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

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

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 soundWe talked about all of this and much more.. 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.

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

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

The Triumph machine is gearing up for a big return in 2026, and drummer Gil Moore was nice enough to come on the podcast and discuss where the band sits from a rehearsal, set list, and member point of view. Of course, I had to ask Gil, a hockey fan, about the Winter Olympics and the fact that the United States and Canada could face off yet again for Gold. He's been busy getting Triumph back up and running, so he admitted that he hasn't seen a lot of it. We did talk about rehearsals, the upcoming setlist, and production rehearsals. They'll be going down to Florida for their first productions run throughs. He told the dichotomy of bringing along Brent Fitz, Todd Kerns, and Phil X as well. He said that Phil and Rik Emmett get along very well and have mutual respect and the skills they bring. To round out this episode, it's Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp founder, David Fishof. The camp is celebrating its 30 th anniversary this year, and bringing out a lot of rockers. David has had the who's who of rockers at the camp over the years and has many stories to share. The guy knows everyone! It was fascinating to speak with him for the first time, hopefully not the last. He wants me to make an appearance at a camp...ya know, as a tambourine player. LOLSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new BLS album drops on March 27th. Zakk talks about the title, Engines of Demolition (sort of). So far, only a couple of songs have dropped from the album: Name in Blood and Broken and Blind. Zakk does talk about the final song on the record, Ozzy's song.We discussed Back to the Beginning, Pantera, and the possibility of new music, as well as yacht rock, Super Bowl predictions, and more. Oh, and a funny story about Ozzy and Mr. Crowley.Des Rocs is a guitarist from the Queens, NY area. He's up next to talk about his upcoming tour and new album on the way. Heavily influenced by bands with a fuzzy guitar sound, he spoke to liking bands like the White Stripes and others, he says, do it right.You can watch that interview here - https://wrif.com/2026/02/03/des-rocs-2/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a pleasure to speak with Rod for the first time in my career. He celebrated his 50th year as a professional drummer this past September. We discuss that and his latest project, Voices of Extreme. Before we got to those topics, Rod shared some great stories of touring with Rush and the legendary Neil Peart. He spoke about what an average day was like on that tour, his personality, and more. I also gave Rod a chance to plug his Wing Thing drum tool. From what I've heard, many touring drummers and drum techs use this tool. Was Winger underrated as far as their musicianship? He answers that question, as well as a little behind-the-scenes into the making of their hit, Seventeen. IMO, their record PULL was their best record. Unfortunately, a thing called grunge hit, and that album never got its due. It was a pleasure to speak with Rod....I hope you enjoy this. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mark Kendall is an original member of Great WHite, and soon you'll be able to learn much more about him. His autobiography is in the works and is set for a spring release if all goes well. Mark talks about that, remembering things he'd long forgotten, writing about his friend Jack Russell, and lots more. We started off the conversation with a health update. Mark is fighting kidney cancer and is winning! We're pulling for him and know he's got this!We also discuss new music that the band is working on. He says they have about 7 songs laid down on tape. There's no deadline on that, but it's great to hear they're working on stuff. Amanda Lyberg is the lead singer of the Detroit band Eva Under Fire. Maybe you haven't heard of them, maybe you have. Chances are, you'll be hearing more about them in 2026 as they get set to tour with Five Finger Death Punch! We also discuss their new album, which is set to drop this year. They've switched management camps, and the Detroit grind is back. Wishing the best to the EUF guys as it looks like 2026 is going to rock!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geoff Tate kicks off a new year of Talkin' Rock episodes. The former Queensryche frontman talks about his upcoming tour (May 9th - Saint Andrew's Hall), as well as an update on Operation Mindcrime 3 that he says is going to drop this summer.Did he think he'd be playing Operation Mindcrime in its entirety this many years down the road? Why did they play the whole album while touring on Empire in the early '90s? What project did he recently work on with Kurt Diemer? All these questions get answers with many more.There's a new Rock & Brews opening in March in Royal Oak! Tony and Dan Yazbick join me to discuss the process of opening the KISS franchise location, around many other bars they own. I asked them about talking to Paul Stanley about the new venture. Tony shares a funny story of dressing up like one of the members for Halloween, as well as how to get a job at the new restaurant.Thanks for listening! Happy 2026!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.