November 28, 2025 • 20 mins
Wolfgang Van Halen is the frontman, guitarist, drummer, bassist and songwriter for the band Mammoth. Yes he plays all the instruments on their albums, Mammoth III just came out. On stage though Wolfgang has a plethra of amazing musicians backing him up.
Myles Kennedy is the lead singer of Alter Bridge who's new album AB is due out in January. He's also the lead singer for Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. When he's not busy with those projects he has is own solo band.
Mammoth are on tour until mid December with Myles opening up the shows and I had the pleasure of joining them on a recent tour stop that ended with a conversation in Myles' dressing room with both of them.
Myles Kennedy is the lead singer of Alter Bridge who's new album AB is due out in January. He's also the lead singer for Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. When he's not busy with those projects he has is own solo band.
Mammoth are on tour until mid December with Myles opening up the shows and I had the pleasure of joining them on a recent tour stop that ended with a conversation in Myles' dressing room with both of them.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Attention please, and now it cutters rock cast Hair's good,
that's mine. Great, That's how I got the hood on
smart nice. Okay, so we're backstage. It is the Mammoth
and Miles Kennedy Tour. And here's the thing you guys.
First of all, thank you for letting me do this.
(00:20):
This is the greatest looking rock and roll dressing room
Emory because it looks like a rock and roll dressing
room leftover food, clothes over, leftoverwhere it's perfect. I'm not
going to tell you who's dressing room is. About a
month ago, so I'm talking to Mark and we ended
up in the side conversation. This is why I want
to talk to you two together specifically because we end
(00:42):
up in the side conversation as we're talking about ulter
Bridge Racker and what's Creed doing and all that, right
about this extended family that exists around like six bands,
which of course is Greed and Mammoth and alter Bridge
and Miles Kennedy Solo seven Dust and this whole kind
of you know situation where you guys share musicians and
(01:06):
share management and share and it's really cool to see
this sort of back and forth and even go on
tour together, as is the case right now with YouTube
being on the road together. What does it mean to
both of you to sort of have that cammaraderie with
these certain group of musicians, because you guys seem to
stick together through thick and thin.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Okay, it's okay, Oh, it's great. It's really fun to
just have this, this sort of just touring happy family
so much.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You know, we.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Really fun to be able to do it this way
because it's like we've never I've never been able to
tour with Miles and his solo stuff, which is real
right awesome. So it's always been like opening for Slash
or opening for Altar Bridge, you know, and so being
able to tour with Miles in this capacity has been
really fun.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Not only have the amount of music that exists between everybody, Miles,
you have this obviously your solo group alter Bridge, which
are about to release a new album, the Slash Stuff,
which obviously you know, speaks for itself. There is so
much music going on at all times. Wolf, you do
the man with the albums by yourself that's out of
(02:20):
everything else. The amount of music that continuously seems to
be coming out of everybody around that group is incredible
to me.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, we like we like to create, you know, like
I don't know what else, and that's I think that's
the big things.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like people have been saying, it's like, oh wow, it's
like you got you know a lot of stuff coming out,
you know, three records and however, long r I don't
doesn't feel like a lot, you know, because it's like
when you're on tour, you're almost like decompressing from recording,
and when you're recording, you're decompressing for touring.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
So it's like by the time you're done doing each thing,
you're ready to do Yether. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
You do your albums by yourself Wolf, that's in of itself.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Right guys.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
But yeah, mind boggling. But yeah, but you play so
much of the instrumentation, Yeah, and on the record themselves.
How do you, I mean, how do you It's sort
of like being a switch hitter in baseball, right, like
how do you how do you keep that separate to
be able to go, Okay, well, I'm playing guitar, now,
I'm playing bass. Now I'm writing a drum pattern.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I don't know, it's it's it's what it was initially
just like a challenge I wanted to see, you know,
because I had these ideas I was writing on my own,
and I wanted to see if I was capable of
being able to, you know, cohesively play every instrument and
have it sound like a band. And so, you know,
the two years I took to record the first record
and kind of discover the process, I found that I
(03:39):
really enjoyed it and it's just a lot of fun.
And that's kind of just what Mammoth has been. It's
been my escape and my my own sort of creative thing.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I've got Alvis Basquet, who is also a connection to
this entire thing, the altar bridge and slash and seven
dust and and you know, he's like my partner, my
creative partner in it all. And between us two and
then Jeff, our engineer, and Josh Elvis's assistant, it's like
(04:10):
you just get the four of us on there, and
about maybe two and a half three months later you'll
have a Mammoth record.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
It's a fun thing to to attack the.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Songwriting from every angle and to to you know, Okay,
put the guitarist hat on, put the singer hat on,
put the drummer hat on. It's the fun challenge. And
you know, I've done it three times now and I
I really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Is that something you did the first time and then like, Okay,
well worked, and try that again. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it
and how well it worked, which is why I think
I'm still doing it.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Nice. What Miles, your solo stuff is a little bit
different than everybody. You know, when we talk about this
extended family, right, it is all very steeped and hard rock.
Your solo stuff is not. It's very steep and blues
and almost there's R and B flavor and sort of
southern rock and you know all that. I post the story. Well,
you were sound checking today, you know, and you're doing
(05:04):
the slide guitar and little steal guitar, and I'm like
the fact that you can make guitar sound like that.
It's different than you know, uh well if you're shredding,
you know what I mean. It's just a different kind
of ability. So for you writing solo stuff, do you
have how hard is it or easy is it to separate?
Sort of the other thing.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It's I think it's you know, it's for me, like
it's just an opportunity as to kind of stretch out
in different areas that I don't do with the other bands,
and so yeah, I do. I think I spent so
much time growing up and listening to you know, blues
based stuff, R and B stuff, Southern rock to a
(05:46):
point where it's this was something I had to develop
just because it was such a part of my DNA
and I love it. I just didn't I really enjoy it,
you know. And it's what's going to be great is
I'm going to have Wolf come in on the next
track and then play all the instruments, and so he
might kind of just brush up on your side, because
(06:09):
that's what the next man with parts name you. People
don't want that. That's gonna go horribly wrong.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I don't know about that man, because one thing, you know,
just to go back to that Marshamanti conversation from a
month ago, he brought up how great a guitar player
you are, and I thought that was a cool sort
of you know, not of yeah, he's my guy in
the band, but he's such an amazing guitar player.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Nice day when he's well, he's really turned into a
great singer, you know, like his.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
It's funny because he said that he turned into a
great singer.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, he's no in.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
All honestly, he did say though that like and and
getting your perspective on this because uh, how he loves
singing more than playing guitar, and how you love playing
guitar more than singing. But you're the lead singer and
he's the guitar player.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
And how that works. I guess the grass is always greener?
How about you? What do you what's your what are
your thoughts on singing?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I just took my next question.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Sorry about that. Yeah, for for for guessing these things.
But but before you say anything, just so you know,
I mean, like, because we've been doing this tour and
we've had this has been a pretty like a lot
of three in rows and for singers, especially higher singers,
that's not easy. And he's it's pretty impressive, like his
stamina and his pitch. And so you're a great singer.
(07:27):
So I'm curious to someone who's a great singer, how's that?
How much do you love that compared to playing drums?
And sorry, I'm kind of it's tough.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It's it's it really is it's it's sort of it's
very uh delicate because you can't restring your voice and
go on right, you know, so you have to.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Make sure that you're hydrated and healthy.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And you know, I'm the healthiest I've been, you know,
over the last few years on this tour. So I
think it's been a bit easier overall. I've noticed a
big change and how much easier it is. It's still
a big effort. Like when we're doing those three in rows,
it's you know, he's got to be careful. But you know,
I sometimes when I think something is funny, I laugh
really loud and that ends up messing my voice.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Funny that works, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
So you just have to be I don't know, you
just got to be careful. But yeah, it would be
fun to to not wear all the hats and to
just like be a drummer or a tour or something.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I would love to I would love to be. I'm
sure there's a band focus on that. I'm sure there's
a band out there that be like, hey, dude, come on,
such a good pay and pizza.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But you know, it's such a good time, you know,
being all in on Mammoth that it's been a really
really great time.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
What does it mean to you to be able to
do that at fifty and fifty? And I'm gonna ask
you the same question, Miles, because it's obviously different, Uh,
you know, view.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It just feels like what I'm supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, yeah, you know, I don't.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
It's just a part of it all, you know, but
I I should and need to be doing.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I love that, Yeah, Miles, to go in there and
record the next alter Bridge record at that studio, you
know that's obviously housed so much amazing music.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
It was heavy, you know, it was like remember when
we first got there and driving up the driveway and
She's like, how's this going to happen? That's just what
an amazing opportunity. And we're all extremely grateful to the
Wolf for, you know, inviting us to do that. I
think it helped us. I think it helped Mark and
I in particular because it's guitar players, because we knew
(09:25):
going into this record that we really wanted to be
super prepared. You know, you don't want to go in
with subpar ideas and tarnish the legacy of the place,
you know, So I think it really was a major
motivator for us put our best foot forward.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Well, there's some amazing guitar work on this ultimatege record,
sell titled there. As I said, just call it a
B since that's the logo on the front. Some amazing
guitar working on it, there's no doubt not. I'm a
guitar player, so it's I notice it, you know right away,
But there really is. It does sound like another level. Well,
if there's a song on Mammoth three called I Just
(10:04):
want to I really want, I really want to thank you.
The reason I bring that up is because first of all,
the speaking of guitars, the riffs and that gravitated towards me,
but with the lyrics, I just I want to say,
I hope it worked for you, because that sounds like
the greatest love song or a fight song. It could
be either way.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, No, I think it's uh, it's it's definitely fun
to uh. I think on this record. I'm I'm I'm
very comfortable in what Mammoth is and what I offer
as my own artist that I've begun to just not
really care about the noise outside of everything else and
just enjoy doing what I'm doing because it's what brings
(10:44):
me purpose and it's fun. So I think there's a
bit of a a piece in that that you just
kind of let go and everything's just not as complicated anymore.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
There you go. I love that purpose. It's purpose, man,
It's that simple.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Right, It's beautiful and that purposes everything. Wow, it really
is the band that you play with, specifically obviously you're
talking about you, you and Elvis, and obviously recording with
the live band. You have an incredible group of musicians
as well. How much does that help you step up
your game to make sure we'll walk and slack here?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Oh that's great, you know, we all support each other
and it's a different element, you know, as opposed to
the recording aspect. It's just I really enjoy the duality
of having, you know, the recording aspect, but then live
aspect with my guys in the live band, you know,
with John and Ronnie, Garrett and Frank, they're just great
dudes and great musicians. So it's just you just want to,
(11:39):
you know, be your best.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
That's amazing, Miles. For your solo band, you have one
of your oldest friends playing drums.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Right yeah, as yeah, Dean, we know each other since
nineteen eighty four, and we start playing in a band.
He actually kind of poached me from a band I
was playing in when we were a kid, and.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You were playing in a band when you were five
years old.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Ye exactly, I know, right. It's is really just like
showing like this grandpa here.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
You guys started playing together when I was negative, right, I.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Mean, it's it's really it's really coming into perspective to
that part of it, like, oh, I've bet elder statesman,
Like you're like, I remember the first time touring with
like ult Bridge, and you know, you had the older
guys and the crew and whatnot, and now I look around,
I'm the oldest guy in the spots. Yeah, but that's
okay because it's better than the option, right. But no,
(12:36):
it's it's it's crazy with Zia because we've played together
for so long off and on. Then we you know,
so we did this band in high school and then
we had a first major label deal with The Mayfield
Four in the late nineties, and we've just always stayed
in touch and he's he's just one of my dearest friends.
He's a wonderful human being. Aside from being a great
(12:56):
drummer and so getting to do this, it's funny. He
he will get me to trouble when you're kids. And
the first time I ever got really drunk was because
of on my seventeenth birthday.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You gotta have that front.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yeah, A long story short. I remember laying on the
floor and the room is spinning and hearing you go, someday,
little buddy, we're going to tour the world together. And
I just didn't believe it. I was such a realistic
that's not happen, you know, And it's it's been fun
to actually end up making that come true. You know,
that's been amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Well, he's still messing with people. There's a there's a
bucket of candy sitting on that on that table over there,
and my h my thirteen year old son is behind
the camera right now and he already offered him all
of that candy. All right, So he's still messing with it.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Z is such a great influence.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Was amazing.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
We're recording right now.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It's okay, as gentleman, Dave Nice, do you ever think
about adding another guitar player to the band, obviously with
with older bridge and yeah, right, he's like cool, I
can just play guitar to s yeah, to worry about singing.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
I'll be honest, No, I want you to say a
lot o boy. Yeah, I do think about that, you know.
I'm trying to figure that one out because I love
doing the three piece thing. Super challenging, but it also
is a writer. It really, you know, kind of limits
what I can do. You know, I hear all these
(14:24):
things I want to do and textures I want to use,
just can't do it as a three piece.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
That's why I have three guitars.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Right, layers, Well it works, So maybe that maybe some
of that is because you know, watching that and hearing
how there's the fullness of the sounds, like, oh man,
maybe we should get another.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Right And that's just it from one you know, from
one end of the spectrum to the other, it's just
you and playing guitar and singing. And then you watch
Mammoth and it is you playing guitar obviously, but with
two other amazing guitar players in the band. There is
such an incredible sound that just works on both ends
of it.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
It's fun, it's fun.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
What is that why? I mean just the layers that,
like you just said, the layers that's why you decided
to do Yeah, there's.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You know, between that and a lot of a lot
of vocal harmonies. It just makes more sense, you know, Right,
I didn't know people would have such a problem with
having three guitar players. There's a lot of people who
are like, I don't really don't.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yeah, you don't have.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
To understand Iron made it in Skinner. That's the only
answer you need.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's the thing is that even if you know, and
it doesn't need to be complicated. So even when you're
all playing the same thing at the same time, it's
just more powerful and it feels good.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
So it's just maybe what I'll do four guitar players.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, well there, that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Would be horrible.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And then we'll join you on stage.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Great, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
There we go, big huge session at the end the world.
What obviously, with this ultar Bridge record coming out here
in a few weeks, that's your focus for next year, right,
where do you take the solo thing from here? Man?
That is a good question, because next time I talk
to you, it's gonna have to be all alter Bridge.
(16:03):
I want to make sure you get that in there.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah, I really don't know. I mean I think that
it's it's I Bounced around. Started as an acoustic thing,
kind of Americana country, then it went like blues with
some southern rock, and then this record is more just
a straight up rock and roll record.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
The heavy album actually.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Yeah, yeah, it gets it gets it's It's definitely heavier
relative to the other right, the question is how heavy
will go? And then that that's where my hands are
kind of tied, because I'm doing that with alter Bridge already,
you know, and I'm as one of the principal writers.
I have to be careful because then it's just and
that line was definitely crossed at times on some of
this hard butting go at times like oh that's a
little alter Bridge. It's a little slash and the spirit conspirators,
(16:43):
so you know, being the singer and the guitar player,
it's a delicate dance. I don't know. Maybe the next
record will be like a full on synth pop record.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Oh yeah, ko is really big right now, pop you
can do that, As my son starts laughing over that's what.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Do you think would I do a K pop record? Right?
All right? You heard it here, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Well what about you Mammoth with three being out, it's
only been out for a couple of months really, but
your three singles deepen and already Yeah, touring this for
the world for the next year and see what happens.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Like the cycle has begun. So for the next eighteen months,
we're going to be going everywhere that people will let us,
and maybe where some people won't.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Are you coming to my house?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Great? All right, all right, that'd be fine. Is it
just really?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Is it weird to get and you guys have both
played the biggest of stages Metallica as an example, you've
both played the smallest stages no offense, but especially Miles,
because I know where you've come from. You know what
I mean, I get it. You know, we all started
just a bar band somewhere. What is to put that
in perspective? When you're doing like a headline show like tonight,
(17:53):
which is a couple of thousand people, or you're opening
for Metallica, as you were telling you your fans during
the meet and greet, they're you know, opening the Metallic
and Amsterdam for literally a million people. How do you
how do you sort of compartment mentalized? Wow, I can't
talk that, you know what I'm trying to.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Say, Yeah, I don't know. It's I think as long
as there's people who in the room that want to
hear music, it's it's kind of all that really matters,
you know. I think when it's a bigger thing, you know,
like a Metallica thing, you kind of start to lose
track and the audience just becomes this singular thing, you know,
(18:33):
forty thousand, however many people, whereas I feel like it's
almost more nerve backing playing for ten people than it
would be playing for a ten thousand people, you know.
But really, at the end of the day, if you're
in a room and people are there wanting to hear music,
that's all you could ask for.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Right When those when those ten people turn around having
conversations with themselves while you're playing, and that's that's not
a great sign, been there.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I mean by playing in a bar band, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah, I was just actually just telling Tim. It's funny
brought up the three piece because I was just telling Tim,
your bass player, who known for a long time. But
I'm like, the last I was just in a bar band,
a jam band, and we have had gigs where there
was like six of us and We have had gigs
where I was playing bass and I'm like guitar player,
you know, which is okay, Like I know what I'm
doing enough, you know, as a musician. But but I'm
(19:24):
like the splits way better as the three piece. So
you know, it's a business, right, I can get two beers.
That's you, guys. Thank you for this. I mean, I
truly appreciate it. It's awesome. It was awesome to watch soundtracks,
watch them, you know, Wolf, to watch fans come in
and just be super excited to see you just shredd
(19:44):
for a little bit. I know you weren't singing during soundcheck,
I imagine because yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, you just gotta hold your voice and hopefully you don't,
you know, waste it before the show.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Well good luck to that, and uh, you know, drink
all the honey tea you can, absolutely, Wolfgang van Halen, Mammoth,
Miles Kennedy of eighteen different bands, Thank you guys so
much for this, man, I appreciate it. Cutter's Rock Cast
don't forget to tune in exactly
Attention please, and now it cutters rock cast Hair's good,
that's mine. Great, That's how I got the hood on
smart nice. Okay, so we're backstage. It is the Mammoth
and Miles Kennedy Tour. And here's the thing you guys.
First of all, thank you for letting me do this.
(00:20):
This is the greatest looking rock and roll dressing room
Emory because it looks like a rock and roll dressing
room leftover food, clothes over, leftoverwhere it's perfect. I'm not
going to tell you who's dressing room is. About a
month ago, so I'm talking to Mark and we ended
up in the side conversation. This is why I want
to talk to you two together specifically because we end
(00:42):
up in the side conversation as we're talking about ulter
Bridge Racker and what's Creed doing and all that, right
about this extended family that exists around like six bands,
which of course is Greed and Mammoth and alter Bridge
and Miles Kennedy Solo seven Dust and this whole kind
of you know situation where you guys share musicians and
(01:06):
share management and share and it's really cool to see
this sort of back and forth and even go on
tour together, as is the case right now with YouTube
being on the road together. What does it mean to
both of you to sort of have that cammaraderie with
these certain group of musicians, because you guys seem to
stick together through thick and thin.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Okay, it's okay, Oh, it's great. It's really fun to
just have this, this sort of just touring happy family
so much.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
You know, we.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Really fun to be able to do it this way
because it's like we've never I've never been able to
tour with Miles and his solo stuff, which is real
right awesome. So it's always been like opening for Slash
or opening for Altar Bridge, you know, and so being
able to tour with Miles in this capacity has been
really fun.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Not only have the amount of music that exists between everybody, Miles,
you have this obviously your solo group alter Bridge, which
are about to release a new album, the Slash Stuff,
which obviously you know, speaks for itself. There is so
much music going on at all times. Wolf, you do
the man with the albums by yourself that's out of
(02:20):
everything else. The amount of music that continuously seems to
be coming out of everybody around that group is incredible
to me.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah, we like we like to create, you know, like
I don't know what else, and that's I think that's
the big things.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like people have been saying, it's like, oh wow, it's
like you got you know a lot of stuff coming out,
you know, three records and however, long r I don't
doesn't feel like a lot, you know, because it's like
when you're on tour, you're almost like decompressing from recording,
and when you're recording, you're decompressing for touring.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
So it's like by the time you're done doing each thing,
you're ready to do Yether. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
You do your albums by yourself Wolf, that's in of itself.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Right guys.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
But yeah, mind boggling. But yeah, but you play so
much of the instrumentation, Yeah, and on the record themselves.
How do you, I mean, how do you It's sort
of like being a switch hitter in baseball, right, like
how do you how do you keep that separate to
be able to go, Okay, well, I'm playing guitar, now,
I'm playing bass. Now I'm writing a drum pattern.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
I don't know, it's it's it's what it was initially
just like a challenge I wanted to see, you know,
because I had these ideas I was writing on my own,
and I wanted to see if I was capable of
being able to, you know, cohesively play every instrument and
have it sound like a band. And so, you know,
the two years I took to record the first record
and kind of discover the process, I found that I
(03:39):
really enjoyed it and it's just a lot of fun.
And that's kind of just what Mammoth has been. It's
been my escape and my my own sort of creative thing.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You know.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I've got Alvis Basquet, who is also a connection to
this entire thing, the altar bridge and slash and seven
dust and and you know, he's like my partner, my
creative partner in it all. And between us two and
then Jeff, our engineer, and Josh Elvis's assistant, it's like
(04:10):
you just get the four of us on there, and
about maybe two and a half three months later you'll
have a Mammoth record.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
It's a fun thing to to attack the.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Songwriting from every angle and to to you know, Okay,
put the guitarist hat on, put the singer hat on,
put the drummer hat on. It's the fun challenge. And
you know, I've done it three times now and I
I really enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Is that something you did the first time and then like, Okay,
well worked, and try that again. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it
and how well it worked, which is why I think
I'm still doing it.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Nice. What Miles, your solo stuff is a little bit
different than everybody. You know, when we talk about this
extended family, right, it is all very steeped and hard rock.
Your solo stuff is not. It's very steep and blues
and almost there's R and B flavor and sort of
southern rock and you know all that. I post the story. Well,
you were sound checking today, you know, and you're doing
(05:04):
the slide guitar and little steal guitar, and I'm like
the fact that you can make guitar sound like that.
It's different than you know, uh well if you're shredding,
you know what I mean. It's just a different kind
of ability. So for you writing solo stuff, do you
have how hard is it or easy is it to separate?
Sort of the other thing.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
It's I think it's you know, it's for me, like
it's just an opportunity as to kind of stretch out
in different areas that I don't do with the other bands,
and so yeah, I do. I think I spent so
much time growing up and listening to you know, blues
based stuff, R and B stuff, Southern rock to a
(05:46):
point where it's this was something I had to develop
just because it was such a part of my DNA
and I love it. I just didn't I really enjoy it,
you know. And it's what's going to be great is
I'm going to have Wolf come in on the next
track and then play all the instruments, and so he
might kind of just brush up on your side, because
(06:09):
that's what the next man with parts name you. People
don't want that. That's gonna go horribly wrong.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I don't know about that man, because one thing, you know,
just to go back to that Marshamanti conversation from a
month ago, he brought up how great a guitar player
you are, and I thought that was a cool sort
of you know, not of yeah, he's my guy in
the band, but he's such an amazing guitar player.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Nice day when he's well, he's really turned into a
great singer, you know, like his.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
It's funny because he said that he turned into a
great singer.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, he's no in.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
All honestly, he did say though that like and and
getting your perspective on this because uh, how he loves
singing more than playing guitar, and how you love playing
guitar more than singing. But you're the lead singer and
he's the guitar player.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
And how that works. I guess the grass is always greener?
How about you? What do you what's your what are
your thoughts on singing?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
I just took my next question.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Sorry about that. Yeah, for for for guessing these things.
But but before you say anything, just so you know,
I mean, like, because we've been doing this tour and
we've had this has been a pretty like a lot
of three in rows and for singers, especially higher singers,
that's not easy. And he's it's pretty impressive, like his
stamina and his pitch. And so you're a great singer.
(07:27):
So I'm curious to someone who's a great singer, how's that?
How much do you love that compared to playing drums?
And sorry, I'm kind of it's tough.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It's it's it really is it's it's sort of it's
very uh delicate because you can't restring your voice and
go on right, you know, so you have to.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Make sure that you're hydrated and healthy.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And you know, I'm the healthiest I've been, you know,
over the last few years on this tour. So I
think it's been a bit easier overall. I've noticed a
big change and how much easier it is. It's still
a big effort. Like when we're doing those three in rows,
it's you know, he's got to be careful. But you know,
I sometimes when I think something is funny, I laugh
really loud and that ends up messing my voice.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Funny that works, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
So you just have to be I don't know, you
just got to be careful. But yeah, it would be
fun to to not wear all the hats and to
just like be a drummer or a tour or something.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
I would love to I would love to be. I'm
sure there's a band focus on that. I'm sure there's
a band out there that be like, hey, dude, come on,
such a good pay and pizza.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
But you know, it's such a good time, you know,
being all in on Mammoth that it's been a really
really great time.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
What does it mean to you to be able to
do that at fifty and fifty? And I'm gonna ask
you the same question, Miles, because it's obviously different, Uh,
you know, view.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
It just feels like what I'm supposed to be doing.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, yeah, you know, I don't.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
It's just a part of it all, you know, but
I I should and need to be doing.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I love that, Yeah, Miles, to go in there and
record the next alter Bridge record at that studio, you
know that's obviously housed so much amazing music.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
It was heavy, you know, it was like remember when
we first got there and driving up the driveway and
She's like, how's this going to happen? That's just what
an amazing opportunity. And we're all extremely grateful to the
Wolf for, you know, inviting us to do that. I
think it helped us. I think it helped Mark and
I in particular because it's guitar players, because we knew
(09:25):
going into this record that we really wanted to be
super prepared. You know, you don't want to go in
with subpar ideas and tarnish the legacy of the place,
you know, So I think it really was a major
motivator for us put our best foot forward.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Well, there's some amazing guitar work on this ultimatege record,
sell titled there. As I said, just call it a
B since that's the logo on the front. Some amazing
guitar working on it, there's no doubt not. I'm a
guitar player, so it's I notice it, you know right away,
But there really is. It does sound like another level. Well,
if there's a song on Mammoth three called I Just
(10:04):
want to I really want, I really want to thank you.
The reason I bring that up is because first of all,
the speaking of guitars, the riffs and that gravitated towards me,
but with the lyrics, I just I want to say,
I hope it worked for you, because that sounds like
the greatest love song or a fight song. It could
be either way.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, No, I think it's uh, it's it's definitely fun
to uh. I think on this record. I'm I'm I'm
very comfortable in what Mammoth is and what I offer
as my own artist that I've begun to just not
really care about the noise outside of everything else and
just enjoy doing what I'm doing because it's what brings
(10:44):
me purpose and it's fun. So I think there's a
bit of a a piece in that that you just
kind of let go and everything's just not as complicated anymore.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
There you go. I love that purpose. It's purpose, man,
It's that simple.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Right, It's beautiful and that purposes everything. Wow, it really
is the band that you play with, specifically obviously you're
talking about you, you and Elvis, and obviously recording with
the live band. You have an incredible group of musicians
as well. How much does that help you step up
your game to make sure we'll walk and slack here?
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Oh that's great, you know, we all support each other
and it's a different element, you know, as opposed to
the recording aspect. It's just I really enjoy the duality
of having, you know, the recording aspect, but then live
aspect with my guys in the live band, you know,
with John and Ronnie, Garrett and Frank, they're just great
dudes and great musicians. So it's just you just want to,
(11:39):
you know, be your best.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
That's amazing, Miles. For your solo band, you have one
of your oldest friends playing drums.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Right yeah, as yeah, Dean, we know each other since
nineteen eighty four, and we start playing in a band.
He actually kind of poached me from a band I
was playing in when we were a kid, and.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
You were playing in a band when you were five
years old.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Ye exactly, I know, right. It's is really just like
showing like this grandpa here.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
You guys started playing together when I was negative, right, I.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Mean, it's it's really it's really coming into perspective to
that part of it, like, oh, I've bet elder statesman,
Like you're like, I remember the first time touring with
like ult Bridge, and you know, you had the older
guys and the crew and whatnot, and now I look around,
I'm the oldest guy in the spots. Yeah, but that's
okay because it's better than the option, right. But no,
(12:36):
it's it's it's crazy with Zia because we've played together
for so long off and on. Then we you know,
so we did this band in high school and then
we had a first major label deal with The Mayfield
Four in the late nineties, and we've just always stayed
in touch and he's he's just one of my dearest friends.
He's a wonderful human being. Aside from being a great
(12:56):
drummer and so getting to do this, it's funny. He
he will get me to trouble when you're kids. And
the first time I ever got really drunk was because
of on my seventeenth birthday.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
You gotta have that front.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Yeah, A long story short. I remember laying on the
floor and the room is spinning and hearing you go, someday,
little buddy, we're going to tour the world together. And
I just didn't believe it. I was such a realistic
that's not happen, you know, And it's it's been fun
to actually end up making that come true. You know,
that's been amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
Well, he's still messing with people. There's a there's a
bucket of candy sitting on that on that table over there,
and my h my thirteen year old son is behind
the camera right now and he already offered him all
of that candy. All right, So he's still messing with it.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Z is such a great influence.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Was amazing.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
We're recording right now.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
It's okay, as gentleman, Dave Nice, do you ever think
about adding another guitar player to the band, obviously with
with older bridge and yeah, right, he's like cool, I
can just play guitar to s yeah, to worry about singing.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
I'll be honest, No, I want you to say a
lot o boy. Yeah, I do think about that, you know.
I'm trying to figure that one out because I love
doing the three piece thing. Super challenging, but it also
is a writer. It really, you know, kind of limits
what I can do. You know, I hear all these
(14:24):
things I want to do and textures I want to use,
just can't do it as a three piece.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
That's why I have three guitars.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Right, layers, Well it works, So maybe that maybe some
of that is because you know, watching that and hearing
how there's the fullness of the sounds, like, oh man,
maybe we should get another.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
Right And that's just it from one you know, from
one end of the spectrum to the other, it's just
you and playing guitar and singing. And then you watch
Mammoth and it is you playing guitar obviously, but with
two other amazing guitar players in the band. There is
such an incredible sound that just works on both ends
of it.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
It's fun, it's fun.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
What is that why? I mean just the layers that,
like you just said, the layers that's why you decided
to do Yeah, there's.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
You know, between that and a lot of a lot
of vocal harmonies. It just makes more sense, you know, Right,
I didn't know people would have such a problem with
having three guitar players. There's a lot of people who
are like, I don't really don't.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Yeah, you don't have.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
To understand Iron made it in Skinner. That's the only
answer you need.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
That's the thing is that even if you know, and
it doesn't need to be complicated. So even when you're
all playing the same thing at the same time, it's
just more powerful and it feels good.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
So it's just maybe what I'll do four guitar players.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Yeah, well there, that.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Would be horrible.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And then we'll join you on stage.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
Great, let's do it.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
There we go, big huge session at the end the world.
What obviously, with this ultar Bridge record coming out here
in a few weeks, that's your focus for next year, right,
where do you take the solo thing from here? Man?
That is a good question, because next time I talk
to you, it's gonna have to be all alter Bridge.
(16:03):
I want to make sure you get that in there.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yeah, I really don't know. I mean I think that
it's it's I Bounced around. Started as an acoustic thing,
kind of Americana country, then it went like blues with
some southern rock, and then this record is more just
a straight up rock and roll record.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
The heavy album actually.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
Yeah, yeah, it gets it gets it's It's definitely heavier
relative to the other right, the question is how heavy
will go? And then that that's where my hands are
kind of tied, because I'm doing that with alter Bridge already,
you know, and I'm as one of the principal writers.
I have to be careful because then it's just and
that line was definitely crossed at times on some of
this hard butting go at times like oh that's a
little alter Bridge. It's a little slash and the spirit conspirators,
(16:43):
so you know, being the singer and the guitar player,
it's a delicate dance. I don't know. Maybe the next
record will be like a full on synth pop record.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
Oh yeah, ko is really big right now, pop you
can do that, As my son starts laughing over that's what.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Do you think would I do a K pop record? Right?
All right? You heard it here, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Well what about you Mammoth with three being out, it's
only been out for a couple of months really, but
your three singles deepen and already Yeah, touring this for
the world for the next year and see what happens.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Like the cycle has begun. So for the next eighteen months,
we're going to be going everywhere that people will let us,
and maybe where some people won't.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Are you coming to my house?
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Sure?
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Great? All right, all right, that'd be fine. Is it
just really?
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Is it weird to get and you guys have both
played the biggest of stages Metallica as an example, you've
both played the smallest stages no offense, but especially Miles,
because I know where you've come from. You know what
I mean, I get it. You know, we all started
just a bar band somewhere. What is to put that
in perspective? When you're doing like a headline show like tonight,
(17:53):
which is a couple of thousand people, or you're opening
for Metallica, as you were telling you your fans during
the meet and greet, they're you know, opening the Metallic
and Amsterdam for literally a million people. How do you
how do you sort of compartment mentalized? Wow, I can't
talk that, you know what I'm trying to.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Say, Yeah, I don't know. It's I think as long
as there's people who in the room that want to
hear music, it's it's kind of all that really matters,
you know. I think when it's a bigger thing, you know,
like a Metallica thing, you kind of start to lose
track and the audience just becomes this singular thing, you know,
(18:33):
forty thousand, however many people, whereas I feel like it's
almost more nerve backing playing for ten people than it
would be playing for a ten thousand people, you know.
But really, at the end of the day, if you're
in a room and people are there wanting to hear music,
that's all you could ask for.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Right When those when those ten people turn around having
conversations with themselves while you're playing, and that's that's not
a great sign, been there.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I mean by playing in a bar band, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah, I was just actually just telling Tim. It's funny
brought up the three piece because I was just telling Tim,
your bass player, who known for a long time. But
I'm like, the last I was just in a bar band,
a jam band, and we have had gigs where there
was like six of us and We have had gigs
where I was playing bass and I'm like guitar player,
you know, which is okay, Like I know what I'm
doing enough, you know, as a musician. But but I'm
(19:24):
like the splits way better as the three piece. So
you know, it's a business, right, I can get two beers.
That's you, guys. Thank you for this. I mean, I
truly appreciate it. It's awesome. It was awesome to watch soundtracks,
watch them, you know, Wolf, to watch fans come in
and just be super excited to see you just shredd
(19:44):
for a little bit. I know you weren't singing during soundcheck,
I imagine because yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, you just gotta hold your voice and hopefully you don't,
you know, waste it before the show.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Well good luck to that, and uh, you know, drink
all the honey tea you can, absolutely, Wolfgang van Halen, Mammoth,
Miles Kennedy of eighteen different bands, Thank you guys so
much for this, man, I appreciate it. Cutter's Rock Cast
don't forget to tune in exactly
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.