Tag Archives: Interview

A Conversation With KISS’ Tommy Thayer

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Photograph by Will Byington.

Photograph by Will Byington.

Yesterday I returned from KISS Kruise VI, my third and final sea-bound voyage with the “Hottest Band in the World,” and a few days prior to this trip I interviewed the band’s lead guitarist: Tommy Thayer. As you can see below, I asked Tommy several questions that many fans want answers to and he was more than happy to oblige. Stay tuned for my full recap of KISS Kruise VI, which I’ll post when I get my photo with the band, which should be at some point later this month. Until then, I hope you enjoy my interview with Tommy!

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A Conversation With Bruce Kulick

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fullsizeoutput_1e3dA couple days prior to the 2016 NJ KISS Expo, I had the opportunity to interview former KISS lead guitarist Bruce Kulick. I’ve never heard anyone say anything negative about Bruce, and now I know why. Both on the phone and at the Expo, he was as nice as could be and willing to answer all of my questions. For the latest news on Bruce and his exciting musical journey, make sure to visit his website and follow him on social media.  Continue reading →

A Conversation With Dennis DeYoung, Former STYX Vocalist

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dennis-deyoungI had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite singers and one of the greatest voices in the history of music: Dennis DeYoung, lead vocalist of STYX hits “Come Sail Away,” “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best of Times,” “Don’t Let It End,” “Show Me The Way,” and “Lady.”

Our discussion lasted for more than an hour and we covered a myriad of topics, including Barry Manilow, Journey, what DeYoung misses most about being in STYX, the state of the music industry, politicians using music without the permission of the artists, and much more. DeYoung was funny, charming, smart, and easily one of the most enjoyable interviews I’ve ever conducted.

Make sure to visit DeYoung’s website for the latest tour dates. He has two performances in the Philadelphia/New Jersey/New York area coming up in October. I’m attending his show on October 8 at The Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pa. For those of you closer to New York, DeYoung has an October 21 performance scheduled at the St. George Theatre in Staten Island, with special guest Steve Augeri, former lead vocalist of Journey.

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Working With James Patterson: BookShots Authors Tell All

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IMG_7188In June James Patterson launched his BookShots imprint, and since then more than one million copies of these bite-sized thrillers have been sold. I recently spoke with two of the authors who’ve written books for this imprint: Brendan DuBois and Erin Knightley.

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A Conversation With Bobby Rydell

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Teen-Idol-On-The-Rocks-CoverI recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Bobby Rydell, pop icon and author of the new memoir, Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances. During the 1960s Rydell scored 34 Top 40 hits, making him one of the top artists of this era. From “Wild One” to “Volare” to the summertime classic “Wildwood Days,” Rydell’s music still lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of music lovers. My interview with him below touches on all of the highs and lows of his career, including his new book. I hope you enjoy it.

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Carmine Appice: Rock’s Most Influential Drummer Tells All

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IMG_6983Carmine Appice, the most influential drummer in rock and roll history, recently released his autobiography: Stick It! My Life of Sex, Drums, and Rock ‘N’ Roll. I met Carmine at his book signing here in Philadelphia and shortly afterward I interviewed him. We touched on everything from how Sharon Osbourne fired him from Ozzy’s band to the revelation that there are a handful of tracks from Paul Stanley’s 1978 solo album featuring Carmine’s drumming that’ve yet to see the light of day. Check out the interview below and pick up a copy of Carmine’s autobiography, which is available now.

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A Conversation With John Regan

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Photo by Tracy Ketcher.

Photo: Tracy Ketcher

On the heels of my review of Four By Fate’s debut album, Relentless, I had the opportunity to interview the band’s bassist, John Regan. In addition to being one of the co-founders of Four By Fate, John has a rich history of working with some of the biggest names in rock and roll history, including David Bowie, Ace Frehley, Mick Jagger, David Lee Roth, John Waite, Peter Frampton, and Billy Idol, among others. During our hour-long conversation, we covered everything from the formation of Four By Fate to John’s time in the studio and on the road with Ace Frehley. We also talked about how John feels that Ace Frehley will inevitably rejoin KISS, and much more. I hope you enjoy the interview with John Regan, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of Four By Fate’s new album on June 3.

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Ace Frehley Invades PA

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IMG_5271I missed Ace Frehley’s concert last week in New Hope because of Philadelphia being under lockdown as a result of the Pope’s visit. But yesterday I made sure I was in Oaks, PA to meet and get my photo taken with Ace at the All Things That Rock Festival. Not only did my photo turn out great, I got to interview “Space Ace” and Ken Kelly, an artist famous for creating iconic album artwork, including KISS’ Destroyer and Love Gun, as well as Ace’s latest solo album: Space Invader.  Continue reading →

A Conversation With Neal “Vortex” Schon

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303Neal Schon is my favorite guitarist and, in my opinion, the greatest melodic rock guitarist of all time. He’s written classic songs, played legendary riffs and had a prolific solo career that is unparalleled in the music industry.

On the heels of the release of his latest solo album, Vortex, which is terrific, Neal took the time to grant me an interview. Speaking with him was an absolute honor, and we covered a lot of ground in our discussion. We spoke about everything, including his thoughts on working with Steve Perry, John Waite and Deen Castronovo, as well as how his latest masterpiece, Vortex, came to fruition.

I hope you enjoy the interview. And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Vortex. If you’re a classic rock fan, or just someone who appreciates inspired instrumental music, you’ll love it.

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A Conversation With Eric Singer

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Eric SingerFor me, 2014 was the year of KISS. I was lucky enough to meet all of the current and original members of the band, and I was in Brooklyn when Paul, Gene, Peter, and Ace were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I also interviewed Paul Stanley and received one of his autographed signature guitars as part of a meet and greet. And I closed out the year with two Ace Frehley concerts and meet and greets, not to mention my seabound voyage on KISS Kruise IV, where the band and I were “Dressed to Kill.”

My biggest KISS highlight of this year so far? Interviewing KISS’ current – and best – drummer: Eric Singer. As you can see from the interview below, we covered a lot of ground. Having the opportunity to speak with my favorite drummer for an extended period of time was an absolute joy, and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

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