I always hear, ‘Never meet your heroes.’
There is just too much risk in them being dickheads or having a bad day or something. Which yes, can be true! But I have only really had ONE TIME I met someone that was kinda ‘bleh’…but the rest of them? Have been amazing memories, and can’t wait for more of them. Fortunately I get radio opportunities where I interview bands than just a simple meet & greet….
But here are a couple rock stars I have met that STILL rave about.
- Phil Anselmo (Pantera)
Phil to me is like the ultimate heavy metal rock star. He went to hell and back you know? He was touring with his new band ‘Phil Anselmo & The Illegals,’ so I snagged the opportunity to interview him. Got on the bus, went straight to the back where it was just him, myself, and my camera man…after the interview was done? He just said ‘Nah man, hang out for a bit and shoot the shit!’ Guys….this was THE PHIL ANSELMO telling me to just hang and chat…how effing awesome is that? We talked about burgers, Pantera, dark times, Tempest…just what a personal moment that I’ll never forget.
- Elias of Nonpoint
This one was pretty recent! I knew Elias was an active dude, but I never had an interview as uplifting and active as Elias was. I mean, we were there to promote the upcoming tour, new music, and whatnot…but if you were a past theater kid? You’re ALWAYS a theater kid and when two of us chat? The energy just pops…we even have a small dance off at the end of the interview cause, that’s just how us old theater kids are….weird, fun, and kooky.
- Adam D and Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage
I’ve crossed paths with these guys a couple of times, sometimes just individually…but the one time where I had both of them for an interview at one time was truly something. Imagine just hanging out on the couch with your friends shooting the crap with each other? That is exactly what happened here. Those two guys together made it feel like I was just one of the guys hanging out and is still one of the few interviews I like to watch over again and again. There is one time where I have Jesse just burst out into laughter from talking about Sim City. That was a really cool moment.
- Dexter of The Offspring
You ever meet someone and think, ‘Did we grow up in the same neighborhood?’ That was Dexter…I don’t know what it was, but we just had the same mannerisms, speech pattern, and just clicked. I think what helped is that when I met him for the first time ever, I prepped whatever interview I had with his guitarist Noodles and in walks Dexter instead. What’s good about that, is that it came off more of a natural conversation. I bet Noodles would have been great (which I eventually ZOOMed with him eventually), but when circumstances changed…I got a more natural conversation, and I think Dexter noticed that.
- Adam Gontier of Saint Asonia (former Three Days Grace)
While we haven’t met face to face, we did ZOOM face to face…which I think counts right? Anyway, this was peak during the pandemic and I was able to get Adam Gontier on a ZOOM call, which according to multiple comments….is kind of a rare thing I guess. Adam was cool and calm, and the conversation just flowed. I oddly felt comfortable sharing that their album One-X was a life saving album for me….we shared stories about guitar and just a variety of things. He’s one of those guys you could sit with a cup of coffee and just shoot the shit for a bit.
