The Rock Pit had a chance to catch up with radio personality and talk show host, Eddie Trunk while attending the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky recently.
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal-themed radio and television shows. Eddie was at the festival promoting and filming some segments for his new show on AXS TV. He was kind enough to give us an interview.
Eddie, the consummate interviewer asked us “What is the Rockpit? We answered an online magazine based in Australia that is also focusing on international coverage. He was excited about that fact.
The Rockpit: Upon entering the media tent earlier, I caught the tail end of your impromptu speech and you were explaining your beginnings. Could you provide us with a rundown of your history in the music business?
Eddie Trunk: I started right out of high school, very early on in radio, I did freelance writing and working at a record store. I whole reason I got into music was there were so many bands that I loved that weren’t getting the respect and attention they deserved. I decided to try to change that. I did everything I could to help grow the scene and build the artists up. That included working at a record store so I could sell the music, writing so I could write about and review the music, started a radio show right out of high school so I could play the music. Back then not a lot of people were doing anything like that, so it got a lot of attention. That led to me working at a record label, Megaforce Records where I started working in 1986. I was doing anything and everything behind the scenes I could do. I continue to do that to this day. I have 8 radio shows a week, 6 on satellite, 1 on terrestrial FM and a podcast. For the last 10-12 years on television, That Metal Show, that is seen in Australia. I’m currently here at Louder Than Life shooting a new TV show for AXS TV here in a America that will start premiering next year 2018.(I later learned that it’s scheduled for the spring of 2018.)
TRP: Is it Online?
ET: No, it’s only on the channel. (Check local providers.) They’re very unique that they don’t stream their stuff. They want people to watch the channel. It’s AXS TV. And for people that get the channel, it’s very loved because it’s very music driven. It’s a lot of concerts, a lot of rock, Sammy Hagar does a show. It’s very cool some of the things they do there. It’s owned by Mark Cuban. I say if it’s on your cable system you love it. Unfortunately, if you don’t have it, you’ve probably never heard of it.
TRP: We want to know about Eddie Trunk and his experience. Can you give us one of your favorite experiences from your whole career? You started in 1983 and there’s over 30 years of experiences to draw from.
ET: There’s a lot to potentially to cover, so many to choose from. Some highlights moments for me would be the 25th year anniversary of my FM show, Judas Priest played a private show for me and that’s kind of surreal to think of a band you grew up loving playing a private concert for you. So Judas Priest private show for 25th anniversary for my FM radio show.
30th anniversary of my radio show coming up on 5 years ago, there was another party where Ace Frehley and Peter Criss reunited and played together for the first time in ages and unfortunately probably for the last time ever. That was pretty cool growing up a big KISS fan. Moments like that are kind of like, “How did this happen?”
Getting That Metal Show on the air was pretty huge for me because I worked so hard to do it. I had worked for the channel for 5 years. I kept pounding and telling them, there’s an outlet for this. We need to do this, it was a fight that people wouldn’t believe to get it on. Once it got on and to see how successful it got and to have people ask me about it to this day. It awesome to see the mark the show made, I’m very proud of that obviously.
I did a charity event after 9/11 in New York City, NY USA (the attack of the World Trade Center) to raise money for all the service personnel, firefighters, police, emts, and their families. It was a hard rock show. I reunited Twisted Sister for that and they stayed together ever since, that’s how they came back together. Props to all the bands that played, we raised about $100,000 for the cause, it was a great night.
I think this genre of music gets marginalized, people think they have it all figured out. It falls into the stereotypes that come with it all to often. A lot of people don’t realize that there are a lot of really good people that are involved in this music and it’s a lot broader of a fan base than people think that love it. I always try to push against the clichés and stereotypes to show all the good can do so I’m happy that I can do that to some degree.
TRP: I like how you said that you’re not the typical guy that likes metal. There’s a guy I know back in Detroit, MI that looks like the typical metalhead and he’s doctor, they always do a piece on “The Rock Doctor” and it’s breaking down those stereotypes. Getting it out there, it speaks to everybody.
ET: I think that’s a big part of it. There are a lot more people that love this music than you would think.
Hold on a second…
As an interviewer, when your interviewee gets called away, the interview is over. Not because they’re trying to get away or anything like that. They just have many demands on their time. They’re always polite and say they’ll be right back but it’s accepted that it’s over.
Eddie is such a gracious man that he made sure to come back. He had to go, so we couldn’t continue the interview. It was very kind of him to let us know that he hadn’t forgotten us.
Eddie has a new unnamed show coming out in spring 2018 on AXS TV. If you have AXS TV keep an eye out for it. I’m sure it will have a similar impact of That Metal Show with great guests and music, Eddie’s vast knowledge, and some surprises.
