Talkin' Rock With Meltdown Podcast

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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."  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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!      See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  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!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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!  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.      See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.