Skidography
Vinnie Salvatore is a guitarist from Pittsburgh, PA, most recently with the Columbus, Ohio-based hard rock band, Rat Bastard Syndicate (since 2016), featuring Steve Theado and Keith Pickens. Theado, Pickens and Salvatore are former members of American Dog, a hard rock band fronted by ex-Salty Dog and Dangerous Toys bassist Michael Hannon. Vinnie appears with Rat Bastard Syndicate on Howler Monkey (2018), Reinforce (2019), Cock-a-Doodle-Do (2019), Black Looking Glass (2019), Häk Sabbath (2020) and a new, as-yet untitled album to be released soon.
Vinnie recorded and toured with American Dog during the final years of the band and appears on Neanderthal (2014) and Unfinished Business (2017). American Dog toured to support Neanderthal in the United States with Tesla and The Vegabonds - and in Europe with Blue Coupe, Lez Zeppelin and Skinny Molly.
From 2009 to 2013, Vinnie recorded and toured with The Godz, the American hard rock band fronted by the legendary Eric Moore. Vinnie juggled both guitar and bass guitar duties while a member of The Godz, who released a brand-new studio album, Last of the Outlaws, in 2012. Additionally, Vinnie appears on From the Vault Volumes 1 & 2 (2013). Also during 2012 and 2013, Salvatore filled in on guitar for Planet 9 to help the band meet its touring obligations while Ron Zingaro was on hiatus, including dates with American Dog and Suspect Earth.
Salvatore also played bass in The Walt James Band (WJB), a power-trio based in Columbus, Ohio. featuring Walt James on guitar and vocals and Linda Dauwalder-Dachtyl (a familiar face) on drums. Walt toured and recorded two albums with UFO bassist Pete Way, and also performed and recorded with Columbus, Ohio's notorious Lollipop Factory.
The Walt James Band recorded the much-acclaimed album - Arrival, released worldwide in 2003. In early 2005 Vinnie's evil twin brother, Trapper John, joined forces with Sukus. Recording for their debut album began in September 2005 but it was not completed. A version of the album was released on the now defunct Sukus website in 2008 entitled, Tales From The Majic Sack. Meanwhile, the Skid Baxter Nowhere Space (EP) was recorded and released in 2006, with both Chris Sutton and Tracy Spears figuring prominently in the proceedings.
A three-year stint as bassist for Suspect Earth saw the release of their album, Hard To Drag in 2007 on BoFi Recordings. In 2009 Vinnie was a member of swamp-rockers, Danballah, a short-lived project fronted by Johnny Weils, former lead vocalist for the southern-metal band, Alabama Thunderpussy.