Talkin' Rock With Meltdown Podcast

• Talkin' Rock with David Ellefson, Tom Hunting of Exodus, and Zouzou of Soraia

  It's another jam-packed episode of Talkin' Rock with Meltdown. First up, it's David Ellefson. This guy has so many projects in the works, but I thought we'd talk to discuss his documentary about the late Nick Menza. We got to that, but first, we talked about seeing Alice In Chains for the first time, and why he has so many projects. He said he just says Yes! Tom Hunting from Exodus is next. I've never met or spoken to Tom. I found him very chill and thoughtful with his answers. We talked about his recent 60th birthday. We also discussed his health and pray for the best for him. The band is in the middle of writing and recording their 12th album. He told me he's grateful to have done something that he likes for so long. Zouzou Mansour of Soraia wraps up this episode. The East Coast band has a new song out (So Holy) with an EP to drop later this year. We spoke to the latest music, working on the album in Sweden, and horror movies. Zou's a big scary movie chick. Enjoy!

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• Guitarists Alex Lifeson of RUSH and Phil X are on Talkin' Rock

  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

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• Talkin' Rock with Zach Myers of Shinedown and the Legendary Ted Nugent

  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!

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• John 5 Returns To Talk KISS & More On Talkin' Rock

  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.

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• Rik Emmett of Triumph, Leigh Kakaty from Pop Evil, and Metal Shop host Charlie Kendall are on Talkin' Rock

  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-

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