The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music

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.orgwww.rickeymedlocke.com/never-run-out-of-roadTune 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