The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music

Jay Jay welcomes back 2 very special guests to the podcast - guitar legends Joe Satriani & Steve Vai!This episode is a must listen for all guitar heads. Jay Jay discusses the 2026 Twisted Sister Reunion, as Joe and Steve get into their current collaboration. They dig into why their interplay isn’t mystical so much as decades of a deep musical conversation that they began as kids. Their friendship and close listening to one another, to the more technical - tone choices, and practical staging (mono vs stereo rigs, crew wizardry), etc. They talk gear, dynamics, and the telepathy that you gain after years of playing everywhere from yards & garages, to festival stages & concert halls. Jay, Joe & Steve discuss “commercial” vs “authentic” pursuits — exploring whether chasing radio hits matters, and how you can’t fake what people will like, but only write what you feel. They talk about how playing with humans matters more than all else in the current digital landscape. Joe and Steve differentiate the ways in which touring with separate bands differs from merging into one tight unit, how arrangements are made on the fly, and the inherent value of close collaboration in fast moving environments.They wrap their conversation talking about how chasing trends can ultimately be a trap, and how commercial success should be a byproduct, rather than at the forefront of one's artistry, getting into the importance of staying true and doing the work. Don't miss this insightful conversation from 3 guitar legends - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

Ahead of Twisted's (Bent Brother's) upcoming resurrection & tour dates, Jay Jay welcomes a very special guest to the podcast, Sebastian Bach! Jay Jay and Sebastian unite to discuss the upcoming Twisted Sister resurrection tour. Jay begins with outlining the journey leading up to this moment, reflecting on both the highlights and the challenges faced by the band over the years. Bach, who brings a vibrant energy to the conversation per usual, shares his own experiences with Skid Row, drawing parallels between his unique career trajectory in Rock, and the legacy of Twisted Sister. The two musicians engage in a thoughtful dialogue about the evolution of rock music and the impact of their respective careers on the genre. They touch on the importance of fan engagement, the emotional connection between artists and their audiences, and the excitement of touring after years apart. Their reflections on past performances and journeys up until now are inspiring for musicians and fans alike to hear; especially in anticipation of Twisted's upcoming performance dates - which begin on August 28th at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, under the moniker Big Brother. This high energy episode serves both as a celebration of Rock music but also as a reminder of the enduring legacy that bands like Twisted Sister and artists like Bach continue to build. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Twisted Sister Tour Dates Produced and Edited by Matthew Mallinger 

This week, Jay Jay is joined by his Producer Matthew Mallinger, as they discuss the world of HiFi audio & Jay Jay's new upcoming program Twisted Systems. They delve into electroacoustic engineering and how the landscape of audio production has changed, emphasizing that you don't need to break the bank to get great sound. Matthew shares his journey within art as a drummer, painter & producer - & his most meaningful influences along the way; from hearing his uncle Pat Mallinger perform in Chicago as a kid, to his current involvement in Deantoni Parks Technoself School of Philosophy. They get into myths about audio quality and discuss the importance of understanding what elements are most important as a listener. Jay & Matthew end their conversation talking about the excitement surrounding Twisted Sister's tour coming up this year, & their plans to carry on with the anticipated reunion. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Tune in for Part II of one the favorite hi fi conversations that has taken place on the podcast: Analog Wars, with Ken Kessler & Michael Fremer! Don't miss the second half of these audio gurus conversation with Jay Jay.Ken is a Hi-Fi expert journalist, who joined Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 1983, to which he still contributes. He also writes a column for the website Soundstage UK, is the author of "Quad: The Closest Approach", "McIntosh … For The Love Of Music", and co-author of "Sound Bites" and "KEF: Innovators In Sound." Michael Fremer is the editor of analogPlanet.com, and senior contributing editor at Stereophile magazine. He’s also contributed to The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Consumer Digest, and The Bergen Record (New Jersey) among other publications and periodicals.Produced & edited by Matthew Mallinger

Join us this week as we revisit a previous favorite of Jay Jay's conversations on hi-fi audio; If there are two individuals who know the world of Hi-Fi audio, it's Ken Kessler & Michael Fremer. Ken is a Hi-Fi expert journalist, who joined Hi-Fi News & Record Review in 1983, to which he still contributes. He also writes a column for the website Soundstage UK, is the author of "Quad: The Closest Approach", "McIntosh … For The Love Of Music", and co-author of "Sound Bites" and "KEF: Innovators In Sound." Michael Fremer is the editor of analogPlanet.com, and senior contributing editor at Stereophile magazine. He’s also contributed to The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, Consumer Digest, and The Bergen Record (New Jersey) among other publications and periodicals. These two audio experts are long-time friends of Jay Jay's, & their conversation was so extensive that we had to split it into two parts. This is "Analog Wars: Part I" with Ken Kessler & Michael Fremer.Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger