Metal Rose

Sandra Marie Josephs (Metal Rose) has been singing and playing piano for more than 30 years. She started out playing by ear at 3 years of age and loved to compose her own songs. She began taking voice, piano lessons by age 5, and began composing music at age 7. Sandra was very lucky to have two wonderful parents, John and Barbara who noticed her talents and nurtured them at a very young, impressionable age. She also had a wonderfully inspirational piano teacher, Sharrel Crooke of Wayne NJ, who always encouraged her to follow her dreams which only made Sandra more determined to be a lifelong musician.



At age 3 Sandra's Mom enrolled her in dance classes which helped her get comfortable with being on stage. At age 8 Sandra's Father (who was a very big influence in her life and her musical taste) showed her the music of John Lennon and The Beatles. They really struck her creativity and inspired her song writing. At age 12 she auditioned and was accepted into Northern New Jersey’s Exclusive "Area Band” in which she played xylophone. That same year she watched the “Behind The Music of Ozzy Osbourne” with her Father. After watching that particular behind the music, Sandra’s father bought her a Black Sabbath album which changed her life forever. She began attending yearly Ozzfests & she became a certified Metal Head.



Not only did Sandra become a certified Metal Head, but she also had to learn everything about the artists who created such amazing songs. Luckily her Dad was a Rock 'N' Roll historian so she learned quite a bit from him. She learned lots of things about Rock 'N' Roll history from her Dad, she read many books, watched countless documentaries, and has done massive research throughout the years. She eventually got herself a gig doing her very own Heavy Metal History Corner on a radio show called Headbanger’s Cafe. Her Heavy Metal History Corner's can be heard by clicking here!



At 18 Sandy auditioned and was accepted to the Juilliard School of Music Adult program in NYC for their composition and contemporary music classes. Also at Juilliard she studied music technology and ear training. In addition she played a lot of solo shows in cafes & restaurants. Most recently she played shows at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ for a very special program called the “Metal Heroes Academy" which was lead by Metal Mike Chlasciak from the band Halford. In that program she sang classic Heavy Metal songs while Metal Mike trained a group of students to play for a successful Heavy Metal show in only 5 weeks. Since 2014 she has become a regular fixture & instructor with the Metal Heroes Academy.



Sandra went on to be the Lead singer of Orbynot. Sadly, her tenure with the band is now over. She is now the Lead Singer Of "Spiritual Sickness" & "Order Of The Rose" New Jersey's Iced Earth Tribute band <3 Aside from pursuing her dreams as a metal star and historian, Sandy loves kids and teaches piano for a living. She is also a young mother who relates well and is sensitive to other young musicians and creative people's needs. Her story is a personal success story and it just goes to show that you should never give up on your true dreams.