Speak N' Destroy

ALL WITHIN MY HANDS Executive Director Edward H. Frank talks about his relationship with Metallica and the work they do together. Ed worked in the computer industry for more than 30 years, including a stint as Vice President of Macintosh Hardware Engineering at Apple, where he led the development of several generations of Macintosh computers. In addition to supporting AWMH, Ed and his wife Sarah have focused their personal philanthropy on major US research universities, the arts, and local cultural institutions. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Support us on Patreon. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downeyon Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCursepodcast network.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ talks about growing up and his band's fantastic relationship with Metallica. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Support us on Patreon. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

DIRTY DONNY hand-illustrated the Metallica Stern pinball machine and is responsible for several of the band’s posters and the artwork that adorns Metallica HQ. Donny talks about his career in the arts, meeting Metallica, how he ended up working at HQ for several months, and more. The work of Dirty Donny (aka Donny Gillies) can be seen on skate decks, pinball machines (including Aerosmith’s game), hot rods, posters, album covers, toys, and more. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Support us on Patreon. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BAY AREA GODFATHERS director Bob Nalbandian met Lars Ulrich in Huntington Beach before the formation of Metallica. Envious of the young Dane's New Wave Of British Heavy Metal records, Bob was witness to the first shows by Metallica: Lars, James, Dave, and Ron. In 1982, at age 17, he started a fanzine called The Headbanger, interviewing then-unsigned bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Armored Saint. He wrote for Hit Parader and Creem through the 90s and worked for Enigma and Roadrunner Records. He was even instrumental in Marty Friedman joining Megadeth. Bob talks about Metallica's early days, his career, and the documentary films he's directed, including 2020's Inside Metal: Bay Area Godfathers. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Support us on Patreon. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

RAVEN frontman John Gallagher tells hilarious and candid stories from 1983's Raven/Metallica tour, Kill 'Em All For One. 17 people in a Winnebago, what could go wrong? Plus, Raven's early days, Neat Records, the NWOBHM, and their new album, Metal City. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Support us on Patreon. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

The Decade That Rocked. Mark Weiss is responsible for multiple iconic photos of Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, and Aerosmith. As the main photographer for Ozzy Osbourne, Mark first shot Metallica during the 1986 Ozzy/Metallica tour, and was soon after drafted to do the band's first publicity photos with Jason Newsted. It's all chronicled in his new book, The Decade That Rocked, focused on his work from the 1980s. In this episode, we also talk about Ozzy dressed as the Easter Bunny; Dokken and Freddy Krueger; Sammi Curr; the Moscow Music Peace Festival; Dee Snider at the PMRC hearings; Mark's brush with Glenn Danzig; shooting a very strung-out Dave Mustaine; and of course, a lot of Metallica. Learn more about Mark at TheDecadeThatRocked.com. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast netw

TRAUMA is best known as Cliff Burton's pre-Metallica outfit, but they're a solid heavy metal band in their own right. I was hired to write a new bio for them in 2017 and spoke with vocalist/cofounder Donny Hillier by phone. Donny was going to come on to Speak N' Destroy to talk more about Cliff, but we never made it happen. When I heard the sad news of Donny's passing in September 2020, I remembered this recording. This interview covers some of Trauma's history, including some great stuff about Cliff toward the end. I'm posting this to give people a chance to hear the same sweet guy that spoke to me. Donny Hillier, R.I.P., thanks for all of the great music, and for sharing Cliff with the world. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

Comedian! Musician! Metallica fan! Dave Hill is one-half of the psych-garage duo Painted Doll, together with Chris Reifert (Death, Autopsy). As an actor and personality, Dave has appeared on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Tick, @midnight, Inside Amy Schumer, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and The Jim Gaffigan Show. He’s written three books, appears all over the world as a standup comic, contributed to The New York Times and GQ, and is the mastermind behind the "mostly imaginary” black metal band Witch Taint. His power pop band, Valley Lodge, wrote the theme song to HBO’s Last Week Tonight. In this episode, we talk about Phil Anselmo, Fenriz, Portal, The Replacements, Dokken, The Jackson Five, depressing pubs in England, Corrosion of Conformity, Mayhem, Emperor, a-ha, a whole bunch of Danzig and yes, plenty of Metallica. Keep up with Dave Hill. Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Visit SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow the show on Twit

We saw Metallica at the drive-in! Andrew Carter returns to Speak N' Destroy along with Kevin Burwick for an in-depth conversation about the Metallica drive-in experience. The set list, the sound, the atmosphere, and a whole bunch of well-researched facts about the vineyard, among other things. Andrew is the former Deputy Editor for Terrorizer Magazine, an ex-music manager, and longtime entertainment attorney. Kevin is the guitarist for Golden Ram and an entertainment news writer for MovieWeb and TVweb.  Awesome California drive-in theater: Mission Tiki.  Sonoma Winery: Gundlach Bundschu Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com and on YouTube. Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES drummer Christian "C.C." Coma details what it was like to work with Bob Rock on the band's 2014 album. The band's self-titled set was recorded at the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver and mixed at legendary A&M/Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood, just like the Black Album. A ton of relatable stories about Bob reaching out to the band; Paul Stanley visiting the studio; tones, technique, and technology; discovering Metallica; what Lars Ulrich brings to the band; CC's early bands and his introduction to Black Veil Brides; and much, much more.  Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

Ex-FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH drummer Jeremy Spencer talks about discovering Master of Puppets; what makes the early Metallica records so special; Lars Ulrich; his early Indiana band, Cornucopia Of Death; Metallica on the Monsters of Rock Tour in 1988; moving to California at 19; playing with one of the BulletBoys and briefly, W.A.S.P.; the formation and rapid ascent of Five Finger Death Punch; dinner with Judas Priest; Jason Newsted; what led him to step down from FFDP; the theatrical metal band he now fronts, Psychosexual; and his top five favorite Metallica songs.  Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

BAD WOLVES. Doc Coyle returns! The first repeat guest, with all new Metallica-related stories to tell. Doc was one of the guitar players in The Wedding Band, alongside Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, performing a set of songs by AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Billy Idol, Kool & The Gang, and more, first in July 2019 and then again in March 2020. Doc tells the story behind his role in both shows. He also talks in-depth about the success of Bad Wolves (a platinum single with "Zombie" and a bunch of No. 1 songs at Rock Radio), creative partnerships, movies and TV shows he's watching, and politics.  Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

ZAO guitarist Scott Mellinger talks about discovering Metallica; learning his first Metallica songs and covering them in his first band; the unique partnership between him and the rest of the guys in Zao, past and present; and to top it off, he's composed an original theme for Speak N' Destroy!  Follow Scott on Instagram to keep up with Zao, Pack (featuring members of the Juliana Theory), and The Lonely Ghost Parade.  Speak N' Destroy podcast theme composed, performed, and produced by Scott Mellinger. Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com. Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

TETRARCH shredder Diamond Rowe, who AfroPunk described as "the guitarist repping for black women making metal," talks about growing up with a music business father; discovering Metallica via the MTV: Icon television performance; learning "Enter Sandman" on guitar; covering "Master of Puppets"; seeing the band for the first time; her favorite bassist; the nuances of each member's playing; her Top 5 Metallica songs, and more.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

PEER PLEASURE podcast host Dewey Halpaus (founding member of Fearless Records recording artists Anatomy Of A Ghost and a onetime touring guitarist for Portugal. The Man) talks about growing up in Alaska, including the role a mayor named Sarah Palin played in helping his local scene; discovering punk, metal, and Metallica; the origin story behind the Peer Pleasure podcast; and his personal Metallica album ranking.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

METAL ALLEGIANCE and BPMD bassist Mark Menghi talks about jamming with James Hetfield, playing one of Cliff Burton's basses onstage as the late Ray Burton looked on, discovering Metallica, and the origin stories behind both of his bands: Metal Allegiance with Alex Skolnick (Testament), Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater), and David Ellefson (Megadeth) and BPMD, with Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (Overkill), Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head), and Portnoy.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY drummer Mark O'Connell (who has an ...And Justice for All tattoo) talks about discovering the band; which songs he plays in the dressing room before going onstage; seeing the band live for the first time; his two favorite songs from each record; almost meeting Kirk Hammett; and the St. Anger snare. Plus, he gives a full-throated and detailed endorsement of Lars Ulrich's drumming ability, style, and significance to the overall band.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

DECIBEL and Revolver Magazine contributor J. Bennett joins the show. Bennett wrote the exhaustive Hall Of Fame piece on ...And Justice for All for Decibel, featuring all four of the guys on the record, in which Jason Newsted went into detailed specifics for the first time about how the bass was recorded (among other treats). He's also a longtime contributor to High Times, Vice, Bandcamp Daily, and multiple other outlets. There is, of course, a lot of Metallica talk, as well as a bit of inside baseball banter about interviewing bands, as J. and Downey share much in common.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.

WARBRINGER vocalist John Kevill and drummer Carlos Cruz join Speak N’ Destroy for our 50th (!) episode.  The duo share a dense knowledge and passion for the genre and dive in here on the chemistry, serendipity, and near scientific structure that makes Metallica and bands like Slayer, Bathory, and Kreator, so great. It's a deep conversation about art vs. craft; the accidental brilliance born of limited resources; plus, the stories about how each of them discovered and became involved in heavy music in the first place.  We rank the first five Metallica albums and talk about all of the ways Warbringer has drawn inspiration from Metallica as the Neo-thrash survivors have created six well-received albums, including their latest, Weapons of Tomorrow.  Carlos is the former drummer for the band Hexen, filled in for his friends in Power Trip, and replaced the late Nick Menza in OHM, the instrumental rock/jazz fusion trio led by Chris Poland, the lead guitar player on the first two Megadeth albums. Keep

BREAKING BENJAMIN. "Through the Never," "Sad But True," and "Enter Sandman" have all been part of the Breaking Benjamin setlist. In addition to playing guitar for the multiplatinum band, Keith Wallen is a former member of Adelitas Way and has cowritten songs with Saint Asonia, Red, Fuel, and Saving Abel. Keith talks about discovering Metallica; seeing them live for the first time; the first riffs he learned; his Top 5 Metallica songs; his favorite Metallica album; his solo music; and much more.  We talk about his first Metallica show, his favorite Metallica riffs, his top 5 Metallica songs, his solo stuff music, and more. Learn more about Keith and his music at KeithWallen.com.  Keep up with the podcast at SpeakNDestroy.com Follow Speak N' Destroy on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Speak N' Destroy is part of the PopCurse podcast network.