Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This week in the Hollywood and Toto Podcast, we explain
why the left is still melting down over Stephen Colbert's
cancelation over at the Laid Show. Yes they're mad, but
there's a bigger purpose behind their rage, and I'll explain it.
And we talked to the great John on Rassic. You
may know him as Fire for fighting about what it
means to write a protest song, the family business. He
(00:22):
just won't give up, and much much more. It's a
banger of a conversation and I'm so glad he's here.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Welcome to the Hollywood and Toto Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Entertainment news and reviews without the.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Book, Hollywood narrative, free speech, free expression.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Now that's entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And here's your host, Oh Lord winning film critic Couestion Toto.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
The morning continues. Stephen Colbert got his pink slip from
CBS last week from the Late Show, and the crying
goes on and on and on. Of course, the left
is inconsolable. The media is a hot mess, and a
lot of Democratic politicians are saying.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
This was a bribe.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
This is we can't speak truth to power without Stephen Colbert.
That's funnier than anything that he said in the last
six seven years, maybe more, I know, just a love.
Of course, the big issue here is dollars and cents.
According to reports which have not been attacked or said
(01:34):
to be untrue, the Late Show was losing CBS forty
million dollars a year. Forty million dollars talking about a profit.
Talking about a loss, I mean, how could any show
stay in the air while losing that much money unless
there's some other reason why you want to keep it
on the air for as long as humanly possible, Which
(01:55):
is a debate for another day, which I got into
a little bit at Hollywoodtoto dot com my website. But
for now, let's talk about why the left is just
inconsolable about this particular loss. Now, on the surface, you
get it. He's a far left personality. He pushes progressive
talking points five nights a week. It is a messaging
(02:16):
machine that is basically an inkind contribution to the Democrats.
So on paper, understandable that people on the left would
be upset, But it goes deeper than that. This is
not dying down. It's getting worse. In fact, all the
people raging about it and all the people complaining about it.
This story's not going away. I'll never get over it
(02:37):
as long as I live. So why why isn't this
story going away? How can you read? Well, the show
is losing all that money. Of course it's going to
be canceled, and say no, no, we need it, We
need this show. You can't take it away from us. Well,
the why is simple. Now, this is the first show
in the late night realm that's been canceled in a while.
(02:58):
We've lost Samantha be lost, a late late show. This
one's a biggie for sure. But it's not really an
isolated situation. That's the issue here, because there's things changing
within the pop culture landscape. And let me explain. Woke
is on the run. It just is, And thank goodness
for that. The New York Times and an obed last
(03:20):
year said exactly that as far as movie making, the
woke era is over. It was awkward and clumsy to
begin with, and good rittance and the New York Times
of all places printing something like that. That means something
we're seeing less and less overtly woke mainstream movies inside
Out to Mowanatu, a Minecraft movie, The New Superman. These
(03:43):
are movies that are not woke, not filled with lectures,
not pushing agendas on us, not making identity politics first
and foremost, it's just not and that's a good thing.
Drilling down into Superman, that particular film finds Clark Kent
going back to small, going back to his Kansas roots
because he's in trouble. And I don't want to spoil
(04:04):
anything about the story, but he reconnects with his parents,
his midwestern, simple, kind hearted parents, and he needs help,
he needs to get his moral compass back on track.
That's pretty heartland friendly, don't you think. But more shockingly
is the movie The Fantastic Four, first steps out this weekend.
That film has a very very pro family feel. It's
(04:27):
all about this quartet read Richards, Susstorm, brother Johnny, and
of course good friend Ben Grimm, who's now the thing now.
It's really really about the family unit in an amazing way.
I mean, much more even than The Fast and Furious franchise,
which talks about family all the time. But there's also
a shockingly pro life little snippet in that film, and
(04:48):
I'm going to spoil it here. It's just a very
minor moment, but it illustrates my point, Sue Storm is
pregnant in the film. At one point, Read Richards is
checking on the baby, making sure it's healthy he or she,
and she uses to her invisible powers to let him
see that the baby in her womb. Well, that little
visual is very powerful because it shows you that, yeah,
(05:09):
it's a baby, it's our baby in that belly right now.
And that's the kind of little moment in pop culture
that can matter. And wouldn't be surprised if you see
some ankry pieces about that coming soon. Just a quick prediction.
I'm heart raged. So those things are happening in Hollywood
right now. Again, woke is on the run. In recent days,
(05:31):
we've had major deals with Barstool Sports and also the
Great Ruthless Program, the Ruthless Variety Program, if you want
to be specific, that's the full title. They you sign
up with Fox News. Big big deal, big big numbers,
that matters. These are rebel voices who are either on
the right or just don't play by the left's rules.
And now they're out there making change, getting their conversations
(05:54):
heard and pushing their messages out to the masses. Again,
that's not the usual progressive group think going on there.
And then of course there's the Daily Wire, which is
continually producing documentaries and feature films and other content. The
Blaze has Normal World. I suspect they may have some
more product coming soon as well. All these different platforms
are kind of getting into this space. And of course,
(06:16):
we just went through a podcast election where people like
Theovaughn and Joe Rogan, Andrew Schultz, Tim Dillon, they interviewed
some of the key players behind the scenes of the
GOP movement, like Donald Trump and Dat E Vans. And
what that did was they give them access to a
platform and access to listeners who they may not have
had before the podcast election. Did it influence the vote?
(06:41):
Maybe a little. It certainly helped Team Trump and certainly
didn't help to Kamala Harris. That's for sure. Things are
changing in the pop culture landscape. Now. Having said all this,
the left still pulls all the levers when it comes
to pop culture on paper, movies, TV shows, theater, music.
It's left of center and aggressively. So we're about to
(07:03):
see a new production from Barack Obama and Larry David.
It's a comedy sketch series based on US history. Do
you think that one have a message to it. Absolutely
just the tip of the iceberg of how the left
still controls pop culture. It does, but the rebels have
breached the gates. We're seeing change within the industry. We're
seeing things that were used to be bulletproof all of
(07:25):
a sudden are going away, like the Late Show with
Stephen Colbert. So that's what's going on now. The monopoly
that left owns about pop culture isn't what it used
to be. And I think that's why there's fear, there's anger,
there's rage, there's tears about what's going on right now.
According to the Cooper Ross model, denial is just one
(07:45):
of the five stages of Greek And let me tell
you the way technology works, the way YouTube works, the
way podcasting works, More and more rebel voices, more and
more voices who don't want to sing from the progressive
hymnal are going to rise up and gonna be popular
and gonna make some waves. I gotta change some hearts
and mind. So for all those who are gnashing their
(08:06):
teeth about the Late Show going away, you might want
to save those teeth because you're gonna be doing some
more gnashing coming soon. This is not over. This is
not changing back to the way it used to be.
It's only going to get worse for the left. And
the end of the day, just make great stories and
let the chips fall where they may, let the politicians
speak for themselves. The left monopoly days they may be
(08:28):
coming to an end. Not today, not tomorrow, but someday,
maybe sooner than later. Shut up and sing. Huh, Just
shut up and sing now. I think it was Laura
(08:50):
Ingram who really coined that term, or at least popularized it,
And the sentiment is understandable.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
I cover Hollywood celebrities talk a lot about politics, they
get involved in the culture wars, and they often don't
do it well. I guess that's an understatement too. Now
you could say I'm just a conservative being cranky about
messages that I don't agree with. But listen to what
they have to say. Either the facts have been rearranged dramatically.
That's my way of saying, they're not telling the truth.
(09:19):
It's clear that the people talking really haven't done their homework.
They don't know what they're talking about. They heard something
on MSNBC and they're just regurgitating it. So often when
celebrities speak, it's just not worth listening to. And again,
this is bipartisan at times too. You know, Kid Rock
blasting away at butt light cans in his backyard with
(09:39):
a gun. It's not exactly nuanced, it's not exactly changing
hearts and minds for the better. You could probably tune
him out too. Sorry, coud Rock, dig your music, but
not exactly the most you're shining moment as an intellectual.
So it happens, and we get a little bit cynical
about celebrities and artists who preach, who talk about politics,
(09:59):
who gauge in the culture wars. Understandable, but then someone
comes along like John on Drastic and you think, wait
a minute, ho ho, he just made me think that's
a good idea. Now. John isn't a political figure. He
doesn't talk dimissively about politics, but he does broach the
subject on x and often through his music. In recent years,
(10:22):
he's put out some protest songs that just speak to
the times we're living in right now, using his talents
to share a message, to investigate, to bring light to
subjects that maybe need some light shine done them. It's
just what he does. And of course he's a wonderful
musician as well. He's responsible for great hits like Superman
in a hundred Years, just tons and tons of wonderful music,
(10:44):
and that Falsetto voice is just magical. And he gets
involved with politics at times and culture war issues, and
he does it with humor and heart and wit and intelligence.
And he's worth listening to. He really is, even if
you don't agree, he's really given some thought and he's
mature about it. And again he doesn't want to push
people away and start fights, and he's not going to
(11:05):
own the libs or anything like that. But sometimes artists
are worth hearing. Sometimes they have something to say, and
he certainly qualifies. And I'm so glad he's been speaking
out in recent years, especially with his support for Israel
and let's release those hostages for God's sake, please, one
of the rare, powerful voices trying to push that all
important message of the masses we all should be, honestly,
(11:28):
but God bless him for doing just that. And I
couldn't be happy to have him on the show. And
of course, by the way, before we get into it,
he is on tour right now. He's touring with Vertical
Horizon touring America coming to it, hopefully a city near you.
I know he's coming to the Greater Denver area in August.
I can't wait to see him there. But if you
want to check him out and see if he is
traveling near you, just go to five for Fighting dot com.
(11:50):
You'll get all the tour dates at the top of
the website. But for now, so glad to have him
on the show, So glad to check in with him
about his life, his career, rounded person, a grounded soul,
and someone who's worth listening to, not just for the
great music, but for the insights he has on the
human condition. So hope you enjoyed my conversation with John Andrassic.
(12:10):
Can't wait to see him live in concert. Well, John,
welcome to the show. This is exciting for me. It's
a great treat to talk to you. We've kind of
shared a message or too on the digital landscapes, but
I want to you know you're a road warrior. You've
done tours before, You've got a new one coming up.
Both the string variety and more of a hard rock outfit.
(12:32):
Is preparation different today than it used to be? Can
you cut some corners? Have you learned how to do
it better. I mean, I imagine it's a brutal process
if you don't know the ropes.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Well, I've been so fortunate, Christian, and thank you for
having me to work with such incredible musicians throughout my career,
both in the rock band and the string quartet. And
they're all kind of rock stars out playing with iconic artists.
And luckily they'll come through a few weeks with me
every year. But you know, they're so good you kind
of just show up.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You know.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We typically do a rehearsal before a tour, but it's
usually for me, not them, and and it is a
little funny, you know, I make a joke, sometimes you
have to go back and learn your own songs. But
every tour we tend to add a song or a
cover just to make it kind of fresh for somebody
who has may not you know, has may become to
(13:24):
a bunch of shows. But for the most part, you know,
I kind of know what I'm doing at this point,
turned sixty this year, so a lot of it's just
getting back on the bike and it's it's just so
much fun. And the nice thing about you know, switching
up between the band and the street quartet is it
keeps things fresh, right, It's kind of different. It's fresh
the rock bands typically outside summer, big audiences, big venues,
(13:47):
and then more intimate venues when we do the street quartet,
so you get the best of both worlds, and that
again kind of keeps it fresh and fun.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Yeah, your your voice is very unique, obviously, the falsetto
part of it is your singing at your Are there
things you do to kind of keep your voice in
good shape during a tour or is it maybe round
the clock where you have to kind of protect the
instrument as they say. I'm just curious with that because
I've I have seen some musicians who I adore and
maybe on that particular night their voice is not at
(14:16):
its best and I get the strained. I'm just kind
of curious, how do you how do you treat that
or respond to that or it just is what it is?
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Well, you know, with singing kind of in the falsetto
head voice, you know, I'm always kind of walking a
tight rope, and so I'm very careful. I have been
for years, you know, throughout my whole career about not
just kind of vocal maintenance, but health maintenance. For example,
when I'm in the road, I'm not a big drinker anyways,
but I never I don't have a drink to the
(14:43):
end of the last show, you know, So much of
it is about sleeping well, not getting sick, so eating well,
and of course the grind of the road.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
It's it's tough.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
You know, you're you're you're you. Typically on a tour bus,
it's tough to get sleep, and you're in a new
city and you're new and sometimes your environment changes in
a day. You go from a forty degree kind of
cold Chicago and then you're down and in the South
the next day and it's one hundred degrees. So for me,
it's about really kind of taking care of my health,
(15:15):
taking my voice.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Often when I'm on a really hardcore tour.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I will not talk from the second the set the
show's over till soundcheck the next day. And you know
what's been challenging the last couple of years is with
all this other stuff beyond music. I tend to have
a lot of press and media or phone calls or zooms.
So at the same time, I you know, it's interesting,
(15:40):
you know, for people who trained classically like I trained operatically.
I found out all my favorite singers trained operatically, you know,
Steve Perry, Freddie Mercury. So typically opera singers kind of
come into their own in their fifties and sixties, which
is interesting. That's that's why you know, Domingo and all
these kind of opera icons. You typically don't see them
(16:01):
when they're twenty five, you see them when they're fifty.
So for me, I think that training also has allowed
me to still kind of sound the way I sound.
But at the same time, you know, there are shows
where the voice is on a thread and you do
the best you can and you just understand that. You know,
you know, you're a human being, and people typically understand that.
(16:22):
And so again, it's kind of been a lifelong maintenance.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Yeah, as I've gotten older, I find that I enjoy
things about life that are new to me. You know,
the things you relish in the twenties, Now you're in
your fifties, it lands differently. So for you as a
touring musician or even just someone who's in the studio,
do you find new pleasures or things you never thought
you'd kind of enjoy or relish that maybe all of
(16:46):
a sudden now is the best part of your day.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Well, certainly the best part of your day when you
do this is when you're on stage. Frankly, for me,
it's the least stressful and the most relaxing because I
don't have the rest of the world crashing in. But
I think also, I think, you know, for so many
of us, and we've talked about this before, you know,
COVID really kind of was a reality check. I think,
not just for audiences who who missed coming to shows
(17:12):
and live music, which is so cathartic for all of us, but.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
For musicians too.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
I think it made us realize kind of what we've
taken for granted our whole careers, and especially for my
musicians who were that's their only source of income and
they've been playing every day, you know, for their whole lives.
I had one of my violin players she had this
process kind of to get through it where every day
(17:37):
she had her calendar of what she would be playing
that day if COVID had not happened, and she would
spend two hours playing that music, and for her that
was very cathartic. So I think for all of us
that really gave us a reality check. And I certainly
have a new appreciation. You know, years ago I said
I'd never get back in the bus because it is
such a grind, and I would do two hundred shows
a year. But for me now it's as much about
(17:59):
the family, my band members, and it's like the locker room.
It's like a a you know, an athlete who who retires,
like I missed the locker room, and I miss that
as much as I do the performing. And I've had
another kind of blessing in the last few years. My
daughter is now opening for us on the road with
her with her pal. They do it kind of a
fok a folk duo, and they're amazing. The crowds love them.
(18:24):
They don't even know she's my daughter. But kind of
having her with me and seeing the joy that she has,
and it brings back all the memories of when I
was a young, kind of aspiring artist and signing my
first autograph or you know, all the insecurities that go
with it. That's also been so kind of invigorating for me.
So again, I don't think I've ever enjoyed touring more
(18:47):
than I am right now.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Okay, I'm sure there's a lot of answers to this question,
but just give me one any specific advice Dad is
given to her daughter. But this is this is not
an easy career. This is a competitive field. I mean,
what you've done is the exception to the rule. Most
people just don't get to that level that you have.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Would you tell her, you know, yeah, yeah, she's really wise,
and she she kind of I like to kind of
let her learn on her own, but I've told her, like,
you know, every show is one show, and every show
is an audition, but also every show show is a joy,
and there'll be times where you walk off and you're like, dang,
you know, that wasn't my best effort, or something happened
(19:27):
or I couldn't hear very well. And I just told her,
you know, just don't take every show like it's it's
the end of the world.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Learn from it.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
You'll have great shows, you'll have shows that that maybe
not go so well, but just be grateful for what
you have and you'll learn. And at the end of
the day, you know, you're gonna do thousands of shows
in your life, and and for me, I maybe remember
twenty of them. So it's it's kind of like the
world goes on. So just kind of you know, have fun,
be serious. You know, she has a very good work ethic,
(19:58):
you know, take care of all the things outside of music.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
But we're on that stage. Just be grateful that you're there.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
And just walking on stage is brave, especially for a
young new artist. Just walking out there singing your songs
is a brave thing. And to me, you've already won.
And so that's what I kind of keep reminding her.
Sometimes she takes it to heart, sometimes she doesn't. But
that's our kids, right.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Your child listens to you more than my kids to
listen to me. You know. In recent years you've done
some more I guess protest the Ligne songs. We've talked
about them in the past, sort for different venues, but
do they make it into your repertoire? Is it more
of a straightforward concert? I mean, I know that could
be a difficult line to walk sometimes where you don't
want to be preachy, but at the same time, it's
(20:42):
powerful stuff. It's part of what you're doing. Now, how
do you approach that?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
You're right?
Speaker 2 (20:47):
I mean, especially with Blood in My Hands, I mean
that song that was very critical of Afghan war, you know,
and name names, and so of course there were people
in the audience who probably didn't come to hear that.
On the other hand, as you know, the songs have
taken on a meaning for folks.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
It's very important to them. So I feel I.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Don't know if obligated it's the word, but I feel
that if I wrote them, I should play them. But
what I do is I give context. I don't just
say here's here's the Afghanistans song. I say here's here's
a new song, and here's why I wrote it. And
these are moral messages, they're not political ones. And I
do that for Blood in my Hands. I do it
(21:34):
for can one man Save the World? Are Ukraine song?
And I do that for the new songs, for Israel,
for Okay. And for the most part, people listen, which
is the beauty of music. And I think they appreciate
what I'm doing, what I'm saying, whether they agree with
the sentiment or not. I mean, typically most people agree that,
you know, abandoning our allies in Afghanistan are bad.
Speaker 3 (21:56):
Most people agree Putin's bad.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Some people will stand up in scream free Palestine and
throw a tantrum. But again I think I feel that
if someone came to hear that song. Particularly these days
are my Jewish friends. A lot of them are coming
because they feel abandoned by the arts.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
So I feel that it's.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Important to play either Okay or this new version of
Superman and for them and I I'll continue to do
that and as their blowback sometimes, yes, but you know,
it's called rock and roll for a reason, and I'm
willing to you know, if some folks are not happy,
I'm sorry about that. But I think that's that's one
(22:41):
reason why these songs have impacted and I'll continue to
do that.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Yeah, when you look at your career, your music is
heard everywhere. I mean movies and TV shows, obviously the radio.
It's just part of the pop cultural landscape. Have there
been any odd or interesting places you've heard your music?
Maybe you walked into a an auto repair stored all
of a sudden you're hearing your song, or maybe just
people mentioned to you anything that kind of came to
(23:06):
you out of the ordinary. But that, ah, wow, that's
I didn't I didn't see that coming.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
Well, yeah, it's all you know.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
I still pinch myself, whether you know it's in home
depot or you're in the dentist chair getting a filling,
whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
But there was one.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Somebody sent me a video of an astronaut ron Garon,
who is listening to my song World.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
What kind of world do you want?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
From the International Space Station, you know, floating in space
listening to the world, looking over our planet.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
And that really touched me.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Still gives me kind of chills today, and I think
we all, you know, might answer that question a little
differently if if we had that view. So that one,
to me is something I'm very humble by. And NASA
actually made a video of World with that, and they're
actually looking to do a new one, you know, fifteen
years later.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I just got reached out to.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
So I love things like that, and I love that
the song still, you know, have resonance with frankly at
generation that maybe we're two three years old when wrote
the songs.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
You know, I think we're living in a world where
a lot of celebrities and musicians speak before they think,
and I think I'm framing it kindly really among the
more thoughtful people in this venue. You recently wrote a
piece for The Wall Street Journal. It talked about one
of your biggest songs, talk a little bit about that piece,
because I really thought it threaded the needle. It wasn't political,
(24:30):
it wasn't heavy handed, it wasn't partisan, but it packed
a punch all the same.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
What into that for you, Well, just kind of to
set it up for folks, I have a song Superman,
that was one of the songs for nine to eleven
that recognized their heroes of nine to eleven.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
I performed at the concert for.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
New York this song, and it really became a song
that even today when September eleventh rolls around, kind of
is the song the people look back to for for
that horrible time in our country, but also the solace
that provided. And I was reached out to, Oh she's
a month and a half ago by one of the
hostage mothers, adet O Well, and they were.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
Of course aware of some of the things I've been
doing for Israel.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I met with many hostage families when I went to Israel,
and she was looking to do something that kind of
kept the spotlight on her son alone, who happens to
be an amazing piano player. And when I was in Israel,
there was a piano in hostage square. It just sits
there it's called the Yellow Piano, and I walked by
and I played it and people just play it, and
I didn't realize at the time it's Alone's piano, it's
(25:37):
his piano. And so she said, can we do a
musical collaboration? And I'm like, of course, and we're thinking
of writing a new song. But then I thought, you know,
Superman is like our nine to eleven song, and of
course for our Jewish friends October seventh, is there nine
to eleven? Yeah, And I thought, well, maybe the significance
of doing Superman, maybe change in a few words for Alone,
(25:58):
would be more impactful than just kind of writing a
new song. And and of course with him being a
piano player, so we made a video and and recut
the song, and uh, there's images of her and her
son Ronan, you know, playing Superman on the piano and
in hotage square. And then of course when you put
something out like that these days, you get both the
(26:21):
depreciation of folks that that field abandoned by the arts,
and of course you get all the vitriol that comes
with anything in this society today. So so I was
thinking about that and and the fact that you know,
after nine to eleven. It was the one time I
think in my life we had almost a universal unity
(26:43):
in America. And it's terrible that that event caused that,
but it was so empowering. And and and how we've
now gotten to a place in the arts, particularly where
people can't say simple moral truths like free the hostages,
which is seems contrat meant you know, you know, controversial,
that posting American flag is controversial. That's some kind of
(27:06):
like you know, for some people, that's kind of.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
A curse word.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
And you know, how have we gotten here where we're
where we have this moral paralyzation in the arts, uh
and in the culture.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And that's really kind of what that op ed was about.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And and and again, I you know, it's everything in
this age is political, and I certainly, you know, I
am not shy about, you know, talking about politics and
and where we are with Israel and and and and
the last administration and and all that stuff. But at
the end of the day, you know, how hard is
it to say Hamas is evil? And so again, I
(27:43):
think I think that's one reason why it's resonating. And
I was lucky to have some folks, you know, looking
at it with me that that kind of pulled me
back when I wanted to to make it a little
more angry. But I think you know music, and you
know this Christian. I mean, you've been one of the
few leaders in the media talking about the arts and
the power of the culture that derives from the arts.
(28:05):
You know, our buddy old buddy Andrew Breitbart. You know,
politics is down downstream and culture. If we don't use
the arts to fight this culture.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
Where we're gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
Israel is going to win this war like they always do.
But if you look at the polling, the younger you get,
the more radicalized our society is. And you don't get
to those kids on TikTok with speeches. You frankly don't
get them with an op ed in the Wall Street Journal.
You get it through the arts. And the other side
understands that. And if we don't start using the arts
(28:35):
proactively and strategically, we are going to have problems. So again,
I think that was another point of my op ed,
that we have to use the arts just like we
use bunker busters, and frankly, many of our pals on
the right do not get it, and especially I also
want to note that with this recent op ed, you know,
(28:56):
typically for the last you know, thirteen months, the hate
I get is from the left, you know, the radicals,
Free Palestine. I'm starting to get a lot of kind
of hatred and vitriol from the right, from this kind
of new woke right that we're seeing, and it is,
it is ugly, and it's something we need to stand
up to, as well as kind of the Rashida to
(29:17):
lead to the world.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Yeah, that's fascinating, and say, at the same time, I
think you'd agree that I considue an accidental protesting because
that's not your not why you got into this gig.
It's sort of been real events pushed you in the direction,
and there's I'd like, there's so many things to be
outraged about now and anything new in that arena or
is it taking a break at this point? I'm just
(29:39):
kind of curious.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Well, I've had a song in my head for I
don't know six seven months called don't send your kids
to Harvard, and I don't.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Part of me is like I don't want to do
another one.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I did write a song about Justin Trudeau that people
really seem to like, and you know, you know, there's
two ways to go about this. From the arts, right,
it's kind of more earnest things like Superman and Okay
and Blood on My Hands. But there's also satire in comedy,
which again is a huge I mean, the Babylon Bee
changed the world. Right Without the Babylon Bee, Elon Musk
(30:15):
doesn't buy Twitter, And I think the satire frankly, you know,
we're seeing a lot of kind of memes of Tucker
Carlson's kind of question about how.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Many people live in IRN and.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
And you see all these memes kind of making fun
of that, and that's way more powerful than yelling at
Tucker Carlson frankly, or you're saying something mean or whatever.
So I think, you know, maybe, well maybe if Harvard
continues to go down this road of insanity, you know,
don't send your kids Harvard, will well well kind of
make the make the grade. But I am looking to
(30:47):
do things that are not just wrapped up in current events.
You know, I am a songwriter. I like things about
to write about other things. But at this day and
age in my career, you know, when I don't have
to put out records, you know, I kind of write
when I'm inspired, and unfortunately.
Speaker 3 (31:00):
What's what's inspired me or moved me as these events?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Huh? You know, I think there's a tendency when someone
gets very rich and very famous, that you get detached.
If you're a comedian, it's hard to talk about your
wife and your kids when you live in a multimillion
dollar mansion. You're on your third wife, and I look
at you and I always think whether I agree with
you or not. You're always grounded, and then I I
(31:25):
often forget. You have your own company. It's a family
owned country. I think nineteen eleven it started Precision Wire Products. Yeah,
I know, I'm sure there's a love there. I know
your family members work there. But is a part of
that the fact that that kind of keeps you within
the real world. I mean maybe that's too pragmatic a question,
but I don't know. I just want to ask you
that I think.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
So. I think a couple things.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
First of all, I've have wonderful parents, who, you know,
I think instilled some values in me. I think also,
I had success relatively late. You know, Superman when it
became a hit, I was in my late twenties, you know,
one hundred years early thirties, which for aspiring artists is
old frankly so, and I struggled for fifteen years. It
didn't it wasn't handed to me when I was twenty,
(32:08):
you know, kind of where your maturity.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Stops when you have success.
Speaker 2 (32:12):
I also think that's true, you know, walking into I
remember I had the number one song in the country,
but you walk into prisum wire and people are sweating
and starting at minimum wage and you have to make
a payroll, and it's the real world. So I think
that And also, you know, as you know, you know,
the kind of honor of my career is performing for
(32:32):
our troops. So when you spend a lot of time
with military families, particularly gold Star families, I think a
lot of that stuff kind of puts puts perspective in
what you're doing. Not just saying, you know, I didn't
have you know, at the time, you know, I wasn't
loving life, having an ego and it's it's amazing to
live that dream. But I think I think those things
(32:53):
have given me a little different kind of perspective and
worldview to typically, as you know, it's your business. The
majority of Hollywood and the arts is either left far left,
or like you know, Mars left and there's there's very
few people that kind of share our worldview. And I
think having a business and paying taxes and understanding the
(33:17):
disaster the California is for businesses and what that costs
for people who are trying to reach the middle class,
but also seeing the American dream every day, you know,
precision Wire. Most folks start at minimum wage, can't speak
the language, and here we are twenty thirty laters. Their
kids are going to Stanford, going to UCLA, and so
(33:38):
that also, I think is a great perspective for me,
and kind of I think. And my wife keeps me,
keeps me in line, Christian, trust me, she was in
the music business. She keeps me in line every day.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
Sounds like you married well, pare Let you go, John.
Looking at your career, You've done a lot, You've had
so many highlights, and you strike me as a kind
of a restless creatively speaking. Are the things you still
want to do? It doesn't even have to be music
per se, maybe more writing or other other related field.
And I just I feel like you've got a lot
(34:11):
of chapters left in you. You're not an old person,
but I'm saying you just strike me as someone who
isn't satisfied easily or likes to kind of go from
different project to different project.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
You're right, it's annoying, but you know I did. I
grew up in musical theater. I've written with you know,
Steven Schwartz, my buddy, and I've always loved musical theater
and I actually took a stab at it a few
years ago for a big, kind of iconic project.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
It didn't end up happening. But I would love to
do something.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
That's not just write a song, whether it's a musical,
a one man show, something that that I can use
my songwriting, but it's not just like here's another song
from from five for fighting. Of course, that is years
in the making and a lot of work. People have
asked me, you know, to maybe do I want to
write a book? You know all that stuff, you know,
kind of the usual things. But but I am I'm
(35:06):
am interested in doing different projects that use my kind
of songwriting, that that are are unique. I've I've developed
a couple of TV shows that have music and kind
of a tone. Unfortunately, we've we've sold a few, but
never got them off the ground. As you know, that's tough,
but I do think, you know, I actually it was
an event with some of the Angel Studios folks the
(35:27):
other day, and these folks that are making their own content,
that are providing a different worldview. So I really like
that idea of working in some of these things, not
necessarily political or conservative, but just provide a different, different
tone worldview, talk about subjects that maybe Hollywood doesn't want
to talk about. So that intrigues me too, And you know,
(35:48):
we'll see if any of that comes to truition.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
Yeah, Angel Studios that I think their motto is we
amplify Light, which is such a beautiful turn or phrase
and so different than maybe a more cynical hollywoodroduction. And
I give them all the credit in the world. But well, John,
thank you so much for joining the show. It's an
absolute treat for me. And of course go to five
for Fighting dot com. You can find all the stuff
about your music. Of course your tour. You're going to
(36:12):
be in a bunch of new cities coming in a
few weeks. I think Oklahoma City and a little place
called Denver, Colorado. It's actually Regatta, but it's right. We're
right next door to us. I'll be I'll be in
the crowd that night. But thank you so much. Thanks
for being smart andsane obviously making great music, and I
think the best is you have to come.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
Thank you Christian.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Always a pleasure, and thank you for what you're doing
and what you'd be doing your whole career. It's really
critical and you're kind of the leading voice in the
space and I am inspired by you every day.
Speaker 1 (36:41):
Oh. Thanks, I appreciate it. That's very kind, But all right,
we will talk soon.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Your character actor of the week is William Fickner. Oh
before we go, just a quick shout out to actor
Max Martini. Very talented guy. You've seen him in tons
and tons of movies, Saving Private Ryan. It just the
list goes on and on. He's been in just about everything.
Thirteen Hours maybe from a few years ago, might be
one of his bigger hits as well. But Max and
I were supposed to talk for this show about his
(37:08):
new movie Osiris. It is a science fiction action film.
It's out right now in a video on demand platforms,
and it's kind of a bit of Aliens vibe to it.
He plays a soldier who's swept up by an alien spacecraft.
He's got to battle his way out of there. Linda
Hamilton is a co star here, so you've got all
these jen Ra bona fides, you'd possibly believe it. So
(37:41):
where the hell are we? And we had some tech issues.
We just couldn't get the technology right, couldn't get the
conversation going. So the having just a great conversation. And
I used it for Hollywoodintoto dot com. It's my website,
(38:05):
so a more traditional feature story on Max Martini and
on O Cyrus. But just want to share that with you.
Recommend the film. It's really a fun be movie. I
think you'll enjoy tons of action, absolute tons of action
in a microscopic budget, and it doesn't look that way.
It's one of the great things we talked about in
the checking the conversation. So just thank you Max for
being a good sport hanging there with me. And also
(38:25):
it just seems like a nice guy and a hard worker.
Need more of that in Hollywood, and of course he's
just constantly working, so good for him, good for our Cyrus.
Thanks again for doing kind of hanging in there through
a tough tech clitch. I really appreciate it well as
I for the show this week. Again, thank you to
Radio America for having me as part of their great
podcast lineup. I do hope you'll check out Hollywood Intoto
(38:46):
dot com my website. We operated seven days a week,
no rest for the weary, and it is, like the show,
the right take on entertainment, So do check it out
for movie reviews and commentary interviews, all sorts of new things.
And I also loved promote right of center artists on
that particular platform. If you're a right of center artist,
you've got a new YouTube channel, a new book, or
(39:07):
something like that, do let me know. I'll do my
best to promote it on the site. Love to do that.
I think more conservative news outlets should do exactly that.
I think we have to kind of rising tide lifts
all boats kind of thinking. I think that matters. I
hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Thank you for listening,
thank you for watching wherever you've been checking out the show,
and of course, be good, be strong. Doctors' orders