wrif

I met Vic and the guys from PTV when they came through Detroit just before Thanksgiving. After talking with them after the show, I knew I wanted to get him on the podcast/videocast.

We talk about him becoming a father for the first time, the U.K. touring and touring with I Prevail. We talk a lot about the upcoming album, The Jaws Of Life. Why so long between albums? Where the record was written and recorded and why. A really cool vinyl copy of the album that’s coming out, hometown shows, and LOTS more.

We also talked about his Living The Dream Foundation, which you can check out below. I love when guys in Vic’s position think of other people and create experiences for them that they might not have had. Really cool!

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/2022/12/19/vic-fuentes-from-peirce-the-veil-talks-about-their-upcoming-album-and-lots-more-meltdown/

https://piercetheveil.net/

Grunge legend Stone Gossard joins me on Talkin' Rock. We discuss his record label, Loosegroove Records and the band Tigercub, which he's pushing. He tells me about starting the label and some of the many bands that he's signed over the years. Of course we talk about Pearl Jam. He tells me where they are as far as new music is concerned, and a loose timetable of when to expect it. We talk some Rock Hall, Chris Cornell, Duff McKagen and more. 

Dorothy checked in for her 2022 exit interview. Ha! She looks back on Gifts From The Holy Ghost, the TV show Top Ten Revealed, Plans for 2023 including some collaborations, and that's just for starters. 

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/2022/12/13/stone-gossard-gives-pearl-jam-update-talks-about-loosegroove-records-the-rock-hall-duff-mckagen-more/

https://wrif.com/2022/12/12/dorothy-talks-about-2022-and-looks-forward-to-next-year-meltdown/

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

Jason joins me on this episode of Talkin' Rock to tell me about singing for Accept and Armored Saint, all in the space of a month or so. He talks about the crazy route it took to hop on stage with Accept, which may have led to his getting called up to front A.S.. We also talk about his podcast, his current touring situation and more.

Jason is a really good guy and was more than happy to Talk Rock with me!

-Meltdown-

https://talklouderpodcast.com/

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

I've never had a chance to talk with Ronnie, so I didn't know what to expect. What I got was a very candid guy who sticks to his beliefs no matter if you like or not. 

We talked about 2022, what he's working on, the singles for Zombified and Voices In My Head, the lyrical content of VIMH, and wearing his heart on his sleeve. We did talk about his online spat with former Skid Row singer, Sebastian Bach. Over the summer, it came out that Falling In Reverse cancelled some shows because their lap top was misplaced. That led to a lot of online chatter about their live performance. Ronnie was more than happy to clear up any confusion and give his side of the story. 

I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did doing it. 

-Meltdown-

https://firmerch.com/

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

Frank Bello is up first. He talks about his solo LP - Then I'm Gone...why do a solo effort, why he didn't play the drums, and more. He tells me what people think it sounds like, and how writing and recording these tracks was similar to putting out his book. We discussed his uncle, and Anthrax drummer, Charlie Benante's role in the upcoming Pantera shows. He tells me about side project that Joey Belladonna is working on, the great voice that is John Bush...and lots more!

Jeff Plate rounds out the show as the Trans Siberian Orchestra come to a town near you. We talk about rehearsals, spending time on the road away from family during the holidays, what he does the other ten months of the year, all while be distracted by something that's never happened to me in any interview I've ever done....but Jeff powers through. 

-Meltdown-

https://www.thefrankbello.com/

https://www.trans-siberian.com/

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

Dan from Disturbed was kind enough to take some time to talk about the upcoming record, working with Anne Wilson, and even his thoughts on social media, and more.

Dorothy was also generous, talking about her latest album, the "spirit" that went into it, hanging with Axl Rose and LOTS more. 

Guernica Mancini of Thundermother rounds out today's podcast. She talked about touring with the Scorpions, her influences, Swedish hockey players...sorta, and much, much more. 

-Meltdown-

https://wrif.com/2022/09/24/disturbed-interview-with-meltdown-at-riff-fest-2022/

https://wrif.com/2022/09/24/dorothy-interview-with-meltdown-at-riff-fest-2022/

https://wrif.com/2022/09/22/meet-the-band-thundermother-meltdown/

It's never too early to think about Christmas and the Trans Siberian Orchestra! Joel Hoekstra calls in to discuss everything that's going on with the band, his projects, Whitesnake and more. 

Then, it's Fee Waybill from the Tubes. We talk about the history of the band, the "two eras" of the 70s and 80s, what they're doing now and a ton more!

-Meltdown-

https://www.trans-siberian.com/

https://thetubes.com/

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

Tobias Forge from Ghost is up first. What draws people into a band like Ghost? Tobias does his best to answer that, as he talks about not playing Detroit in what seems like forever. He also talks about anonymity, or lack thereof. 

Don Jamieson is up next with a very funny conversation to plug his Terrorizing Telemarketers 7, which drops this Friday, September 16th. I love talking to Don. We talk about how put together a project like this in this day and age. We talk rock, concerts, vinyl and lots more!

-Meltdown-

https://ghost-official.com/

https://orcd.co/telemarketers

https://www.donjamieson.com/

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

It's another powerful hitting, non-award winning of Talkin' Rock. 

The new FFDP album drops next week, and Zoltan was nice enough to call in and talk about it. He told me why it's called Afterlife, working with Kevin Churko again, and more on the record. He told me what's it's like to have a band like Megadeth open for his band, and his thoughts on the Pantera "reunion". 

dUg Pinnick is next, as the new King's X album drops on September 2nd (a day before his birthday). We talk about the record and why it's been 14 years since their last album. He tells me about some of the songs, being an influence to so many Seattle bands, and how much gas is left in the tank for them. He also relives some memories of that infamous Motley Crue tour with John Corabi at the helm. 

-Meltdown-

https://fivefingerdeathpunch.com/

https://www.kingsxrocks.com/

https://www.dugnation.net/

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

Part One:   (Running Time: (19:27)

Dave and Chuck The Freak talk about their early years in radio, Dave as a news reporter and Chuck working behind the scenes. From interviewing Grandparents at the age of 8 to forming their morning show on 89X to the listeners picking “The Freak” as Chuck’s nickname.

 Part Two:   Running Time: (45:06)

Their radio journey continues with Lisa, James “It’s Friday Bitches”, Operation “Dark Stall” and the derivation of “Penis”.

 Part Three:   Running Time: (65:33)

Dave and Chuck move the show to WRIF and discuss the challenges of not being able to tell anyone, their first show of the Riff and what it was like to replace the legendary Drew and Mike show.

Part Four:   Running Time: (94:00)

Dave and Chuck the Freak hit incredible new heights, expand into syndication and keep their internal mantra of “the funny always wins” and never talk about politics. Mike Staff also asks the guys about the lasting legacy of WRIF as the station officially turns 50.

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:05)

Screamin’ Scott Randall talks about his early years in radio. Imitating Arthur P and Alan Allman to the point of starting to smoke to get a deeper sounding voice. Working in Ohio and Indiana doing hog reports and them coming back to Detroit to work at The Ritz.

 Part Two:   (Running Time: 31:22)

• Scott makes the giant leap form the Ritz to doing mornings at 102.7 Z-Rock. He talks about how he got the Screamin’ nickname, doing radio with Alice Cooper and dating Ted Nugent’s daughter.

 Part Three:   (Running Time: 49:25)

• Doug Podell hires Scott to do overnights at WRIF and Scott talks about working with him, Anne Carlini, Arthur P., Meltdown and Drew and Mike.

Part Four:   (Running Time: 73:36)

• Of course Screamin’ has a beer with Dave Grohl in Ireland, plays a round of Golf with Alice Cooper, hangs out with Bobby Knight and BJ Thomas. Then there was the time he nearly died while on the air.

Part Four:   (Running Time: 91:50)

• This time Scott really does die, thankfully in the hospital but lives on to create Rock For Tots and his Screamin’ Angles. Scotty also discusses how he was let go after 24 years at WRIF and looks ahead to a bright future.

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:04)

Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) continues his conversation with Mike Staff touching on Delbert, Davie Lee Roth, and the value of paying your dues.

 Part Two:   (Running Time: 32:03)

• Recounting the 9-11 show, Woodstock 94, Cold Call celebrity hang-ups and Drew talks about the role of his producers.

 Part Three:   (Running Time: 47:58)

• Drew and Marc move to 105.1 The Sports Station and have to deal with questionable programing and talk about the late 1990s as Howard Stern, Ted Nugent, Danny Bonaduce, and Bill Bonds all had talk shows.

Part Four:   (Running Time: 66:22)

• Drew’s relationship with Mike during the 22 year run on WRIF, the astounding success of the show and their evolution into Podcasting.

 Part Four:   (Running Time: 90:10)

• The final years at WRIF, Drew’s thoughts on Dave and Chuck The Freak, the loss of Mike Clark and the staying power of The Riff as it approaches the 50th

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:10)

Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) recounts his early radio days at WVT, WROV, WAAF (Boston) and KMXX (Phoenix) on his way to WRIF.

 Part Two:   (Running Time: 33:45)

• After 3 Years in Phoenix Drew and Zip take over mornings at WRIF. The stories include Arthur P welcoming Drew to town with a trip to the strip club, Trudi joins the staff and Drew meets Mike Clark for the 1st time at The Ritz in Roseville.

 Part Three:   (Running Time: 56:53)

• The Drew and Zip show becomes Drew and Mike and as they evolve into a full-time talk show the ratings explode. There were Lions pre-game shows with strippers, The OJ Trial, Mike crashing his helicopter on the air, the show gets kicked out of the Auto Show and Mickey Redman joins the team during the Red Wings historic Stanley Cup years.     

Part Four:   (Running Time: 77:15)

• Drew and Mark recount some of the wildest interviews of the Drew and Mike show, plus celebrity hang ups, But Mic and a listen comes in to suck Trudi’s toes.

 Part Four:    (Running Time: 93:45)

• Do co-hosts have to get along off the air?, Was syndication ever a possibility? Can rock starts be good radio hosts?

Part One:   (Running Time: 12:31)

Afternoon Drive host Meltdown talks about growing up outside of Buffalo and getting the call to move to Detroit to work at WRIF at age 26 and the idea of being born in Buffalo but made in Detroit.

 Part Two:   (Running Time: 24:12)

• Meltdown reveals the story behind his nickname, working as a custodian calling into radio stations, his first radio gigs, his other nickname for a while The Big Unit and 3rd shifter parties. 

Part Three:   (Running Time: 35:02)

• A conversation of working overnights at WRIF for two years, live broadcasts, Harleyfest, Hockey and a few of his famous friends.    

Part Four:   (Running Time: 58:53)

• Meltdown’s crossovers with Arthur P. moving into the afternoon drive spot in 2009, his interviewing style and the Talkin’ Rock Podcast.

Part Five:   (Running Time: 74:55)

• Mike and Meltdown wrap up the fireside chat with rock star stories and tales of interviews both good and bad.

Part One:   (Running Time:     15:27)

• Steve’s radio journey growing up in Detroit and going to Redford Detroit high school. Attending Lawrence Tech, O.C.C., and Western.  Dan Carlyle taking Steve under his wing. The first gig a WABX. 

Part Two:   (Running Time:    32:24)

• Turing down WPLJ in New York and getting hired by WRIF. Playing Pine Knob in 1981 with the Dick The Bruiser Band. Local bands and the power line-up of WRIF in the 80s with Arthur P., Ken Calvert and Karen Savelly.

Part Three:   (Total Time:    52:21)

• A not so great interview with Lou Reed. Being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Steve's thoughts on the city of Detroit and the legacy of WRIF.  

                     (Total Time:     1:11:45)

Part One:   (Total Time:     11:25)

• Karen’s journey growing up in Detroit and going to school at Wayne State. The collage years working at WAYN, WDTE and WWWW. Karen’s four years at W4 and three at WABX leading to her spot at WRIF. 

Part Two:   (Total Time:     25:27)

• Working in the old broadcast trailer and the 80s all-star lineup at the Riff. Karen’s long relationship with Bob Seger, having dinner with Queen and seeing The Who at the Silverdome.

Part Three:   (Total Time:     38:11)

• Working with J., George, Ken Calvert, Arthur P. and Steve Kostan. A short run doing the morning show on WRIF with Lynne Woodison. Seeing Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker at the old Eastown and being recruited to WCSX. 

Part Four:   (Total Time:     42:44)

• The Van Halen interview that included the whole band and a few strippers.