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Real Moments With Rock Stars

There are several reasons I love doing my Radio Chatter podcast. I’ve always been a big music fan and it gives me the chance to discuss songs and music, from…

Real Moments With Rock Stars

There are several reasons I love doing my Radio Chatter podcast. I've always been a big music fan and it gives me the chance to discuss songs and music, from the people who brought them to us. Plus, I really enjoy pulling out real moments, and stories from these artists.

One example is Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down telling me about his sobriety and the decision to ditch the booze.

The same thing happened with his band mate Chris Henderson and Pop Evil's Matt Dirito. There's always a reason why these guys make the concerted effort to get clean. There are times it brings out real, unscripted moments during my interviews.

Sometimes, the real moments take you by surprise. Last week I talked with Roman Glick from the band Jackyl. He too talked about the reasons he sobered up as well as a ton of other things. Sometimes before I talk to some of these guys, I'll text people that know them to try to get something interesting to talk about that might catch them off-guard a little bit....in a good way, of course. Jesse James Dupree texted me back and said to ask him about the first hockey game he'd ever taken him to. The answer surprised me living here in Hockeytown.

I'll leave you with a moment I'll never forget in an interview I did about 10 years ago. I had Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell on the phone. I asked him a question that I already knew the answer to, but I wanted to see where it would go. Where it went was a real moment that will stay with me for years to come. I asked him about the biggest show he'd ever played in Detroit. The answer was obvious - KISS at Tiger stadium when they reformed, put the make-up back on, and kicked off their tour here on June 28th, 1996. I can't put into words why his answer has stuck with me all these years. Maybe it's because it revolves around Layne Staley. Maybe it's because he talked about his friend in such a heartfelt way. I'm not sure. Listen for yourself and see if you feel the same way I did about his thoughts on that show.

-Meltdown-

MeltdownEditor
Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history. Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.