Meltdown | WRIF
The new record from Phil X and The Drills just dropped and it punches exactly like the title promises — “POW! Right In The Kisser.” So naturally, I had to get Phil X on the line and ask the obvious first question:
“Have Jackie Gleason’s lawyers contacted you yet?”
“No lawsuits yet,” Phil laughed. “But you know, it’s not about hitting anyone. It’s just rock ’n’ roll socking people in the gut.”
That’s how this record hits — gritty, raw, full of groove, and loaded with killer drumming cameos.
A Drummer’s Paradise (And Nightmare)
Phil’s got a history of working with beasts behind the kit — and the new album reads like a damn drummer’s Hall of Fame.
• Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe) brought his wild grooves.
• Brian Tichy, Kenny Aronoff, Ray Luzier, Liberty DeVitto — all legends.
• Even Taylor Hawkins makes a posthumous appearance on the last Drills record, barefoot and full of Jack in the Box.
“Taylor showed up like he was headed to the beach,” Phil told me. “Flip flops, crop top, and killed it in two takes.”
He even wrote songs specifically for each drummer — like building a track around a Tommy Lee solo he saw live.
“You gotta let the drummer be the boss sometimes,” he joked. “If Tommy wants it slower, it’s getting slowed down.”
Track listing for POW! Right In The Kisser
“Don’t Wake Up Dead” (Drums: Ray Luzier)
“Fake the Day Away” (Drums: Tommy Lee)
“Heal” (Drums: Brent Fitz)
“Find a Way” (Drums: Tico Torres)
“Moving To California” (Drums: Jeremy Spencer)
“You Sunk My Battleship” (Drums; Brian Tichy)
“Seemed Like a Good Idea” (Drums: Tosh Peterson)
“Broken Arrow” (Drums: Liberty Devitto)
“I Love You on Her Lips” (Drums: Gary Novak)
“Feel Better” (Drums: Ryan Macmillan)
“Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty)” (Drums: Kenny Aronoff)
From “Drummer Roulette” to Live Thunder
One thing that’s clear: Phil X has been through the wringer finding drummers.
“It was like drummer roulette,” he said. “I’d hit up one guy, he’s booked. Next guy, also booked. I was just trying to find someone who could play the Whiskey on a Friday night!”
But the payoff? Pure live magic.
“We played Fake the Day Away live and I literally forgot I was playing. I was just vibing to the groove. Mid-solo I had to remind myself: ‘Hey man, jump back in!’”
From Bon Jovi Sideman to Lifelong Ride
Phil’s Bon Jovi journey started as a fill-in back in 2011. Fast forward 12 years and he’s the guy on guitar — all while walking that fine line between staying true to the band’s legacy and being his own player.
“I’m not Richie Sambora — and I’m not 100% Phil X on stage either. I’m the guy in the middle showing up every night, respecting the fans, the band, and the songs.”
He’s still waiting on 2025 tour dates with Bon Jovi, but itching to take the Drills out live. Please make that happen.
On the “Allied Forces” Triumph Tribute
Phil’s also part of the upcoming Triumph tribute record, dropping June 6 — where he’s basically the house guitarist and shreds on “Allied Forces” with Brian Tichy on drums.
“It was a blur — one minute I’m jamming with Tichy, the next I’m laying down solos on four tracks with Tommy Aldridge. Total bucket list stuff.”
Phil has nothing but love for the members of Triumph.
Phil X: Canadian by Birth, California by Vibe
Phil might be a Toronto kid who worshipped at the Maple Leaf Gardens altar, but you’d never peg him as Canadian.
“I moved to Cali in ‘97 and tried to ditch the ‘eh.’ But every time I say ‘soh-ree,’ people know.”
Fun Facts and Full Circle Moments
• He co-wrote on Tommy Lee’s solo albums.
• First Bon Jovi gig? 50,000 people in New Orleans.
• Once recorded a track with Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel) at Power Station in NYC after playing MSG two nights straight.
• He shares a birthday with Chuck Norris (and me, by the way).
• And yes, he did just jam with Richie Sambora at a first responders benefit.
“The fans were like…wait, they’re friends?!? We’re adults, man — it’s rock ‘n’ roll, not recess.”
Phil X is the real deal — a humble player with insane chops, stories for days, and a deep love for keeping rock alive. Go spin “Pow! Right in the Kisser” and crank it loud. That’s what it’s built for.
Oh — and if he rolls through Detroit with the Drills? You better believe I’ll be front and center… Harley parked out back.
