Zoiks! Interviews – ZP Network

My favorite new album right now if Fozzy’s “Do You Wanna Start a War.” I’ve probably heard the whole album 30 or 40 times and it’s only been out a couple of weeks. Normally I wait for the bands to come to me but you have an album this good I needed to talk to somebody about it so I reached out to them. I got to chat with Fozzy frontman, WWE Superstar, podcaster, “Dancing with the Stars” alum, actor Chris Jericho. For the most part we talk about the new Fozzy record, but we do talk a little bit about wrestling and podcasting as well.

I remember the first time I saw In This Moment live. It was on the Mayhem tour a few years back and it was the first time “Zoiks” got backstage passes. We were so excited to be there sitting around backstage that we didn’t do anything except take pictures. Then In This Moment took the stage. I didn’t know who they were. I knew the name, but I wasn’t expecting that voice to come out of that girl. At one point she ran through the crowd a sang from the soundboard while the crowd did a circle pit around her and the band played on the stage. After that show I went to my record store and picked up “A Star Crossed Wasteland” and became a fan.

Fast forward a few years I get a press release about this new album from In This Moment coming out called “Blood” and that two of the members left to join the band of some “American Idol” kid and their management had dropped them. Within seconds of hearing the title track “Blood” I was blown away. That feeling didn’t go away track after track. This was an album that brought you from the side stages onto the main stages. If you’ve ever seen In This Moment live you know what kind of show they put on. I can’t wait to see them do it as a headliner.

Check out my chat with Maria Brink from In This Moment.

Next Tuesday Uncle Ted is going to unleash “Ultralive Ballistickrock.” I’ve always been a greatest hits Ted Nugent fan. He’s one of the best guitar players of all time. It wasn’t until I listened to “Ultralive Ballistickrock” that I realized just how impressive Ted Nugent really was/is. There are certain guitar players that can actually turn me on with their playing and Ted Nugent is now one of those guys for me. A month or so ago I got that chance to chat with Uncle Ted about the upcoming live release. Check it out here.

Interview – Sammy Hagar – With a Little Help from his Friends

Sammy Hagar is a living legend that has been playing rock music for four decades. He’s played in three great bands (Montrose, Van Halen and Chickenfoot) and has put together an equally as impressive solo career. Sammy Hagar has a new album out called “Sammy Hagar and Friends.” I personally think it’s one of the best albums he’s ever made. Recently I got the chance to chat with Sammy.

If you like heavy music then there is a good chance you like Pantera. I unfortunately was slow to get around to heavy music and never got the chance to see Pantera live and now I never will. I did however get to talk with legendary front man Phillip H. Anselmo about his new solo album “Walk Through Exits Only” which redefines heavy. We also talked a little bit about Pantera, Down and his upcoming festival Housecore Horror and Metal Fest.

In 2011 the country of Japan suffered a horrific tsunami, earthquake followed by a nuclear meltdown. Aerosmith went there to raise money and awareness. They’re releasing a DVD/Blu-Ray to chronicle the bands trip there. I’m a huge Aerosmith fan and the track list on the Blu-Ray is astounding. “S.O.S.,” “Lick and a Promise,” “Movin’ Out,” “Monkey on my Back,” all the deep cuts to go along with “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk this Way.” Recently I got the chance to chat with Aerosmith’s drummer Joey Kramer to talk about the new release along with his book “Hit Hard” and his Rockin & Roastin’ coffee.

While Disturbed is on hiatus David Draiman has been busy performing on the new Megadeth album “Super Collider,” producing the new Trivium record and starting a new band of his own Device. I love Device. I got the chance to catch up with David at the Milwaukee stop on the Gigantour with Megadeth. We talk about those three projects as well as the controversial “Rolling Stone” cover.

My absolute guitar hero is Zakk Wylde. There are a million great guitar players but there is just this down to earth thing about Zakk that makes him relatable and therefore stand out amongst the greats. You feel like you know the guy without having met him. Currently he’s on the Gigantour with Megadeth, Device, HELLYEAH, Newsted and Death Division. This fall the long awaited live album/DVD “Unblackened” comes out and then he’s getting back into the studio for the next BLS album. I caught up with Zakk at Gigantour to talk about these things.

We’ve been trying to get an interview with Rob Zombie for years now and when they come back with Rob’s not available would you like to talk to John 5 my response is always going to be fuck yeah! John 5 is a Guitar God. The guy is just insane. He is under appreciated because he’s best known for his work in Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie (not exactly bands known for its virtuoso guitar playing), but the guy is second to none. I got a chance to chat with him about the new Zombie record “Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor,” the Mayhem tour and Rob’s short-lived feud with Marilyn Manson.

Fresh from the Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival I got the chance to chat with Chris Kael from the band Five Finger Death Punch. What a cool refreshing dude man. The boys in Death Punch have 2 new albums coming out very soon entitled “The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol 1 & 2.” In the last year FFDP has gotten to work with Rob Halford, record two album, open for Kiss and Metallica. Sounds like a pretty good year.