TIJ - EP149 - The Tragic Tale of Axl Rotten

You wanted the best… you got the best! LIVE from KISS Kruise Landlocked in Vegas! Chris Jericho hosts an epic fan Q&A with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer & Eric Singer, packed with unheard stories, backstage confessions, onstage mishaps, deep-cut lore, and massive teases about the future of KISS. Paul and Gene open up about getting back onstage after two years, the chemistry that still fires the band, and why they insist this moment isn’t “the sunset” but merely a new beginning for KISS! They also break down everything from the origin of the makeup to the Tom Snyder chaos to the band’s first-ever use of a drum riser (which was literally powered by a forklift!) The guys talk dangerous fire-spitting mishaps, flying-rig disasters, the truth behind the avatars, the legacy of Ace Frehley & Peter Criss, why tough love matters, and how KISS went from a rat-infested New York loft to a half-century empire of fans across generations. Plus, Paul and Gene reveal whether new music might be in KISS’ future, and spill a few details on future KISS projects! Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the🔔to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8 Dec 1h 4min

Matt Pinfield finally joins TIJ to detail two unbelievable life-or-death moments that changed everything - the Hollywood accident that sent him through a windshield, and the massive stroke and MRSA pneumonia doctors said he’d never survive. He talks waking up after two months unconscious, the brutal rehab, the rock music that fueled his comeback, and the gold-plated cane Ozzy sent him from England during recovery. Matt also chronicles his early days in music from Jersey rock-radio diehard to MTV’s 120 Minutes host and champion of Nirvana, Green Day, Oasis, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones and more. He shares how one bold phone call landed him the MTV gig, why Depeche Mode nearly derailed his first audition, and what it was really like hanging with Metallica, Van Halen, and hosting his own version of Headbangers Ball called MATTROCK! Plus, hear the incredible story about the day he ended up singing KISS classics with Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and the late, great Ace Frehley.   Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Dec 1h 6min

AEW’s Hellbent Vixen Viva Van dives into her unique journey from Little Saigon to All Elite Wrestling, and the unbelievable story of how she helped Vietnam Pro Wrestling get their very first wrestling ring. Viva breaks down the grassroots movement that brought pro wrestling to Vietnam, the GoFundMe that changed everything, and what it meant to wrestle in Ho Chi Minh City for the very first time. She talks about her WWE private tryout, how the rejection lit a fire under her, her grind across the indies, training at the NJPW LA Dojo, and the moment she found out (at the same time as the fans) that she was about to wrestle on AEW Dynamite. Viva also shares amazing stories about wrestling Timeless Toni Storm on AEW Rampage, her metal-inspired ring entrance, her time singing in a death-metal band, discovering wrestling through video games, and growing up speaking only Vietnamese. Plus, she reveals her dream matches in AEW and Japan. Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3 Dec 55min

WCW legend Glacier (aka Ray Lloyd) talks about the creation of his Mortal Kombat–inspired gimmick, the “Blood Runs Cold” vignettes, the expensive laser-and-snow entrance that became his calling card, debuting on WCW Nitro against Big Bubba, the and why Raven saddled him with the nickname “Fat Fingers the Magician.” He gets into his legit martial-arts background, his time fighting in the UWFI system in Japan, and how that all led him to pro wrestling. Ray also recalls working with icons like Lou Thesz and Billy Robinson, his friendship with Canyon and Ernest Miller, learning from Dusty Rhodes, the pressure of coming in with a big push, and how that entire WCW run eventually ended. Plus, he details how a chance reconnection with QT Marshall led to his new life as a coach, mentor, and backstage producer in AEW, and why returning to the business has completely reignited his passion for pro wrestling. Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy  👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes!  More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Nov 1h 3min

Jackie Earle Haley shares stories from his 50 years in Hollywood, making the jump from child star to Oscar-nominated actor, and the wild road that took him from Bad News Bears to delivering pizzas before Sean Penn and Steve Zaillian pulled him back for All The King’s Men. He gets into the audition tape that relaunched his career, the intense process behind Little Children, and the emotional moment he learned he’d been nominated for an Academy Award. He remembers shooting Bad News Bears as Kelly Leak, riding motorcycles at 13, working with Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, and carrying Breaking Training as a teenager. He breaks down playing Rorschach in Watchmen, goes deep on building his version of Freddy Krueger including the brutal daily make-up process, and shares why his new horror film Your Host let him go full “batshit crazy” in the best way possible. Stream Your Host now: https://www.yourhostfilm.com/ 📸 Instagram: @jackieearle Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26 Nov 1h 6min

Raven shares why he demanded a “warts and all” story when it came to his new documentary, Nevermore: The Raven Effect. He explains how insecurity shaped his early career, what really happened when he walked away from Vince McMahon and the WWF office, and how five minutes of “divine inspiration” created the Raven character. He and filmmaker Geordie Day talk about the wild reality of ECW in the ’90s, and why the Dreamer feud, Sandman storyline, and Crucifixion angle worked so well. Raven also recounts the truth about his relationship with Paul Heyman, his favorite episodic stories from Portland working for the Grappler, the WrestleMania 17 golf-cart fiasco, the frustrations of WCW and the Flock, the real story behind Shane McMahon staying at his house, and the ending beat of the film that Raven loves the most. Stream Nevermore: The Raven Effect now on Amazon Prime Video! https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/0NMV0EYE9FF93HER811N9HHQYY And on Gathr for fans outside the US: https://gathr.com/vod/ec0e2fb0/nevermore-the-raven-effect Purchase the Blu Ray here: https://vinegarsyndrome.com/products/nevermore-the-raven-effect 📸 Instagram: @theraveneffect   Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichfozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21 Nov 1h 4min

Eli Roth returns to break down the launch of his film company Horror Section and how he’s building a place for unrated, no-rules genre movies. He shares the story behind shooting his upcoming horror film Ice Cream Man, why he resurrected an idea he first wrote 20 years ago, and the insane on-set challenges that came with directing 100 blood-soaked kids in the Toronto heat. He talks about discovering strange, low-budget gems like Dream Eater, the “third-tape cinema” philosophy driving his new slate, and how Terrifier proved that unrated horror can still break the box office. Eli recalls Quentin Tarantino’s early support on Cabin Fever and Hostel, explains why Quentin insisted Eli play the Bear Jew in Inglourious Basterds, and shares what it was like to watch Tarantino act out every role during early read-throughs. Eli discusses his upcoming appearance on HBO’s Euphoria, working with Sam Levinson, and shooting on 65mm film. Plus, he opens up about navigating studio politics, distributing indie horror, mentoring young filmmakers, pushing himself as both a director and an actor, and what he has planned for Thanksgiving 2! Eli Roth Presents DREAM EATER is available now wherever you stream movies! 📸 Instagram: @horrorsectionstudios | @dreameatermovie Thank you for supporting our sponsors! Surfshark: Go to https://surfshark.com/JERICHO or use code JERICHO at checkout to get 4 months extra when you sign up for a 2-year plan   Talk Is Jericho is available on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/ChrisJerichoFozzy 👍 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the 🔔 to stay updated on new episodes! More from Talk Is Jericho: 📸 Instagram: @chrisjerichofozzy | @talkisjericho 🐦 Twitter/X: @IAmJericho | @TalkIsJericho 🌐 Website: https://www.webisjericho.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 Nov 1h 6min

Step inside the mind of NFL legend Von Miller as he goes free range — from the gridiron to the culture at large. Each week, Von breaks down the biggest football stories, dives into the world of sports and entertainment, and chops it up with athletes, artists, and trendsetters shaping the conversation. Equal parts football IQ, locker room energy, and societal curiosity, Free Range is where game meets culture, and no topic is off-limits. You might even get some inside nuggets on this Super Bowl MVP’s chicken farm! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17 Nov 2min