Not Dead Yet! The Star Within Starr Still Burns Brightly!

Veteran Metal guitarist/bassist David K. Starr (WildeStarr, Vicious Rumors, CHASTAIN) returns with a slamming new track and video.

NOT DEAD YET is Dave’s own testimony of life’s twists and turns after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020.

Dave says, I originally started writing the song about what I have gone through, but then I realized it’s bigger than me, this song is for anyone out there dealing with life changing events, be it their health, death of a loved one, a broken heart, or whatever comes your way.

I never mention my health problems in the song, that would be too corny, so I broadened my scope and made it for anyone out there who’s going through pain. It’s basically about standing tall and fighting for yourself, fighting to stay alive, no matter what kind of hell life throws at you.

NOT DEAD YET was directed by London Wilde, and features Dave singing lead vocals for the first time, as well as playing all the guitars. Backing up Dave on this new track and video are Rich Gray on bass (Annihilator, Aeon Zen) and drummer Fabio Alessandrini (Annihilator, Bonfire).

I sat down with David and we discussed everything from this new single, his career, on through to how he tried to handle his Parkinson’s during the video shoot and, oh yeah, even penguins!

Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2020, when was it that you realized you would/should put your thoughts about it and other such ailments into a musical outlet? - “Actually, a few years went by before I started to work on this. My wife (vocalist London Wilde) and I were recording our 4th WildeStarr album. I had most of the guitar tracks done. Then we had a bad fire at our home here and our recording studio was pretty much destroyed. Then while our house was being re-built, I had emergency hernia surgery. Then we were very involved in getting the house finished. Then my wife had a stroke! And a few of our dogs passed away. It was one thing after another.”

“My wife is doing much better, but then she found out she really could not sing anymore. So, what do I do? I told her I wanted to keep making music, and she was behind me 100%. I decided I wanted to give singing a shot and ended up writing NOT DEAD YET in late 2003 or early 2004. It came together pretty quickly. The singing parts came last, I was a bit nervous, but I think a did a decent job.”

So what were some of the biggest obstacles along the way to bringing this single to fruition here in 2025 and how did you overcome them? - “Just the chaos of life, stuff we deal with every day. Parkinsons has affected my guitar playing a bit, so I’ve had to change the way I play here and there. I’ve re-worked my soloing style. Some of the more elaborate stuff I did in WildeStarr, I can’t really play like that anymore. I decided to simplify things and just do what I can do and not stress about it.”

As for the single, Not Dead Yet, how did your creative sound differ here on this new recording as opposed to your previous outputs? - “Well, it’s still me playing guitar and writing the music. But the singing was all new to me. Also, I have not done much lyric writing in my career, and I wrote all the lyrics on this tune. So, a lot of new territory for me here! I admit, it’s a bit scary putting yourself out there like this, because I might think it’s great ... but what will the public think?”

Well, interestingly you never mention your own personal medical issues in the song, but was there ever a songwriting moment when they did appear in the lyrics before you decided they shouldn’t be the focus? - “As I was writing the lyrics, I might have tweaked things bit here and there as I went along. The song is about me ... but at the same time it’s not. I wrote it for anyone out there going through hell. I’ve already had a few people tell me that the song really hits home for them. They really identify with the lyrics and the message of standing tall when facing difficult odds.”

And as for this powerful single, how would you yourself sum up its sound ... and in just five (5) words? - “Wow, that’s hard!! Heavy - Hope - Fight - Survive - Overcome. Not in any particular order!”

It’s been said that this single was the first time that you have sung lead vocals on a recording, which is hard to believe as your voice is perfect for this kind of music genre. Is that true and if so why has it taken you this long to get to show the world your singing prowess? - “Wow, thank you! I was blessed in my career to always work with world class singers, so the thought of singing was something I never considered. I guess at age 64, it was time for me to branch out a bit and do something different. I don’t really consider myself a great singer, but I can convey the feeling, emotion, and attitude that’s necessary.”

I have just watched the video for Not Dead Yet, so please tell us more about how it came together, what went into its making, and any behind-the-scenes secrets too would be great! - “I needed a bassist and drummer, and I found Rich Gray and Fabio Alessandrini online. They recorded their audio and video parts over in Europe and emailed them to us. My wife, London, recorded my guitar and vocal tracks here in our home studio. She filmed me here at home in front of a big green screen. She is great with all the video tech stuff, and she put this whole video together with the three of us, and the special effects, backgrounds, etc. She did an incredible job!”

“Not so secret, but if you watch closely, you will see my right hand/arm trembling in a few scenes. That’s Parkinson’s, it’s all real. We talked a bit about editing that stuff out, but both decided it needed to stay.”

What are some of the last albums (CD, vinyl, cassette, et al) you physically purchased (vintage and/or new releases) and which one have you already gone back to listen to more and why? - “I don’t listen to a lot of music to be honest. When I do, it’s usually the older, classic metal and hard rock. I did pick up the new 38 Special CD Milestone, it’s really great. Their bassist Barry Dunaway is a good friend of mine.”

What would you like all the readers of this interview to know about the new single? - “Take a look/listen, and blast it. Hopefully it will move you!”

And yes, we ask everyone we interview this very same question (as we are putting together a kid’s book). We here at Exclusive Magazine love Penguins and so we were wondering if you had any love for them and/or had a story of one (soft toy, zoo, chocolate bar, relative, etc.) that you could share with us? - “I love Penguins, and all animals! I’m a big dog lover myself. Mr. Poppers Penguins just came to mind ... LOL.”

And finally, we asked David to kindly provide a never-before-seen photograph of himself. One that perfectly personified their readiness for the world to hear his new musical endeavor. And kindly, this is what he sent.