hit me instantly.

AC/DC has always been my favorite band, and at the time there were no all‑female tribute bands. So that’s how Whole Lotta Rosies was born.

Has anyone from AC/DC ever heard or commented on your band?
Yes — many times over the last 26 years. A couple months after we formed, we met Simon Wright at the Rainbow. Since then, we’ve been mentioned in magazine articles by members of AC/DC — Malcolm, and I believe Angus or Brian at one point.

I actually ran into Simon again recently at the Dio Cancer Benefit Show. I showed him our old photos, and he said he remembered. He told me, “At the time I thought, This will never go anywhere, but 26 years later you’ve been all over the world. Good job.” That meant a lot.

What was the experience like playing Rock for Ronnie?
It was an honor. Everyone knows the annual Rock for Ronnie cancer benefit. It’s an incredible cause. We were one of only two tribute bands performing that day. It was a gorgeous day at the Autry, and so many friends and supporters came out.

Lita Ford was a huge idol of mine growing up — and she was also my neighbor for a while. She’s jammed in my living room with me and my son. So being part of an event connected to her and to Ronnie was surreal. I was beyond thrilled.

You’ve also performed with the Foo Fighters and Alice Cooper. What was that like?
Alice Cooper was the first major original artist we ever performed with. When we got the call to play Rockin’ the Rivers in 2003, we were pinching ourselves. Alice Cooper, Loverboy, Jefferson Starship — it was surreal.

At the end of our set, we wanted to do something memorable, so we turned around and mooned the crowd. The promoter said, “Now that was an encore!”

As for the Foo Fighters — Jimmy D from Paladino’s recommended us. Their management came to see us at the Cat Club, and then they called and asked if we wanted to perform. Of course we did. At the end of that show, three of us wore booty shorts that said “Foo Fighters Rock.” When we bowed, that’s what the audience saw.

One of your earliest shows was at the Coconut Teaszer. What was that like?
That was our very first show — and we were terrified. Another band dropped out and asked if we wanted to fill in. They even spelled our name wrong on the marquee. But the Coconut Teaszer was iconic, and playing there for our debut was intimidating. I remember my feet feeling wobbly in my white vinyl boots. But we got through it, and afterward we were proud of ourselves.

You also played an AC/DC fan convention in Norway. What was that like?
They built an entire tour around that convention for us. It was all AC/DC tribute bands. Some shows were massive, some smaller. The first show was outdoors, and it snowed on us while we were playing.

Everyone there loved AC/DC. We met so many other tribute bands with their own wild interpretations. It was wonderful.

And we had a funny moment — one night a friend of the promoter took us to a venue on his boat. After the show, he hooked up with someone and left without us. We had to find a bus back. When we finally got to the house, he and the woman were naked in the living room. We were like, “Sorry! Just heading to bed!”

Let’s talk about the Tribute Band Hall of Fame. How did that come about?
I’d been thinking about it for years. I heard a story about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and how bands have to be together for a certain number of years. I thought about our own journey — how hard it is to stay together for 25 or 26 years.

Tribute bands will never get that kind of acknowledgment. And I thought, Why isn’t there a Tribute Band Hall of Fame? That’s how it started.

It took years of research and nonprofit setup, but tribute bands deserve recognition. The work, the history, the passion — often for very little money. It’s not luck. It’s grit and perseverance.

So in 2025, we launched. And now we’re preparing for our first public event.

And that event is June 27th at Bar 10 at the Corbin Bowl.
Yes! We have eleven bands — Black Crowes, Ozzy, The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Black Sabbath, The Cult, and more. We’re doing a red carpet, giveaways, a photo booth, official photographers, press coverage, and sponsors. Every band member gets a swag bag. Guitar Center is supplying the backline. We’ll have a guitar, drumhead, and banner for all the artists to sign.

We want this to be a fun, historic inaugural event.

What’s next for Whole Lotta Rosies and the Hall of Fame?
Whole Lotta Rosies has several shows coming up — the Hall of Fame event, the Aero Room, the Majestic Ventura Theater, and a KNAC show at Stages in Orange County.

For the Hall of Fame, we plan to host ongoing events and are already in pre‑planning for the first induction ceremony. I’d love to do it at Garden Amp or the Whisky.

Do you have any message for your fans?
I’m beyond grateful. It’s been 26 years, and so much has happened. I’m producing a documentary about our story — I’ve been working on it for five years. I wrote the script, I’m editing it, and I’m using footage I’ve collected for 25 years.

My message is thank you. Thank you for your love, support, and time. I never take it for granted when someone chooses to come see us. I always take a moment on stage to look around and feel that gratitude.

I’m proud of Whole Lotta Rosies — where we started, what we’ve been through, and how far we’ve come. There were so many times when it would’ve been easy to give up. But you press on. It is a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

My mom always said, “You’re persistent.” And you have to be. If you want to do what you love, persistence is everything. I’m grateful, honored, and proud.

In Conclusion

As Whole Lotta Rosies charges into its twenty‑sixth year and the Tribute Band Hall of Fame prepares for its public debut, Trudi Keck Starr stands exactly where she’s always belonged — at the center of a movement she helped shape. Her story is one of persistence, vision, and a refusal to let the music fade, even when the road gets long. Whether she’s leading her band through another packed show, organizing a historic celebration of tribute artists, or putting the finishing touches on her long‑awaited documentary, Trudi continues to honor the spirit of rock and roll with every step. And for the fans who’ve followed her from the Coconut Teaszer to Norway to Ventura and beyond, she carries nothing but gratitude. Because for Trudi, the journey has never been about luck — it’s been about heart, hard work, and the belief that if you love something enough, you keep going. And she’s not slowing down anytime soon.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Scott Waters)

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