Revolver Golden Gods Nominations Announced at Rainbow Bar & Grill

See more from the Golden Gods Nominations in Erin Broadley's photo gallery.

It's one thing to hang out at the legendary Sunset Strip haunt Rainbow Bar & Grill and try to soak up as much metal as humanly possible. But when you're there in the afternoon for the announcement of Revolver's Golden Gods nominees and you realize that the guy who walked past you is Rob Halford, the experience is a bit more surreal, for both the musicians and us onlookers.

Erin Broadley

"Out of respect, I would never consider myself a heavy metal musician, but I've been very affected and moved by heavy metal for many years," says Andrew W.K., who is co-hosting the April 8 award ceremony with Chris Jericho. "So now I'm here and meeting real heroes. To be able to meet them and be here is a real privilege."

Several of the nominees were in attendance at Wednesday's event, including Dave Mustaine and Zakk Wylde, who have both received nods in the Best Guitarist category. Also in attendance were Rob Halford, who was named this year's Golden God, and Lemmy Kilmister, who will be receiving a lifetime achievement award. You can vote for your Golden Gods over on Revolver's website.

After the nominations, we had the chance to chat with several of the musicians on hand.

Erin Broadley

Zakk Wylde

"You've got the Jonas Brothers on Saturday Night Live now...I know these guys sell tons of merchandise, tons of records, but it's on at 11:30 at night and then the Jonas Brothers are going to be on at midnight. First of all, their whole fucking audience is in bed by then. Then they're trying to get the crowd going and everyone's sitting there. If I were to wake my daughter up or my son to watch the Jonas Brothers, then when Weekend Update comes on with political satire and goofy-ass jokes, they're not getting anything. They're seven years old, what the fuck do they know about the President of the United States. Who's the music the director? It's a part of pop culture, I know, but put on Pearl Jam or REM. There has to be another popular band right now."

Erin Broadley

Dave Mustaine

"I have a fish tank that I put a bunch of other awards in...The funny thing is that after a couple of days, the metal started to peel off. Then our fish started dying. It's got to be the awards. The poor fish. It was a red oscar and a couple of baby sharks. Those are the best. I was so mad. You get those little sharks and they're so neat, you just stare at them fascinated. Like Mr. Limpet, that stupid fucking movie with Don Knotts, do you remember that movie?"

Do you still have any fish?

"No, the fish all died, so I got a scorpion instead."