Sound Matters with Tom Leu

The 2nd interview with Jack Russell, lead singer and chief songwriter for Jack Russell's Great White. Tom and Jack talk about his recent management changes, the legacy of the Once Bitten album, the recording process these days, health, sobriety, Jack's forthcoming memoir, and his philosophy on success today, and much more...

Inside the Interview:
02:13 – On talking to journalists with something to say...
02:58 - On the Once Acoustically Bitten album release and live show...
07:11 – What is it about the Once Bitten album that still resonates...?
08:11 – On "Rock Me" being released as the lead single...
09:24 – On recording today vs. back in the day...
10:58 – On Jack's voice today...
13:40 – On life today as a 50-something...
16:55 – On Jack's health these days...
17:34 – On using celebrity for positive...
19:41 – About Jack's recovery, not drinking today, and living sober...
26:31 – Is there a book/memoir in Jack Russell's future?
30:58 – 40 years in the music business has taught Jack what about life and success?
32:49 – Did Jack enjoy this interview?
33:51 – Reflections on life today and lessons learned...

"It's not everyday that I speak to journalists that actually have something interesting to talk about... I always love talking with Tom! He does his homework and you can tell. They're always great interviews, and he asks great questions!" 

- Jack Russell >> www.jackrussellsgreatwhiteband.com

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Sound Matters show #038 features Tom's in-depth interview with Chris Vrenna, Grammy winning musician, composer, producer, remixer, and drummer best known for his work in Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, and Tweaker among many others. Tom and Chris dig deep into topics ranging from music technology, his time in Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, his solo project Tweaker, scoring video game soundtracks, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nine Inch Nails' legacy, David Bowie, recovery, and more... 

Inside the Interview:
02:19 – How Tom and Chris met as fellow educators...
03:36 - Chris' view today of his career in the music business thus far...
04:28 – On Chris' mentors when he was coming up...
05:25 – On technology within today's music business...
07:27 – On the origins of Chris and Trent Reznor's relationship and his time in Nine Inch Nails...
09:04 – Nine Inch Nails, Interscope Records, Jimmy Iovine, Dr. Dre, & the Sharon Tate house...
10:30 – On Chris and Marilyn Manson...
12:53 – Is there a book in Chris' future?
13:51 – On wanting to be the guy to the right of the guy in the spotlight...
16:09 – About Chris' band/project, Tweaker...
18:40 – On Chris' work composing video game scores and soundtracks...
20:32 – Chris' one bucket list gig...
22:07 – Tweaker, Chris' collaborators, and the big name music artist who got away...
23:57 – On touring and why Chris isn't doing it currently...
25:26 – On Nine Inch Nails and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
26:55 – On the legacy and influence of Nine Inch Nails...
28:28 – Chris' take on the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees...
30:01 – On Chris and Guns 'N Roses...
30:30 – On first ballot Rock Hall inductees...
32:15 – On Chris and David Bowie...
34:26 – What advice would Chris give his younger self...
36:25 – On Tom and Chris' next conversation...

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The 3rd interview with Michael Sweet from Stryper and Sweet & Lynch delves into S&L's second release Unified out on Frontiers Records, shooting videos in Hollywood, wearing the producer's hat, line-up changes and healing in Stryper, and much more...

Inside the Interview:
01:43 – On the waiting for the release of his new music to be released...
02:48 – How is Sweet & Lynch's second release Unified different from the debut?
04:47 – On Michael's approach to producing his albums...
07:03 – Shout out to Michael's last solo album, 2016's One Sided War...
07:20 – How does playing with different rhythm sections in his various bands/projects affect the music?
08:58 – Is there a song lyrically that he's particularly proud of on the new Sweet & Lynch album?
09:50 – On doing the video for "Walk" in Hollywood...
11:41 – On being a person who takes the road less traveled...
13:30 – Is legacy something Michael Sweet thinks about?
14:02 – On Stryper's new bassist, Perry Richardson...
17:21 – On the upcoming new Stryper album...

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Sound Matters #036 features Tom's interview with Freddy Negrete and Steve Jones, authors of "Smile Now, Cry Later: Guns, Gangs, and Tattoos - My Life in Black and Gray". This conversation with both Freddy and Steve deliberately focuses primarily on the journey from recovery to discovery, health, life, and ultimately... giving back. Digging into Freddy's life through addiction, multiple heart attacks, recovery, and counseling youth today, to Steve's initial encounter with Freddy and the years-long project of writing this highly recommended book... it's a fascinating story, and a must listen episode.

Inside the Interview:
04:00 – Was writing the book cathartic and helpful on Freddy's recovery journey?
05:02 – On Freddy's work counseling youth addicts...
06:34 – What does Freddy attribute to higher visibility of the opioid epidemic?
08:01 – What are the challenges youth face as they head into their journey of recovery?
09:20 – On the difference between want to, and need to with respect to recovery...
10:45 – What initially drew Steve to Freddy and his story...
13:45 – On Freddy's life-threatening health challenges that ultimately led to his recovery...
18:24 – On the challenges Steve & Freddy faced writing the book...
20:18 – Closing quote...

"I loved being on Tom's show. Tom is very professional, extremely prepared and his high-energy, articulate and passionate delivery creates a dynamic and thrilling interviewing experience. Tom is dedicated to creating a rich, in-depth interviewing experience. He prepared himself for the interview by not only reading the book beforehand, but he quoted from it and asked key and targeted questions which elevated the interaction. He put in the research and discussed upfront specific questions to ensure that the interview stood out as fresh, differentiating and compelling. I highly recommend Tom's show!"

- Steve Jones >>www.stevejoneswriter.com

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Sound Matters episode #035 features Tom's interview with Frankie Muriel of KingoftheHill and Dr. Zhivegas. KOTH was/is the epitome high-energy fun, talent, and showmanship mixed into a rock and roll band. And as it should be, as Frankie and Tom discuss in this interview, along with his recollections and first hand accounts about what it was like to have a ringside seat to the wild ride that was rock and roll in the late 80's and early 90's, and much more... 

Inside the Interview:
04:30 – Broken Toyz from St. Louis, pre-KingoftheHill...
05:10 – On the impetus for the Nov 10, 2017 reunion show...
07:15 – On the lasting appeal of KingoftheHill then and now, and on music being fun and an escape...
09:36 – More/new KingoftheHill music going forward?
10:10 – On working with producer Howard Benson...
11:10 – On having a ring side seat to the heights of the music business in the 90's...
11:58 – On having a ring side seat to the transition as well...
15:17 – About the video for the song "I Do U"...
16:03 – Frankie as a front man...
17:02 – On Dr. Zhivegas...
18:54 – Dr. Zhivegas' Prince Tribute show...
20:56 – What did Prince mean to Frankie as an artist?
23:01 – On the KingoftheHill reunion set...

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Episode #034 features Tom's interview with comedian, author, and "That Metal Show" co-host, Don Jamieson. Don discusses his decades long career as the "rock 'n roll comedian," "That Metal Show," the state of music today, winning an Emmy, writing for Lisa Lampanelli, opening for Andrew Dice Clay, and more...

Inside the Interview:
03:17 – "That Metal Show"... what happened and what's next?
06:00 – On Netflix and the future of media and entertainment...
07:42 – Is rock music dead?
09:26 – On the changing models of marketing music...
11:42 – On Don's decades long comedy career...
13:36 – On writing for other big name comics including Lisa Lampanelli...
14:30 – On winning an Emmy Award for his work on "Inside the NFL"...
16:42 – On opening shows for Andrew Dice Clay...
18:42 – Don's comedy albums...
20:14 – Other opportunities and new projects coming up...
23:14 – What separates Don out as a comedian?
25:46 – "That Metal Show"... more rich or more famous?
26:34 – Top TMS moments?
29:28 – Current and new music Don's digging...?
31:34 – Any advice Don would give his younger self?
33:15 – Don and Tom on Rockford's Cheap Trick...

"That was AWESOME, and one of the funnest, most professional interviews I’ve done in a very long time! Kudos to people like Tom who actually make it easy for the interviewee! Look forward to our follow up and hope to make it a regular hang. Thanks a million Tom."

- Don Jamieson >>www.donjamieson.com

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Sound Matters episode #033 features Tom’s tribute to the late, great Tom Petty who passed away this week with music, commentary, conversations, and reactions from musicians and friends influenced by Tom’s life and musical legacy.

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Tom's interview with Aryn Jonathan Black, lead singer of the great Austin, TX rock band Scorpion Child. Tom and Aryn spoke in the spring of 2016, just before the release of the band's second album, Acid Roulette. Conversations get into discussions about his musical influences, comparisons, perspectives on performing live, touring, and his even lessons learned in the music business along the way...

Inside the Interview:
02:06 – On the release of Scorpion Child's second album Acid Roulette...
03:23 – How was the writing and recording process different on this record?
05:13 – On Scorpion Child's lyrical content...
07:14 – On the overall concept and genesis of Acid Roulette... 
11:15 – On the band helping complete the song ideas musically...
12:22 – On spiritual overtones in Aryn's lyrics...
13:50 – About Scorpion Child's cover of "Hole In The Sky" by Black Sabbath...
15:16 – On comparisons to Led Zeppelin...
17:59 – On Scorpion Child live...
20:27 – What has Aryn learned about the music business in recent years...
22:25 – Scorpion Child on the road...

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Tom's in-depth interview with the hilarious and insightful Amy Dresner, author of the riveting book "My Fair Junkie: A Memoir of Getting Dirty and Staying Clean" on Hachette Books.

Inside the Interview:
03:21 – Special subject-matter on Sound Matters...
04:16 – Never had "handlers"...
04:31 – How terrifying is Amy's newfound success as an author?
07:35 – On what to leave in and what to leave out...
09:43 – On Amy's Dad reading her book...
10:04 – What was learned writing this book?
12:13 – Any concern that "success" will lead back to the abyss?
12:36 – AA, criticisms, and recovery perspectives...
17:01 – Is addiction a disease?
18:01 – Why do addicts/alcoholics relapse?
20:08 – On deliberately writing to cross-over...
22:14 – On paralells between writing a book and the recovery process...
23:39 – On perpetual self-examination and self-awareness...
25:33 – On Amy's life story eventually become a book...
27:32 – On the back and forth realities of working with a book editor...
28:55 – On Amy's stand up comedy past, present, and future...
29:58 – On being a non-drinker and dealing with others who are...
31:19 – On dealing with haters, yet writing your truth...
33:41 – My Fair Junkie, and narrating the audio book...
34:33 – What's on the horizon for Amy? Speaking... more books?
37:49 – Amy's final thoughts...

"Tom was extremely professional but yet made me feel instantly at ease. He’d also read my book in full so he was well informed on the subject at hand. (A rarity I might add.) His enthusiasm is contagious. I highly recommend him and his show and can’t wait to go back on. I had a great time! Thanks again!!!"

- Amy Dresner >>www.amydresner.com

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Episode #030 features conversation, commentary, and insights about cover bands who do it differently, National Recovery Month, TOMLEU.com, Nikki Sixx and Sixx Sense radio, author Amy Dresner interview preview on show #031, and comedian Don Jamieson interview preview. Show #030 concludes with Tom's signature Sound Matter Moment...

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