Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Shawn Sonnenschein

Shawn Sonnenschein has gotten around. He’s honed, slick, raw, and rockin’ all at the same moment. If you’ve followed rock in the ‘80s and beyond around the Pacific Northwest, you probably know of Shawn as the guitarist that replaced Tommy Thayer when he left for Kiss playing in Black N’ Blue and performing on the Hell Yeah! album.

But, Shawn’s resume is so thick with rockin’ chewy goodness, that having him as part of Monsters of Rock PDX is going to bring high-powered flavor all night long.

He fashioned his style at an early age around technical prowess and power-blues and auditioned for Keel in 1982 at the age of 16 to replace Yngwie Malmsteen. He was turned down, not for his playing, but for his age. Not dissuaded he did a 2-year stint with the L.A. rockabilly band The Stingers and did management with Kenny Kerner and Bill Aucoin of Kiss that would later pay dividends He’s also had a short stint with Billy Idol in the early 80's and then, while planning a new project with Stephen Adler (former drummer for Guns 'N Roses) in L.A. in 1984, decided to move back to Oregon to start a new band Sweet Roxx, 1985 - 1987 who opened up for Black 'N Blue numerous times. Through those gigs he met Black N’ Blue bassists. In the ‘90s he formed Ten Pound Rain with Pat Young (Black n Blue), Cory Stafford (Beauty Stabb) and Thad Smith (Hot Boy) and released "Healing the Mudd" in 1996 (NOTE: Sonnenschein will be reunited with Stafford on stage at Monsters of Rock PDX). That band later morphed into Plum after losing singer Stafford, recorded and released the 4 song self titled EP.

From there, it was the aforementioned trek to Black 'N Blue, the Oregon Rock Hall of Fame band. Shawn was Normandy Guitars first endorser (Normandy is a key sponsor of Monsters of Rock PDX). .Make sure and catch Sonnenschein on Jan 28th at Dante’s!

Sonnenschein with Black 'N Blue

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets (purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details