Jason Newsted and Mike Mushok are playing the Middle East tonight as part of Newsted.
They are coming by the WAAF studio, to hang out, swap stories and play some of their favorite songs!
Tune in this afternoon, and check back here for pictures and video from their visit!
Chris and Ben from Soundgarden were in town last week, and spent the afternoon with AAF Army members, performing acoustic at The Sinclair in Harvard Square. The room looked amazing, they sounded great, and everyone had a front row seat! If you weren't lucky enough to win your way in, check out the videos!
Thanks to Lzzy and the boys for stopping by the WAAF video studio, and for having a little fun at the front desk!
Watch both parts of my interview with Halestorm below!
So, we had a lot to talk about. Since he grew up in Haverhill, I had to ask him his thoughts on the Boston Marathon bombing, we talked music, relationships, Halloween costumes, the debate over dogs wearing clothes, and so much more!
This week has been tough for everyone, but it was especially hard for people born and raised in Boston. To have some that we love so much, like the Boston Marathon tarnished the way that is was this week, could have broken our spirit... But it didn't. Sully Erna (Godsmack) called into the show today, during the manhunt to lend his support to everyone at home!
We have adopted Corey Taylor (Stone Sour/Slipknot) as a fellow Bostonian, and in doing so... We have welcomed him into our family! Today, as Boston was the focus of worldwide news, Corey called to check in on his adoptive family and lend his support!
Corey, thank you for thinking of all of us in Boston, we love you!
I had a chance to sit down with one of my FAVORITE people last night, Corey Taylor from Stone Sour/Slipknot! We have known each other for years, and we always have so much to talk about! Here are 4 parts to my interview! Lot's of great info on the release of House of Gold and Bones pt. 1 & 2, the comic books, and movies. Plus, his new book, his hot babysitter, and his Disco childhood! Enjoy!
Lzzy Hale from Halestorm is riding high right now! The band just won their first Grammy on Sunday Night for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. Unfortunately for all of us, they don't televise this award anymore... The Grammy's are probably still hurting from the "Jethro Tull incident"...
Lzzy called me today, and I couldn't wait to hear what the entire experience was like for her and the band...
As always, Jason Newsted is NOT at a loss for words. How could you be, when you've lived a life like his. In this interview, Jason talks about his musical history, his inspiration for the new songs, his days in Metallica, and his relationship with his former bandmates. He was also candid talking about his missteps with painkillers, recovering from his injuries, and his new love of painting. Jason Newsted has a true Rock N Roll life story, and he isn't shy about telling it. He is friendly, open, honest, funny at times, and serious at others. His passion and lust for life are evident, and the world is a better place when he is inspired and creating art, in any form.
Thanks for the talk Jason, and I look forward to standing "around the keg" with you!
Brent Smith from Shinedown and I go WAY back...
We've known each other for a long time, we're like a dysfunctional family.
I love it when he calls in, because I never know what he is going to say. We talked about touring, dirty diapers, guns, skydiving, twitter, and The Muppets, with some ball busting mixed in!
Listen to my interview below!
It's a busy day for the Soundgarden guys. Today, we get a taste of what the first new album in 15 years is going to sound like with the release of "Been Away Too Long". It's a fitting song title, considering how long it's really been! They said it would never happen... and yet, they have reunited, recorded an new studio album, been part of the soundtrack of one of the biggest movies in history (The Avengers), and are planning a world tour! I guess it happened after all, you liars! :)
Matt has been keeping himself busy during the break up of Soundgarden, with this other band... Pearl Jam. Maybe you've heard of them?
How did the reunion happen? What does the rest of King Animal sound like? Will there be a co-headlining tour, with a Temple of the Dog reunion? Who is Matt's favorite Avenger? How he feels about turning 50? What kind of digs he has? I asked him everything!
When you get offered an interview with Marilyn Manson, you take it because you never know what he is going to say! I've interviewed him a few times before, and this time... he was happy, funny, and playful... All words that normally do not describe Marilyn Manson. Maybe it wasn't even him on the phone! I'm pretty sure it was, because he remembers the interview that we did on his tour bus, during Ozzfest. He was with Dita Von Teese at the time, and she was eating take out at the table, while Manson was... well, you'll hear what he was doing in the interview below. Let's just say that at one point Dita scolded him saying "Do you have to show everyone how hairy you are?!?" Yeah, it was that kind of night!
Tonight, we talked about his balls, his taste in women, his adventures at the airport and on planes, his balls again, Rob Zombie, what he eats, his cell phone apps, his new video, his art work, Halloween, and I'm pretty sure his balls came up again before we said goodbye!
And here is the video for the new song "Slo-Mo-Tion" from the album Born Villain. Watch to the very end, to see the scene on the rooftop that we talk about. He is really lucky, that he didn't get shot by the police!
Dexter from The Offspring, called into the show before the bands sound check at the House of Blues in Boston. We talked about Sports, family, reality TV, flying and skydiving, and how the band has stayed together all these years.
Mike Shinoda is an interesting guy and he's always willing to talk about anything. He's passionate about his band, their music, and most of all their fans! He called in to talk about the new album Living Things that is in stores now.
We talked about the Olympics, and that Linkin Park has invited all of the members of Team USA to attend Linkin Park shows for FREE when they return from London. And the band even has their own, collectable Transformer!
Yeah, that's what really happens. Even Slash has to go through security. Yesterday, the halls of the offices here were alive with excitement. It takes a pretty HUGE rock star to get the secretaries and accountants excited, and Slash is the very definition of a rock star!
I fetched him some coffee, (see what I mean? I haven't fetched someone coffee since I was Hill-Man's intern in 1993) and escorted him into our video studio, for an extended interview for the website. He complimented me on my hair, and my Harley riding boots, and I told him that his black leather Converse were the perfect choice for Boston, since they were made here. He tipped me off, that reps from Converse were headed to the HOB later on that night, to hook him up with the latest Chuck T styles...
Before the mics and cameras were turned on, he asked me if I planned to ask him any 'uncomfortable' Axl questions. I told him that I had to bring it up at some point, but that I wouldn't be an asshole about it. I know he's sick of the questions, but on Facebook and Twitter our listeners OVERWHELMINGLY told me to ask about it, so I have to!
We talked about everything... How he likes his coffee, everything in his career, the Hollywood star, the Hall of Fame induction, Guitar Hero, his kids, his autobiography, and all of the amazing people that he has crossed paths with over the years. He had great stories about Lemmy, Ozzy, Joe Perry, Fergie, Quentin Tarantino, and even Betty Betty White!
The first of many videos from this interview is below!
Then it was into the WAAF studio, for the live, on-air interview before he rushed back to sound check for the show. He couldn't have been nicer to everyone in the halls. He's a quiet guy, and you can tell that crowds of people freak him out. I guess after years of screaming fans trying to get a glimpse of you, touch you, talk your ears off, you get to be a little nervous. He had someone watching his back every step, until it was time to 'work'... Then, we were left alone to talk.
Below, you can listen to the on air breaks that we did live.
After the interview, we snapped a few pictures, and right before the first was taken, Slash yelled out "Say Herpes". It was hilarious!
That explains the stupid grin on my face. And just like that... he was gone. Headed to 'work'.
Later on that night, I headed to the House of Blues to watch Slash do what he does best... play live.
I was asked to go up on stage and say a few things. For a guy that doesn't like crowds, I can tell you, that the view from a packed stage, is pretty intimidating, and he is in his element up there. I'm used to sitting by myself in the sometimes stinky WAAF studio.
When Slash hit the stage, it had to have been 150* in there. The place was packed! The band was tight, loud, and awesome. The setlist (that Slash worked on in our studio) was packed with new and old songs alike. GNR classics sounded amazing, and the crowd sang along to every word. Lemmy even showed up to do a song with the band!
Thanks to Slash, for a great day and an awesome night!
Hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts, Gary Hoey is a local guitar hero. With over 16 albums to his credit, he is a writer, a producer, and performer. Listen to this interview that I recorded recently, we talk about his upcoming blues album, producing and playing with Lita Ford, and his local show at the Blue Ocean Music Hall at Salisbury Beach on Friday July 27, and what happened to his first guitar!
Head on up to the beach and see him, and say hi to Mike Hsu... I'm sure he'll be at the bar!
Gary Cherone & Nuno Bettencourt have been making music and making Boston fans proud for decades. They burst onto the music scene with Extreme, have been part of International festivals, joined other bands like Van Halen and Satellite Party, played in cover bands and released solo projects, but now they are paying tribute to Fenway Park and raising money for charity!
As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Major League Baseballs most beloved ballpark, Fenway Park, once again Red Sox ownership has found a way to help out deserving charities at the same time.
With the release of Fenway Park's Greatest Hits, the proceeds are going to benefit The Red Sox Foundation.
Internet pre sale begins on May 1, On May 8, the CD will be available exclusively at the Yawkey Way Store/The Official Red Sox Team Store and at redsox.com/fenway100album. It will be available at traditional retail and all digital retailers on May 22.
Fan favorites include "Let the Good Times Roll," "Sweet Caroline," "Dirty Water," "Tessie," "Dream On" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Also features 2 original songs written especially for the project, "2007" and "Fenway Park," as well as a special tribute to the great Ted Williams with John Updike's legendary piece "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu."
Features current Red Sox players David Ortiz, Ryan Kalish, Darnell McDonald, Clay Buchholz, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Alfredo Aceves, Kevin Youkilis, Daniel Bard and special percussion by Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia.
Features Red Sox alumni Rico Petrocelli, Curt Schilling, Jim Lonborg, Kevin Millar and Jerry Remy.
Special guests include Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys, Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme, Dicky Barrett from the Mighty Mighty BossToneS, Grammy nominated artist Jon Butcher, Mark Salling from FOX's Glee, Seth Justman from J. Geils Band, Mike Mushok from Staind, Emmy nominated actor Mike O'Malley, Baseball Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons, and children from the team's charitable Red Sox Scholars program.
Features top session musicians Kenny Aronoff, Gregg Bissonette, Leland Sklar, Tim Pierce and Matt Rollings.
I had a chance to talk to Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park, and DJ Kilmore from Incubus recently... Both bands are part of the Honda Civic Tour which is coming to the Comcast cebter later on this summer. Both bands have been friends for many years, and WAAF has been playing them both from the early days. That is why we couldn't have a serious conversation!
Perry Farrell from Jane's Addiction called me today to talk about the new Jane's album 'The Great Escape Artist', the bands reunion, the upcomming tour, baseball, and so much more! Click below to listen to the interview!
Matt Cameron may be the busiest man in music! He was the drummer in Soundgarden, and the band broke up. So, Matt got a job with another legandary band that you may know... Pearl Jam! Then in 2010, Soundgarden announced that they were getting back together. Rather than leave Pearl Jam, Matt is somehow balancing 2 bands, while being married with kids! 2 bands, 2 tours... and lots to talk about! What about a Pearl Jam, Soundgarden tour with Temple of the Dog? Is Pearl Jam playing Fenway Park in September? What clubs did Matt love to play in Boston? When is the new Soundgarden album coming out?
Click below to listen to the interview and find out the answers to those questions and more!
He'll be talking about his new solo album AVALON along with Lisa Guyer
I know we'll be talking about his new music, what's next for Godsmack, and what it's like to sing the National Anthem at Gillette Stadium! (yes Christina, he got the words right!)
I'm still trying to recover from 48 hours in a rock stars life! It's hard work! Planes, limos, parties, courtside seats, political rallies and Jessica Rabbit. DAMN!
Here's what I can remember!
Kid Rock invited a few radio people from around the country, that have been there "since the beginning", to attend his private Halloween party. I was honored to be included in that group. We've been friends for a very long time. Since the Warped Tour before Devil Without A Cause came out. It's been a crazy ride... more crazy for him than me... But anyway.
I took off from Logan on Friday afternoon around 2pm.
Landed in Detroit around 4...
After battling Downtown Detroit traffic for almost 2 hours, we checked into the hotel, dropped our bags, and headed to the Pistons Game. Kid Rock was being presented with a banner for selling out the arena 21 times! He was also given permanent court side seats!
We were escorted into the Presidents club (very fancy) for drinks and food before the game. Drinks included Kid's very own beer,Badass American Lagar!
We were also given gift bags from the Pistons with t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts etc. I felt a little dirty thinking about putting on a Pistons shirt... I have to be honest! But, they say... "When In Rome" right?
I don't want to hear that I am a traitor! I am a Celtics fan to the CORE!!! I put it on, with the agreement that Kid Rock would sign it, and take a picture, so that we could auction it off for charity! Which he did!
Hopefully we'll raise some money for charity with this!
After all of the American Badass beer and Jim Beam that we could drink, we were escorted COURTSIDE for the game!
These seats don't suck!!!!
After the game (which they lost by 1 point with 2.5 seconds left in the game) we headed back to the hotel... to close down the bar and take in a little local culture!
Kid Rock headed to DC for the Daily Show's Rally to Restore Sanity!
While he was hanging with Jon Stewart and Cheryl Crow, I went shopping and bought this KILLER hat!
Before I knew it, it was time to hit the party! I went dressed as the 'Corpse Bride' in my old wedding dress!
A big change from my wedding day just a couple of years ago huh?
The party was in this HUGE warehouse where the band practices, and where he keeps all of his gear and cars!
I took some car pics for you!
He's got one of the General Lee's from the Dukes of hazard TV show!
And a Ford GT
And this BADASS Firebird!
After I spent the first 30 minutes drinking and checking out his cars, someone went on stage and introduced the Village People! It was Kid Rock (as the cop) and the Twisted Brown Trucker band in costumes!
They wouldn't let me video the performance... But I got some great photos!
Did i forget to mention the 'dancers'???
The band played the entire new album 'Born Free' which is coming out on November 16.
And it's exactly what you would expect! It's got something in there for everybody! Especially if you are a 40 year old guy! Since he turned 40, he wanted to write a song about that, it's called F*ckin' Forty and it's funny!
After the band finished, it was time to party!!!
And we did a lot of that! I think I was dancing!!! And I NEVER DANCE! EVER!
Before long it was time to get in the photo booth!
Then I got some company! (after he finished hanging out with some HOT redhead dressed like Jessica Rabbit! She wasn't bad, she was just drawn that way!)
The next morning I needed something to eat before my flight home!
YUMMY!
48 hours in the life of Kid Rock, and I am still recovering!
He is in Europe for the MTV awards and I am just trying to figure out how he does it!
Best Halloween EVER!
The video is here!!! Check it out!
Â
Â
And check out the new video for Born Free! See the car? Look familiar? :)
I interviewed Chris Cornell when he was a member of Audioslave and as a solo artist, but Soundgarden was long gone by the time I started on the air at WAAF. Out of the grunge bands, I always gravitated to the heavier one's: Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam. We got AIC back, even after losing Layne, and Pearl Jam never left... But Soundgarden held out and made us sweat for long enough! They're back!
I talked to Chris today about a lot of things... How the reunion took place, why the band broke up, when they are touring, Temple of the Dog reuniting with pearl Jam on tour, what's up with the new music, how Nirvana got all of the credit for the grunge movement, why people tweet about pooping and so much more!
Maybe it's because I can understand him... And, maybe it's because I love British humor. But maybe, it's because he's Rock 'N' Roll royalty and it's an honor to speak with him!
We talked about Ozzfest, his tremors, Sharon, if he would take the American Idol job and the Pope's nuts! With Ozzy, you never know what you are going to get!
Click the link below to listen to the entire interview!
I talked to Brent Smith from Shinedow today! He was very excited about putting the Carnival of Madness tour together and taking all of his friends out on the road! He also talked about Twitter, pooping, supporting the troops, why Sevendust kicks so much ass and so much more!
Click the link below to hear the entire interview!
Paul from Puddle of Mudd called in to talk about the Civil War, why his girlfirend doesn't laugh at his jokes, the rumors surrounding Puddle of Mudd, Supporting the Troops and the Carnival of Madness tour!
Click the link belore to listen to the entire interview!
Scott Weiland and I don't exactly get along. Well, at least we didn't. A few years ago, we talked while he was in town with Velvet Revolver, and he was a dick!
Since then, I've taken my jabs when I have the chance, and that's been often!
When I had another chance to talk to him, I took it.
He was cordial, and polite. To be honest, I don't think he even remembers being a dick to me... I'm sure I'm not the only one that it's happened to and I bet I won't be the last.
In this interview, recorded May 11, Weiland sounds better than he has in a long time.
Get all of the details on the reunion, the new album, the tour and he even talks about VR and what went wrong.
There are very few bands that are as polarizing, as Limp Bizkit. Some people love them, some people hate them... One thing is for sure, they have sold a TON of records and made more than their fare share of headlines while doing it. You cannot deny their success, and that if a LB song comes on the radio at a party, your head is going to bob with the beat!
My old friend Zoltan, the founding member of Five Finger Death Punch called in to the show today. We talked about everything from his Hungarian roots, becoming a U.S. citizen, being lost in Las Vegas, how the band got together, the new album WAR Is The Answer and our love and support of the troops!
Well, I gotta thank Rick Demrest! He knows how to throw one hell of a party! OK, OK... We threw the party, but RICK was the man of the hour and everybody knew it...
Even Alice In Chains.
If you didn't know Rick, you weren't getting in! After some drinks, and some great food... It was time for some tunes. Just listening to the soundcheck of Alice In Chains, we knew we were in for a great show! Rick sat front and center! The band was great. You can tell that Jerry, Mike and Sean have welcomed new lead singer William Duvall with open arms... and man can this guy sing! It's not even that HE has the best voice, it's that his voice is a perfect match to Jerry Cantrells. Some people question whether or not they should have kept the name after lead singer Layne Stayley died. After yesterday, there can be no suck debate! Jerry was the founding member, co-singer and co-writer over the bands very successful career... A better question could have been, could Layne have carried the band without Jerry? The answer... NO WAY! There four guys were meant to be in a band together... And there is the added bonus of William playing guitar, it adds just a little something extra to the sound. I say this with all of the respect in the world to Layne. I've been a fan for years... AC/DC carried on after Bon Scott died... Van Halen did it... so why not AIC?
The 4 song acoustic set was as close to perfect as you could get, and only Rick and his friends got to see it... (thanks for letting me in Rick!)
Rick and his kids, with Alice In Chains!
I had a chance to sit down and talk with the entire band before they took off to the Paradise Rick Club to blow the roof off, Â later on that night! WHAT A SHOW! I go back and forth... better acoustic or plugged in?
Jerry called in to talk about the new album, their new lead singer William Duvall, their old singer Layne Stayley, Elton John, a Soundgarden reunion and so much more!
There was amazing food, bubblegum flavored vodka and root beer floats like we used to have when we were kids! But, no shade!
Creed's instruments started warping in the sun, so we found the only tent we had and covered them before Mark Tremonti's guitar melted into the roof!
The band was happy, relaxed and genuinely excited to be hangin' out poolside with us... It was nice to see them that way after the last few years of 'gossip' and news stories...
They played 3 songs, one from every album released so far.
During the performance, Hill-Man and I were able to get the 'gossip' from the band... How the reunion happened, how they feel now that they are back together, what Spinal Tap moments they have endured over the years... and much more.
The guys couldn't have been nicer to all of us! They took the heat in stride, sounded great, and signed autographs for everyone before they left for the Comcast Center show that night!
The new album Full Circle will be out in October 2009.
called in to talk about the new album, the tour, the WAAF rooftop pool party , getting ripped off in Boston years ago and visiting our troops in the Middle East.
Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchmen, and now Street Sweeper Social Club, called in to talk about his tour with NIN and Janes Addiction, Baseball, Politics and Fez's!
What better way to come back from a holiday weekend, than to hang out with some Rock 'N' Roll LEGENDS! Chickenfoot will take over the WAAF airwaves today, LIVE from their sold out show at The Middle East. Make sure you're listening today, starting at 3pm for all of the craziness that is CHICKENFOOT!
Judging by this video, I'm going to have my hands full this afternoon!Â
The guys were really nice, down to earth, and funny as hell!
Matt, Brad and Lincoln came into the studio, Jared and Daniel got to sleep late! The first thing they noticed was Hillman's cheat sheet for the mantown questions. It's very funny to hear a guy from Bowling Green, Kentucky talk about 'wagner power painter'!
During the second song, the one that will be exclusive on www.waaf.com since it did not air... Matt channeled Kurt Cobain, it was kind of freaky!
Keep your eyes on the website, new Cage the Elephant stuff coming soon!
Â
/Sevendust_5.jpg "Clint Lowery")
Aaron Lewis from Staind and Brent Smith from Shinedown are hitting the road this summer together!
