The Rods

The Rods are an American heavy metal band formed in 1980 by David Rock Feinstein (guitar, vocals), Steven Starmer (bass, vocals), and Carl Canedy (drums, vocals). After the release of their first album, Starmer was replaced by Garry Bordonaro. Feinstein had previously gained attention as a member of Elf alongside his cousin Ronnie James Dio, though The Rods adopted a more traditional heavy metal style compared with Elf’s boogie-rock approach.

Their debut album was first released independently as "Rock Hard" in 1980. After signing with Arista Records the following year, the label reordered the tracks and reissued it as "The Rods." The band’s second album, "Wild Dogs," followed in 1982 and was re-released in 2004. Their third album, "In the Raw," appeared in 1983. In 1984, Canedy and Bordonaro contributed to Jack Starr’s album "Out of the Darkness" alongside Rhett Forrester and Gary Driscoll. The same year, The Rods released their fourth studio album, "Let Them Eat Metal," and recorded "The Rods Live." Their album "Heavier Than Thou" was released in 1986, followed by "Hollywood," credited to Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle, with Rick Caudle on lead vocals and Feinstein performing solely on guitar. The group disbanded after poor sales of their final two releases.

Canedy also established a career as a producer, working with bands such as Anthrax on "Armed and Dangerous" and "Spreading the Disease," Exciter on "Violence & Force," Overkill on "Feel the Fire," Possessed on "Beyond the Gates," and Roxx Gang on "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em."

The Rods reunited in 2008 with the lineup of Feinstein, Bordonaro, and Canedy, performing at Metal Rock Fest in Lillehammer, Norway. Their album "Vengeance" was released in 2011 to positive reviews, followed by "The Brotherhood of Metal" in 2019. On November 9, 2023, the band announced that their album "Rattle the Cage" was released on January 12, 2024.

Discography Rock Hard (1980), reissued as The Rods (1981) Full Throttle (EP) (1981) Wild Dogs (1982) In the Raw (1983) The Rods Live (1983) Let Them Eat Metal (1984) Hollywood (1986) – released under the name Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle Heavier Than Thou (1986) Vengeance (2011) Brotherhood of Metal (2019) Rattle the Cage (2024)