Talkin' Rock With Meltdown Podcast (Beasley Media Group)

What an honor to talk to Geezer Butler, the legendary bass player from Black Sabbath. His book "Into The Void - From Birth To Black Sabbath And Beyond" is out now and it's fantastic. There are some great stories and tales that Geezer gets into. He told me why he wrote the book "I always wanted to write a memoir for my grandkids, to give them a better understanding of my life beyond what they read in the press."

Geezer Butler On Sabbath's Heavy Sound

Geezer talked about the heaviness of Black Sabbath and what caused it. "Tony had to create a new way of playing because he lost the tops of his fingers in an industrial accident. He tuned down the strings to make it easier to play with his plastic fingertips, which gave birth to our heavier sound."They didn't get their due until the early 2000s after bands started mentioning them as major influences. "It's great to finally get positive feedback from newer bands citing us as their main influence."

Working With Producer Rick Rubin

I have friends who've worked with Rick Rubin, and while reading the book, Geezer said everything I've heard before. Rick doesn't do much. "Rick Rubin would come in for ten minutes and say, 'Do another one.' He'd lie on the couch and do nothing. It drove us nuts." He said he wasn't a huge fan, but he did like the way he worked with Ozzy.

Geezer On His Relationship With Ozzy Osbourne

"I speak to Ozzy practically every other day. We had some communication issues, but now we're closer than ever." That's great to hear knowing everything they've gone through over their lifetime.

Lots of great stuff for any hard rock/heavy metal fan!

It's another packed episode, thanks for listening!

Ace Frehley starts us off. He's playing Soaring Eagle on the 29th, the last gig of the year for him. That show is with Stephen Pearcy of RATT. 

He told me he's working on his next album, Origins 3. We talked about the crazy drones flying around by his house. We also talked about the days of KISS and how big they were here in Detroit and Michigan. 

Ace is so much fun to talk to. Legend!

Bumblefoot is up next, with his new album dropping on January 24th. It's called Bumblefoot...Returns. It's his first instrumental album in 30 years! He's got some heavy-hitting guests on it as well. We talk about the video game surrounding the album, how it's coming out on vinyl and cassette, and more. 

To say he's one of the most talented guitarists out there is an understatement. 

Oscar and Alyse from a pretty new band called LYLVC join me next. They formed during the pandemic and have been making some real noise lately. Their latest song is out, called "XXX". They've had the chance to work with some great producers making new music, which we discussed. Alyse tells me about her appearance on the TV show Don't Forget the Lyrics. They're playing the Machine Shop in Flint on December 20th. 

Speaking of the Machine Shop, Jackyl played there on Thanksgiving Eve. Before that, I spoke with Jesse James Dupree. He spoke of his friendship with Travis Tritt, the only hockey game he'd attended, his home studio and the legends who've recorded there, and his connection with Harley Davidson. 

Thanks for listening!

It's ALWAYS great to talk with Lzzy Hale. She's so easy to chat with and very candid every time we speak. 

She spoke to being a mid-state Pennsylvania kid, meeting and playing with her heroes. She mentioned that she grew up in a house that was built in the 1840's, so I had to ask her if she'd ever seen a ghost in that old home. Let's just say, she didn't say no. 

As far as Halestorm is concerned, she said it's "Complete Chaos". They're going to buckle down next month and get to writing. She tells me how they write songs and what the process involves. Plus, she talks about a song she wrote that she never thought would see the light of day, which they did record. Let's just say it became a hit. "There's always a handful of songs (that she writes) that I think are dumb." That's a sexy story. LOL 

As far as collaborations go, she told me how the Ashly McBryde collab came up. "It was a full on "F&*k Yes!"" She went onto say "She exceeded my expectations" as for how the song went. We talked about the Journey cover she did with Chris Daughtry, who also sent me a question for her to answer. That was funny as well. 

If you're watching this, you'll see a piano in the background. I stumped her with naming musicians who've played on it. That was very entertaining. She did tell me about a metal legend who had tickled the ivory at her house. Really cool!

I'll talk to Lzzy anytime she wants me to. She's the best!

-Meltdown-

Taylor Roberts from Taproot/Riding With Killers joins me on Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. 

We started off talking about RWK. He explained how the band formed, talked about their debut record "Full Circle" and more. He said they've done some pretty big shows, but it's time to get that band out to the forefront. "We're really getting ready to launch this band in the right way," he told me. 

He talked to me about being a fan of Taproot, and finally becoming a member of the band. He spoke about how he ended up in Detroit through a member of the band, coming from Mississippi.

When I asked Taproot frontman Stephen Richards and drummer Jarrod Montague to give me some questions for Taylor, they did not disappoint. They told me to ask him about meeting the Kittie in Las Vegas. Apparently, he was a huge fan growing up as a teenager. 

They also told me to ask him about looking like Slipknot frontman, Corey Taylor. That was hysterical! I guess he's been confused for him several times. 

In Taproot, he plays guitar, but in Riding With Killers he's more upfront. "The challenge of putting myself in the lead singer spot, and then finally getting to write about things that have been on my mind and in my head and heart for years, is very cathartic and it's been honestly a great release".

It was great to have Taylor on Tallkin' Rock!

I've never talked with Stephan Jenkins from Third Eye Blind, so I can check him off my ever-growing list of rockers I've interviewed.

Right off the bat, we talked about touring, and how much he likes it. He commented on how concerts bring us together "That collective sense of feeling lets us know that we're not alone." You can see him and Third Eye Blind along with Yellowcard and A R I Z O N A on July 7th at Pine Knob Music Theater.

We talked about a recent unplugged performance he did at an Emo club. "It was fun, man, it was fun," he said about the impromptu show.

Third Eye Blind Teams Up With Detroit's Own Shinola

There are also a couple of other things we talked about, one is their collab with Shinola. Stephan talked about how he likes that the watches are Made In America and the local craftsmen who make them. They have a limited edition watch coming out. "It's super cool. It's obviously American-made". He said they'll be visiting the store when they come through, as well as Jack White's Third Man Records.

How Did His Life Change In The 90s?

His life changed in a huge way in the 90s when Third Eye Blind broke. As I asked him this, he paused for about 5 seconds before answering. He went on to talk about how he lived in an apartment with 6 roommates, one bath and he slept on packing foam. He spoke to the bands he started or joined that fell apart until the band finally broke. After massive tours with U2 and The Rolling Stones, he found himself driving home after two years on the road. "Tears streamed down my face because I realized where I'd gone to, this delineation of points," he said.

We wrapped our conversation by talking about how the thrash scene in San Francisco where he's from had any effect on his musical tastes.

Jamie Madrox, one-half of the iconic horrorcore duo Twiztid, is no stranger to busy schedules and big creative shifts. In a recent conversation with Meltdown, the rapper-turned-rocker discussed everything from Twiztid's new album to the highly anticipated House of Krazees reunion shows to how working with Rob Zombie's producer Zeus has taken their music to another level.

As Halloween approaches, a special time of year for Madrox and his crew, the energy is palpable. "We live for this kind of thing. Every day is Halloween for us," Madrox said with a grin. "This is like Christmas to us—with Christmas right behind, obviously."

A Twiztid Double Feature for the Ages

This week's excitement revolves around a double feature of concerts at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit, a significant homecoming for Twiztid and Madrox's earlier group, House of Krazees. House of Krazees will perform on October 29th, for the first time in years at The Shelter. "We have a new record coming out for House of Krazees called 31," Madrox said. "It's like a throwback. It's a good vibe, and we're excited to do that."

But the action doesn't stop there. On October 30, Twiztid will headline the main stage at St. Andrew's Hall, joined by The Funeral Portrait and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. "It's going to be a good time," Madrox promised.

The New Twiztid Album: Heavy, Experimental, and Groundbreaking

While the Halloween shows will lean into classic Twiztid vibes, fans eagerly await the duo's new album, set to release in early 2025. This record, however, won't sound like anything Twiztid has done before. According to Madrox, it's by far their heaviest, thanks to the involvement of producer Zeus, best known for his work with Rob Zombie.

"The new record has a way heavier sound—everything from death metal to djent. There's a little splash of everything, which is fun," Madrox said. Working with Zeus was amazing, "It was a learning process for me, talking with Zeus and learning about all these crazy things like djent."

Twiztid had long been experimenting with rock elements, but Madrox admitted they never quite pulled it off. "We tried to do rock in the past, but it always felt short of the mark. You could tell we weren't executing it properly."

Zeus brought the expertise and production style they needed to get it right. "We recorded the whole thing differently," Madrox said. "I would send Zeus voice notes, melodies, and little ideas I had, and I'd wait for him to be like, 'Man, this is trash.' But instead, he was intrigued. He started sending me music set to the parts he liked, and the songs started to take shape. Before I knew it, these small ideas had turned into full songs, with bridges and choruses."

A New Approach, A New Sound

Working with Zeus brought an outside perspective to the group. "We've always done things our own way," Madrox reflected. "But Zeus made us rethink everything. He'd ask questions like, 'Why does this part sound like that?' Normally, I wouldn't ask myself those questions."

The album is one of the albums they have ever produced, "When you hear it, it's unlike any other Twiztid record. You can hear a progression in our sound and in our professionalism. We're still growing as artists, even after all this time."

One of the biggest lessons Madrox learned from working with Zeus was being open to critique. "I had to learn not to be afraid to fail and to try new things," he said. We were always pretty self-contained. It was safer that way. But now I'm opening myself up to new experiences, and it's been amazing."

Looking Ahead: New Material, Tours, and Growth

While fans won't hear much new material at the Halloween shows, Twiztid saves the big reveal for their 2025 tour with Coal Chamber. "We were supposed to go on tour with Coal Chamber, but it got postponed to 2025," Madrox explained. "For that tour, we'll have a full band, and we'll be playing a bunch of the new songs."

The decision to hold off on the new material for now is all about presenting it in the best possible light. "I want people to see the new songs the right way," Madrox said. "When we go out with Coal Chamber, it's going to be more of a heavy, live band setup. That's when the new material will really shine."

The band lineup for that tour will feature drummer Dan Fox, who has worked with artists like Marilyn Manson and Dope, and Derek Obscura on guitar. "These guys are phenomenal musicians, and they're going to bring a whole new energy to our live shows."

Passion Projects: Astronomicon and Beyond

Beyond music, Madrox and Twiztid are known for their love of pop culture, where they produce the Comicon, Astronomicon. In its eighth year, the convention has become a beloved staple in the horror, comic, and wrestling communities.

"Astronomicon is a passion project for us," Madrox shared. "We love pop culture, and we want to create an experience that's fun for everyone. We always think, 'Would you be mad if this happened to you at a con?' We put a lot of thought into making it a great experience."

Madrox hinted at the possibility of moving Astronomicon to a new venue but says the core mission remains: to create a positive and welcoming environment for fans of all things geeky and spooky.

The Future: No Fear of Growth

As Twiztid gets ready to release their most ambitious album yet and gear up for a major tour, Jamie Madrox says, "This new record really represents where we are right now," he said. "It's the result of us pushing ourselves, working with new people, and trying new things."

But even as Twiztid evolves, they remain true to their roots. "We're adding new elements, but we're not forgetting where we come from. We've got to remember who we are as artists."

With new music, new experiences, and a revitalized creative spirit, it's great to see what is going to be next for Twiztid, "We're still learning, still growing, and still pushing ourselves," he said. "And I'm excited for people to hear what we've created."

Always a blast to talk with my friends, Brad Stewart and Bobby Amaru from Saliva. If you're in the SE Michigan area, swing by District 142 on Monday, September 25th to see the show. 

Their new record dropped a couple weeks back called Revelations. It was an album written and recorded before the passing of original guitarist, Wayne Swinny. Bobby said they put the album out to honor Wayne. They even redid some of the artwork to pay tribute to the late ax slinger. They talked about the backdrop they're playing in front of each night. "Everybody knows, when you see it, that Raiders logo." Their was a lot of Wayne talk. That dude was so nice. "No ego, one of a kind" is how Brad described him. As Booby recalled "He was always honest, a great person." 

Bobby said he hasn't watched their latest video for "Come Back Stronger" that they recorded just days before Wayne's death. You can see the video below. We talked a lot about the writing and recording process for the album. 

We always talked about the split in the band with Saliva, and original singers Josey Scott's Saliva. "It's an interesting situation that we're to be quit honest." "It's an awesome thing!" Bobby added about Josey also being out on tour singing these songs. They went on to talk more on this topic. 

There was the usual talk of football. These guys love their NFL. 

If you follow Bobby on Instagram with his daughter. If you haven't seen it, him and his daughter cover some of the biggest songs in rock. He told me how it started, about some bands that have asked them to cover their songs and more. 

Some people may or may not know, but Brad was a writing partner with Wes Scantlin from Puddle Of Mudd before joining Shinedown. He told the story of writing "Control" and how he met Brent Smith and became a member of Shinedown. 

LOVE talking to my buds from Saliva....can't wait to see them Monday at District 142.

Lots going on with this episode of Talkin' Rock. 

Teemu Mäntysaari starts us out by talking about his year in Megadeth, how he became a member, how his life has changed, hockey, and more. 

Chris Jericho's Rock N' Wrestling Rager At Sea Cruise will be in early 2025. Chris talks about the cruise's success and how it started. We also discussed the Jane's Addiction brawl, the new Vince MacMahon documentary, and a little hockey talk. 

P.J. and Steve from Trixter are up next. They're out on tour and stops at the Token Lounge on September 22nd. We talk about early tours, their 40-year career, touring pranks, and much more. 

The Rival Sons are out on tour with Clutch so Scott Holiday was cool enough to hop on with me. Mr. Fuzzlord told me about the tour, meeting Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, what he learned from Black Sabbath's Toni Iommi, and lots more. 

We wrap up this episode with Detroit's own Vinnie Dombrowski from Sponge. Their album 1994 comes out on October 11th and features nothing but cover songs from that year, the year they started. He tells me why they did that, what songs are included, and what's in their future. 

Thanks for listening!!

Simon Phillips is a drumming legend, whose played on hundreds of projects. His latest is a live show with keyboardist, Derek Sherinian, called Sherinian/Phillips Live. Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal plays guitars on the album, with Ric Fierabracci on bass. It's out now. You can order it here.

We discussed drumming and even programmed drums, which Simon isn't crazy about. He said he's recorded on as many as 600 albums, including the Sin After Sin album from Judas Priest. He talked about doing it live, and piecing it together. He hadn't worked with the band up until that point. He told me how he got involved on that record.

He told me why we he never stuck with one band, but chose to work on many different projects. "What I loved about playing sessions, was everyday I'd be playing something new." He said he got bored playing the same thing gig after gig. "I love the art of making records."

Simon  spoke to making this live album. They played two sets, and he picked what he thought was the best to create the record.

Bumblefoot gave me a question about paper vs. ceramic mugs for Simon's coffee, which was pretty funny. Simon also speaks to how good Bumblefoot's playing is.

Fun interview, another first time conversation for me.

-Meltdown-

Three guests from different rock genres are on this episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. 

First up, it's Brandon Boyd from Incubus. We discuss their upcoming tour, and why it's in arenas instead of outdoor sheds. We talk about how he approaches writing lyrics, traveling the world, horror movies, and more. 

Jason Hook from Flat Black is next. He tells me about his Canadian upbringing, about the band and how he put it together, and working with Corey Taylor. That's just for starters. 

Finally, it's Lee Jennings from The Funeral Portrait. We start out talking about the screams we heard last week while ghost-hunting at a local Detroit insane asylum. Yes, I included the audio for you to hear. He tells me about Suffocate City, their new album dropping on September 13th, and the guests on it. There are plenty. Great getting to know Lee over the past couple of weeks. 

Thanks for listening!

Wow! What a great conversation with Zacky Vengeance from Avenged Sevenfold. Their new record "Life Is But A Dream..." drops on June 2nd, and I'm very excited! The two tracks I've heard have blown me away!

He told me about the first couple shows. They haven't been on stage in about five years. "We have to put on a show that compliments the music, and do something different than we did before."

He talks about how every member of the band brings their creative thoughts to the table, nothing is off limits. We talked about the artwork and what went into creating that.

What keeps the four original members so tight after all these years. "We feed off of each others energy." He went into much more detail on this topic. Really interesting to hear his answer.

We got to talking about the album. Like I said, I CANNOT wait to hear the whole record. He had a ton to say about it. He talked about how these songs are everything but cliché. "It kinda puts you in a mood and vibe" as far as the opening single, Nobody is concerned. "We tried totally different things" when it comes to the other song they released called We Love You All. "Whatever we do sounds like Avenged Sevenfold." He talked a lot about how they really tried to test the barriers on this album. "We did it pure and true on this album"

He told me how they recorded the orchestral parts for the album on a very famous soundstage. "It took us an extra year and a half." We talked about the influences that shaped the record...you might be surprised.

That's just the tip of our conversation on the new album.

I also asked him about a funny story M. Shadows told me about a show early in their career, and about his favorite Beatle songs.

This is a GREAT listen! Enjoy.....

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Again, lots happening on this episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. 

Jerry Horton of Papa Roach is first. We discuss their 2025 plans. Tour, new music, and more. He speaks to playing Detroit, trouble the band may have gotten into on tour, and playing with a marching band on stage in Columbus, Ohio. That's just for starters. 

Michael Starr has the honors next. "Feel The Steel" is 15 years old and the band is celebrating. They're heading back out on tour and playing a song they wrote with Chad from Nickelback. He talks about that experience, as well as the addition of Spyder to the band, Superbowl predictions, and more. 

We wrap it up with Eric Bass of Shinedown. The guy does it all, including writing, producing, and playing an entire solo album. Eric Bass Present: I Had A Name drops on February 28th. He tells me this project has been done for a while. We talk about his depression, a hero he lost who taught him a ton around the recording studio, and questions from bandmates Barry, Brent, and their head of security, John. 

Sebastian Bach is my latest guest on Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. He's dropping a new album, in his words, sooner than you think. "It's coming very, very soon." He talks about the first single "What Have I Got To Lose?" which you can see below. That song is co-written with Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge/Slash. He talked about joining up with him.

Detroit's own John 5 is also on the album, along with others. He reminded me that this is the third album he's collaborated with 5. 

He also spoke about the fact that he wouldn't mind getting back with the original members of Skid Row. "Us five musicians haven't been in the same room together since 1996, and I barely remember the year 1996." He went on to say that he's over whatever happened in 1996. "I'm over it." He talked more about that, including the fact that he owns all sorts of demos and unreleased tracks from the early days of the band. 

Sebastian also talked about the Skid Row tour with a very young Soundgarden on the Slave To The Grind tour. When asked if he could see that band blow up like they did, he talked about the darker vibe of the grunge movement at the time. "I come from a time where rock and roll was nothing but fun." He elaborated "I didn't get into rock and roll to be depressed. I got into rock and roll to escape depression." He spoke of hanging with Chris Cornell after the shows and the ultimate demise of the legendary singer. 

We had to talk about KISS. He's a huge fan and told me the story of seeing the final show in New York. He also spoke highly of the KISS reunion show at Tiger Stadium in 1996. He called the show the "biggest rush" when they came on the stage that night. A moment he said he'd never forget. "Probably the most exciting concert moment of my life."

Rob DeLuca from Spread Eagle playing with Sebastian for many years. He gave me some fun tour stories to ask him about. Those are crazy stories. 

The guys from Three Days Grace dropped a new single today called 'Mayday'. That's the start of what they have going on. Drummer, Neil Sanderson joined the show to discuss the single, bringing Adam Gontier back into the band, and more. He also told me about the record label he co-owns with producing legend, Howard Benson. 

Wolfgang Van Halen is up second. He came through Detroit with 3 Doors Down and Creed, so we talked for a few minutes before soundcheck. He told me about playing at the Rock Hall induction ceremony last month. Insane that he got to jam Ozzy's 'Crazy Train' with so many rock legends. We talked about opening up shows, working on new music, and his first year or marriage for starters. 

Thanks for listening!

It's a jam-packed episode of Talkin' Rock with three guests. 

Legendary Triumph frontman Rik Emmett is up first. His new book, Ten Telecators Tales drops on the 25th. He speaks about the book, why he wrote it, and more. We did talk about Triumph....the band's heyday, his strengths, and how I thought he never got the credit he deserved for his guitar playing. 

Always a treat to have Rik on the show!

Leigh Kakaty of Pop Evil is next. Their new album comes out on the 21st, called What Remains. Leigh said the struggle is what found its way into the writing of the record. “Our manager George called me up after a few songs and said, ‘Do you realize what you’re writing about?’” Leigh told me. “I hadn’t even thought about it. But when I went back and just read the lyrics—man, every song was about me, about the darkness I had buried. It was like my subconscious was writing the album before I even knew it.”

I asked him about that. He has such a cool life, so what could be so bad? “People don’t realize—yeah, my life looks amazing, but it comes with sacrifices,” he said. “You leave for months, come back, and it’s like people aren’t waiting around. They’re living their lives. And then you’re thrown back into normal life, trying to figure out where you fit in. It’s a mental challenge.”

Finally, it's radio legend and host of the show Metal Shop, Charlie "The Butcher" Kendall. The show was on the air from the mid-80s through the early 90s, and now it's back. Charlie talks about how the show began, and the spark that marks its return. He's spent many decades up and down the radio dial and has the stories to share. 

I listened to Metal Shop religiously as a kid, so this was a thrill for me. To speak with the man behind the show was a full-circle radio moment for sure. 

-Meltdown-

I had a chance to talk with Kenny Wayne Shepherd about his upcoming 2025 Tour with Experience Hendrix, a fresh album with blues legend Bobby Rush, and the 30th anniversary of his breakout record, Ledbetter Heights. Oh, and let’s not forget his obsession with muscle cars.

The Experience Hendrix Tour: A Shredder’s Dream

KWS is heading back to Detroit on March 22nd for the Experience Hendrix show at the legendary Fox Theatre. If you’ve never been to one of these gigs, imagine the ultimate guitar jam session with an all-star lineup paying tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Kenny is stoked to be part of it once again.

“The Fox Theatres are some of the most beautiful venues in the country, and the Detroit one is probably the pinnacle,” Kenny said. “It’s crazy to think a lot of them were originally movie theaters.”

He also talked about the wild mix of players sharing the stage, from shredders like Zakk Wylde to the precision of Eric Johnson.

“Eric Johnson literally plays a backwards Hendrix solo note for note,” Kenny said. “That’s next-level dedication.”

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Family, Touring, and Finding Balance

Kenny isn’t just juggling a tour—he’s also balancing life at home with six kids.

“When we first had kids, I tried to be home as much as possible, just doing weekend shows. But eventually, I had to hit the road again,” he explained. “Now, we’ve got a system. Four to five weeks on tour is the max before I need to come back and reconnect.”

And when he’s home? It’s all about family, muscle cars, and stepping away from the music business for a bit.

30 Years of Ledbetter Heights and a New Record with Bobby Rush

This year marks three decades since Ledbetter Heights put KWS on the map. To celebrate, he’s re-recorded the album, but don’t expect an exact replica.

“With Trouble Is…, we recreated it almost exactly. But for Ledbetter Heights, some of the original musicians have passed away, so we took some creative liberties,” Kenny said. “It’s going to be a fresh experience for fans.”

He’s also dropping Young Fashioned Ways on March 21st, a pure blues record with 92-year-old Bobby Rush.

“We had to wait until our schedules aligned, but now we can finally tour together,” Kenny said. “This album is special—it’s stripped-down blues mixed with full-band electric, and it’s raw.”

Muscle Cars, Roadkill Nights, and the Dream Cruise

If you know Kenny, you know his love for muscle cars is right up there with blues guitar. He’s got about 16 cars in his collection, though he admits he’s no Jay Leno.

“Jay’s got two airplane hangars full of cars—it’s like a museum,” Kenny laughed. “I’m living my version of the dream, but that guy’s on another level.”

And speaking of car events, he’s working on making it to Dodge’s Roadkill Nights this summer in Detroit.

“I’ve never made it out to the Dream Cruise or Roadkill Nights, but I’ve been talking to the Dodge guys,” Kenny said. “Fingers crossed I can make it happen.”

Talking Marriage Advice and Meeting Mel Gibson

Kenny also shared some personal moments, including advice from his father-in-law—yes, that Mel Gibson—before marrying his wife, Hannah.

“He told me, ‘Try not to go to bed angry,’” Kenny said. “It’s great advice, and we try to follow it as much as we can.”

As for meeting Mel for the first time?

“I grew up around famous people because of my dad’s radio background, so I wasn’t intimidated,” Kenny explained. “But yeah, some people would probably find it overwhelming.”

Final Thoughts From Kenny Wayne Shepherd

From killer guitar work to burning rubber on the streets, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has a packed year ahead. Between the Experience Hendrix tour, the Ledbetter Heights re-recording, and his new blues project with Bobby Rush, there’s a lot to look forward to.

And who knows? Maybe we’ll see him tearing it up at Roadkill Nights this summer.

 

 

 

Two great conversations, one mediocre podcast! LOL

Scott Stevens is up first. The Exies are back together and touring. They play the Machine Shop on November 9th. Since the band disbanded 15 years ago, Scott's worked with everyone from Shinedown to Dorothy, to Halestorm, and more. He has some great stories to tell about writing and producing some great rock artists. 

Up next, it's Al Pitrelli from T.S.O. He plays on the west coast version of the band. Al's played in many projects and has lots of great tales. He answered a question from David Ellefson about his time in Megadeth, and even one from Bals Elias, the drummer in the West Coast band, and lots more. 

Enjoy!

Meltdown

Wednesday 13 starts us up on this episode. His new album, Mid Death Crisis, drops on April 25th. 

I had to get 13 on the show for a few reasons, including that he's a huge horror movie fan like myself. Yes, we did talk a little horror. I also wanted him to talk about the new album and tour. 

The first single, "When The Devil Commands" is a crunchy horror-rock shredder. I can't wait to hear the rest of the album, which includes a track he did with Faster Pussycat's Taime Downe. 

He also told me about the fire that broke out while filming another video. He may have saved a ton of acreage from burning a month ago. 

Up next, it's Jake and Joe from the Autumn Kings. The boys from southern Ontario have come a long way in the 10 years since forming and are hitting the road for shows in Europe next week!

They talk about the band, their musical influences, the biggest rock stars they've met and lots more. This was also a fun conversation! I can't wait to see them when they play a show closer to here in the future. 

Thanks for listening!

Richard Patrick of Filter took some time out of his schedule to talk about what's going on in his world. 

Many people may not know this, but the first Filter album was mixed right here in Canton, Michigan, at Pearl Studio. Richard reminded me that he moved from Michigan when he was six or seven to Cleveland, Ohio. 

As for the new album, The Algorithm drops on August 25th, next Friday as I record this. He talks about why it's taken so long to come out. He started this album about five or six years ago. "I think, people are going to like the heaviness." of the new album. He said it harkens back to the first three albums. Once again he recorded most of the material on his own. He also told me why they went with real drums, as opposed to programmed drum tracks. 

He also spoke to the point of how he is "The King of my World" in his band. He said he's "free" to work with anyone he wants to. He said Filter's the Richard Patrick show without the band title. 

Richard opened up about his departure from Nine Inch Nails and the formation of Filter. He talked about being told to deliver pizzas to make more money, while N.I.N. was really going strong. "I was floored. They didn't know it but I was talking to Warner Bros. I had a demo of "Hey Man, Nice Shot, and Warner Bros is like "We'll sing you right now!"" He was entrenched in the band at the time, heavily. He said he'd contemplated doing both N.I.N and Filter, but that wasn't going to work. He said it's all water under the bridge, and he's totally happy with where life has taken him. 

As far as reuniting with Trent Reznor, "It was absolutely amazing!" He was really happy to talk about that show last year in Ohio.  So cool! "I just really, really had the best time ever."

The Freaks On Parade tour with Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Ministry and Filter kicks off on August 24th. "It's going to be a huge tour...it's going to be insane!" He told me about the huge impact Ministry played in his life. It was significant, to say the least. That's a great story. 

Oh, I had to ask him about his relationship with his brother, actor Robert Patrick. He said the bicker back and forth, but "Ultimately I love him and I wish him well."

What a great conversation with Richard!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Mr. Big is on their "Big Finish" tour and makes a stop in southeast Michigan at District 142 in Wyandotte on May 30th. 

Mr. Big From The Start

Eric told me the entire story of how the band started after his solo career had seemed to fizzle out in the late 80s. He spoke of meeting Billy Sheehan, a guy who he didn't know about. It was interesting to hear how the pieces came together.

New Mr. Big Drops On July 12th

Eric had a lot to say about the upcoming album. Their 10th record Ten drops on July 12th. He told me how he and Paul recorded demos for all the songs. "We mapped it out perfectly," he said. Eric talked of starting from scratch on this album and the reason for doing so.

Jay Ruston produced this album, as Eric explained to me why they went with the rock producer. "I liked what he did with the last Winery Dogs album...that record was slick"

I also grabbed a couple questions from some of his solo bandmates, PJ Farley and Jason Hartless. Those made for a few laughs.

Fun conversation with Eric for sure! I cannot wait to hear the full album. 

Kicking off 2025 with an interview with John Gallagher of Raven. They have a new EP coming out on February 14th. It features five new songs and three live tracks, all from different decades. He told me about the songs, and one he said is the heaviest song Raven has ever done. 

John also told me they're well into working on new music, so it sounds like they have a lot of material ready to go. 

We discussed their early tours, taking Metallica on the raid, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and the bands they influenced. As far as the NWOBHM was concerned, that era didn't last long, but it did produce some legendary bands. 

You can watch this interview on the RIFF TV section of wrif.com to see some of John's classic basses, as he pulled a couple of them out. 

It's a great way to kick off 2025 on Talkin' Rock!

It's always great to talk with Scott Stapp. It's even better when he has a new solo album about to drop and a tour with the reunited Creed! We talk about all of this and lots more on this episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown.

His new album is called Higher Power and comes out on March 15th. He told me about the album, how personal it is to him, and working with guitarist Yiannis Papadopoulos and singer, Dorothy Martin. Dorothy is on a song called "If These Walls Could Talk". Scott told me about getting her on the track. He said after watching her set one night, that he knew immediately that he wanted her on the song. He said she was in tears when she heard the song for the first time. "I'm really excited to share that song with everybody in the world," he said. 

We also talked about the reformation of Creed. He said they haven't rehearsed yet, but they have a lot of "secrets" that the year will unveil as far as the band is concerned. "We can't wait to rock out!" The show here is just about sold out in Detroit. "It appears we've connected with a whole new generation of fans" through social media. 

He said getting the band back together was very organic. "I think we all knew it was going to happen at some point, we just didn't know when." He's happy that his kids will be able to see him on stage with Creed. "They really haven't seen what their dad had done earlier in their life"

He said he went through a lot of stuff publicly and privately, that he says changed him in a positive way. He takes things one day at a time and wants to remain positive about everything that's going on in his life. He's excited to play the solo dates on tour with Daughtry coming up, as well as the massive Creed tour later this year. 

Scott's a good guy and I'm happy for him and the band, as well as the fans! It's going to be a huge year for him and I wish him all the best...

Great to catch up with John 5. 

We talked about first concerts. John's first show was a massive show at a Michigan venue that's no longer around. 

5 told me about a documentary he's been working on for some time now. He said it's coming out soon, and he's fired up about it. He said he thought they decided to wait on releasing it after he joined Motley Crue. "I took a chance and rolled the dice" is how he described his path to where is has gone, and where he is today. 

"It was very difficult, of course" he said when asked about his leaving Rob Zombie's band. Again, he took a chance. "I was very nervous about talking to my friend (Zombie) about it" 

As far as Motley goes, it's a dream come true for 5. "It was magical!" is how he described playing with the band for the first time. He spoke to how he studied the band and how well prepared he was to join them. He said the first show was unreal. What did he do for the second show? He had childhood heroes Ace Frehley and Peter Criss from KISS come to the show. As we were speaking, he thought out loud about playing warmup shows. Maybe it was because of him??

As for playing and hanging with the band, he told me about that experience, and it's crazy. He told me about the Motley "flu" that went around the band. 

What about something that he didn't really know about the band, but has come to learn since joining? "Everything is very serious." He said from meet and greets, to making the show the best it can be, they are all in. "They're just wonderful, wonderful people. They really are. They care a lot, that's for sure."

New music from the band? "We have songs recorded. I don't know when it's going to come out." He cannot wait for them to see the light of day. He said there's a few songs finished. Plus, he got to work with the legendary producer, Bob Rock. 

He'll be going from the massive stage, to small clubs on his solo tour coming up. "I get so excited to play these shows." You can see him at the world famous Machine Shop on February 9th. A few tickets remain. 

He also talks about a new song called "the Ghost", which drops on Halloween. 

Staind has a new record dropping this fall, and Mike Mushok was nice enough to hope on Zoom and tell me about it. Well, he told me what he could....you'll have to watch the interview to know what I mean.

Mike talks about the connection Staind and Godsmack have had for decades, as they get set to tour this summer. He talks about the first national show they actually played here in Detroit opening up for a local music legend.

We talk about the upcoming album, their first in 12 years. "Confessions of the Fallen" drops in late summer/early fall. Mike didn't have a specific date yet. He explained how the main lyric writer is singer, Aaron Lewis and that he doesn't even know what the lyrics are until far into the process. He told me about creating riffs and how he stores them in an 'ideas folder'.  As far as the record "I'm really happy with the way it turned out". He said it's a diverse album with more of an electric element to the new music.

We talked about making videos, dropping more new songs before the record comes out and more.

He also told me his thoughts on Aaron Lewis solo stuff. "I think whatever Aaron does is really good." He said that he had always hoped the band would get back together, but there just wasn't a plan. We discussed his thoughts when the band shut down, playing with Jason Newstead  and Saint Asonia filling the void. He said he wanted to write with other singers, which turned into Saint Asonia.

We talked about touring in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. Find out why he says he looks back on the lockdown sort of fondly.

Always great to talk with Mike....

-Meltdown-

Mac Saturn singer, Carson Macc joins me today, as their "Hard To Sell" record finally drops this Friday, January 26th, with a show to celebrate that night at the Fillmore Detroit. 

The process of making this record began long ago. Working with Al Sutton at Rust Belt Studios, they brought what they thought were solid songs, but they weren't. "We brought them so many songs that we thought were it!" Carson said that although they didn't use those songs, they learned much about their songwriting process. More on Al and others who helped them in a minute. 

As far as pegging this band's sound, that's a tough one. Carson describes it like this "We're from Detroit. We're Rock and Roll, but we're from Detroit so we got a little bit of funk and soul" He said people always compare them to so many different bands. "We like to do things authentically"

This band does not shy away from being from Detroit. "You gotta say it. You've got to wear that on your sleeve, because why wouldn't you?" They want to be part of the musical fabric that's so strong from years gone by. They are the future of that sound.  

As far as singers he's been influenced by, that's another one you just can't point to. He says he takes elements from all of his inspirations "...and be completely free on top of this band, that has some serious players in it." Yes, the band is very tight. 

As far as the tour is concerned, Mac Saturn is hopping right into it. They're going all over the country from January 26 at the Fillmore, right through until St. Patrick's Day. 

Carson was never at a loss to talk about working with Al Sutton at Rust Belt Studios in Royal Oak. "He was always pushing us to see how far we could take this sound." Kid Rock guitarist and backup singer, Marlon Young and Hershell Boone were all on board in the creation of this album. He sang their praises and spoke to how much he learned from all of them. 

You can watch the video for "Mint Julep" here. 

It was great to talk to Carson. Wishing nothing but the best for him and the band as they start out on this trek. You can meet the band on Thursday at Dearborn Music in Dearborn starting at 6 pm for a listening/meet & greet party. 

The guys from Badflower were nice enough to swing by the station on their way through to Canada this week. They took a few minutes to talk with me about what they have going on, as well as plug their appearance for Riff Fest on September 23rd. 

Joey, Anthony, Alex and Josh spoke to getting lost on the way to the station. That's a tough trick in this day and age. 

They talked about the tour they're currently on with Incubus and Paris Jackson. They told a story of what they did on a recent day off, which the Incubus guys took care of. 

What about new music from the band? They were somewhat tight-lipped about what they're working on, or when it will see the light of day, but let's say they are recording material. They eluded to the fact that they've worked on it for a while. Josh said finishing the music is the hardest. "Getting a song to 75% is the easiest part. Maybe even 80%. Going from the 75, 80, 90 to 100 % is like a steep climb." He said it's weird to be judged when they drop new music. 

As far as reading what the fans write on social media, Josh reads all of the comments, even though he said that might not be a great idea. "It sucks, I shouldn't." He did admit there's many positive comments as well. 

They passed along some bus rules, things they don't like about touring, and more. 

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Days after his birthday, Sully Erna from Godsmack called in to discuss what the band has going on, along with his "I Stand Alone - The Sully Erna Story", which you can watch now. 

He told me how the documentary started, after writing manuscripts for his book "The Paths We Choose". He says his story is about perseverance....that's an understatement. "So many times I could've easily ended up dead or in jail." He told me how music really saved his life.

He said he was nervous watching it, but he thinks it came out good. I watched it in one sitting. There was stuff in there that surprised me, and some stories that were, as he said, hard to believe. He's a guy who literally had to fight to achieve his success. "There really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it's just a mother f&#$#er getting there."

People may or may not know, Godsmack was a late-blooming band. Most rock bands get their start in their 20s. Godsmack started to break in their 30s. That's unheard of in our business. He said after years of trying to make it as a musician for so long, he put the band together to just scratch an itch. 

He also talked about how drummer Shannon Larkin joined the band. He said they didn't even do auditions for drummers when he came aboard. Suly went on to explain how he joined the band and how the "drum battle" started. That's a highlight of any Godsmack show. 

As far as what the band has going on this year, he said they probably won't be working on any new music, but touring with an intimate night of music and storytelling. 

You can watch the documentary on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services. 

Steve Richards from Taproot was kind enough to join me to talk to all things Taproot. 

I opened up the conversation by asking him what it's been like to be back out on tour with the band. "It's been really cool" Steve replied. He explained how their tour isn't a grueling grind, but one where they meet up on weekends. He also spoke to touring with new music under his belt. He's known these songs for years, but he had to teach them to the other guys. "Playing the new songs is really cool because it's something I never planned on."

He also told me about shooting the video for "Favuorite Song" at the Buffalo Bill house, which you can see below. He explained how they decided to shoot it there. 

"Not so much. At this point it's me literally trying to remember words" was his response to the question about how much pressure is on him, being the creative force, spokesperson, and face of the band. "I don't feel too much pressure. I love being out there." 

As far as touring is concerned, Steve now has a family that he gets to see and take to some shows. 

He told me about guesting on a song for someone that he's working on now. "I've got some really cool harmonies. The topic is really dark and creepy" He said he really likes working on other stuff for people. 

Of course, I couldn't let him go without asking his thoughts on Patrick Kane playing for the Detroit Red Wings. We're big hockey fans, so this is close to our hearts. 

Steve and the guys are great people! Really looking forward to seeing them again this weekend at District 142 in Wyandotte, Michigan.

It was great of Mike Kroeger from Nickelback to take so much time to talk about their documentary Hate To Love: Nickelback, which comes to theaters on March 27th and 30th. We also talked about a few specific songs, hockey, and more.

He told me this documentary might help to dispel some of the things about the band that aren't true. "It's the filling in of a few blanks and maybe telling some stories that no one knows." He said the band hasn't shared that much, and that may be their own fault, but they want to straighten some misunderstandings. He said that the "hate" doesn't bother him much anymore, but it did in the past. "It's hurt me and my family, but now I really don't care about it, now I want to use it." Mike really opened up about this topic. 

We talked about the monstrous hit "How You Remind Me". That song became the most-played single on the planet. "I didn't really feel like it was that much better than the other ones" but it went on to smash the doors down for the band. 

Another song we dove into a little was "Rockstar". Mike told me how an old promotional trick used by Alice Cooper in the 70s that they used to help that song become a huge hit. He said that was the 7th single released from that album All The Right Reasons and the 7th number-one song. That's crazy!

I also asked him about Canadian bands that break or don't, in the States. Mike talked about their road to success "down here". We talked about recording in other studios, their induction into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame by a hockey legend, as well as playing the closing ceremony at the 2010 Olympics, which was an insane few hours. Great story!

Oh, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my friend John Guarnieri, security to the stars, who gave me a great question about cheesecake. LOL....you just have to hear it. Thanks, John. 

Something happened in this interview that's never happened with anyone I've talked to in over thirty years. More on that later. John is playing the new District 142 in Wyandotte coming up on July 12th.

We talked about his upcoming Live & Loud tour Tom Keifer and Winger. The last of which stops at the world famous Ryman Theater in Nashville, Tenn. "I can't say I won't drop to my knees and lick the spot where Elvis played." He talked about playing Detroit early on in his career with The Scream and talking to multiple radio stations back in the day.

John is back in the Dead Daisies. I asked him about the constant turnover in that band, since members come and go. He answered that and how he rejoined the band. "I'm honestly happy to be back. There's no bad blood between us." He talks about their new bassist, and how he dated his ex-wife. LOL. He goes way back with him. He spoke of the great respect he has for Glenn Hughes. "That guy is genuinely a freak. The fact that he still sings the way he sings is mindboggling to me." He talked about rehearsals with the band, and his crazy schedule around that.

Ok, about that thing earlier....he was getting tattooed while we were doing the interview. And, yes, he does show what he was getting. (on the video link at wrif.com/meltdown)

Enjoy!

-Meltdown-

Here's my two-part conversation with Robert from Metallica. This is condensed into one part for your listening pleasure!

Part one.....

We talked about the latest album, 72 Seasons. He said it was great to get back into a room and play with the guys after the pandemic. "You forget about those things and take them for granted, it was pretty special."

He also spoke about his time in Detroit this week. "It's a great city with a lot of history, a lot of history of music." While he was walking around the city a couple of days ago, he walked by the Fox Theater. He talked about playing at that venue with Ozzy and his band Infectious Grooves. 

I was lucky enough to visit the Motown Museum earlier in the day with Charlie Benante from Pantera/Anthrax, and he told me a story of someone throwing a bottle on stage at the band at a show in Europe. Robert was hit in the head as he waiting behind an amp. He recalled the story about what happened, and how it bonded his friendship with Anthrax to this day. 

Part two included this...

We started off the conversation this time talking about the impact that Motown had on him. "That was 100% in my wheelhouse." He told me about growing up listening to that music, and then being turned onto rock and metal. "There isn't a bass player in rock, in metal, and sort of in modern music, that's serious about their instrument that doesn't respect those bass lines coming out of Detroit". That led us to more bass talk and guys who inspired him.

Robert talked about Detroit's "swagger" and all the history and music from here. "There's a soulfulness to it." He also talked about his love for Houdini and everything he did in the Motor City.

I had to ask him about the upcoming project he has coming out with the legendary RUSH bass player, Geddy Lee. He spoke to really getting a chance to hang with Geddy. "He wanted to know what it's like in the world of Robert Trujillo". Robert was fired up about the whole experience "It was really, really cool." He told a story about Geddy watching his son play at a local bar. He said people were blown away that the Canadian legend was there.

I asked him about re-recording the Ozzy Osbourne album Diary of a Madman. "That's an interesting story," he said, and he was off and running about that project. He said he's always there for Ozzy and Sharon, commenting "Ozzy is my hero".

2003 was a monumental year for Robert. He called it the year that changed his life. "So many things happened." He spoke about joining the band and the work ethic that playing in Metallica brings. "That's the thing about this band, it's always 100%". He said when he joined the band, it was about fitting in and not bothering the other guys, but just trying to learn as he went.

Enjoy!

Chad Gray from Mudvayne is on Talkin' Rock as they tour on their Psychotherapy Sessions tour.

He talked about touring with Zombie last year as kind of a "feeling out" to see what could happen with the band. He talked about all the places in the world he'd like to hit on this tour. He told me about playing some different songs on this tour, that they hadn't played before. As far as their cover of the Police song "King Of Pain", don't expect them to be doing that one any time soon. "It just did not sound good....it sounds wonky" He explained that whole thing about the tuning of the song.

It was really interesting talking about a conversation he had with the late Vinnie Paul, about how big Pantera was even though they hadn't played in a very long time. Chad said there's all sorts of fans seeing Mudvayne for the first time. From very young kids to "old guys like us."

There's a lot of music talk with Chad, although he says he doesn't listen to much new music, he said he has his staples. "I just don't go searching for new music." He mentioned how music takes him back many year like a "Sonic Fountain Of Youth". Great line!

What made Pantera so good? He talked about how they wrote songs. "Those MFers played to the song." He spoke to writing with V.P. during his time in Hell Yeah.

He talked to meeting one of his heroes, James Hetfield of Metallica. He went on and on about what a treasure James is, and a little secret he gave him to help his performance as far as singing goes.

All and all, a great conversation with Chad. Loved talking to him, as always.

-Meltdown-

Zach Myers and Ted Nugent join me for two completely different conversations this week on Talkin' Rock.

Zach is up first, as he was in studio with me earlier this week promoting Shinedown's upcoming Dance, Kid, Dance tour this summer. With a couple of new songs out to wet the whistle of SD fans, he says the album is not close to being done. "We're working on it. We've done this differently than we've ever done a record, so there's really no… It will be out this year, I think. [Brent] says July/August. I don't know when it's gonna be out. I think it's gonna be out this year. We've never done it this way. We've never released songs before a record was done. Usually a record's done, artwork's done, everything's done, here's the singles. And we wanted to do it different this time. We are in a different world."

We talked about picking songs for the set list and some questions from friends of his. That was fun!

Ted Nugent rounds out the episode only the way Ted can! His new "Vault" is out now. Drummer Jason Hartless unearthed all sorts of Nugent gems, some of which Ted had forgotten about.

We talk about the song "Stranglehold", the first song he released as a single of his solo career 50 years ago. He explained, in his own Ted way, why he dropped an 8-minute song as his first single. He said he'd been playing it for years, and the fans "got it". Of course, he expanded on it much more than that. 

I also asked him about being a "bandmate" in Damn Yankees, as opposed to being THE guy. He said, first and foremost he's a bandmate in any project he's played in.  including the Yankees. 

Ted is always entertaining, and this is no different. 

Enjoy!

On this episode, two Canadian guitarists. 

Alex Liefson is first. The latest Envy of None album dropped last week. He talked about the album and his thoughts on solos - there are only a few on this record - and how he would describe the EON music, as well as working with Andy Curran on it. 

Of course, we talked RUSH. How was it to create with a guy like Neil Peart? Alex has nothing but glowing things to say about the late drumming master. They also have a new 50th-anniversary package out. He also talks of his over 50-year friendship with Geddy Lee. 

There are some very funny moments when we discussed his appearances on The Trailer Park Boys and in the movie I Love You, Man. Really funny!

Up next, it's Phil X. The Jon Bon Jovi guitarist's new album POW! Right In The Kisser is out now. It features a different drummer on each song. Phil talks to that and working with these legends. 

He spoke to the first time he took the stage with JBJ, in front of 50,000 people! Also his thoughts on the upcoming Triumph tribute album that he's a part of. That's just for starters in the great conversation with phil.

Thanks for listening!

Meltdown

Always great to talk with David Ellefson. He has so much going on, as always! This guy has to be one of the busiest musicians in the country.

He talked about spending his birthday here in Detroit to see Metallica in early November. He talked as to why he was here, and seeing Metallica was only one part of it. 

One of his many bands, Metal Alliegence turns 10 this year. He talked about how that project started and the guests that have joined him onstage throughout the years. They'll be celebrating with a concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California on January 25th. 

He also told me about the upcoming Nick Menza documentary "This Is My Life". Will that see the light of day this year? David has an answer....sorta. You can see more about that project, here. 

Speaking of Metallica, the topic of Lars Ulrich taking on Napster in the mid-90s was brought up. I asked him what he thought about that now, almost 30 years later. David had a lot to say about that moment in music history. 

I recently saw an article where David picked the top five albums that changed his life. The funny thing is, four of them were from the late 70s/early 80s, and one from 2015, which kinda came out of left field. He told me why he picked that odd one for his list. I'll be honest, it's a band I really love as well!

Up next, it's Gavin Rossdale from Bush. He was nice enough to call in to promote the upcoming Loaded: Greatest Hits Tour he's embarking on with his band, Bush, along with Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains, and Candlebox. That show touches down here in Michigan at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheater on August 16th. Of course, keep it locked on the RIFF for your chance to win your way in.

I had to start out by sending condolences to his dog, Chewy. I actually met that little guy a couple of times backstage. He was a cute little dog that always had his backstage pass on. Gavin spoke to that and the funny reason why he wore it. He said that dog had seen more Bush concerts than his own children.

Gavin told me he didn't tour with either one of these bands back in the day, although he has played with them recently. He said that Jerry is a bit of a gambler so that may be a win/loss for him. That lead us into talking about what they do to fill the time on tour.

Gavin was on the TODAY show Wednesday, and he talked about that with me. During that appearance, he spoke highly of his kids and their love of American football. Is he watching the playoffs? He answered that as well as his relationship with soccer legend, David Beckham, being that he's a huge soccer fan.

Sounds like this is going to be another not-miss tour this summer. A big thank you to Gavin for the time, it's always a pleasure to speak with him.

Great to talk with Chris and Maria from in This Moment. They're currently out on the Dark Horizon tour with Motionless In White, From Ashes To New and Fit For A King. This fall they hit the road with Kiss Of Death tour with Ice Nine Kills, Avatar and New Year's Day. 

We talked about what got them into the theatrical side of rock/metal music. Chris pointed to KISS, Marie pointed to Marilyn Manson and anything thing that strikes a visual chord. 

"We're bringing a lot of new bells and whistles" Maria commented on the currant stage show. There's a lot that goes into a ITM show, and Maria kept bringing up the fact that there's more fire than ever before. 

The new album Godmode comes out October 27th. Chris told me that making this album they took a lot more time. Plus, working with Kane Churko, instead of his father, Kevin. "Working with him brought a whole new level of intensity to the project." The Purge is the latest single, as they told me how that song's been kicking around for a while. Maria talked about created songs and her writing process. We also talked about the creative element that the band brings to the videos. "I don't have people write for me." Maria said. She's very hands-on when it comes to everything In This Moment. 

As far as Godmode is concerned...
There's a cover on the album - "Army of Me" 
There's one collaboration on the record. 
"It's a little darker than we normally tend to be." Maria said about the overall vibe of the new music. 
It's more experimental. 
It's more progy, as well. "It definitely is" Chris added. 

We talked horror movies as well. I could talk horror flicks all day. Surprisingly, Maria said "Certain horror I can't watch and won't watch. It will get into my head too much." She went on to elaborate about that. 

As far as their stage getup is concerned, Chris told me "You're literally putting on the persona and this costume to go out and be something else for the time that you're doing it." "I love dressing up, becoming these characters and having this other side of me be invoked, for sure." Maria commented as far as her stage persona goes. 

This is a really fun conversation....a huge thanks to Maria and Chris!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

My guest today is Anthrax front man, Joey Belladonna. He'll be playing the machine Shop in Flint on October 13th, which happens to be his birthday.

Joey tells me about his latest project, as he tours with his Journey tribute band, Beyond Frontiers. He tells me how it started, what songs he loves to play on stage and if he's met any of the member from the iconic band. 

Which is harder for him to sing....the Journey material, the National Anthem or Anthrax songs. "The anthem I get a little nervous because I'm on my own." He answers that and speaks to how proud he is to be asked to sing the anthem. "That's the thing, I'm completely stoked...I just love it." He also spoke a little about the charity work he does for the VFWs.

He also gives an update on what's going on with Anthrax. "You could probably find out more online than you will with me." He explained that there's no need for him to go into the studio too early. "At this point I don't know how many tunes are done. I don't know if there's more to come." He said he locks in when it's his turn.

-Meltdown-

Honored to have drummer extraordinaire, and fellow Detroiter, Tommy Clufetos on Talkin' Rock. He's playing the Token Lounge coming up on Thursday, March 28th. Having seen him play there before, this is a show you're not going to want to miss. He said that was the only time he'd played there and he "Loved it!" His drumming is insane. Just check out some of the clips below.

In the conversation we talked about his career playing with everyone from, Ted Nugent, to Rob Zombie, to Black Sabbath, John 5, and lots more.

Tommy is Detroit through and through. "Detroit is such a big part of my life, you can't get it out of me". Tommy credits his upbringing here in the Motor City with giving him his work ethic. Now he's made home in the music capitol of America, Nashville, Tenn. 

He told me how he's managed to get so many high-profile gigs, starting with Mitch Rider. We talked about how he was hooked up with Ted Nugent through Alto Reed from Bob Seger's band. "I'm so spoiled because I love Detroit music so much," he told me. 

Ozzy Osbourne recently picked him as his drummer in a hypothetical dream band. "That makes me feel really good." He went on to talk about playing with Ozzy "When I'm behind Ozzy, we go to war together". He said he's learned so much from guys like Ozzy and Nugent. 

He talked about playing some gigs with Motley Crue, while Tommy Lee was injured and couldn't perform full shows. 

How badly did he want to play on Black Sabbath's 13 album? What was it like playing Sabbath's last gig? He answers those questions and lots more. 

Great to have Tommy on the show for the first time, and I cannot wait to see the show at the Token on March 28th. I'll see you guys there!

I've known Dan Fielding for probably 4 or 5 years. He's one of these guys that you just respect from the time you meet him. He's served the country with great distinction, he's a solid guy and he's committed to his work and America.

"The Asset Mindset: A Special Forces Perspective For Achieving Success" is Dan's book. You can order it here. Personally, I highly suggest it.

In the interview below, Dan speaks to being a Special Forces Green Beret, something others failed to accomplish. He talked about his journey of what spurred him to join the military. He tells me what it's like to work for Kid Rock, the story of meeting him then working for him, and much more.

I got him on to talk about his book because I found it inspiring, motivating, and uplifting. I also think that even though I wasn't in any of the situations Dan's found himself in, I have the Asset Mindset myself. "One of the key points to the Asset Mindset is that you don't have to be Special Forces to have the Asset Mindset, but to be Special Forces, you have to have it."

He told me about how is wife kind of steered him in the right direction to write the book. He said he thought he'd help other people by sharing his experiences. Dan said "I just started writing and the Asset Mindset was born."

"You make your destiny. And that's why I say "Everyone is their own greatest asset."" He spoke to how "lucky" he was. In his words, he made his own luck through preparation. To Dan, that's a big part of achieving success. I couldn't agree more.

If you're wondering what Kid Rock thinks of Dan and his book - “I would not only ask you to support The Asset Mindset by Daniel Fielding, I will TELL YOU. It can change the path you’re on for the better! I truly believe his book will improve all of our lives. Thank you for your service, Dan. God bless America.”
—KID ROCK

Thanks You Dan, for this book, and for your service to this great country!

-Meltdown-

Great to talk with Jared Weeks from Saving Abel again. 

He spoke to the band being based in the Nashville area. Man, there's a lot of that these days!

We talked about his crazy travel schedule as of late. The band's been playing all over the country. Plus, he made a trip to Mexico for family reasons. 

He said the band has been working hard, checking off boxes of things the band wants to do. The latest single is called "Fire", and as he explained, he wrote that song about looking at himself. Writing is therapeutic for Jared. He also said coming back into the band helped him to rediscover his passion for writing that he had in his 20s. "I write about the things that I know."

"Getting back into the Saving Abel machine, we had to redo, rebuild the whole foundation." He said they let go of things, and everyone has chipped in. "I'm Really Proud Of What We Are, Who We Are, And Where We've Come From" 

How much has he changed, and how much has the business changed since he left the band and came back? He answers both of those questions. 

Oh, and the band also has a connection to the country/rock artist, HARDY. 

He talks about balancing family with the riggers of playing in a rock band. He said his youngest appears in their latest video. How cool is that? 

That's for starters. Jared is great to talk to!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Two gifted singer/songwriters are on Talkin' Rock this week. 

Up first it's Hardy. His new album "Live From Red Rocks" drops on February 7th. As he told me, it's a career-spanning live look at his career. 

We also talked about his early musical influences, which included a lot of nu-metal bands from the early 2000s. He also told me about one rock legend he'd love to work with...and it's a great choice!

Count me as a fan of Hardy's and the second guest on the episode in Chris Daughtry. An excellent dude with a mountain of talent. 

There's lots happening in 2025 for Daughtry. He'll be touring with Disturbed and Creed, plus, possibly dropping new music. Part two of "Shock To The System" is in the works, as he told me they have about 6 songs completed. 

How has the rock world treated him? He answered that question and spoke to some of his good friends in the business. 

Thank you for listening!

The ladies from PLUSH are bringing their show to the Token Lounge on Saturday, August 3rd. I was lucky enough to catch up with the band, for the first time since their appearance at last year's RIFF Fest.

We discussed a lot of topics with Moriah, Bella, Ashley, and Faith, including Moriah's addiction to fishing. "It's really peaceful and relaxing to me," she said. It's the opposite of the 'band life'.

We talked about the tour they did earlier this year with Disturbed. Moriah spoke up first "That was absolutely incredible." Bella chimed in "Everyone in the Disturbed camp was incredible" Moriah also got to sing the song 'Don't Tell Me' each night with the band, in place of Anne Wilson who sang it on the album. She described it as a super surreal moment.

Speaking of Heart, the ladies covered the classic 'Barracuda' from them, but haven't heard from the legendary rockers yet. "They have not, but that would be super cool if they did!"

What do they think of the term "all-female rock band'? Moriah said, "I think at the end of the day, we are just a rock band out there doing our thing." Bella added, "We've seen such a drastic change, seeing so many women dominating the rock scene." She said they're proud to be part of the female movement in rock. By the way, Bella spoke about the crazy way she joined the band after seeing a Facebook post. Faith spoke to her about joining the band too.

Moriah is such a great singer! So good, she's been touring with TSO for the last couple of winters. "It's just amazing. It's a way different experience, and I'm just proud to be a part of it."

Thanks for listening!

It was so much fun to have Brock, Ava, Ben and Lucas from Frame 42 join me in studio, along with legendary producer, Toby Wright.

We talk about what it's like for a young band to work with someone with the background Toby has. They tell me about their upcoming EP, some summertime plans, what their single "Ramona" is about and lots more. Toby talks about how hard working and talented the band was to work with and much more.

Rock band Frame 42, in studio with Meltdown and Toby Wright...

-Meltdown-

https://www.frame42.com/

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Kenny Wayne Shepherd has a lot going on. between concerts, family, and getting high-powered muscle cars delivered to his house, his plate is full!

I ran into Kenny a few weeks back in Nashville. I posted about that trip and a little about running into Kenny, here.

Onto what Kenny has going on. He'll be playing at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit on May 17th. For tickets, click here.

Kenny doesn't always hang out in Nashville, his home, but he did a few weeks back. I ran into him two nights in a row, at two comedy shows, so we talked about going to those shows.

As far as his shows go, he's always playing somewhere. I asked him the longest he'd gone without playing, and the answer was pretty easy, during the pandemic.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Has Lots Of Music In The Can

He told me he already has four albums in the can! He says he's ready for the record label to ask him for new music. "Thankfully because I have all this material kind of stocked up, I haven't been under the gun to write lately, and that's kind of the point." He went on to say that he felt like he was constantly under pressure to write, and now he's relieved of that with these albums ready to go.

We talked about his monster hit "Blue On Black" and the latest cover of it from Five Finger Death Punch, Brian May, and Brantley Gilbert. He says he thinks a country artist could make a hit out of that song as well.

Kenny Wayne On Jimi Hendrix

He'll be heading out on the Hendrix Experience this fall with some great guitarists. He said the family of Jimi loves it. He's been a part of this since it became a thing in Seattle. "I've done a lot of Hendrix songs over the years and I feel that I do them justice."

Now, onto cars. He's a huge car guy, as am I. When I saw him a few weeks back, he was waiting for the arrival of his latest muscle car. Well, it came, and it sounds insane!

He got a Dodge Demon 170 1170HP. He did the "Jailbreak" program, with a one-of-kind paint job. He said there's a little more to it which we'll find out about soon.

Always great to talk with Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Chris Robertson from Black Stone Cherry joins me on Talkin' Rock. They'll be hoping on the ShipRocked cruise starting February 4 through the 10th. 

Their latest album, their eighth, dropped last fall called Screamin' At The Sky. He tells me that he feels fortunate that they can put out new music and people still care, "You can't really ask for much more than that" 

Chris told me about growing up in the middle of nowhere, in Edmonton, Kentucky. He said growing up he was surrounded by country music, as his father and grandfather were both bluegrass/country musicians. He said music videos helped craft his love of music. "I was a kid in the MTV generation, so all through the 90s you had great rock and roll being playing on TV." He told me about the first video he recalls watching. 

Being from Kentucky, I'm surprised it took this long, but they've got their own bourbon now. They've teamed up with Three Chord Bourbon to develop their bourbon. He said management approached them with the idea. "It was a no-brainer for us."

Chris just came back from Los Angeles for NAMM, and he told me about his new signature guitar called The Sarge. He said that way of life is ok for a few days, but he's a country boy through and through. 

Black Stone Cherry is also playing Zakk Wylde's Berzurkus concert in mid-September in Pennsylvania. As far as playing live and touring, it's something he still loves to do. "I love it because it's new faces all the time, it continues to build." Yes, BSC is a road-dog band and that's ok with Chris. "We love it. We truly love playing music."

He surprised me with a band he named as far as a "massive" influence on his band with roots in the Detroit area. That was a shocker. 

This is such an interesting listen. I'd never met or interviewed Chris before. He was so much fun to talk to!

We talked about his new gig, at the University of Michigan. He's taking his lessons learned, and passing them on to a younger generation. 

Of course, we had to talk about his time in Nine Inch Nails. He talked about the song "Closer" and how Trent Reznor spit out the lyrics to the surprise of Chris and the producer. He spoke of being inducted into the Rock Hall, Johnny Cash covering "Hurt" and more.

There's so much we didn't get into, so Chris has promised to come back on in the future. This is a fun listen!

My guest on this episode of Talkin' Rock is Blue Oyster Cult's Eric Bloom. This is the first time we've talked and I found him to be very easy to speak with. 

For those of you in the southeast Michigan area, B.O.C is playing the Royal Oak Music Theater on February 25th. Eric is looking forward to the show, but he seemed happier to be coming to Detroit for a slice or two of Detroit-style pizza. LOL

I asked Eric to recall something about the famed "Black and Blue" tour with Black Sabbath in the early 80s. He fondly spoke about the tour, playing Madison Square Garden, and more. 

We also talked about the cultural impact that the band had. From the "Cowbell" scene on SNL, to use in horror movies. He spoke to not being aware of the use of "Don't Fear The Reaper" in the original Halloween movie. Speaking of movies, yes, Eric is a Godzilla fan! "Buck wrote the song, but we used to make Godzilla jokes in the band house."

He also told me about some new live vinyl albums that are dropping this year. They recorded some special shows last year and they're dropping them throughout the year. He also let the cat out of the bag that they're going to be releasing some unheard B.O.C before the summertime. This is going to have to satisfy the diehard fans because he doesn't see them making any new music anytime soon. 

A few weeks back while talking to David Ellefson, he brought up GHOST and said they reminded him of Blue Oyster Cult. Eric doesn't see it "I don't sorta get it, but other people might think so."

We also talked about Metallica, his video game addiction, Spinal Tap, and more.

Fun conversation with Eric on Talkin' Rock!

Gavin Rossdale of Bush joins me to discuss many things in his world, including the Greatest Hits: Loaded 1994-2023. He told me why now, and how it was something he didn't really want to do. 

He spoke to the latest single and video, "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere". In the video, he goes back in time to 30 years. I asked him if going back to the start of Bush was done on purpose "It was absolutely on-the-nose intentional." See the video below. 

He also talked about being in a band that's sold 24 million albums. "I would've died of shock" had he'd known he'd go on to sell so many records. 

How did they pick the songs for the greatest hit album? How will the band celebrate the 30th anniversary of the debut album, Sixteen Stone, next year? Gavin gives some answers to those questions. 

"I love it!" he responded when asked about his music appearing in movies. Does he have any acting projects in the works right now? "Not really, my plate is really full." He's got his foot into other projects including a cooking show, which he's been working on for years, and other stuff. 

We got into the writing process of the band. He's pretty much the guy. "Yeah, you only need one idiot in the band like me." 

One of the most interesting things we talked about was what influences him now. He mentioned metal-core and specifically Bad Omens. "They're really crafting stuff well and making songs interesting."

We wrapped things up with Gavin giving props to the Detroit crowds. He loves playing here. 

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown-2/

Such an honor to have Mick Mars on the show. His new album "The Other Side Of Mars" drops on February 23rd, and it's a killer record.

The album really shows off different sides to Mick's musicality. It really takes you on a roller coaster ride. "Yeah, I wanted to see what happens. Lots of different styles, different things." He went on "I intentionally wanted it to be very diverse." 

What's also different about this record is that Mick is more upfront than he ever was in the Crue. This is his project and he's the face of it. From the video treatments which are primarily black and white. "When I was in Motley I wrote for Motley. But with this, it's for me." He jokingly calls it "Mars"ley.

He told me his heart is in the blues, but he didn't want to put out a blues album. He explained why that is. Mick also told me the moment he fell in love with music. He was very young!

There are some musical heavyweights on this album. Starting with the producer, Micheal Wagener. This guy worked with Mick back on the very first Motley album. Then, he's got Korn's Ray Luzier on drums. He is an incredible talent. Mick described him with one word - awesome!

I also asked him about collaborating with other artists. "Oh, yeah. I'm not sure with whom. I like to keep things fresh." He said he's already working on his next album. "I've already got, like, four really, really solid songs." As far as guests for his next album, he said he's pretty sure he'll have some on it.

As far as albums he's credited on, I had to ask him about the Hear 'N Aid project he was part of in the 80s. From what he recalls it was fun. LOL He goes into that a little deeper.

It's always a pleasure to talk with the Triumph front man. Rik Emmett's new book is out and it's a great read for any Triumph fan, or any music fan in general. "Lay It On The Line: A Backstage Pass to Rock Star Adventure, Conflict and TRIUMPH" is out now. 

Rik was, well, like an open book when I spoke with him. He told me that writing this book had it's challenges. He told me the reason he wrote the book, was to learn about himself. Of course there was an aspect of "setting the record straight" from his point of view, but overall he wanted to see what made him tick. He called it a "Journey of self discovery." "How can I be a better me?" was another way he looked at it. 

Yes, there's Triumph stories in the book, and he told me some, but it's much more than that. He said he wasn't so interested in the "Sex and Drugs" part of the Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll, but more about keeping his own self in shape. 

We discussed his leaving the band. That took a long time, because as he put it, the time was never right. Some may or may not know, but Rik wanted to leave Triumph for several years before he finally did. He credited his brother, who had since passed, for getting him back with the guys to play some shows in the early 2000s. 

As a band from Canada, the band really broke out of San Antonio, Texas. He said the radio made their careers early on. Also, their stage show was over the top as well. He said drummer, Gil Moore, was really the brains behind all the stage production. Rik gave me some funny instances about Gil working up some 

He answered the question as to why he referred to Gil and Mike Levine as "partners", as opposed to bandmates, he said that it was a business from the beginning. "They are friends, but they're not close friends." He said they do have Christmas dinner each year, but that's about it. And, yes, he did send them a copy of the book. 

He went into all the Michigan connections he has, including his son who played baseball at Central Michigan on a baseball scholarship. Speaking of Michigan, I had to get a question from guitarist John 5. He answered that question and talked about his admiration for the local guitar hero. 

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown-2/

What an honor to have Stewart Copeland on Talkin' Rock! 

The new album 'The Police Deranged for Orchestra' comes out this Friday, June 23rd.  In a nutshell, he took massive Police songs and rearranged them with an orchestra and some singers. He talked about the process of making this album and what songs turned out the furthest from the original. He added that he can do this to these songs, because they're his. "I feel a sense of ownership, a sense of impunity. If we hired someone to orchestrate these, they would be very polite." He wasn't so polite.

We talked about one of his soundtracks to a movie that was hugely inspirational to me as a young budding radio guy, Talk Radio. He gives away the ending, so skip that part if you haven't watched it. :)

He talked about the Jeff Beck project he did about 23 years ago. I asked him if that will ever come out. "Probably not." He went into more detail on why that will never see the light of day.

What's it like to play behind Sting and then switch to Les Claypool? "Oh, my God...very, very different." What about his relationship with Neil Peart. "He was a great man. A tower of strength and wisdom." He had some great stories of jamming with him and other legendary drummers. 

We wrapped up the conversation by asking him about the band Scrantonicity from the TV show The Office. His answer was the most surprising of not only this interview, but of any interview I've done in recent memory. 

-Meltdown-

https://www.stewartcopeland.net/

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

It's always great to talk with Corey Taylor. I'm a huge 

Producer Jay Ruston texted me about the album. He said many things, but we started by talking about how Corey is a one or two take guy. I asked him if he's just really prepared when he enters the studio. "I try to be, yeah." He said it's easier to do it that way for everyone involved. "It's better to know what you're doing then to go in blind." He talked about some producers who do many takes. "I like to do it fresh because it feels alive." 

As far as the album being darker and heavier "There are definitely some darker and heavier moments on it." He spoke to some of the songs that are on the album and how one in particular might shock some people. He said the band sounds killer, too. He also explained the cover art and how it's an homage to some of his heroes. 

He turns 50 this year, so I had to ask him his thoughts on that. "I think about it constantly." He said he still loves playing and performing in front of the fans.

We got into a little mask talk. He compared and contrasted wearing it and not. 

Oh, I had to get some KISS talk in there as well. LOL

Enjoy!

-Meltdown-

Singer Eva Marie and guitarist Rob Lyberg join me for this episode of Talkin' Rock w/ Meltdown. It was super cool of the guys to swing by the station and talk all things Eva Under Fire.

We discussed how they got the name for the band. Rob explained the long and short of naming the band.

They've had a crazy few years. We talk about their very first tour with Buckcherry, and how they were treated on that run. Eva said "They were really, really cool guys.". She compared touring to camping by saying "You don't have a lot of amenities, but if you love it, you love it.". That's a great way to look at it.

The thing about this band, is that they started to percolate around the start of the lockdowns. They were stalled a little bit, like many bands, but did happen to hop on some killer tours.

If you didn't know, Eva was in the movie "The  Retaliators". Eva explained how the song "Blow" made the movie, and how Spencer Charnas from Ice Nine Kills ended up on the track. She also told the story of meeting him for the first time, a long time later. 

They also have a lot going on for 2023, including a deluxe album which drops on August 4th. Eva talked about working with country artist Cody Marks on the song "Unstoppable" for the deluxe version of their album Love, Drugs & Misery. 

A HUGE Thank You to Rob and Eva for coming by the studio to discuss the band and what they have going on. 

-Meltdown-

A few weeks back, I took a trek to Buffalo, New York to hang with my friend Don Jamieson from That Metal Show. He hosted the night at the Showplace Theater with Jack Russell's Great White. It was great to reconnect with Jack afterward. I asked Jack if he'd like to come on the podcast and he didn't hesitate. 

Jack spoke of his current state of health. He had back fusion earlier this year and he's still healing up from that. He sounds a lot better these days, and his singing is still spot on. 

His Great White is working on a new album that Jack says sounds amazing. That's being worked on at guitarist Robby Lochner's studio. He told me the band is clicking. "We play real well together, we all enjoy each other's company." He told me how he approaches the studio. He goes in very prepared. He also talked about what is inspiring his writing nowadays. He said it's stuff that's close to him and what he's been through. "

I asked him about recording cover songs, and that led us to talk about "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" by Ian Hunter. Come to find out, he's only met the rock legend once....many years ago. He had some funny things to say about that. 

He and Tracii Guns have an album dropping on December 12th called Medusa. Jack talked about wanting to record something with him for several years. He said the songs were written by some Italian producers and songwriters. He said he had to change some of the lyrics because the translation didn't work. 

He and Dee Snider jammed a few weeks back at a resort in Cancun. He talked about that, and their time there. 

Check out the full interview below, and a bonus conversation as well..and a big thanks to Jack for the time. 

Geoff Tate, the legendary former Queensryche front man, is my latest guest on the <a href="https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/">Talkin' Rock with Meltdown</a> podcast. Geoff is always thoughtful and enjoyable to talk with. 

We talked about what he's been doing this summer, which included a lot of time in Montana, fishing and hiking and singing songs around the campfire. He spoke to hanging with Anthrax front man, Joey Belladonna.

Geoff's bringing his tour to District 142 in Wyandotte on September 27th. 

He gave me a health update after having heart valve replacement surgery last year. He's back at it with a lot of dates, many back-to-back. He said he likes to play those shows as it keeps him sharp. 

Is he surprised that an album like Operation Mindcrime has stood the test of time. "Yeah, I am surprised. I'm grateful and humbled by the experience." As far as new projects, he's working on a third Sweet Oblivion album, and possibly another one that he couldn't mention as of yet. He also gave an update on his upcoming autobiography. "I'm pretty close to getting that done." He spoke to how difficult it is to write his own story. 

We wrapped things up by talking about a project he was involved with back in the 80s called Hear N' Aid project that Ronnie James Dio came up with. He talked about the legends that were included, and being totally start struck with the likes of Rob Halford, Ted Nugent and others. Great story!

Check out the interview below....

-Meltdown-

John 5’s KISS collection is next level—so much so that he’s opening it up to the public in May for a special museum-style walkthrough in Los Angeles. But don’t expect a little shrine in a basement somewhere. We’re talking full-blown KISS history from 1973 to 1983 when the band was under Bill Aucoin’s management and before they ditched the makeup for Creatures of the Night.

“It’s priceless,” John 5 says. “There’s stuff in here that even Gene didn’t know existed because it was made in places like South America, Australia, and Japan.”

Oh, and speaking of Gene Simmons—I had to ask: how much would he charge Gene to see his own memorabilia?

John laughed. “Oh my God. Gene really enjoys this stuff. There’s so much he’s never seen before.”

John 5’s first meeting with Gene Simmons? Not exactly what you’d expect from a die-hard fan.

Picture this: a 14-year-old John 5, waiting outside the Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit, hoping to meet his rock god before a KISS show at Joe Louis Arena.

Gene walks past. No autograph. Nothing.

“So I jump in the elevator with him,” John says. “I hold out my booklet and marker, hoping for a signature.”

The elevator doors open to Gene’s floor. Gene finally looks at him.

“You want me to sign that?”

And what does young John 5 say?

“No, it’s okay.”

WHAT?!

“I was just so mad that he walked past me,” John laughs. “But yeah, that really happened.”

March 19 marks 43 years since we lost Randy Rhoads, and John 5 had nothing but praise for the legendary Ozzy Osbourne guitarist.

“Randy was an anomaly. He changed the game. It was like seeing the invention of the microwave or an electric car—something totally different that blew people’s minds.”

Randy didn’t just step into Ozzy’s band and carry on the Black Sabbath sound. He redefined it.

“That riff in Crazy Train? It’s gonna live forever.”

It's always great to get "5" on the show. 

Everyone knows Chris Jericho from the world of wrestling, which he's still in, but he's also the frontman of Fozzy, and his KISS cover band Kuarantine. You'll be able to see the band on July 5th at the Diesel Concert Lounge in Chesterfield. Chris talks about how the band came about and what they play.

Chris Jericho On A Classic Wrestling Moment

Of course, we had to talk wrestling. Jericho and Detroit's own, Rhino go way back. I asked him about being gored through the Titan Tron. "Yeah, it's a classic moment, it was on Smackdown." He said they were changing the set, so they decided to destroy the old one. "In classic wrestling fashion let's destroy the old set. How can we do that? Have Rhino gore me through that. Yeah, that was a great moment."

Chris Jericho On The Stanley Cup Finals.

"I'm thinking reverse sweep, man. They've done a great job of awakening the giant." He praised Connor McDavid as he's taken the Oilers on his back and has come alive in this series. He went on talking about McDavid "He's like Gretzy, he thinks ahead of the play. When a player like that gets hot, you've got to watch him. 8 points in the last two games, these guys know how to win."

Check out the interview and we'll see you on July 5th at Diesel Concert Lounge!

HARDY is my latest Talkin' Rock guest. You might be saying to yourself, isn't he a country guy? Well, you're half right. 

His latest album has a lot of rock influence, including a guest appearance from Jeremy McKinnon on a shredder called "Radio Song". How was that collaboration born? "Dude, I just slide into the DMs...haha" He went onto tell me it was a simple as that. "I've got a song I'd love for you to hear...I sent it over and the rest is history."

Personally, 'the mockingbird & The Crow' is one of my favorite albums of the year. We talked about the country/rock elements of the stuff he'd written. He explained to me how that idea of the split record was developed. How about meeting some of his rock heroes from his high school days. "Growing up a big rock n roll guy, it's crazy to become friends with some of the guys I grew up listening to."

He talked about his "overnight" success, that took 8 years. "Man, I was grinding for a long time." 

The single "Jack" was a #1 song on rock radio. "I still can't believe that I have one." He explained the song as well. Yes, it's a song about Jack, but much more. 

He also has a resemblance to Detroit's own Kid Rock. Rock fed me a couple things to ask him.....he told me a funny story about a trip to Thailand. 

Enkoy!

-Meltdown-

https://hardyofficial.com/

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

It's always great to talk with my friend, Jesse James Dupree from Jackyl. He's got a new album coming out on November 10th called, "Breathing Fire". He told me about the idea of the record, which was born out of good old fashioned Rock N' Roll. 

Brian Johnson from AC/DC helped to write some of the material. He said Brian called him out of the blue, while Jesse was contemplating and putting thoughts together for new music. "Next thing I know, I'm writing songs with Brian Johnson of AC/DC." Jesse talked about the entire process of how the songs came together with his son, Nigel and Jackyl bassist, Roman Glick. He talked how the cadence of the latest single "Never Gets Old"  had a Marine cadence to it. That's out now and you can see the video here, which is the lyric video with 32 different fonts from some of your favorite bands. You can win cash and more if you can name all the bands. Punch up Jesse's site to find out how to win. 

We also talked about working with his son, Nigel. He tells a funny story about how it's different to get into an argument with a band member as opposed to your son. LOL

I also asked him about the use of "The Lumberjack" in the Foo Fighter's Studio 666 movie. It's one of the most brutal death scenes I've ever seen in a horror movie. He went on to tell me a story about Nirvana almost getting kicked out of a Jackyl show in Seattle back in the day. 

As some of you may or may not know, Jesse works heavily with Harley-Davidson. We talked about that as well. 

-Meltdown-

https://www.jessejamesdupree.com/

Andy Summers of The Police is about to embark on his The Cracked Lens and A Missing String tour, and he's here to tell me about it. 

He told me about when his love of photography started. He said it was many decades ago between female photographers when the band started around 1979 and as a teenager seeing arthouse films in England. "I loved them, it was actually an education for me." He said he shot black and white film to start. 

I also asked him about what it feels like to be in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. I got the feeling he's not a huge fan. "I have no feeling for it at all. It doesn't mean anything to me." He said as a band, they got a lot of awards, and this was another one on the list. As far as who he thinks should get in there he replied "I'm not really interested in things like that." He went on to give more thoughts on the Rock Hall. 

I have all the Police albums on vinyl, so I thought I'd ask him which album he'd tell someone to listen to first out of their five. Pretty much without hesitation, he said "The second one, "Zenyatta Mondatta", yeah." He said the band was clicking together. "It was the early days, we sorta learned how to play together. We played all the time. The wind of success was really with us early" He went on "That's where I felt we hadn't gotten too polished. We hadn't gotten too bored with being so successful. " He spoke to the third album and how it was recorded much differently. 

"It's amazing we made five whole albums, to get that far, without really repeating anything." He said some bands get caught in ruts and repeat themselves on other albums they make. 

-Meltdown-

Armored Saint singer John Bush and bass player Joey Vera, who are currently out on tour with Queensryche. They'll be coming through Detroit to play the Majestic Theater on April 14th. Joey said of touring with the QR guys, "It's always fun touring with friends, people you get along with." We talked about their experience on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise. "Yeah, they're fun. You always see a lot of people you know." Joey said.

The guys told me about going to Anthrax's Scott Ian's 60th birthday in Las Angeles at the end of 2023. John said there were some really talented people there celebrating the milestone.

The band recently recorded a cover of "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" which they're going to release as a stand-alone single. That being said, the guys are all about making full albums. They talked about album reissues, as well as vinyl copies of all their albums.

I had to ask them about the new Armored Saint music they're working on. As far as writing on the road, Joey said they don't do it. "We just write at our own pace." He went on to say they have six or seven songs demoed. They'll be touring and then returning to the studio to finish it up by the end of the year.

Something I didn't know about Armored Saint was that their first show outside of hometown shows was at Harpos. They said they played a radio station show way back in 1984. "That was our first show ever outside of California," Joey said. John talked of that show being added last minute, as they were supposed to play Chicago first. They also played Cobo Hall on that first tour. "We just couldn't believe what was happening," Joey said of playing some of these classic venues.

Joey told the story of crashing a car with Tommy Lee of Motley Crue. We also talked about their tour with W.A.S.P. and Metallica, where they were snowed-in, in Buffalo, New York. Joey also told a funny story from early in their career about a comment he made about Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P. on the radio.

Great to talk to the guys!

The new album from Janet Gardner and Justin James is out. "No Strings" is their latest effort. Janet talks about the writing and recording process and much more. "We always like to do music that is relatable to people's everyday lives." She hopes they've  inspired and empowered people through their music. She said one song had 45 mixes!! "We're really proud of this album."

She told me about how she does her vocals, by herself, which she loves. "I take the best part from each take and put it together."

We talked about what she's doing now, parenthood. Plus, she told me about some of her vocal heroes.

I love talking to Janet....

-Meltdown-

My latest Talkin' Rock with Meltdown guest is none other that Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P.. It's always a treat when I get to talk with Blackie. He's a great interview, and also the force behind one of my favorite bands of the era.

Lots was discussed including his health. After undergoing surgery to ease his back last year, he's on the mean. "But, you know, we had surgery on it about ten months ago, and, you know, I'm on the mend and everything's cool, you know? So, you know, we should be ready for the fall tour coming in, in October."

Blackie Lawless On His Special Meet & Greets

Blackie's meet and greet is very unique, where the fans get pictures and stuff signed, then he'll do a Q &A session with them. "Well, we looked around at what other VIP packages were doing and quite honestly I didn't get excited about it. I thought, you know, if I'm going to meet somebody that I've always wanted to meet, wouldn't some sort of back and forth, you know, question and answer? I mean, wouldn't that be what you would want to have it be? And for me, that's what I would want. You know, and quite honestly, I didn't, because I've never done these before until we had done that the last time we were in the US a couple of years ago. And I'll be frank with you, I got as much, if not more than the people did out of it because like every other artist, you live in your own bubble and you don't really have a chance to talk to people on a one on one basis without it being in a chaotic situation." He later told me that some of the questions he received jarred some memories that might end up in a future autobiography.

Blackie On New W.A.S.P. Music

The last time I talked with Blackie, he told me he was working on new music. Where does it stand now? He said the surgery set him back a bit, but he got back into it. "I've had a long time to go through that. Those early demos of what we have been working on it, listening to it with fresh ears. Some of it's really good, but there's not enough of it yet where I would be comfortable in saying, okay, this is finished, and let's go with it. You know, I want to, I'd like to like to go back and visit the drawing board, so to speak, you know, and see what else is there, because even from a two year period of when we started working on that before to where we are right now, you're going to gain so much, you're going to grow so much, you know?"

He went on "So you really have to I've learned and you don't make records or I don't make records anymore that are spread out over a 2 or 3-year period. Because the guy you are when you first start making it is not the guy you are when you finish making it, get in, try to, you know, six months top to bottom, get that thing cranked up, you know, because like I said, if you don't, you end up running the risk of it kind of being a schizophrenic type of record. You know, where you've got one type of one thing and then some. The other half is something else, and it has no real cohesiveness"

You can see Blackie and the band perform their entire debut album at the Royal Oak Music Theater on November 10th. For tickets, click here.

What a fun conversation. The topics with Paul included the new box set release on November 8th, some big gigs they played here in the States, the last-ever concert in their hometown, the documentary ‘THE TRAGICALLY HIP: NO DRESS REHEARSAL’, and more. It was truly an honor to speak with Paul; he was very candid and interesting.

If you get the chance, the documentary is well worth the watch!

Give this a listen and crank up some HIP!

I had the good fortune to speak with Slayer's Kerry King about his new solo album, From Hell I Rise, which drops on May 17th. What I've heard has been a brutal onslaught, like you'd expect!

He told me why he chose that name for the album, there were other ones, but he picked this one, as it ends the album on track 13. He also told me about the flavor of the album. In case you haven't heard anything from it, I've included the two songs they've dropped from the album below.

We also discussed how he got the members for the band, which includes Mark Osegueda (Death Angel), Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph, HellYeah's Kyle Sanders, and Phil Demmel rounding out the band. He said this was his "A Team" and he got the players he wanted.

Kerry King On Turning 60

We also talked about his upcoming 60th birthday, which will be the first show in Europe. Over his 60 years, he's made lots of memories, some he can't remember....like a story of the early days of Megadeth that David Ellefson told me about.

Barry Kerch is up next. Shinedown has a lot going on this year, including a new hot sauce. Symptom Chipotle Garlic Sauce is their latest creation. Barry talks about how this came to be, and the fact that he's a big hot sauce fan. 

We also talked about new music from the band, the album he thinks best represents what they're all about, The Rock Hall, and more. 

It's always great to talk with Barry, even if this is my first time interviewing him solo..... video to come. 

Thanks for listening!

Lots to talk about with Josh and Alex of Badflower, although Josh does most of the talking. LOL 

They have a new single out called "Teacher Has A Gun" off their upcoming album, but they also told me about a song called "Detroit". The song isn't about the Motor City but was written here. They told me about that and how some Detroit voices will end up on the song. 

We talk about Josh's fear of preforming live, his farmhouse outside of Nashville, a possible name for the upcoming record, and lots more. 

Up next, it's P-Nut from 311. They also have a new album dropping later this year. He spoke to that and the process of making it. We talked about the 311 cruises, their recent Red Rocks gig that was simulcast, and tons more. 

Their tour stops in the Detroit area at the Michigan Lottery Amphitheater on July 27th. 

Tim Montana is making 2024 the year of rock for his career. He'll be dropping a rock album, and going out on tour with Staind and Seether.

I had a chance to talk with him about this upcoming year, the bar he co-owns with ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, and lots more.

Growing up very poor, Tim says he's had the good fortune to meet most of the people on the posters on his trailer wall. His first shot at stardom was on David Letterman's show in 2008. He talks about the experience of going to New York City for the first time.

"It hits hard" is how he describes his upcoming rock album. There are no featured guests on the record. "If this is going to be my first rock statement, I kinda want to make it on my own."

As far as his upbringing in music, he tells me about the full-circle moment he recently went back to his high school

We also talked about his huge support for the veterans. In four years of the <a href="https://www.americanthreadshoot.com/">American Thread Shoot</a>, they've raised $1.4 million. Tim spoke about meeting and playing for the troops in the past.

The Wise River Club is the bar he has in Wise River, Montana. He tells me about the history of the place and some of the famous people who've swung by. Is it haunted? "We have heard stories...." he said, but as of now, he says they haven't seen anything yet. He tells a crazy story of a legendary daredevil who has a history in the place with a wild animal.

It was great to talk with Tim for a few minutes. I can't wait to check out the new record when it drops, sometime this spring according to him.

It's always a great conversation when Barry and myself get together. This week we discussed....

Their series of Hot Sauces.

The band working on new music.

A drummer who changed the way he played, thus, saving his career.

Questions from their head of security about Krampus and a Hell Fest show years ago. 

...and more. 

Enjoy!

Great to catch up with Pop Evil singer Leigh Kakaty. He said the band has a lot going on, including writing and recording new music. "We're constantly writing, new single, obviously coming here and we're just excited, man." 

We talked about the newest member of the band, drummer Blake Allison, and bass player Joey Walser. "Every new person's different, you know? And, obviously, Haley was great. She was amazing, for us for a long time. But Blake now and obviously his relationship with Joey, who played bass with us, they played together in Egypt Central and Devour the Day. So there's such a chemistry now for our rhythm section that we've not had before, you know, because when you grow up, a bass and a drummer like Joey and Blake have, there's a tightness there that spreads to Nick, Dave and I, the rest of the band."

As far as the new music is concerned, they have a lot done. "A lot of new stuff. We're at that cool stage where we have enough for an album easily, but, we're really trying to be picky, man. And like you said, making albums now is personally is such a blessing. And it's something that, you know, may not be around much longer. So if we're going to do it on the hit, hit, hit, big, big, big, whatever that means to us. Right? And big doesn't have to mean necessarily number one. It has to mean like something that we can really elevate our live show with."

The Heaviest Pop Evil Record

As Leigh described the new material, it sounded like it could be a much heavier direction for the band. I asked him if it was indeed heavier. "Absolutely. The heaviest Pop Evil record, without a doubt, really, hands down. So it'll be interesting for what fans say on that. But you know, the players, they're just different, right? When you put some of the same guys you put in Joey & Blake. It's just a heavier band. I mean, it's just different. You know, I mean, Joey and Blake come from metal and heavier rock and roll backgrounds. I mean, those are those with the guys can play, you know what I mean? That's what we play. So that's kind of where it's at. And I think there's the darkness. It's where we're at in our career. You know, it's like, okay, sure we've had success, but we feel like we got a lot to prove, man."

Joe Bonamassa was nice enough to join me last week to talk about his latest albums/projects, plus, his upcoming show at the historic Fox Theater on November 18th. He told me how much he loves that place. I actually made a separate story just for his comments on the Fox. 

Joe told me about his latest live album, Tales Of Time, which he recorded at the legendary Red Rocks concert venue in Colorado. He said that the weather was an issue with the two shows he played there to capture his live show. He said the weather was much better the second night, and that's where most of the tracks come from. 

Speaking of live albums, he already has another recorded and ready to drop next year. This one though is completely different. That one was recorded at the Hollywood Bowl with an orchestra. He told me about the challenges of making that album, and how proud he is of it since he's lived out in southern California for a couple of decades. "It makes them completely different" was his response when I asked him if the orchestra breathed new life into these songs. 

Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 is out, twenty years after the first Vol. 1. He spoke to the making of that album as well. 

Does he still have the fire he had as a younger guitar player? "Yeah...the minute the fire goes away is when you got to hang it up." He said he's not there yet. 

What about any legendary guitar players he hasn't played with yet? He's played with so many, there's not many he hasn't played with. He told me, which I've heard before, the bigger the star, the nicer the person. 

I wrapped it up by asking about the late Jeff Beck. "To me, he was the greatest rock guitar player of all time. For six decades he was reinventing himself."  He spoke to seeing Jeff before the shows, playing his guitar in his dressing room. He said it was the most incredible thing. "He lives in rarified air."

-Meltdown-

Marty Friedman is playing the Token Lounge on Friday, January 31st, but first, he spoke with me on numerous topics. 

His latest book is called Dreaming Japanese. In the book, he talks about the highs and lows of playing in a monstrous band like Megadeth, leaving and starting over in a foreign land. He said he read other autobiographies to give himself a clearer look at what he wanted his to be like. “I got a feel as a reader of what I wanted to read myself. And as a result, I wound up being flat honest and talking about embarrassing things  about myself, and I didn’t always paint myself in a good light.” As he puts it, talking about the good things he’s done might read more like a resume, not a personal behind-the-scenes look that he wanted to give the fans. He said, “I’m definitely not the hero in all of these stories.”

As far as leaving Megadeth went, he said he’d never really talked about it before. ” Once I left Megadeth, I stopped doing interviews about the band completely.” He told me that the venues he played at, weren’t allowed to promote the show with anything Megadeth. Now he wants to talk about the relationships and the inner turmoil as he decided to exit the band. “I feel really bad about the way I left the band, and the situation I left them in, and you can in the book why it turned out that way…and there’s no excusing what I did. It wasn’t going to happen any other way.”

He said that joining the band on stage for two concerts in 2023 closed the chapter on that part of his life, which was still open. ” Yeah, especially the Budokan show in Japan. That was one thing that was hanging over, ya know.” He spoke of wanting to play at that venue from an early age. Now, he’s played it several times, but there was a need to play that place with Megadeth. He called it “unfinished business”.  When we (Dave Mustaine and him) had the chance to play there, it was a big celebration.” He said that even though they went down different paths to meet up at that gig over the years, it was like a love letter to the fans when it was all said and done. “It was definite closure!”

He also spoke to the massive popularity of the band in the early 90s. “What led up to it was more interesting than actually getting there. The suffering part of the career. It reads better in the book.” He then describes it as taking a “massive dump”. Yes, you need to hear him talk about the rise of the band with a bowel movement analogy. 

I think it’s been about 26 years since I last spoke with Marty. Great to have him back on Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown.

The new album from Saxon, "Hell, Fire and Damnation" drops on January 19th, and frontman Biff Byford was nice enough to join me to discuss it, and lots more. 

"It's a monster title, isn't it?" Biff asked when I brought up the title. That it is! He told me what the title meant, it goes back a long way. "I don't know why we didn't use it before". He spoke about bringing back the 80s on some aspects of the album, even going back to the beginning of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. 

Biff talked about how fast this album came together and why they're releasing it to start the new year, as opposed to releasing it near the end of 2024. There's a reason they decided to get it out earlier, as Biff explained. "It all came together pretty quickly" as far as the album is concerned. Biff said,  "The Metal Gods were looking down on us" He spoke about the process of writing and recording the album. 

This album is also mixed and produced by Andy Sneap, who has worked with the band several times. "It's everything, new music. It's lifeblood." is how he responded to the question of what new music means to Saxon. He said they're always on a quest to write the perfect song/album. 

He also told me about the song he did with Amon Amarth, "Saxons and Vikings". He talked about meeting the guys and becoming friends with them. "I do like the song, actually...it's a great song". The style of his voice along with Johan Hegg's makes for an interesting sound.

Always fun talking with Biff, a great way to close out the year! 

What a pleasure to have James "JY" Young in the studio to talk all things Styx, and more. The upcoming "Renegades and Juke Box Heroes" tour features Foreigner and John Waite. They'll be playing Pine Knob on June 15th.

We talked about a lot of topics. Playing in the band with great musicians like Tommy Shaw, and Lawrence Gowen.

Where does Styx live in the music world...Rock or Progressive Rock? JY answers that question. "It's hard to define us because a lot of the stuff is prog. But, ya know, some of the ballads are pretty much straight-ahead rock ballads." That led to how JY got into music.

How did the Grunge era affect them? At first, he said "Zero" as far as the music was concerned.  But he did say that the band may have seen a dip in concert attendance, but that's passed and now they're selling lots of tickets.

Did the Beatles playing on The Ed Sullivan Show influence him? He said they did, but older siblings did too. He expanded on that.

What legendary guitarist did he see live five times? I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone who has seen the player so many times. "That's the most profound influence on my playing," he said of the guitarist.

I asked him his thoughts on the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame. "Well, I don't know. It's very East Coast-centric for people that have a vote. Styx probably deserves to be in there, but I'm not holding my breath." He didn't mention names, but at the end of the day, he said it's about the fans and music. He spoke of fans telling him about how Styx's music helped them through periods of their lives. "Music affects everyone differently, and we've made some great records."

It was a thrill to have JY, and the band's manager, George, in the studio with me. A huge pleasure.

Guitarist Richie Faulkner joins me today on Talkin' Rock. We started by talking about his latest birthday celebration on January 1st. 

We talked about his relationship with his father-in-law, guitar legend George Lynch. "George is an incredible player....not only incredible but a unique player," he said. I asked him if he's floated him any tracks off upcoming projects.  He said he hadn't, but "He's a great resource....he's great to get information and experiences from."

As far as the new Judas Priest album is concerned, Richie talked a lot about it. He mentioned that following up on a record like "Firepower" that did so well, it's a healthy challenge. 

He talks about the song "Panic Attack". That song includes two solos on that one track. He talks about the complexity of that song, along with other ones on the albums. He said the album is somewhat more "progressive", but not really in the way you might think. "The record takes on its own character by itself." 

As far as input Richie has on the writing and recording, he said everyone chips in. There are 11 tracks on the album, with three bonus tracks on available copies. He said there's no real moment of any sort of ballad on "Invisible Shield", which drops on March 8th. 

He also spoke to respecting the band's vast history, and the fanship they have. "You have to produce to 1,000% of your ability." He said he never takes it for granted and what an honor it is to be in the band. 

He also gave an update as far as guitarist Glenn Tipton with his Parkinsons. "We had his mind involved, we had his creative mind involved and that's part of the reason it makes it Judas Priest."

We also discussed songs he loves to play on stage nightly, the first albums he bought, and, his health much more. 

It's always great to talk with Richie, and this time was no different. 

Don Jamieson's latest comedy album is No Sleep 'Til McSorley's. Once again, he's modeled his latest album after a famous rock record. This time around it's Motorhead's, No Sleep "til Hammersmith. He explains why he chose that pub, and how he got permission to use the famous album cover.

On the album, Don takes on many social and rock topics. It's a skill that he has where he can meld both worlds without sounding preaching or like he's taking sides. "Is there an underlying message to it? Of course there is" Don said. As far as who he takes shots at on the record, he said "Everybody gets it on the album". He said he gets a lot off his chest. 

We talked about how surreal it is that we have the good fortune of getting to know our childhood rock star heroes. Don flashed back to seeing the mighty Judas Priest as a kid, with the "Metal God" Rob Halford right in front of him. He said that he'll never forget that feeling, but he's never lost that fandom.

The record opens with Lemmy from Motorhead introducing it.....or is it him? He explains. You can order the album on vinyl here.

Don Jamieson On Meeting Lemmy From Motorhead

Don talks about meeting his idol, Lemmy several times. He said he tread lightly around the rock icon until he had his first drink with him. That was the time when he knew that he'd taken a liking to him.

Has Don ever been star-struck? He had a couple of experiences that he talked about, but it wasn't with anyone in the rock world. He also talked about a few of the classic musicians he's had the chance to meet. One from the Monkees and one from Led Zeppelin. 

Great to have my friend, Don Jamieson on Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. 

I'm a pretty big YES fan, so when I was contacted to speak to Trevor, I said, well, ummmm, "YES!!" immediately.

His new solo album "Rio" drops on October 6th. Trevor talks about the new record, his first solo album since 1989. "Jesus I haven't done a record in so long, I must get into it." he said after speaking to working on music scores for movies for the past three decades. He told me he felt fresh doing the album, almost like it was his first one. He talked about creating, not only the music, but the cover art as well. Yes, that's his painting on the cover.

He said the album is pretty diverse. "It still sounds like something from a record I'd make. I think while demographically it visits a lot of different areas, I think it's pretty coherent and cohesive, stylistically of a record I've penned, if you'd like."

We also discussed his working on movie scores and how it differs from making records. He's done several of them. He told me his favorite movie he's scored was either "Armageddon, or National Treasure or Bad Boys 2." But he said Remember the Titans was one he's really proud of also.

He told me about discovering music while growing up in South Africa. He said there was a lot of British rock. Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Beatles were big in his youth. Now, with the world a lot smaller, it's easier to find music and bands to listen to. His son is a musician and producer, but he's showing him music he's never seen or heard before as well.

I'm a huge Chris Squire fan. Trevor told me about playing with the bass legend. "Having Chris Squire playing bass behind you is like having a bulldozer back there. You can't relax." He said the he was literally like a brother to him. He went into how he got hooked up with YES, and went onto talk about really being the impedance to the rebirth of the band. He said Chris tried getting him back into the band in the 90s, but he had a lot going on with scoring movies. He told very funny story about Chris thanking him for "revitalizing the back catalog of YES" after they broke out in the 80s.

He also spoke to a kid from South Africa being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. "It's amazing...what an honor."

What a fun conversation. Another one checked off the list of people I've never spoken to before. I found Trevor to be fun and easy to speak with. Great guy and really talented!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown-2/

Ed Roland is one of those guys that's just easy to talk to and we talked about a lot of things. 

When the band broke in 1994, they broke big time! That year they played Woodstock, as they did in 1999 too. He told me they are one of only 5 acts to play both concerts. 

His brother, Dean, has been in the band the entire time as well. I asked him about sharing this journey with him. "Well, I mean, it's it's family. It's been a blessing for me. And I'd like to think he thinks the same because it's family. You know, we all are family, to be honest, we all kind of grew up in the same community and, the same environment as parents and things like that. Same school, same church, all of the above. It's been wonderful for me. And I think he would say the same thing, you know." He went on to say that they don't fight much. "But I always say to my brother, I mean, I would never hit you with a guitar because I like my guitar, too much." LOL

As far as the new record, Here To Eternity is concerned, that's a great story! They recorded it in Elvis Presley's house in Palm Springs. He talked about how quickly they recorded the album, and why they made it a double album. 

I had to ask him if he had any peanut butter and banana sandwiches. "You damn right I did, I'm a southern boy, I'm not afraid of that." They were actually in the house the day Lisa Marie Presley died. He said the ceiling caved in that night! 

Now, onto the first big hit "Shine". He had told me the trick that they used on that song years ago, but I wasn't sure if he was pulling my leg or not. He sang the "Yeah" part through an empty toilet paper roll. "Yes, that's very true because I only had one amp, one guitar. And, you know, I just had to make up different sounds. It's crazy that I could. So I kept doing "Yeah", I was like, it just sounds like a Southern boy going yeah. Almost lazy. Like, you should be in a rocking chair. So I went to the bathroom in the basement and took the toilet paper off. Just put the the cardboard part off. And that's what I sang through. Oh, yeah."

What a fun conversation with Ed.

Always great to catch up with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. The dude is a beast on the guitar and a creative force!

We talked about a project he did with Sons of Apollo bandmate, Derek Sherinian. He talked about playing with Queen's Brian May. "Such a wonderful guy, yeah." He went onto say "There's nothing not to love about that guy!"

The reason for the conversation was about his band, The Art of Anarchy, and their upcoming third album. The new album drops next February, called Let There Be Anarchy. The story of how this latest album started is a crazy one. Bumble talked about the severe health challenges that faced guitarist Jon Votta, to the point where he was literally dying. That story is unreal! He told me that they have about two albums worth of music written. 

He also talks about recruiting Jeff Scott Soto to the band. Of course, he is in S.O.A. with JSS, so it was an easy transition. "We have years of working together." Ron said. He told me about the video for their first single, Vilified, which you can see below. Cube Gooding Jr. is in the video, along with Geoff Tate narrating (which is killer). He said that video has a real "Joker" vibe to it on purpose, including the band playing on the famous stairway from the movie. How did they get those two guys on the video? "We asked!" Easy enough. 

He went on to talk about what the rest of the album sounds like, including a track with a guitar solo from Alex Skolnick. 

As far as other things he's working on, he's got a solo album he'll be dropping. Plus, he's working with and producing a band called <a href="https://thedodiesband.com/">The Dodies</a>. 

What's going on with Sons Of Apollo? He answered that. He also talked about his style of producing, and how he approaches the studio. 

During the pandemic, he mentioned that he would probably not tour anymore. Has he changed his mind on that?

Always fun to talk with one of the true good dudes in this business, as well as one of the most talented guys I know.

-Meltdown-

Thirty Seconds To Mars is playing Pine Knob on Tuesday as their Season World Tour makes a stop in Michigan. Jared Leto was nice enough to take a few minutes to speak with me about the band, his vast movie career, and much more. 

I had to ask him about scaling the Empire State Building in New York City to announce the tour. "That was quite the experience," I asked him if he thought it was a bad idea. "Definitely. The first night, it was about 4 or 5 a.m., 40 degrees, 40 mph winds, and freezing cold. My hands were so numb I could barely hold on. But, it was beautiful. I've always been fascinated by the Empire State Building. It was an amazing way to launch the world tour—better than just sending out a tweet." You could say that!

We also talked about the dichotomy of playing in his band live, versus filming a movie. "Performing with Thirty Seconds to Mars is special because I get to do it with my brother. The immediate connection with the audience is unique. Acting is collaborative and you often wait to see the final product. Both are rewarding in their own ways, but live music holds a special place in my heart."

I asked him about highlights in his music and acting career. "Winning an Academy Award was a huge highlight, especially being able to thank my family. In music, having a song like "The Kill" that still resonates after all these years is a big win. There are also tough moments, but they fuel the journey."

Since we're in Detroit, I had to ask him about Chad Smith playing "The Kill" without ever hearing it. Jared said he brought it up to him when he saw him at a huge event. "Yes, I saw that! It was awesome. We did a duet on TikTok reacting to it. Chad and I laughed about it when we met at the Super Bowl. It’s cool seeing our music reach new audiences."

The band did a tribute to Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell at the 2017 MTV Awards show. He spoke to me about the two singers we lost. "Yeah, I did. I toured with both of them, actually. And, they were both really kind, really, really gifted, kind people. You know, Chester, was a friend. And, you know, it's interesting, those things can be so surprising sometimes. But, you know, I was always struck by Chester and his joy. He always seemed to be, you know, to have a smile quickly, on his face. And Chris was very, gentle, in my experiences with him, and thoughtful and intelligent, and both of them just highly intelligent, kind, good people. And you know what? A loss to the world as well." That's well said. 

Thirty Seconds To Mars will play Pine Knob on Tuesday, August 6th.

Josh Todd is the latest guest on Talkin' Rock, as Buckcherry is playing Uncle Sam Jam on July 7th. Before they do, they be at Rock City Music Company the day before doing a special meet and greet with fans. All the details are here. 

Just like so many rockers, Josh is sober. Unlike so many rockers, he sobered up before his career took off. He told me about living "really fast" early in his life. There was a couple things that pointed him towards a clean life. When asked if he credits his career with his sobriety, he responded "Absolutely...number one on my list. Without that I've got nothing."

He told me about the latest album, Vol 10. He talked about doing "guerilla writing sessions". As far as the writing process he said "We just do whatever's best for the song, ya know." referring to writing with the group and producer Marty Fredrickson. Josh talked about a few certain songs, and some dark places he was at while writing these songs. Why did they cover Bryan Adams' "Summer of 69"? He answers that question too. One song he said was there "Hysteria" from Def Leppard.

He brought up perfect albums, so I asked him to name some of his favorites. 

He also talked about racing go-carts, playing tennis, and the live version of "Crazy Bitch" they do, which is pretty cool. 

Enjoy!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

https://rockcitymusicco.com/

"It's incredible, man" is how Spencer Charnas from Ice Nine Kills responded to touring with Metallica. That's the last time he was in the Detroit area when that tour played Ford Field. Well, he's coming back this weekend to sign autographs and take photos with fans at Astronomicon. That happens in Livonia, Michigan April 12-14th at the Burton Manor.

He recalled the first show he saw from the Metal Legends back in Boston. He said they treat the band very well on tour. They have more Metallica dates left with them this year. "It's going to be quite a summer"

He told me the band is always writing and visual aspects for the band. "We're constantly in creative mode"

"Never" is how he answered the question of if he ever gets pushback for "using" some famous horror movie characters. He said he's become friends with some of the people responsible for these films and Ice Nine Kills is helping to promote the movies. I'm a horror fan so we did talk about some of the latest ones out right now. He also told me what sparked his love of the genre.

Believe it or not, even though they're from the same part of the country, he's never met Rob Zombie. He spoke to the love he has for his movies. "I think some of the stuff he does is truly brilliant".

Guitarist, Doc Coyle told me to ask him about the tuxedo place they get their suits from. He spoke to how Doc has stepped in and helped the band out. "He's an incredibly talented guy, and it was so good to have him out"

Spencer's appearance is sponsored by Rock City Music Company in Livonia.

Great to reconnect with Jeff Scott Soto. The last time I talked with him was mere weeks after we met, I believe in 2018. He's one of these guys who you just like the first time you meet him. He's so easy to talk to, which you'll see in this conversation.

He's coming through town playing the Token Lounge on March 27th with The Art Of Anarchy band. He spoke about how he joined the band, which was somewhat defunct, with the help and through his friendship with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal. The new album is out, and JSS told me that the band hasn't even played one of these songs live yet. He said rehearsals start next week, as I post this.

JSS has been in many bands, but the Trans Siberian Orchestra is one he's been in for a long time. He talks about the reasons why he's jumped around to different bands throughout his career. One of the guys he plays with in TSO is Slaughter drummer, Blas Elias. Jeff talked of meeting him, and how they both have parts in the movie "Rockstar".

We also talked about his 40 years in the music business! Yes, he started at the early age of 18 and was off and running with the Yngwie Malmsteen's "Rising Force" album. He said he didn't even know he got the gig until weeks later.

He just did the Monsters Of Rock cruise, and along with playing many shows onboard, he did his first comedy routine. With the help of rock comedian Don Jamieson, he said it went very well. He talked about doing a similar thing with Jason Bieler from Saigon Kick. JSS said he's learned a lot from him. Jason also submitted a funny question for Jeff....LOL

We talked about Queen, the documentary making "We Are The World", and more.

Lots of great stories from Jeff, cannot wait to see him and Art Of Anarchy at the Token Lounge in a couple of weeks!

Dorothy is my latest Talkin' Rock with Meltdown guest. She's such a badass and a great talent.

The talk of streaming came up early. "It should be 50/50," Dorothy said regarding the lack of money artists get from streaming services.

Dorothy recalls a fight she got into at a Steel Panther show many years ago. That's a crazy story, but she would top that story later in the interview.

Dorothy 'The Way'

Her new album 'The Way' drops in the fall. We talked a lot about the album and the process of making it. The first single is a song called 'Mud'. She said that the song is about digging deep. "You just have to tell the voices in your head of doubt and I can't do it, or I'm not good enough to shut up and do it anyway. To feel the fear. It's part of life. You got to dig deep and tap into it. That's what that song's about" She hopes the song inspires others to dig deeper.

What does the record sound like? Dorothy responded this way, "We really tapped into the southern rock, swampy, I would call it southern tinged. It's got heavy, hard rock songs, it's got a beautiful balled, it's got some surprising wildcard" songs too. "There's actually heavier stuff on this record than on any of my previous albums."

Are there any collaborations on the new Dorothy album?

Yes! "Yes, there is, but I'm not going to tell you who it is...not yet I've got to save something." She did say there's one feature but said there might be more in the future.

As far as the album title is concerned, she said it was divine intervention. She said she read it in the Bible and the title jumped off the page.

She also talked about an incident that changed her life dramatically. A crew person had OD'd on her bus years ago, and she prayed to let him live. Miraculously, he came back to life. She said her life changed a complete 180. "I think that night I had a real encounter with the Holy Spirit."

Dorothy And The Paranormal

This was something I didn't have on my Dorothy BINGO card, but after talking about the crewman who came back to life, I had to ask her if she'd ever experienced anything paranormal besides that night. "Oh, yeah, actually many." She spoke to seeing people she knew speaking in ways they wouldn't. "I have seen some weird paranormal stuff." She told me about her best friend, who performs exorcisms. That's wild!

As always, it's a fun conversation with Dorothy. I'm such a fan and wish her nothing but the best!

Sebastian, Remington, and Emerson from Palaye Royale were nice enough to stop by the station before their show earlier this week. After playing three songs for the staff, they hopped into the studio with me to talk about the band.

I had seen on X that Remington said that Songs For Sadness was very personal to him. He spoke about how his mother's illness has really affected each of them, who are brothers. Being on the road, and leaving their mother is always hard. This was a very touching part of the interview. I wish nothing but the best for "Mama Royale".

The guys talked about the dichotomy of how Palaye Royale writes songs. Sebastian said Remington brings a lot to the lyrics, Emerson is good on the piano even though he's the drummer, and each of them bring something different. "We had eighty songs - for the upcoming album - so we narrowed them down to ten" Remington told me. He also said "If there's not a deadline, I will tinker with it" when talking about recording songs.

They also talked about the success they've found overseas. Over here in the States, they've opened for so many bands but they're looking to do a headlining tour of their own. As a matter of fact, they're playing Wembley Arena in November. Sebastian said Gene Simmons gave them some great advice early on, which they still use to this day.

The band actually started out on the Disney channel. They talked about the difference between playing Disney shows, and then going off on their own for shows. They went from big crowds to playing to empty rooms.

I was shocked to hear that the guys were hockey players, as their family has roots in Canada. I didn't think we'd be talking about that during this interview!

Two frontmen on today's Talkin' Rock Podcast. 

First up, it's Bobby Amaru from Saliva. It's his time of year since he's all inked up with horror movie characters. We discuss Halloween, some of his favorite scary movies, and more. 

The band is dropping a new song called "Time Bomb" on November 1st. He tells me about that and working with Howard Benson. We talk about the legacy of guitarist Wayne Swinny, on what would've been his 61st birthday. Bobby talks about keeping his spirit alive, and how much material they have from the guitarist. That's for starters. 

Up next, it's Lee Jennings from The Funeral Portrait. The band has had a whirlwind year. He talks about that, dropping their new album, Suffocate City - which is killer. 

We talked about the chain Buc-ee's. “I’m a huge fan of Buc-ee’s because when you’re on tour, clean bathrooms are hard to come by,” Lee laughs. “I posted about it a few times, and our fans started turning me into Bucky (the mascot). We even made shirts with me as Bucky, and they sell out every time!”

We also talk about being "Zesty"....LOL

You can watch both of these interviews on the RIFF TV section at wrif.com.

Always a thrill to talk to a legend like Alice Cooper! People always say don't meet you heroes. I can assure you that Alice break that rule. Great guy!

I started by asking him about the return of guitarist Nita Strauss. He said there's always a "Revolving door policy" when it comes to members of his band. "I think she missed the excitement of an Alice Cooper show." He also spoke to working again with Kane Roberts. 

As far as the album "Road" is concerned, he said he really wanted to show off the band. He talked about the live sound of the record. "I want it to sound like a band." He mentioned that after "Detroit Stories", he said he thought his band deserved to be totally involved in the record. He told me about brining in outside musicians, like Tom Morello, Roger Glover and other's. He calls it a "Musical Fraternity".

He said he still loves the road. "I'm a road rat." He went onto say "There's no retirement plan in me at all." According to Alice, the next record is almost done. 

As far as his favorite Detroit memories, he brought up baseball legend Al Kaline. He called him his hero. White Castle, Vernors and "Soupy" Sales were mentioned. He spoke to some of the classic music venues and more. "Detroit was the absolute capitol of Rock N' Roll."

As for the signing at Rock City Music Company, he said he only signs records in Detroit. 

Up next, it's ex Saliva drummer Paul Crosby. He's in a band called Coldwards with two of his sons. The new single is called Bad News. He tells me about the process of writing songs with his kids, and more. He says they'll be dropping songs here and there, including a song about the late Saliva guitarist, Wayne Swinny. 

He did tell me about the passing of Wayne. He spoke to how underrated Wayne was, and what a guitar hero he was. He called him humble, said he'd give the shirt off his back to anyone. We talked a lot about Wayne, and some of the highlights of his time in Saliva. One of them included a couple WWE stints. 

Former Saliva singer, Josie Scott is out on tour as well. I asked Paul about that and if he'd ever play with him again. "If he ever asked me to play some shows, of course I would." He went onto say "I talk to him all the time....we're still best friends."

Check out both interviews below.....

-Meltdown-

When I heard that Lzzy Hale had signed on to help the Skid Row guys for 4 shows, I was stoked! I was excited for the band, excited for the people who would see her sing live, and excited for Lzzy!

After the first show was in the books, I texted Skid Row bassist, Rachel Bolan and drummer, Rob Hammersmith. Both of them were giddy with how the weekend went. That's when I decided to ask Rachel if he'd come on my Talkin' Rock with Meltdown podcast to talk about it.

"We had one rehearsal before the first show, and she blew us away." - Rachel Bolan

Rachel told me how the ball started to roll at producer, Nick Raskulinecz's birthday party. "I was like, "Hey, man, would you want to step in and do a few shows with Skid Row?" And she, you know, after we kind of cleared out what exactly the shows were because we, you know, I think she kind of thought we were just going to jam at like the Mercy Lounge or something. But, so when we cleared that up, she said, yes. "Let me talk to my, my, team and my people and I'll have an answer for you." And the next day or a couple of days later, I was like, "Hey, man, were you serious about that?" She's like, yeah, it's a go. And we were all excited."

"She unleashed that first scream, and we were all just like, whoa." - Rachel Bolan

Rachel went on to say that they only rehearsed once before their first show. Lzzy said that she was holding back a little as to not blow out her voice. Then it was time to take the stage. "When we took the stage, 'Slave to the Grind", she unleashed. Unleashed that first scream. I was just like, I'm actually getting chills thinking about it right now. I was we're all just kind of looking at each other like, whoa"

He couldn't heap enough praise on the Halestorm front woman. "You know, when someone is great at what they do, people appreciate it. They appreciated Lzzy because she is great. She's just freaking great!" He said the energy on stage was off the charts. "And you could you could feel the energy on stage. And, a few of my friends that said I've never seen you smile so much. You're always like the punk rock don't smile, guy. You know, like you're laughing up there, you're smiling and you're interacting, you know? So it was really cool, man. And we got two more. And I just feel like that's like another nine days and I'm like, climbing wall of, like, what do you know?"

The other two shows he's referring to are in Reno, Nevada, and Sacramento, California.

"Lzzy Hale is one of the best vocalists on the planet." - Rachel Bolan

When I commented that Lzzy is such a badass, Rachel agreed. "You know, you just said something that is, descriptive that everyone has been saying, and that's badass. Man, it's so perfect because she is a badass. She's a beast on stage, man. She's great."

On this episode of Talkin' Rock, Tobias Forge - the man behind Ghost - is my first guest. 

The new album, Skeleta, drops on April 25th with a massive tour after that. One that includes playing the famous Madison Square Garden. He spoke with me about what a dream come true that is. 

Of course, we discuss the album and the new track, Satanized. The video is wild, too, as they unveil the new Papa. 

The band is also part of the Back To The Begining Black Sabbath concert. He talked about the honor of being part of that, growing up a big Sabbath fan. 

Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne, his good friend and work partner Billy Morrison rounds out the podcast. He told me about working with the legend, as he recently dropped a remixed orchestral version of their song The Gods Of Rock And Roll. 

Billy has had the good fortune to play with several legends, including Billy Idol. Billy's other guitarist Steve Stevens plays, or should I say RIPS the solo on the latest track with Ozzy. 

We also played a game of name the famous Morrison! LOL

Both of these interviews can be viewed at www.wrif.com.  

This is a special Riff Fest wrap-up. Before the bands took to the stage of Pine Knob, they spoke with me. 

I spoke with Sully from Godsmack, Cullen of Sleep Theory, Cody and Briton of Wage War, James and Sam from Asking Alexandria, and Dale from Seether.  

A huge thank you to each of the bands for talking with me and taking the time to meet with WRIF listeners beforehand. One of the great things about my job is that I get to share these experiences with people who otherwise wouldn't get the chance. 

It was good to catch up with Oli Sykes last week from Bring Me The Horizon on the latest episode of Talkin' Rock. 

Lots going on with BMTH. We talk about their latest tour with Fall Out Boy. "It's been sick." is how he summed up the tour. He told me why they choose to do a support tour "We've been going nonstop, and we're kinda on the verge of burning out." He explained that between making records and more, it was just easier to hop on a tour and go out for the summer. "We still have fans to win over." was another reason to hit the road. 

The new record called Post Human: neX GEn drops on September 15th. Is the upcoming album the most eclectic record? He answered that question. He spoke to influences and nods to some of the bands he loved growing up. "It's more about the frantic and unhinged energy" he said about some of the songs. "I know the rules to writing a song...now it's time to go back and break them." And, yes, this album will challenge the fans. 

He talked about the process for writing music. As far as recording songs, he said that vocal booths are overrated. Ha! He said they don't even really use studios anymore. 

One of his heroes was Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. He talked about meeting him and singing at his celebration of life. "I guess you could say that was bittersweet." He searched for words to describe the loss of Chester in his life. "I feel like a part of my childhood died when he died."

He talked about preserving his voice and what he does to not lose it. He also answered the question as to whether the rock star life is all it's cracked up to be. "It's the best job in the world, of course!"

I had to ask him about the crazy videos he's made. I posted a few of them below. He mentioned he wanted to be a director, so this isn't too far out of his wheelhouse. 

Really interesting conversation with Oli...

-Meltdown

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

If you don't know John McDermott, he's been the guardian of Jimi Hendrix's musical legacy for nearly 30 years. He's the kind of guy with stories you can't Google, insights you can't fake, and a lot of passion for preserving one of rock's greatest icons.

We talked about everything from Hendrix's unreleased gems to their upcoming Experience Hendrix tour coming to the Fox Theatre on March 22nd.

The Magic of the Fox Theatre

First, McDermott talked about his upcoming concert at the Fox Theatre. John said it's one of the best places to perform. "We've played the Fox five times, and the crowd's energy is just incredible, it's not like playing a generic performing arts center where it's just another stop on a subscription series. These fans are passionate. They show up because they love the music."

A Lifelong Journey with Jimi  

Now, how exactly does one become the catalog director for Jimi Hendrix? I asked John, and he dove right in. It started in 1992 when he co-wrote a book called Hendrix: Setting the Record Straight with Eddie Kramer. A year later, John helped produce a tribute album, Stone Free, which raised scholarship funds in Jimi's name through the United Negro College Fund.

In the mid-1990s, John helped the Hendrix family win a long legal battle to regain control of Jimi's music. "When they finally won the rights, they asked me to manage the catalog," he explained. "Our first release was in 1997, and I've been doing it ever since."

From curating historic releases to creating documentaries, John's helped make sure Hendrix's music remains timeless.

How Many Hendrix Songs Are Still Unreleased?  

Every Hendrix fan has wondered: Is there anything left in the archives? According to John, the answer is, "Yes, but not as much." Over the years, his team has dug deep to release unreleased tracks, documentaries, and live sessions. "We're definitely closer to the end of the archive than we were 20 or 25 years ago," he admitted, "but every now and then, something new surprises us."  

Case in point? A few years ago, they uncovered a never-before-heard 1967 recording of Hendrix at the Hollywood Bowl. Want to know how early this was? It happened before Are You Experienced? It even dropped in the U.S. That's serious history right there.

Why Hendrix Still Resonates  

When I asked about Hendrix's lasting legacy, John said, "Every generation rediscovers him." From Prince to Stevie Ray Vaughan to John Mayer, Hendrix's influence is woven into the DNA of music. "Jimi's music is timeless," John said. People hear it in movies, commercials, or even on the radio and are driven to find out more. His music speaks for itself—you don't have to hard-sell it."

Even in pop culture, Hendrix's impact is everywhere. Quick example? Hulk Hogan famously strutted into the ring to "Voodoo Child." And John lit up when I threw that out there. "Yeah, that's a great example! And people like Paul McCartney still tell stories about their friendship with Jimi on stage. It's amazing how his influence just keeps going."

The Experience Hendrix Tour  

Here's the part you need to know about—the Experience Hendrix tour. If you're even remotely into guitar legends, this is the show for you. John explained why it's such a hit. "It's not just a loose jam session," he said. "It's collaborative. You'll hear the Hendrix songs you know and love, but you'll also discover new artists who bring their own energy to the legacy."

The lineup is stacked—think Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson, and Marcus King, just to name a few. "These artists come because Jimi inspired them in different ways," John added. "It's a common denominator for audiences. People might come in because they're fans of one artist, but by the end of the night, they leave blown away by others."

Oh, and if you happen to be at the Fox Theatre on March 22nd? Keep an eye out for surprise appearances. John flat-out said they love throwing unexpected guests into the mix.  

Hendrix Memorabilia: What's Left?

John said Jimi was more of an "off-the-rack" kind of guy when it came to guitars. "He usually had a black Strat, a white Strat, and a Flying V," he shared. "Sometimes a Gibson Les Paul Jr. for blues numbers."  

Many of Jimi's personal items and stage gear now reside in museums, including the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Seeing them up close makes Hendrix feel real. "His dad, Al Hendrix, wanted these items shared with fans," John said. "It's incredible to see someone connect with a piece of Jimi's history in person."

What's Next For The Hendrix Estate?  

John said the Electric Lady Studios project has been a big focus, "If we find more material that deepens fans' appreciation of Jimi, we'll explore ways to share it."

If you're in Detroit on March 22nd, do yourself a favor and Experience Hendrix (literally) at the Fox Theatre. Trust me, this tour isn't just a concert—it's a celebration of a legend.

See you there!

Wolfgang Van Halen is my latest Talkin' Rock with Meltdown guest. The new album, Mammoth 2 is out, plus, he's on the road...a lot!

Opening for Metallica might be nerve-racking for any band, then add in the enormous stage and venues, but Wolfgang says he's just about got it down now. He told me he doesn't get to move around the stage as much as he'd like to, so his bandmates do it for him. 

"It's been wonderful, man" was his response when asked how the Metallica/Pantera shows have been going. He also took me step by step of playing live TV. "I don't think I've been so nervous for anything in my life." 

As for Pantera "Regardless of how you feel about it, they sound amazing!" was his answer to seeing the band reunited. 

As far as the new album is concerned, he loves to have total control of his musical journey. "No, I mean, from the inception this has been my musical creation." He said he was a bit more confidant going into the process of the new album. He spoke to the very fast recording "We only had, basically, two and half months." 

He also talked about getting married in October. He's got a lot going on!

-Meltdown-

Jelly Roll is one of the busiest and hottest music stars today. I was lucky enough to grab a few minutes with him. What I got was a fun, candid, real conversation.

I've never met or interviewed him before, so when the conversation starts out talking about the "Beer Olympics" I knew this was going to be a fun talk.

We talked about the meteoric rise to success. He said while touring with Shinedown last year, he got to see and experience everything that it takes to go to the next level.

"Dude, I was a sponge," he said. "I stood side stage every night watching every set." He said he learned so much by watching singer Brent Smith throughout the tour.

As far as his music and live show, he said, "We believe that connection is the answer."

Jelly Roll talked about his late blooming in the music industry. "I'm proof that it can happen," he said, as he talked about the chances of anyone being able to prosper in this business. He spoke to his underdog story and how he's risen from wild and oftentimes troubled youth.

If you're unfamiliar with his past, Jelly Roll was featured in a recent Hulu documentary, "Save Me." Having seen the documentary and then hearing Jelly Roll talk about it was fascinating. He told me he was very involved in the development of the film. "The first time I seen it, I cringed," he said. He spoke to the rawness of the project during our interview.

Jelly Roll also opened up about his plans for an upcoming album project. "I expect the next album to be more uplifting," he said. Jelly Roll said he's always writing, and that his next record could even be a return to rock, the genre Jelly Roll got his beginnings in. "I think we're going to surprise some people with some of the collabs on this...it's going to be different."

Based on his comments, I wondered: is Jelly Roll "rock" or is he "country?" "I'm country rock, right?" he said.

He went on to talk more about crossing genres and about some of his rock influences. "I'll never forget where I was the first time I heard Bob Seger," he said, noting that his songwriting philosophy is "three chords and the truth."

Jelly Roll is one star who has risen fast. I asked him what has surprised him the most from the last year as he has been on this massive career growth journey. He name-dropped a lot of music heavyweights who reached out to support him: Garth Brooks, David Draiman (Disturbed), Ronnie Radke (Falling in Reverse) and others.

He also spoke to his Detroit influences and places he's played here....everywhere!

Enjoy! 

-Meltdown-

https://jellyroll615.com/

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

Johnny Kelly of Quiet Riot is my latest Talkin' Rock with Meltdown guest. If you're in the Detroit area, the Quiet Riot guys are playing at Smugglers Run on June 9th.

We talk about his lighter tour schedule. He told me playing with QR is much different than he was used to playing with Type O Negative. He explained how they tour on a completely different circuit that is new to him. He recalled touring with Motley Crue in the mid-90s. "It was a tough tour for them" he said about the guys in Crue. He also shared some other tour horror stories.

As far as playing with a guy like Rudy Sarzo? "It's surreal". He went into what it's like to play with such a rock legend. He admitted he was somewhat start struck, but now has become a friend. Johnny also tells me what Jizzy Pearl is like. I've never had the chance to meet him before, so I'm looking forward to it.

Of course we had to talk a little hockey. He's a big hockey fan, so I had to ask him about his thoughts on the Stanley Cup playoffs. He also told me who he thinks the late Vinnie Paul would've been rooting for.

He's in a new band called Eye Am. How did that start? What's going on with that project? Johnny fills us in on all things about that band too.

Great to catch up with one of my favorite dudes!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/

What's better than talking to Dorothy? Talking to her on Valentine's Day! It was nice of the singer/songwriter to give me some time to talk about her upcoming album 'The Way'. The album comes out on March 14th, but the buzz is already building as she's released a few down-and-dirty blues-based rockers off of it.

As far as the title is concerned, Dorothy said, "The name came to me, and I highlighted it when I was reading (the Bible). That's the title track, and that's the name of the album." She said that song is a beautiful ballad that ends the album.

She spoke about how the album starts with the song "I Come Alive". She said she went off with her vocals. "Let me express myself!" she joked about the record's vocal beginning, sort of in a Pink Floyd-esque way. 

There is a story that goes through the album - Salvation. She spoke of getting saved in rehab. "Life imitates art, it's giving me a sense of purpose. It's made this musical journey a lot more meaningful." She said she hopes the album is uplifting for anyone who listens to it.

In the end, the album is Rock! "We stayed true to being true. What's in the D.N.A.? Rock!" She went into the theme of some of the songs on the album.

Dorothy On How She Got Slash To Play On The Record

Guitar legend Slash appears on the song "Tombstone Town". How did that come about? She's known him for a while through producer Mike Clink. Dorothy sent him a bunch of tracks, but she really wanted him on this particular song. And, yes, she got him to wear his iconic hat in the video.

It's always a treat to talk with Dorothy...she's one of my favorite people!

You can see Dorothy live in concert in Michigan at the Machine Shop on April 22.

Lots to get into with Myles and Sonny on this episode of Talkin' Rock. 

First up, Myles Kennedy talks about his upcoming solo album. He tells me what the name, The Art Of Letting Go refers to, the musical mission of the record, and more. That album drops on October 11th.

He talks about jamming with the Led Zeppelin guys, the first time he met Slash, as well as Eddie Van Halen. 

People think he looks like Kevin Bacon all the time. He tells a funny story of going to see his band play live....that's just for starters. 

Then it's Sonny Sandoval from P.O.D. Their new album Veritas is out, as Sonny talks about it and the collaborations on the album. He also explained the record's cover artwork. 

San Diago recently gave him his own day, which he said he was very humbled by. 

Enjoy!

It's another big week on the Talkin' Rock with Meltdown podcast. 

John 5 is up first. We discuss his latest signature guitar, being part of Motley Crue's legacy, and a paranormal experience he had. That's for starters with 5. 

Steel Panther's Michael Starr is next, as they kick off their tour this week. He tells me about Corey Taylor playing on past Panther songs, burying the hatchet (or not) with rockers who aren't SP fans, and more. The dude is always hysterical!

This week, we wrap up the episode with Ray West of Spread Eagle. They're playing the Token Lounge on August 25th. Ray talks about the new music the band is working on, his short stint in Lynch Mob, touring Europe, and lots more. 

Thanks for listening!

I am wrapping up the week with a new episode of Talkin' Rock with Ian Hill from the Priest and Stephen Richards of Taproot. 

First, Ian Hill talks about all things Judas Priest. Does he like touring or recording more? Has he read Rob Halford's book? We talk about the careers of Judas Priest and Black Sabbath and their overlap. Plus, he talks about how they brought "Ripper" into the band, and questions from bass players Frank Bello and David Ellefson. 

Stephen Richards from Taproot called in this week. We discuss the band, what they have planned for the near future, and a new song he lends his voice to with an artist named Wes Anderson. It's called "Goodbye" and drops today (August 30th)

Enjoy!

The new Dead Daisies album is dropping in September, so it's good to get Doug Aldrich from the band on Talkin' Rock with Meltdown to tell us about it. Plus, they'll be playing the Machine Shop on June 11th, in Flint, Michigan.

As far as song ideas for the new album, he said everyone chipped in. "We all, all we all were, brought different parts in different song ideas. And that's generally what we do with The Dead Daisies is we'll bring in ideas and then, you know, in this situation, Marty Fredrickson was producing and he's like an amazing songwriter in his own. So he had a couple ideas already. Him and John (singer Corabi) had a couple ideas. I had a few. Michael Devin had a few. David (Lowy) had a few. I kind of helped David, finish off a couple of his ideas, and then we, we played them off for Marty."

He told me that the first single's main riff for "Light Em Up" was actually written by Stevie D. from Buckcherry. "Yep. And Stevie had he had a whole song, but we just basically pinched the riff and Stevie gave his approval, and then we kind of wrote a little bit new around that riff and, and then we, you know, originally I don't remember, I can't remember his demo, how the riff was played. It might have been played down here or I'm not sure it might have been played in this position here, but this is how we ended up doing it. And it's got kind of a classic Daisy's. But yeah, it's obviously derivative of kind of the way we played it was derivative of kind of AC/ DC" He told me the new album covers a wide range of rock and was recorded in some historic studios. "There's there is a bunch of stuff that's in the vein of what we just talked about that's that fits together really well. But then we had a couple of songs that came in. Actually we we wrote one in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in this studio called Fame Studio. That is a crazy, important studio for, you know, for early rock and for R&B. And like, Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin recorded their hits there. Duane Allman worked there with Wilson Pickett. And we were in the studio working on just playing through some blues stuff and kind of noodling around in a little bit for a week, and we wrote this tune that turned out to be way is really deep, it's like an album cut, it's not a single. It won't be a single, but it's probably one of the coolest songs on the record because it's like a cornerstone track that it makes the album so much better just because it's on it."

Past Rock Projects With Doug Aldrich

Doug told me about earlier stuff he'd done with other bands, including auditioning for KISS. "I got a call from Eric Carr, who came and saw me play, and I met him, and he invited me to come down to the studio and, and meet Paul and Gene and, and I played on a couple of tracks in the studio just to see. And then they had me come and play a couple times live with them. And it was it was, you know, I felt guilty because these guys, nobody had seen them without their makeup yet. So I really felt awkward about looking Gene Simmons in the eye and, and, and seeing his face, you know, it's like shouldn't, shouldn't be doing this. But the bottom line is, is that they wanted a little bit more of a technical guitar player."

That's just for starters on this wide-ranging conversation with Doug.

Get your tickets to see The Dead Daisies at the world-famous Machine Shop here. 

Weird, I've never met or hung out with Billy, but I've interviewed him a couple times and love talking to him. 

Of course we had to talk wrestling. He's a huge fan! He says he doesn't want to get in the ring, though. LOL

He said his band is playing great. "It's a pleasure for us to provide a world-class show wherever we go". He talks about playing some new stuff off of the new albums. He tells me about his love for vinyl, as well. 

A couple weeks back he made news talking about how Kurt Cobain was his biggest "competitor". I asked him who was his biggest competitor now. He had a very interesting answer, which I agree with. 

How often does a guy like Billy get recognized out in public? He answers that question, too. 

I got some Chicago sports talk in there as well, including his brush with greatness with Michael Jordon. 

Enjoy!

Meltdown

https://wrif.com/podcasts/talkin-rock-with-meltdown/