What a fun conversation. The topics with Paul included the new box set release on November 8th, some big gigs they played here in the States, the last-ever concert in their hometown, the documentary ‘THE TRAGICALLY HIP: NO DRESS REHEARSAL’, and more. It was truly an honor to speak with Paul; he was very candid and interesting.

If you get the chance, the documentary is well worth the watch!

Give this a listen and crank up some HIP!

What a fun conversation. The topics with Paul included the new box set release on November 8th, some big gigs they played here in the States, the last-ever concert in their hometown, the documentary ‘THE TRAGICALLY HIP: NO DRESS REHEARSAL’, and more. It was truly an honor to speak with Paul; he was very candid and interesting.
If you get the chance, the documentary is well worth the watch!
Give this a listen and crank up some HIP!

The biggest names in rock music are Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown. From Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame members to bands just starting out, Meltdown takes rock music fans behind the scenes to find out what these talented musicians are really about. Come along for the ride as Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown invites you to find out more than you ever thought you knew about all genres of Rock from Classic to Prog to Grunge and everything in between.

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Talkin' Rock With Meltdown

Talkin' Rock with Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip

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. 

John 5&rsquo;s KISS collection is&nbsp;next level&mdash;so much so that he&rsquo;s&nbsp;opening it up to the public&nbsp;in May for a special&nbsp;museum-style walkthrough in Los Angeles. But don&rsquo;t expect a little shrine in a basement somewhere. We&rsquo;re talking&nbsp;full-blown KISS history from 1973 to 1983&nbsp;when the band was under&nbsp;Bill Aucoin&rsquo;s management&nbsp;and before they ditched the makeup for&nbsp;Creatures of the Night.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s priceless,&rdquo; John 5 says. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s stuff in here that even&nbsp;Gene didn&rsquo;t know existed&nbsp;because it was made in places like&nbsp;South America, Australia, and Japan.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Oh, and speaking of&nbsp;Gene Simmons&mdash;I had to ask:&nbsp;how much would he charge Gene to see his own memorabilia?
<blockquote>
John laughed. &ldquo;Oh my God. Gene really enjoys this stuff. There&rsquo;s so much he&rsquo;s never seen before.&rdquo;
John 5&rsquo;s first meeting with&nbsp;Gene Simmons? Not exactly what you&rsquo;d expect from a die-hard fan.
Picture this: a&nbsp;14-year-old John 5, waiting outside the&nbsp;Pontchartrain Hotel&nbsp;in Detroit, hoping to meet his&nbsp;rock god&nbsp;before a KISS show at&nbsp;Joe Louis Arena.
Gene walks past. No autograph. Nothing.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;So I jump in the elevator with him,&rdquo; John says. &ldquo;I hold out my booklet and marker, hoping for a signature.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
The elevator doors open to Gene&rsquo;s floor. Gene finally looks at him.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;You want me to sign that?&rdquo;
</blockquote>
And what does young John 5 say?
<blockquote>
&ldquo;No, it&rsquo;s okay.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
WHAT?!
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I was just so mad that he walked past me,&rdquo; John laughs. &ldquo;But yeah, that really happened.&rdquo;
March 19 marks&nbsp;43 years since we lost Randy Rhoads, and John 5 had nothing but praise for the&nbsp;legendary Ozzy Osbourne guitarist.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Randy was an&nbsp;anomaly. He changed the game. It was like seeing the invention of the&nbsp;microwave or an electric car&mdash;something totally different that blew people&rsquo;s minds.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Randy didn&rsquo;t just&nbsp;step into Ozzy&rsquo;s band&nbsp;and carry on the Black Sabbath sound. He&nbsp;redefined it.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;That riff in&nbsp;Crazy Train? It&rsquo;s gonna live forever.&rdquo;
It's always great to get "5" on the show.&nbsp;
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>

John 5 Returns To Talk KISS & More 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-

It's a jam-packed episode of Talkin' Rock with three guests.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
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. &ldquo;Our manager George called me up after a few songs and said, &lsquo;Do you realize what you&rsquo;re writing about?&rsquo;&rdquo; Leigh told me. &ldquo;I hadn&rsquo;t even thought about it. But when I went back and just read the lyrics&mdash;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.&rdquo;
I asked him about that. He has such a cool life, so what could be so bad? &ldquo;People don&rsquo;t realize&mdash;yeah, my life looks amazing, but it comes with sacrifices,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;You leave for months, come back, and it&rsquo;s like people aren&rsquo;t waiting around. They&rsquo;re living their lives. And then you&rsquo;re thrown back into normal life, trying to figure out where you fit in. It&rsquo;s a mental challenge.&rdquo;
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.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
-Meltdown-

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

On this episode of Talkin' Rock, Tobias Forge - the man behind Ghost - is my first guest. 

The new album, Skeleta, drops on April 25th with a massive tour after that. One that includes playing the famous Madison Square Garden. He spoke with me about what a dream come true that is. 

Of course, we discuss the album and the new track, Satanized. The video is wild, too, as they unveil the new Papa. 

The band is also part of the Back To The Begining Black Sabbath concert. He talked about the honor of being part of that, growing up a big Sabbath fan. 

Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne, his good friend and work partner Billy Morrison rounds out the podcast. He told me about working with the legend, as he recently dropped a remixed orchestral version of their song The Gods Of Rock And Roll. 

Billy has had the good fortune to play with several legends, including Billy Idol. Billy's other guitarist Steve Stevens plays, or should I say RIPS the solo on the latest track with Ozzy. 

We also played a game of name the famous Morrison! LOL

Both of these interviews can be viewed at www.wrif.com.  

On this episode of Talkin' Rock, Tobias Forge - the man behind Ghost - is my first guest.&nbsp;
The new album, Skeleta, drops on April 25th with a massive tour after that. One that includes playing the famous Madison Square Garden. He spoke with me about what a dream come true that is.&nbsp;
Of course, we discuss the album and the new track, Satanized. The video is wild, too, as they unveil the new Papa.&nbsp;
The band is also part of the Back To The Begining Black Sabbath concert. He talked about the honor of being part of that, growing up a big Sabbath fan.&nbsp;
Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne, his good friend and work partner Billy Morrison rounds out the podcast. He told me about working with the legend, as he recently dropped a remixed orchestral version of their song The Gods Of Rock And Roll.&nbsp;
Billy has had the good fortune to play with several legends, including Billy Idol. Billy's other guitarist Steve Stevens plays, or should I say RIPS the solo on the latest track with Ozzy.&nbsp;
We also played a game of name the famous Morrison! LOL
Both of these interviews can be viewed at www.wrif.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Talkin' Rock with Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip

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