Talkin' Rock With Meltdown Podcast

What a non-award-winning episode! Yes, you read the title right.
Zacky Vengeance is up first to discuss his solo record, Dark Horse, which drops on April 3rd. The first song he released from it is called Lighthouse. He talks about that song and the rest of the album. He speaks to how different it is from the material from A7X. We discuss the writing process and how he played, according to him, about 95% of the instruments on the album.
He told me what's going on with the band, some surprising announcements coming up, and more.
Detroit drummer Tommy Clufetos is up next. He's bringing his band, Tommy's Rocktrip, to The Token Lounge on April 23rd. We discuss that, playing the Brit Awards show in tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, the Detroit grind he's got in him, and lots more.
Mike Krompass from the band The Fell wraps up this episode. We discuss their tour, which comes to the Token Lounge on Saturday, March 28th, playing with Billy Sheehan, material in the can, and more.
Thanks for listening!
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Craig Gass is touring the country, bringing the laughs to fans all over. This weekend, it's Detroit's turn as he plays shows at One Night Stan's in Waterford. To say he has some rock stories is an understatement. Not only does he have rock stories, but they're also funny as Hell!

On this episode, he tells me about meeting Lars from Metallica for the first time and opening for them! How about upsetting fans on a KISS cruise? Yes, he's done that too! Impersonations of Sebastian Bach, Christopher Walken, Al Pacino, and lots more.

Thanks for listening! Go see Craig live!

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The new Pretty Reckless album, called Dear God, drops on June 26th. She and the band played with AC/DC last April, but before that, it hadn't been since the fateful night of the last Soundgarden show. She discussed opening those major shows worldwide. As we talked, she was in Chile.
For I Am Death was released a bit ago, with the latest single called When I Wake Up. As with much of their catalog, it has a real throwback, classic vibe to it. She talks about that song, the album artwork, and a post about her last "confessional", which I, like an idiot, didn't pick up on.
Taylor's awesome...her band is awesome...I cannot wait to drop the new album on the turntable!
Speaking of turntables, I listened to Rush's 2112 to prepare to speak with author Daniel Bukszpan. His new book is entitled RUSH & 2112: 50 Years. Yes, I could talk Rush all day.
Daniel discusses the approach he took when writing a book about one of the most defining Rush albums. He spoke with producers and others to get a feel of what it was like making the iconic album. An album that was a major turning point for the band.
For a better look at what this book entails, here's an excerpt from the press release.
In the book, Rush fans new and old can expect:
• A deep dive into how "2112" came together and why it is regarded as a masterpiece.
• Track-by-track analyses of the studio cut as well as insight into the 20-minute “2112” suite and why it works
• Historical insight and analysis about the state of rock in the mid-’70s and evolving ’80s, and how Rush created and sustained an unforgettable sound
We talked about all of this and much more..
Thanks for listening!
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Sebastian Bach is out bringing the Party Never Stops tour to fans all across the country. Our turn in the Detroit area happens on March 15th at District 142. Limited tickets remain.
Talking with him, we discuss his connections to the Motor City, and there are many. He also told me why he still uses a corded microphone. Of course, we talked about Twisted Sister. Well, I was allowed ONE question. To say he's fired up is an understatement. I cannot wait to see it myself!
Jim Breuer is up next. He's also touring all over the country/ His stop in Detroit happens on March 27th at the Masonic Temple. I always love picking Jim's brain when it comes to music. We discussed Metallica, Detroit rockers, and more. He even went into some of his favorite impressions.
Thanks for listening! Enjoy!

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Believe it or not, the Van Halen 5150 album turns 40 at the end of March! To celebrate, the guys are dropping a deluxe version of it on March 27th.
According to the press release, The deluxe edition not only contains a remastered version of the album, but also more than 90 minutes of previously unreleased recordings from their August 27th, 1986 concert at the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut; a selection of rare seven-inch single edits; and extended 12-inch versions.
There's also a Blu-ray containing a high-definition upgrade of the video of that show, which was previously released as Live Without a Net, plus promo videos for “Dreams” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.”
The collection will also be available on vinyl and digitally.
Michael was cool enough to hop on to discuss this time period of the band, and lots more. Did he know Sammy Hagar before he joined VH? Did he feel like, at certain times, it was the brothers (Eddie and Alex) vs. him and Sammy? Did he have any input into bringing Sammy in? How do I get a Jack Daniels endorsement? These are the important questions Michael answered, and lots more.
You can see him, along with Sammy, when they play Pine Knob on June 19th, a day before his birthday.
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