Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music

Tune in this week for part II of Jay Jay, Tor & Matthew's year end recap! Jay Jay addresses rumours surrounding Twisted's reuniting, & discusses the current state of the band. The three of them get into popular musical highlights throughout the year; from Talking Heads & LCD Soundsystem to Andre 3000 & Jessica Pratt. Hear Jay's insights surrounding the current state of record deals being cut relative to when Twisted was releasing Stay Hungry & their music in the 80s. Jay Jay, Tor & Matt reflect on podcast guests throughout the year from Steve Vai & Joe Satriani, to Dean Delray, Tommy Emmanual, Tommy James, Carmine Appice & many more. Don't miss this two part year in review episode - & a special thank you to all fans and guests who have tuned into & been a part of the podcast this past year! Stay tuned for more great guests & exciting news in 2025 - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Jay Jay, Tor & Matthew (Jay Jay's Social Media Manager & Producer) get together this week to discuss highlights of 2024; getting into favorite guests throughout the year, the current state of the podcast, Twisted's Stay Hungry 40 Year Anniversary, favorite records collected throughout the year & what's to come in 2025. Don't miss this two part year in review episode special - & a special thank you to all fans and guests who have tuned into & been a part of the podcast this past year - stay tuned for exciting news & guests in 2025 - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week, we're revisiting an episode in which the focus is on Jay Jay's remarkable health journey & surviving prostate cancer, with special guest Dr. Samir Taneja. Dr. Samir Taneja is a urologist & surgeon who performed Jay Jay's prostate cancer operation in 2018. Jay Jay discusses why he finds it so important to educate yourself on any health concerns that are affecting your life, & shares his experience in doing so himself. Dr. Taneja shares his insight on prostate cancer diagnosis & methodology, and discusses the decisions that individuals who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have to weigh, differences between various treatments currently available, & why he finds active surveillance to be so important. Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Founding member, lead singer, lead guitarist, and individual who wrote more than 90% of the Grand Funk Railroad music catalog - legendary Mark Farner - is this week's guest on the podcast! Farner has always been known as an energetic driving force on stage, the engine that pulled the original Grand Funk Railroad to the top of the charts. From his soulful voice and power rock riffs, to fueling the Funk with his atomic stage presence. Hear all about his story and his imprint on music, starting back in 1969 from his humble blue collar beginnings back in Flint. For years, Farner has captained a global crusade for love, peace and freedom as a rock ‘n’ roll icon. Today, more than 60 years later – Farner commands the stage with the same intensity performing epic hits that defined a generation – “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”, “Bad Time”, “Some Kind of Wonderful”, “Foot Stompin’ Music”, “Heartbreaker”, “Rock & Roll Soul”, “Locomotion”, “Mean Mistreater” and “We’re An American Band”. Tune in to hear about Mark's upcoming release, tour dates & much more - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Tune in this week for part II of Jay Jay's conversation with Julien Velard! Julian digs into his greatest influences & how they've impacted his career as a song writer. They discuss the cultural impact that Billy Joel has had over the years, the current state of commercial songwriting, & the learning the craft of how to hold a crow'd attention. Julian is a classic entertainer, combining piano-driven songwriter sensibility and razor-sharp comedic timing. Jay Jay & Julian are old friends - Jay Jay used to manage Julian, & both of their histories & careers are deeply rooted in New York. Hear how they reconnected recently in Los Angeles, their history together, & all about Julian's music ongoing projects - from live performance to his new upcoming record. Don't miss this conversation, only on the Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

The fantastic songwriter & pianist Julian Velard is this week's guest on the podcast! Julian is a classic entertainer, combining piano-driven songwriter sensibility and razor-sharp comedic timing. Jay Jay & Julian are old friends - Jay Jay used to manage Julian, & both of their histories & careers are deeply rooted in New York. Hear all about how they reconnected recently in Los Angeles, their history together, Julian's music ongoing projects - from live performance to his new upcoming record. Don't miss this conversation, only on the Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Tune in this week for part II of Jay Jay's conversation with Legendary Rock & Heavy Metal bassist Rudy Sarzo. Rudy has been the go-to bass player to call within these genres for decades, tune in this week to hear all about why - discussing everything from his upbringing to some of the keys to artistic longevity. Rudy is a professional recording and performing artist with a global career spanning over 40 years. As a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, from March 1981 to September 1982, Rudy toured the world in support of the “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary Of a Madman” records. As a member of Quiet Riot, from September 1982 to January 1985, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum albums “Metal Health”, the first Heavy Metal debut to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and “Condition Critical”. During this period he headlined massive worldwide tours, appeared on numerous MTV videos and was voted #1 Bassist in Circus Magazine for 1983. Rudy's list of accomplishments goes on, playing with Whitesnake, DIO & countless others. Rudy's legacy & impact on the music industry continues to grow - be sure to keep up to date on his performances, & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Legendary Rock & Heavy Metal bassist Rudy Sarzo is this week's guest on the podcast! Rudy has been the go-to bass player to call within these genres for decades, tune in this week to hear all about why - discussing everything from his upbringing to some of the keys to artistic longevity. Rudy is a professional recording and performing artist with a global career spanning over 40 years. As a member of Ozzy Osbourne’s band, from March 1981 to September 1982, Rudy toured the world in support of the “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary Of a Madman” records. As a member of Quiet Riot, from September 1982 to January 1985, Rudy recorded the multi-platinum albums “Metal Health”, the first Heavy Metal debut to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and “Condition Critical”. During this period he headlined massive worldwide tours, appeared on numerous MTV videos and was voted #1 Bassist in Circus Magazine for 1983. Rudy's list of accomplishments goes on, playing with Whitesnake, DIO & countless others. Rudy's legacy & impact on the music industry continues to grow - be sure to keep up to date on his performances, & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week's episode is a tribute to the Late Great guitar legend John Mayall, who passed away this last week. Joining Jay Jay to honor Mayall's legacy are two of the world's greatest living Blues guitarists, Joe Bonamassa & Rocky Athas. Tune in to hear these 3 discuss how John Mayall's groundbreaking guitar playing impacted both themselves & the music industry as a whole. Mayall is often referred to as the 'Godfather of the British Blues;' hear Jay Jay, Joe & Rocky discuss why - from his tone & songwriting, to the legacy he created with the Blues Breakers & taking Eric Clapton under his wing. Rocky shares favorite stories from their friendship & playing together over the years in the Blues Breakers. Put on a Blues Breakers record today to honor John - & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music. Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

One of the most iconic Rock Drummers of all time, Carmine Appice, is this week's special guest on the podcast! Carmine's 60+ year career has landed him in both the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame & the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. He's been an integral member of a long list of amazing groups, including everyone from Vanilla Fudge & Cactus (who he is a founding member of) to Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Ozzy, Pink Floyd & Blue Murder. This episode is a must listen for all drummers & musicians - Carmine discusses his storied career & his influence as one of the foundational hard rock drummers - as him & Jay Jay get into the evolution of rock and metal, and who they consider to be the most influential bands during the early years of 'Heavy Metal.' Cactus just released a brand new album this summer, titled 'Temple of Blues – Influences & Friends' on Cleopatra Records. The album is available now on digital platforms, CD and as a double vinyl album. The new album contains reimagined versions of some of Cactus’s most legendary songs with the current band and guests putting a new spin on these bad-ass tunes that are among the heaviest of heavy blues-rock ever recorded. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Viral sensation & violin virtuoso Nina DiGregorio is this week's guest on the podcast! Nina is a classically trained violinist, bass player, writer/arranger, and vocalist, but is most well-known for being an innovative performer on the electric rock violin, as well as a music business mogul and entrepreneur. She has performed as a soloist and string arranger with some of the biggest names in the business. She arranged and performed strings with The Killers for President Obama and was featured on a recent album. She can also be seen featured on the Beyonce I am...Yours live performance DVD and both David Foster and Friends DVDs, which include Josh Groban, Michael Bublé, Boz Scaggs, Peter Cetera, and Charice. Nina's list of accolades & performances goes on - & in addition to her live & recording work she is a one of a kind entrepreneur who has become widely popular through her live show in Vegas, & virally through her amazing covers of rock tunes. Tune is to hear all about her background & the story of carving her own path within the music & entertainment industries - don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Part II of Jay Jay's conversation with Dean Delray is this week! Don't miss the latter half of their conversation to hear them share killer stories & invaluable insight into the worlds of music & comedy. In this half of their conversation, Dean delves further into the world of comedy, from its current state to his experience hanging out at the Comedy Store back in the 80s. He shares the story of coming back to comedy later in life after being a touring musician - beginning at an open mic in 2009, after which he hasn't stopped stand up since. They talk about the importance of discipline within your craft, the impact that their influences have had on them & list their all time favorite records. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Killer stand up comedian, actor & lifelong rock n roller Dean Delray joins the podcast this week! If you're a rock or comedy enthusiast, you won't want to miss this conversation. Dean has been podcasting for the past 12 years on his great show 'Let There Be Talk, which you'll want to be sure to check out if you haven't already. Dean & Jay Jay get into all things comedy & music - discussing parallels between the two as they share insight into their creative processes surrounding the both. They chat about everything from favorite albums & deepest influences, to underrated bands & stories from sharing the stage with Bill Burr on tour over the past year and a half. Dean gets into stories from seeing Twisted over the years all the way back to their early recording days, & why he was inspired by Twisted's recent documentary, relating their story to his journey in comedy & discussing the importance of tenacity & not ever letting go of your dreams. This is only part 1 of their conversation - tune in next week to hear part II when Dean digs even deeper into the world of comedy. Be sure to check out Dean's upcoming summer tour dates, & don't miss this conversation - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Yana Roney, better known as Powder Fluff Girl on social media, is this week's guest on the podcast! Yana is an internet sensation - Mountain Shredder, Dirt Braap, Internet Celebrity, and Bikini Model all in one. She is famous for sharing her bike riding videos & exclusive photoshoots via Instagram, Tiktok & Facebook. She collaborates with different brands around the world, & her videos, showcasing her unique lifestyle have gained popularity on a global scale. Hear about Jay Jay & Yana's unlikely meeting, as they both share insight into their unique career paths and journeys. Yana discusses her background & the evolution of her crazy journey into the world of extreme sports & becoming an athlete. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member and lead guitarist Rickey Medlocke joins Jay Jay this week on the podcast! Jay Jay & Rickey's history goes as far back as Twisted Sister does - to 1973 - and they've remained friends ever since. Rickey is best known as being the frontman & guitarist for the band Blackfoot, as well as an original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. He's of Lakota Sioux and Cherokee ancestry, and was inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame in 2008. He's heavily involved in supporting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Movement, and national efforts to end all violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women, which you can learn more about via the links below:

www.niwrc.org
www.rickeymedlocke.com/never-run-out-of-road

Tune in to hear all about Jay Jay & Rickey's deep history that goes back over 50 years, as Rickey discusses how he's been one of the faces of Southern Rock for decades, and set the standard for the genre.

Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

A special thank you to our new sponsors, Dimarzio Pickups and Tonequest Report.

Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week, Jay Jay has a timely guest on the podcast ahead of the upcoming election, Edwin G. Oswald. Tune in to hear Edwin & Jay Jay discuss Ronald Reagan's life trajectory into the US presidency, the paradox of Reagan, & how people view him. Edwin recently wrote & published the book 'From Ronald to Donald: How the Myth of Reagan Became the Cult of Trump.' His book lays out a compelling argument that Reagan's presidency, & the mythology surrounding, laid the foundation for Trump's presidency. Reagan's myth persists, and by understanding his time in office in the context of American history and of the American presidency, we can understand how a transformative president created more than policy by also shaping culture with the instrumental force of mythology. His book attempts to neither praise nor bury Reagan but to explain him in non-partisan terms of contemporary popular mythology. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

This week's guests are guitar heavyweights Joe Satriani & Steve Vai! Tune into this special 2-in-1 episode - Joe & Steve find time during their ongoing tour to connect with Jay Jay on the podcast. They discuss their new work & share stories of their dense musical backgrounds, all the way back to day 1 getting their first guitars as kids. In addition to their tour, Steve & Joe just released their first collaborative single The Sea of Emotion, which is available to stream now! Jay Jay, Steve & Joe have very interesting intertwining histories as they all grew up on Long Island. Steve Vai talks about going out to see Jay Jay perform during Twisted's early club days, & Joe talks about giving guitar lessons to Steve when he was 17, & Steve was 12. This episode is a must listen for all guitar players - don't miss this insightful conversation between 3 guitar legends - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week's guest on The Jay Jay French Connection, is Wayne Bjerke, joined by Twisted's social media manager, Tor Caracappa! Wayne has been a true old school TS fan all the way back to their club days. He is currently a graphic artist & tattoo artist, who has been friends with Tor for 20+ years. Learn why Jay Jay believes that bands are only as good as their fanbase, & hear Jay Jay & Wayne discuss the power & impact that Twisted had in their early club days. Wayne asks questions he’s always had about the band, and shares what the experience was like to watch and be a part of the incredible arch of Twisted’s career.

Legendary Hollywood writer, producer & director, Paul Williams, is this week's guest on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! You won't want to miss Paul's stories from his remarkable journey into filmmaking, & talk about his recently published book titled 'Harvard, Hitmen and Holy Men. The book gets into how he is a real-life Forrest Gump - & how his experiences form a unique and often wild constellation of encounters with star power, political power, and spiritual power―a life cycle that led to fame and fortune and to integrity and anonymity. Paul shares stories of his intersecting careers with peers & friends in film, from Francis Ford Coppola to Terry Malick & Martin Scorsese. Hear stories from how Jay Jay came on the set to give Paul advice on portraying the culture surrounding drug dealing when he was working on the film 'Dealing' in the 70s, to Paul playing a pick up basketball game with Fidel Castro. Jay Jay & Paul bond over their overlapping in New York during their upbringings and the beginnings of their careers in film and music. Be sure to check out Paul's book, & don't miss this conversation - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! 

Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger 

This week's guest is 3-in-1 - Guitarist and producer Donny Goldberg, & his 2 sons, join Jay Jay in conversation! Together the 3 of them make up the instagram sensation Raized Wrong. Landon is 13 & his brother Lyric is 12 - together with their father they create online covers of hits from the 80's 90's & more. 

Hear the story about how Jay Jay found their music online, & why he immediately fell in love with what they were doing. The family discusses their creative process, generational influences, & what it's like playing and recording together as a family. Donny discusses why he finds it so important to encourage kids to get into art & music at a young age, & how he has encouraged both of his kids to do so since day one. 

Be sure to check out Raized Wrong's project online, & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger  

This week's special guest is true guitar virtuoso & grammy award winner, Tommy Emmanuel! The real-time exuberance Tommy Emmanuel brings to every note of every song he plays is palpable and infectious. His fans are in love with his unbound talent as a guitarist of multitudes, his ability to play three parts at once, always with pure heart and real soul.  

This conversation is not to miss for guitarists, musicians & music fans alike - as Jay Jay & Tommy get into everything from their roots, developing your own style, navigating the music business, favorite career experiences & the importance of pure live performance. 

Don't miss this insightful conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

Crimson & Clover, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Mony Mony, I Think We're Alone Now, Hanky Panky & Sweet Cherry Wine - these are just a few of the hits written by legendary artist Tommy James, who is this week's guest on the podcast!! Tommy is a renowned musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, widely known as frontman of the 1960s rock band Tommy James and the Shondells - who is now entering his 51st year in the music industry, actively touring, hosting his radio program GETTIN' TOGETHER WITH TOMMY JAMES, & licensing his music which is featured in over 65 films, 53 tv shows and numerous commercials. Jay Jay gets into why he loves Tommy's critically acclaimed autobiography 'ME, THE MOB AND THE MUSIC,' which is listed on Rolling Stone's Top 25 Memoirs, and is now in pre-production to be turned into a film. Tommy shares some amazing stories of his relationship with Roulette Records & Morris Levy (who he found to be the most interesting person he's ever met), & how he learned the business of radio and music in New York during the 60's. "It's a small world, so treat people well because you meet the same people on the way up as you will on the way down." This is the advice that Jay Jay will never forget Tommy giving him, as they were sharing a bill at a club in Baldwin, Long Island back in the 80s - tune in to hear the full story, and don't miss their conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week's guest is the founder of one of the seminal punk bands, The Dictators! CBGB’s was built on the back of the first of the great legendary NY Punk band The Dictators. Join Jay Jay in welcoming punk legend Andy Shernoff on the podcast! Andy is a musician, songwriter & producer, who is a founding member of The Dictators. Jay Jay & Andy discuss the parallels between the New York bar scene that Twisted was a part of, & the New York punk scene that The Dictators were a part of. They get into the importance of the early years of punk in New York & how those years impacted the landscape of music to this day. They go on to talk about the evolution of radio, sobriety & creative longevity, and share countless memories from the foundations of punk & rock in New York. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Shel Talmy is the legendary producer of The Who’s first earthshaking debut album “My Generation,” the first 5 (and most famous) Kinks albums, the Easybeats biggest hit 'Friday in my Mind,' as well as Manfred Mann's debut single 'Do Wha Diddy Diddy,'  mong many many more. It has been a great 2023 here on The Jay Jay French Connection - beginning the year with Twisted's induction into The Heavy Metal Hall of Fame, followed by a diverse & heavy hitting lineup of special guests on the podcast. Don't miss the year's final episode, as Jay Jay welcomes a very special guest onto the show, Shel Talmy! Shel is a legendary producer, songwriter & arranger who is best known for his work in the UK in the 60's. He has an amazing legacy in music, & there's a reason why Jay Jay finds his history in production to be one of the most important in music. Jay Jay talks about how much the records Shel produced have influenced him over the years, & how they served as the foundation for Rock n Roll to this day.  Shel shares some amazing stories - why he found Keith Moon to be the best drummer, recording all of the Wrecking Crew's sessions, his successes in working against the grain & current norms (including developing a 12 mic recording technique), working with Jimmy Page when he was only a 17 years old, & some of his favorite recording sessions. He gets into his early A&R days, & shares the stories of signing The Kinks & The Who (then known as 'The High Numbers').  Tune in, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!  Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger 

This week, Jay Jay welcomes guest Ethan Penner onto the podcast! Ethan is an old friend of Jay Jay's & is widely recognized as a pioneer in the worlds of real estate & finance, with over 30 years of experience in both fields. Jay Jay & Ethan tell the story of how they met, Ethan's growing up as a true metal fan, & how music has deeply influenced his life both personally & professionally. 

Be sure to check out Ethan's inspiring new book Greatness is a Choice, linked below through his website.

www.greatintersection.com 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week, Jay Jay welcomes legendary singer & music icon Pat Boone onto the podcast! Pat is a singer, actor, TV host, producer, author, radio personality, record company head, TV station owner - just to name a few of his accolades. He encountered fame early on in life as a teen idol who shot to stardom via an early national talent show. Now, after 70 years in show business, he's returning to his roots in Nashville & releasing a 25-track country album - tune in to hear all about it, & to hear Jay Jay & Pat discuss the similarities & differences in their careers. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week, Jay Jay goes beyond the music & welcomes cancer doctor & researcher Dr. William Li. William W. Li, MD, is an internationally renowned Harvard-trained medical doctor, researcher, and president and a founder of the Angiogenesis Foundation. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than seventy diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease, and obesity. Discussing cancer is always a topic that's close to home for Jay Jay, being a cancer survivor himself. Don't miss this important conversation to hear Dr. Li's advice, & to hear these 2 discuss preventative actions to take in order to potentially decrease the risk of cancers. Be sure to stay up to date on Dr. Li's newsletter & check out his recently published books, linked through his website below!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

https://drwilliamli.com/ 

60th ANNIVERSARY JFK ASSASSINATION SPECIAL ON THE JAY JAY FRENCH CONNECTION PODCAST. JFK’s REAL KILLER IS FINALLY REVEALED Don't miss part 2 of the discussion surrounding the 60th anniversary of the assasination of JFK, with guest Monica Mercedes! This week, Jay Jay's special guests will reveal shocking stories and information on the JFK assassination. Monica is the daughter of the infamous American spy Marita Lorenz, who was deeply tied to Castro, JFK & Watergate. Hear all about her remarkable background growing up around these historical events, & what she knows about the JFK Assasination. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

60th ANNIVERSARY JFK ASSASSINATION SPECIAL ON THE JAY JAY FRENCH CONNECTION PODCAST. JFK’s REAL KILLER IS FINALLY REVEALED This week, Jay Jay's special guests will reveal shocking stories and information on the JFK assassination. These 2 guests will have you in disbelief and counter everything you thought you knew about the JFK assassination! You don’t want to miss Robert Morningstar starting Tuesday and Monica Mercedes Perez Jimenez starting on thanksgiving day. Robert Morningstar is a researcher, & editor of the e-zine UFO Digest. He has a degree in psychology from Fordham University, and describes himself as a civilian intelligence analyst and "a specialist in photo interpretation, geometric analysis and computer imaging." Don't miss their conversation, only on the Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week, Jay Jay welcomes back his dear friend & collaborator of over 47 years, Dee Snider! 

Dee Snider, the iconic American singer, songwriter, radio personality, writer, and actor, has recently announced the release of his first novel, Frats. Frats is an honest, daring story that
examines the pressures of toxic masculinity in high school hallways. Dee Snider is no stranger to exploring controversial topics through his music and writing. As the frontman for Twisted Sister, he wrote some of the most iconic and provocative songs in rock history. He has been an outspoken advocate for free speech and individualism throughout his career. In Frats, Snider uses his unique voice and perspective to examine the ways in which toxic masculinity can harm young men and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. The novel is a call to action for all young people to
reject harmful societal norms and embrace individuality and self-expression.

Tune in to hear Dee & Jay Jay catch up and discuss the ins & outs of Dee's new novel, his approaches to writing the book, & why he was inspired to share this story. 

Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger  

Join Jay Jay this week for the final week of Record Label Presidents Month! Very special guest Laura Kunkel joins Jay Jay to discuss the nuances surrounding getting into the record business, & Laura's inspiring story behind starting her new record label. Hear all about the importance of having individuals who truly care about music & art behind labels - & why Laura's motivation has been to be an advocate for artists, & to build a label that can support a healthy & expressive creative culture. Laura gets into how her background in the marketing & advertising worlds intersect with music, & how this can be of value when applied to art. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week, David Rath joins Jay Jay for week 3 of Record Label Presidents Month on the show! David Rath comes from Roadrunner Records where he spent twenty-one years in the A&R and Creative Departments, having been A&R on albums by Slipknot, Korn, Gojira, Coheed and Cambira, Slash, The Amity Affliction, Trivium, Stone Sour, Dream Theater and Megadeth and where he oversaw music videos from Nickelback, Theory Of A Deadman, Killswitch Engage, Jerry Cantrell and Slipknot. Rath helped guide the label through multiple changes in ownership and management, after which he oversaw the signings of Platinum selling acts Young The Giant and Vance Joy for Atlantic and Elektra Records. As the head of the A&R department at Roadrunner, Rath most recently signed and A&R’d Grammy nominated acts Turnstile and Code Orange, along with White Reaper and Motionless In White who both recently scored #1 Alternative and Active Rock radio hits. In 2022, Dave Rath formed a partnership and new venture with Cees Wessels, the original founder of Roadrunner Records, to launch the rock label Blue Grape Music. The Blue Grape name comes from the influential hardcore/metal merch company formerly owned by Wessels. The new label recently signed pioneering metal outfit Code Orange, along with the Bay area post-punk band Spiritual Cramp, and New Jersey’s buzzing hardcore band GEL with releases scheduled for 2023. Blue Grape Music has offices in both New York City and Amsterdam and is presently distributed by The Orchard. Prior to being at Roadrunner Records, Rath, a graduate of Villanova University, was the Director of The Philadelphia Music Conference and drummer for the Columbia Records band Heavens Edge. Jay Jay & David discuss their journeys into the record business, the ins & outs of A&R and the current state of the record label industry. David gets into how working in A&R keeps his ear to what's happening in the music world, & why he finds this to be very important. Don't miss this insightful conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Tune in for the second week of Record Label President's Month! This week, Jay Jay welcomes special guest Cliff Chenfeld. Cliff is a renowned music executive, who is both the co-founder and co-CEO of Razor & Tie Records, as well as Kidz Bop. Hear all about the history of how Razor & Tie began as a reissue / compilation centered label, & progressed into becoming one of the leading rock labels in the country. Jay Jay & Cliff dig into the ins & outs of the major label industry, & the evolution of listener's relationship to albums in the streaming age. Don't miss this insightful conversation from 2 major label industry veterans, & check out episodes of Cliff's Modern Sounds Radio through the streaming link below:

www.allarts.org/podcast/all-arts-radio-hour/ 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week, guest Jason Flom joins Jay Jay to kick off a month of renowned record label presidents joining in conversation. Jason is a dear friend of Jay Jay's who has a deep rooted history alongside Twister Sister, which they talk all about. Their stories go back 40+ years to the early days of Twisted in New York, when Jason was a kid in high school following Twisted in Long Island. Jason has become a well known record label executive, podcaster & philanthropist - he is the founder of Lava Records, and was previously the chairman of Atlantic Records & Virgin Records/ Capitol Music Group.

Tune in for some amazing stories of the early days of Twisted, as well as some invaluable insights into the label industry today. Don't miss this episode, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week's guest is Jay Jay's wife Sharon, who joins the podcast for an open-ended conversation about life, love & Twisted Sister. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

This week, Jay Jay welcomes back legendary guitar virtuoso Joel Hoekstra! This episode is a must listen for all guitar heads. Joel shares his remarkable journey from being a classically trained guitarist, & a young kid with chops in the suburbs of Chicago, to working in LA during the height of its 'shred guitar player scene,' to being one of the best & most well versed guitarists in rock n roll. Joel has played an invaluable role in the likes of Whitesnake, Cher, Night Ranger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the broadway musical Rock of Ages, & many others - in addition to his ongoing solo project 'Joel Hoekstra's 13.' Don't miss this conversation, only on the Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week on The Jay Jay French Connection, Jay Jay welcomes author Jarret Keene on the show ahead of his brand new book release. Jarret is Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he teaches both American literature AND the graphic novel. Hear all about how he has been a Twisted fan for years, & why he believes that many of his students have been inspired by Twisted Sister - particularly the album Stay Hungry. His debut novel HAMMER OF THE DOGS - a post apocalyptic adventure in Las Vegas for readers of all ages - is available in paperback as of today, September 12th. Set in the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Hammer of the Dogs is a literary dystopian adventure filled with high-octane fun starring twenty-one-year-old Lash. With her high-tech skill set and warrior mentality, Lash is a master of her own fate as she helps to shield the Las Vegas valley’s survivors and protect her younger classmates at a paramilitary school holed up in Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. After graduation, she’ll be alone in fending off the deadly intentions and desires of the school’s most powerful opponents. When she’s captured by the enemy warlord, she’s surprised by two revelations: He’s not the monster her headmaster wants her to believe and the one thing she can’t safeguard is her own heart. Hammer of the Dogs celebrates the courageousness of a younger generation in the face of authority while exploring the difficult choices a conscionable young woman must make with her back against a blood-spattered wall. It’s a story of transformation and maturity, as Lash grapples with her own identity and redefines the glittering Las Vegas that Nevada is known for. Be sure to check out Jarret's book, & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week, tune in to hear part 2 of Jay Jay's conversation with legendary guitarist & session musician Steve Lukather! If you're in the LA area, don't forget to catch Steve perform on Saturday, September 9th with Toto at 'A Concert for the Ed Asner Family Center,' alongside Ringo Starr, Joe Bonamassa, Colin Hay & others at The Orpheum Theater in California.  

Ed Asner Benefit Show   

Steve is an extremely versatile musician, guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer / arranger & has been an in demand session musician since the 70s - in addition to being the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. Over the years Steve has played & collaborated with a wide variety of artists - and continues to release & perform solo music under his own name.

Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger  

This week, Jay Jay welcomes legendary guitarist & session musician Steve Lukather! Steve is an extremely versatile musician, guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer / arranger & has been an in demand session musician since the 70s - in addition to being the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. Over the years Steve has played & collaborated with a wide variety of artists - and continues to release & perform solo music under his own name. 

On Saturday, September 9th, Steve will be performing with Toto at 'A Concert for the Ed Asner Family Center,' alongside Ringo Starr, Joe Bonamassa, Colin Hay & others at The Orpheum Theater in California. Check out more info on the show below if you live near California, & don't miss part one of their conversation - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! 

Ed Asner Benefit Show  

 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week Bill Low, founder & chief designer of the acclaimed company AudioQuest, joins Jay Jay for part 2 of their conversation! Don't miss this insightful discussion about the world of audio & its importance in our daily lives. AudioQuest is a company that develops tools for enhancing the in-home experience of audio and video entertainment. Jay Jay & Bill are both Hi-Fi experts, & dig into everything from commentary on the state or the Hi-Fi industry, to advice on home audio set ups, & the human brain's perception relative to our understanding of audio technology. Tune in to part 1 of their insightful talk surrounding the current state of audio & music, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week Bill Low, founder & chief designer of the acclaimed company AudioQuest, joins Jay Jay in conversation! AudioQuest is a company that develops tools for enhancing the in-home experience of audio and video entertainment. Jay Jay & Bill are both Hi-Fi experts, & dig into everything from commentary on the state or the Hi-Fi industry, to advice on home audio set ups, & the human brain's perception relative to our understanding of audio technology. Tune in to part 1 of their insightful talk surrounding the current state of audio & music, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

This week, Jay Jay once again goes beyond the music & welcomes a very special guest, Ashley Loeb Blassingame. Ashley is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-II, a Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist, and a Certified Arise Interventionist who is the co founder of Lionrock Recovery . In addition to her work with Lionrock, she is also the host of the podcast 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast.' Ashley has a remarkably resilient story of her own experience dealing with addiction, which led her to where she is today in the fields of counseling & recovery. Hear all about her healing journey getting out of the throes of addiction, & how this led her down the path helping others deal with the same. 

Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week, Jay Jay welcomes his dear friend & the original bassist of Twisted Sister - Ken Neill! 1973 was Twisted's first summer together - marking this summer as its 50th anniversary. Join these 2 to hear all about their years spent together in Twisted Sister as they share many of their favorite stories & most notable memories. To this day, all of the members of Twisted view Ken as the best natural musician to be a part of the band. Ken talks about why he made the decision to leave the band, what he is up to nowadays, & Jay Jay and Ken discuss their summer together in 1973 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Twisted Sister. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week is an extra special episode, celebrating the release of the brand new documentary "Have You Got it Yet?" The Story of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd. Acclaimed director Roddy Bogawa & producer Orian Williams join Jay Jay to discuss the making of the film, in anticipation of its upcoming release. Hear all about how the film came to fruition, & what makes it the proper film to tell Syd Barrett's legendary & complicated story - & how he changed the worlds or rock n roll and psychedelia forever. Roddy & Orian discuess how they bonded through the making of the documentary, & why this film was a perfect fit for the both of them to direct & produce, given their expertise in the worlds of rock n roll & film - and the influence that Syd Barrett had on them both. Jay Jay gets into the influence that Pink Floyd and Syd have had on him over the years, & why he considers The Piper at The Gates of Dawn to be his all time favorite psychedelic record. 

Syd and Pink Floyd crystallized a cultural moment where anything seemed possible but where that freedom could come with a cost. Was Syd just another drug casualty? Did he suffer from an undiagnosed mental condition? Or did he dislike the attention and fame as the fun turned to work? While there are no clear answers, there is the feeling by all those around Syd that something went terribly wrong. Have You Got it Yet? is a chronicle and a mosaic of Barrett’s creative and destructive impulses, his captivating presence and absence - a portrait of the complex puzzle that was his life.   

The documentary feature interviews with David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Roger Waters, original band managers Peter Jenner and Andrew King, as well as The Who’s Pete Townshend and Blur’s Graham Coxon - among many others!

This episode is an absolute must listen for all Pink Floyd & Syd Barrett fans. Tune in to their conversation, & be sure to catch the film in theaters near you - Opening In NY Theaters July 14th & LA Theaters July 21st Additional Cities To Be Announced.

Check out the trailer below!

Have You Got it Yet? Official Trailer  

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Tune in this week to hear Jay Jay welcome guest & heavy metal legend Dave Meniketti! Dave is a singer, guitar virtuoso, & founding member of the group Y&T. Twisted Sister and Y&T toured extensively together in the early 80’s - both Twisted and Y&T both have intertwined roots in the history of Heavy Metal as they both found, simultaneously, very receptive fans and press in England in 1982/83. Tune in to this insightful conversation & hear Jay Jay & Dave share memories from their storied careers in metal - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!  

Stay up to date on Dave & Y&T through the below links:

www.YandTRocks.com 

www.YandT.rocks 

www.facebook.com/YandTRocks 

www.twitter.com/YandTRocks 

www.youtube.com/YandTRocks 

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger 

This week's episode is a must listen for all audio files & fans of the show - as Jay Jay welcomes back dear friend & Hi-Fi expert Ken Kessler, to continue a third part of their conversation. Tune in for a fresh update & perspective on the current state of Hi-Fi! Ken is a Hi-Fi expert journalist, who joined Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 1983, to which he still contributes. He is also the author of "Quad: The Closest Approach", "McIntosh … For The Love Of Music", and co-author of "Sound Bites" and "KEF: Innovators In Sound." Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week, Jay Jay welcomes special guest & long time friend Michael Corcione on the podcast! Mike Corcione is a rabid music fan who lived his dream of making it in the music industry through a whirlwind rock and roll career beginning in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Tune in to hear Jay Jay & Michael share stories from their beginnings in music - from falling in love with the AM radio, to their personal roads into the music industry & the world of metal. They share stories from their times coming up in the Long Island scene in New York, & how these experiences impact them to this day. Be sure to check out Michael's amazing new tell all book, Tales from the Gutter: and other Rock and Roll Shenanigans , & extensive linktree page which are linked below. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!  

Michael Corcione's Linktree 

Tales from the Gutter 

Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Dr Stephen Anesi returns for the second episode dedicated to Uveitis, one of the leading causes of blindness among young and working age people in America. As Jay Jay revealed in the last episode this disease is a personal issue as it affects his daughter Samantha. In this episode Samantha and Jessica Ullrich , another young patient share their uveitis journeys , from diagnoses to treatment, as well as how they have been able to create lives for themselves and have kids. Dr Anesi offers additional perspective as it relates to their cases and the importance of early detection and treatment. This episode will be featured during World Autoimmune & Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day; A 24 hour YouTube livestream to “Drive” awareness for AI Arthritis diseases. Visit aiarthritis.org and uveitis.org for any information & resources surrounding the disease that you may need.

This week, Jay Jay welcomes special guest Kimberly Shannon Murphy! Kimberly has not only been one of Hollywood's go to Stuntwomen for years - doubling for the likes of Amber Heard, Cameron Diaz & Monica Bellucci - she is also a stunt coordinator, actress & author. Today, Kimberly is releasing her brand new book, titled 'Glimmer: A Story of Survival, Hope, and Healing.' Glimmer is a raw and heartening memoir of one woman’s journey from surviving childhood sexual abuse to becoming one of the most successful stuntwomen in Hollywood. Hear Jay Jay & Kimberly discuss the ins & outs of her book, why she felt motivated to tell her story publicly, & how she got the courage to do so and to write this novel. In sharing her story, Kimberly hopes to turn her pain into purpose, and to serve as a hopeful example to others who are survivors of similar abuse & trauma. Don't miss this important conversation, & be sure to check out Kimberly's new book, which is linked below. amazon.com/Glimmer-Story-Survival-Hope-Healing-ebook/dp/B0B9SM63NF kimberlyshannonmurphy.com/ Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week Jay Jay welcomes back his friend Ken Kessler for part II of their recent conversation surrounding HiFi audio! Hear these 2 audio experts discuss the current state of HiFi, their favorite sounds systems, the value of high quality audio & the changes in music fan's listening habits in recent years. Ken is a Hi-Fi expert journalist, who joined Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 1983, to which he still contributes. He is also the author of "Quad: The Closest Approach", "McIntosh … For The Love Of Music", and co-author of "Sound Bites" and "KEF: Innovators In Sound." Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger