What a pleasure to have James "JY" Young in the studio to talk all things Styx, and more. The upcoming "Renegades and Juke Box Heroes" tour features Foreigner and John Waite. They'll be playing Pine Knob on June 15th.

We talked about a lot of topics. Playing in the band with great musicians like Tommy Shaw, and Lawrence Gowen.

Where does Styx live in the music world...Rock or Progressive Rock? JY answers that question. "It's hard to define us because a lot of the stuff is prog. But, ya know, some of the ballads are pretty much straight-ahead rock ballads." That led to how JY got into music.

How did the Grunge era affect them? At first, he said "Zero" as far as the music was concerned.  But he did say that the band may have seen a dip in concert attendance, but that's passed and now they're selling lots of tickets.

Did the Beatles playing on The Ed Sullivan Show influence him? He said they did, but older siblings did too. He expanded on that.

What legendary guitarist did he see live five times? I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone who has seen the player so many times. "That's the most profound influence on my playing," he said of the guitarist.

I asked him his thoughts on the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame. "Well, I don't know. It's very East Coast-centric for people that have a vote. Styx probably deserves to be in there, but I'm not holding my breath." He didn't mention names, but at the end of the day, he said it's about the fans and music. He spoke of fans telling him about how Styx's music helped them through periods of their lives. "Music affects everyone differently, and we've made some great records."

It was a thrill to have JY, and the band's manager, George, in the studio with me. A huge pleasure.

What a pleasure to have James "JY" Young in the studio to talk all things <a href="/tag/styx">Styx</a>, and more. The upcoming "Renegades and Juke Box Heroes" tour features Foreigner and John Waite. They'll be playing Pine Knob on June 15th.
We talked about a lot of topics. Playing in the band with great musicians like Tommy Shaw, and Lawrence Gowen.
Where does <a href="https://styxworld.com/">Styx</a> live in the music world...Rock or Progressive Rock? JY answers that question. "It's hard to define us because a lot of the stuff is prog. But, ya know, some of the ballads are pretty much straight-ahead rock ballads." That led to how JY got into music.
How did the Grunge era affect them? At first, he said "Zero" as far as the music was concerned.  But he did say that the band may have seen a dip in concert attendance, but that's passed and now they're selling lots of tickets.
Did the Beatles playing on The Ed Sullivan Show influence him? He said they did, but older siblings did too. He expanded on that.
What legendary guitarist did he see live five times? I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone who has seen the player so many times. "That's the most profound influence on my playing," he said of the guitarist.
I asked him his thoughts on the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame. "Well, I don't know. It's very East Coast-centric for people that have a vote. Styx probably deserves to be in there, but I'm not holding my breath." He didn't mention names, but at the end of the day, he said it's about the fans and music. He spoke of fans telling him about how Styx's music helped them through periods of their lives. "Music affects everyone differently, and we've made some great records."
It was a thrill to have JY, and the band's manager, George, in the studio with me. A huge pleasure.

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.

Talkin' Rock With Meltdown Podcast

Talkin' Rock With Meltdown

The Legendary James "JY" Young Of Styx on Talkin' Rock

Two frontmen on today's Talkin' Rock Podcast. 

First up, it's Bobby Amaru from Saliva. It's his time of year since he's all inked up with horror movie characters. We discuss Halloween, some of his favorite scary movies, and more. 

The band is dropping a new song called "Time Bomb" on November 1st. He tells me about that and working with Howard Benson. We talk about the legacy of guitarist Wayne Swinny, on what would've been his 61st birthday. Bobby talks about keeping his spirit alive, and how much material they have from the guitarist. That's for starters. 

Up next, it's Lee Jennings from The Funeral Portrait. The band has had a whirlwind year. He talks about that, dropping their new album, Suffocate City - which is killer. 

We talked about the chain Buc-ee's. “I’m a huge fan of Buc-ee’s because when you’re on tour, clean bathrooms are hard to come by,” Lee laughs. “I posted about it a few times, and our fans started turning me into Bucky (the mascot). We even made shirts with me as Bucky, and they sell out every time!”

We also talk about being "Zesty"....LOL

You can watch both of these interviews on the RIFF TV section at wrif.com.

Two frontmen on today's Talkin' Rock Podcast. 
First up, it's Bobby Amaru from Saliva. It's his time of year since he's all inked up with horror movie characters. We discuss Halloween, some of his favorite scary movies, and more. 
The band is dropping a new song called "Time Bomb" on November 1st. He tells me about that and working with Howard Benson. We talk about the legacy of guitarist Wayne Swinny, on what would've been his 61st birthday. Bobby talks about keeping his spirit alive, and how much material they have from the guitarist. That's for starters. 
Up next, it's Lee Jennings from The Funeral Portrait. The band has had a whirlwind year. He talks about that, dropping their new album, Suffocate City - which is killer. 
We talked about the chain Buc-ee's. “I’m a huge fan of Buc-ee’s because when you’re on tour, clean bathrooms are hard to come by,” Lee laughs. “I posted about it a few times, and our fans started turning me into Bucky (the mascot). We even made shirts with me as Bucky, and they sell out every time!”
We also talk about being "Zesty"....LOL
You can watch both of these interviews on the RIFF TV section at wrif.com.

Talkin' Rock with Saliva's Bobby Amaru and Lee Jennings from The Funeral Portrait

Jamie Madrox, one-half of the iconic horrorcore duo Twiztid, is no stranger to busy schedules and big creative shifts. In a recent conversation with Meltdown, the rapper-turned-rocker discussed everything from Twiztid's new album to the highly anticipated House of Krazees reunion shows to how working with Rob Zombie's producer Zeus has taken their music to another level.

As Halloween approaches, a special time of year for Madrox and his crew, the energy is palpable. "We live for this kind of thing. Every day is Halloween for us," Madrox said with a grin. "This is like Christmas to us—with Christmas right behind, obviously."

A Twiztid Double Feature for the Ages

This week's excitement revolves around a double feature of concerts at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit, a significant homecoming for Twiztid and Madrox's earlier group, House of Krazees. House of Krazees will perform on October 29th, for the first time in years at The Shelter. "We have a new record coming out for House of Krazees called 31," Madrox said. "It's like a throwback. It's a good vibe, and we're excited to do that."

But the action doesn't stop there. On October 30, Twiztid will headline the main stage at St. Andrew's Hall, joined by The Funeral Portrait and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. "It's going to be a good time," Madrox promised.

The New Twiztid Album: Heavy, Experimental, and Groundbreaking

While the Halloween shows will lean into classic Twiztid vibes, fans eagerly await the duo's new album, set to release in early 2025. This record, however, won't sound like anything Twiztid has done before. According to Madrox, it's by far their heaviest, thanks to the involvement of producer Zeus, best known for his work with Rob Zombie.

"The new record has a way heavier sound—everything from death metal to djent. There's a little splash of everything, which is fun," Madrox said. Working with Zeus was amazing, "It was a learning process for me, talking with Zeus and learning about all these crazy things like djent."

Twiztid had long been experimenting with rock elements, but Madrox admitted they never quite pulled it off. "We tried to do rock in the past, but it always felt short of the mark. You could tell we weren't executing it properly."

Zeus brought the expertise and production style they needed to get it right. "We recorded the whole thing differently," Madrox said. "I would send Zeus voice notes, melodies, and little ideas I had, and I'd wait for him to be like, 'Man, this is trash.' But instead, he was intrigued. He started sending me music set to the parts he liked, and the songs started to take shape. Before I knew it, these small ideas had turned into full songs, with bridges and choruses."

A New Approach, A New Sound

Working with Zeus brought an outside perspective to the group. "We've always done things our own way," Madrox reflected. "But Zeus made us rethink everything. He'd ask questions like, 'Why does this part sound like that?' Normally, I wouldn't ask myself those questions."

The album is one of the albums they have ever produced, "When you hear it, it's unlike any other Twiztid record. You can hear a progression in our sound and in our professionalism. We're still growing as artists, even after all this time."

One of the biggest lessons Madrox learned from working with Zeus was being open to critique. "I had to learn not to be afraid to fail and to try new things," he said. We were always pretty self-contained. It was safer that way. But now I'm opening myself up to new experiences, and it's been amazing."

Looking Ahead: New Material, Tours, and Growth

While fans won't hear much new material at the Halloween shows, Twiztid saves the big reveal for their 2025 tour with Coal Chamber. "We were supposed to go on tour with Coal Chamber, but it got postponed to 2025," Madrox explained. "For that tour, we'll have a full band, and we'll be playing a bunch of the new songs."

The decision to hold off on the new material for now is all about presenting it in the best possible light. "I want people to see the new songs the right way," Madrox said. "When we go out with Coal Chamber, it's going to be more of a heavy, live band setup. That's when the new material will really shine."

The band lineup for that tour will feature drummer Dan Fox, who has worked with artists like Marilyn Manson and Dope, and Derek Obscura on guitar. "These guys are phenomenal musicians, and they're going to bring a whole new energy to our live shows."

Passion Projects: Astronomicon and Beyond

Beyond music, Madrox and Twiztid are known for their love of pop culture, where they produce the Comicon, Astronomicon. In its eighth year, the convention has become a beloved staple in the horror, comic, and wrestling communities.

"Astronomicon is a passion project for us," Madrox shared. "We love pop culture, and we want to create an experience that's fun for everyone. We always think, 'Would you be mad if this happened to you at a con?' We put a lot of thought into making it a great experience."

Madrox hinted at the possibility of moving Astronomicon to a new venue but says the core mission remains: to create a positive and welcoming environment for fans of all things geeky and spooky.

The Future: No Fear of Growth

As Twiztid gets ready to release their most ambitious album yet and gear up for a major tour, Jamie Madrox says, "This new record really represents where we are right now," he said. "It's the result of us pushing ourselves, working with new people, and trying new things."

But even as Twiztid evolves, they remain true to their roots. "We're adding new elements, but we're not forgetting where we come from. We've got to remember who we are as artists."

With new music, new experiences, and a revitalized creative spirit, it's great to see what is going to be next for Twiztid, "We're still learning, still growing, and still pushing ourselves," he said. "And I'm excited for people to hear what we've created."

Jamie Madrox, one-half of the iconic horrorcore duo <a href="https://www.twiztid.com/p/home.html">Twiztid</a>, is no stranger to busy schedules and big creative shifts. In a recent conversation with Meltdown, the rapper-turned-rocker discussed everything from Twiztid's new album to the highly anticipated House of Krazees reunion shows to how working with Rob Zombie's producer Zeus has taken their music to another level.
As Halloween approaches, a special time of year for Madrox and his crew, the energy is palpable. "We live for this kind of thing. Every day is Halloween for us," Madrox said with a grin. "This is like Christmas to us—with Christmas right behind, obviously."
A Twiztid Double Feature for the Ages
This week's excitement revolves around a double feature of concerts at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit, a significant homecoming for Twiztid and Madrox's earlier group, House of Krazees. House of Krazees will perform on October 29th, for the first time in years at The Shelter. "We have a new record coming out for House of Krazees called 31," Madrox said. "It's like a throwback. It's a good vibe, and we're excited to do that."
But the action doesn't stop there. On October 30, Twiztid will headline the main stage at St. Andrew's Hall, joined by The Funeral Portrait and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. "It's going to be a good time," Madrox promised.
The New Twiztid Album: Heavy, Experimental, and Groundbreaking
While the Halloween shows will lean into classic Twiztid vibes, fans eagerly await the duo's new album, set to release in early 2025. This record, however, won't sound like anything Twiztid has done before. According to Madrox, it's by far their heaviest, thanks to the involvement of producer Zeus, best known for his work with Rob Zombie.
"The new record has a way heavier sound—everything from death metal to djent. There's a little splash of everything, which is fun," Madrox said. Working with Zeus was amazing, "It was a learning process for me, talking with Zeus and learning about all these crazy things like djent."
Twiztid had long been experimenting with rock elements, but Madrox admitted they never quite pulled it off. "We tried to do rock in the past, but it always felt short of the mark. You could tell we weren't executing it properly."
Zeus brought the expertise and production style they needed to get it right. "We recorded the whole thing differently," Madrox said. "I would send Zeus voice notes, melodies, and little ideas I had, and I'd wait for him to be like, 'Man, this is trash.' But instead, he was intrigued. He started sending me music set to the parts he liked, and the songs started to take shape. Before I knew it, these small ideas had turned into full songs, with bridges and choruses."
A New Approach, A New Sound
Working with Zeus brought an outside perspective to the group. "We've always done things our own way," Madrox reflected. "But Zeus made us rethink everything. He'd ask questions like, 'Why does this part sound like that?' Normally, I wouldn't ask myself those questions."
The album is one of the albums they have ever produced, "When you hear it, it's unlike any other Twiztid record. You can hear a progression in our sound and in our professionalism. We're still growing as artists, even after all this time."
One of the biggest lessons Madrox learned from working with Zeus was being open to critique. "I had to learn not to be afraid to fail and to try new things," he said. We were always pretty self-contained. It was safer that way. But now I'm opening myself up to new experiences, and it's been amazing."
Looking Ahead: New Material, Tours, and Growth
While fans won't hear much new material at the Halloween shows, Twiztid saves the big reveal for their 2025 tour with Coal Chamber. "We were supposed to go on tour with Coal Chamber, but it got postponed to 2025," Madrox explained. "For that tour, we'll have a full band, and we'll be playing a bunch of the new songs."
The decision to hold off on the new material for now is all about presenting it in the best possible light. "I want people to see the new songs the right way," Madrox said. "When we go out with Coal Chamber, it's going to be more of a heavy, live band setup. That's when the new material will really shine."
The band lineup for that tour will feature drummer Dan Fox, who has worked with artists like Marilyn Manson and Dope, and Derek Obscura on guitar. "These guys are phenomenal musicians, and they're going to bring a whole new energy to our live shows."
Passion Projects: Astronomicon and Beyond
Beyond music, Madrox and Twiztid are known for their love of pop culture, where they produce the Comicon, <a href="https://www.astronomicon.com/">Astronomicon</a>. In its eighth year, the convention has become a beloved staple in the horror, comic, and wrestling communities.
"<a href="https://wrif.com/galleries/astronomicon-7-had-record-breaking-attendance-in-livonias-burton-manor/">Astronomicon</a> is a passion project for us," Madrox shared. "We love pop culture, and we want to create an experience that's fun for everyone. We always think, 'Would you be mad if this happened to you at a con?' We put a lot of thought into making it a great experience."
Madrox hinted at the possibility of moving Astronomicon to a new venue but says the core mission remains: to create a positive and welcoming environment for fans of all things geeky and spooky.
The Future: No Fear of Growth
As Twiztid gets ready to release their most ambitious album yet and gear up for a major tour, Jamie Madrox says, "This new record really represents where we are right now," he said. "It's the result of us pushing ourselves, working with new people, and trying new things."
But even as Twiztid evolves, they remain true to their roots. "We're adding new elements, but we're not forgetting where we come from. We've got to remember who we are as artists."
With new music, new experiences, and a revitalized creative spirit, it's great to see what is going to be next for Twiztid, "We're still learning, still growing, and still pushing ourselves," he said. "And I'm excited for people to hear what we've created."

Twiztid's Madrox Is On Talkin' Rock with Meltdown

Two great conversations, one mediocre podcast! LOL

Scott Stevens is up first. The Exies are back together and touring. They play the Machine Shop on November 9th. Since the band disbanded 15 years ago, Scott's worked with everyone from Shinedown to Dorothy, to Halestorm, and more. He has some great stories to tell about writing and producing some great rock artists. 

Up next, it's Al Pitrelli from T.S.O. He plays on the west coast version of the band. Al's played in many projects and has lots of great tales. He answered a question from David Ellefson about his time in Megadeth, and even one from Bals Elias, the drummer in the West Coast band, and lots more. 

Enjoy!

Meltdown

Two great conversations, one mediocre podcast! LOL
Scott Stevens is up first. The Exies are back together and touring. They play the Machine Shop on November 9th. Since the band disbanded 15 years ago, Scott's worked with everyone from Shinedown to Dorothy, to Halestorm, and more. He has some great stories to tell about writing and producing some great rock artists. 
Up next, it's Al Pitrelli from T.S.O. He plays on the west coast version of the band. Al's played in many projects and has lots of great tales. He answered a question from David Ellefson about his time in Megadeth, and even one from Bals Elias, the drummer in the West Coast band, and lots more. 
Enjoy!
Meltdown

The Legendary James "JY" Young Of Styx on Talkin' Rock

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