Steve Richards of Taproot and Meltdown.
MeltdownThe Taproot machine cranked up this week. They pegged down a date for the new album, announced some shows and pretty much hopped back onto the scene.
Singer, Steve Richards, was cool enough to swing by the station for an interview about everything the band has going on. He told me about the entire making of the album, which he did all by himself. It's over a decade or recording, writing and finetuning each note. It's called SC/SSRS (Scissors) and drops on September 29th. The band is going to celebrate its release with a couple shows at the Machine Shop in Flint, Mi. that weekend, the first of which sold right out right away, plus some other shows including the Blue Ridge Rock Fest with some of the biggest names in rock.
He tells me about some of the songs, one that's as close to a love song as he's ever gotten. He tells me about some special guests than join him on the record, as well as if he's going to send Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst a copy. LOL
That's just for starters on this wide ranging conversation. Enjoy!
-Meltdown-
52 Pictures for 52 Years Of WRIF
Happy Birthday to WRIF. I've had the GREAT fortune of being with the station for the past 27 1/2 years. As a kid it would've been hard for me to dream that I'd be at on job for so long, let alone one as awesome as this one. I've had the chance to do things, and meet people I never thought I would.
Happy Birthday, RIFF....thanks for taking me on this crazy ride. Here's to MANY more!
Here's 52 pictures from my time here.
Thank You!
Meltdown
With Gavin Rossdale from BUSH
At Pine Knob introducing Five Finger Death Punch.
Meltdown with John 5
Courtesy photoWith John 5 on February 13th, 2020
Corey Taylor stole my phone and went selfie crazy before a Slipknot show at Pine Knob
Chris Jericho is so good to us at WRIF
Aimee and Meltdown
With BFF AImee Brooks
Meltdown with Metallica
Courtesy photoI've always loved this picture with James Hetfield. I told him to make me look tall. LOL
Meltdown, Rob and Ronnie
Courtesy photoWith some of the promo guys.
Meltdown
MeltdownBob Seger dressed up like himself at Kid Rock's Halloween party in 2019. I didn't dress like him. :)
MeltdownAt Kid Rock's Halloween party in 2019. This was 2 am, the exact time of my anniversary at RIFF
Meltdown's Pine Knob memories
On stage at Pine Knob trying to look tall.
Drowning Pool Suzy Meltdown
With the Drowning Pool guys and Suzy Cole.
Courtesy photoWith Dylan and Eric from I Prevail, along with Al Beck.
Meltdown with Kid Rock
Courtesy photoMy first interview with Kid Rock at the Palace. This was October of 1999.
MeltdownThe lovely Deena Centofanti at GNR at Comerica Park.
An older picture with Barry and Brent from Shinedown.
Shinedown at the Fillmore around 2005. Man, we were all so young!
Meltdown, Screamin Scott, Al Beck, Jade, Steve Black
Courtesy photo
Tom Morello and myself at the El Club in 2018. This was really cool!
The lovely Dorothy around 2019.
A past Christmas card with Paul Wight and myself from a few years back.
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An old picture of Ryan and Chad from Nickelback.
Meltdown & Jonel
With my bud, Jonel
Hockeytown Pub Crawl with Meltdown and listeners
Hanging with Red Wings
1997 - the goatee is realI've been lucky enough to play hockey with Steve Yzerman 4 times. This was at the Dave Coulier charity game at the Joe in 1997.
Meltdown with Rick Mahorn at the Final Home Opener at the Palace
The legend, Rick Mahorn
Meltdown, Jade and Darren McCarty
Myself, Jade and Darren McCarty around 2010 or so.
The Pretty Reckless talk with Meltdown in Detroit
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The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar
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With "Big Al" several years ago.
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When we got Jimmy Howard into the All Star game.
Mark Tremonti, when he was with Creed in 1999 backstage at Pine Knob.
Nick and Meltdown
Nick and me. Photo credit: Dave Reginek
Tim ThurmanPlaying hockey for Foundation 14.
Meltdown at Riff Fest 2022
Erik AratariAt a RIFF Fest
Daughtry
Chris Daughtry myself. Love talking to that guy.
James, Meltdown and Twiztid
Courtesy photoJames, the Twiztid boys and me.
James, Jade, Meltdown and Chuck the Freak
Courtesy photoThis was a weird day at work.
Meltdown Braodcasting Live
Broadcasting live.
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The Late Peter Steele
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The 2001 Christmas card with the WWE's Kurt Angle.
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Playing in the Dave Coulier charity game with Brendan Shanahan.
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The First time I met the guys from Linkin Park (RIP, Chester)
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Some Stanley Cup hardware.
With the guy from American Idol. :)
Meltdown's Pine Knob memories
With the kids at Riff Fest.
Disturbed Featured Photo 600kb
Dan Donegan of Disturbed with Meltdown backstage at RIFF Fest 2022
Dan Donegan of Disturbed with Meltdown backstage at RIFF Fest 2022
Courtesy photoAt Freedom Hill....drinks may have been involved.
Meltdown's Wayne Gretzky pix
At Kid Rock's facetiming with the Great One! #99
Talkin-Rock-with-Meltdown
My Talkin' Rock podcast...check it out if you haven't.
Introducing Stone Sour with Meltdown!
