The LA Lloyd Podcast

You may know Jesse James Dupree as the chainsaw slingin' frontman for Jackyl.  What you may not know is he has a friendship with Brian Johnson of AC/DC that has lasted for decades.  With the similarities in their vocals, it only makes sense they would collaborate together.  What started as some song ideas for Jesse did indeed lead to the two working together on Jesse's solo album Breathing Fire. On a phone call between Jesse James Dupree and Brian Johnson, the two started talking about how the marines would do a cadence while marching.  From that idea, Brian told Jesse about a song idea that was similar to the cadence that eventually led to the duet on Never Gets Old.   Jesse James Dupree is a hero to bikers all across the USA.  He plays all the biggest bike rallies from Daytona to Myrtle Beach to Sturgis.  Also, he is a consultant working with Harley Davidson.  There was even a reality show about his partnership with the Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis.  Jesse decided to cover The Faces song Stay With Me at the Daytona Bike Fest in 2024.  He will talk about his love of this song and the possibility of doing a studio recording.

LA Lloyd talked with Nita Strauss during her headlining tour with Diamante and Starbenders. They talked about Nita's album Call of the Void which she described as an "educational experience as a songwriter."  The difference in this album compared to her previous ones was the approach of writing songs that were not only for herself but others she worked with.  This led to collaborations with the likes of Lzzy Hale, Dorothy and the Number One song Dead Inside with David Draiman from Disturbed. Nita was asked if she considers herself a role model.  Her take on it is if someone looks at her as one, she takes it very seriously.  She hopes fans that look up to her can sense the positive vibe she gives off.  It's a celebration of her getting away from the self-destructive ways she had been channeling earlier in her life.

Scott Stevens was the success story of 2023 on the Rock 30 countdown. He released the song Spirits High through his band the Exies.  It took over 30 weeks for the song to reach number one on the Rock 30.  This was made possible with the fans' continuous requests week after week that got it to the top. Scott didn't sit idle with the success of Spirits High.  As he tells LA Lloyd, there's been a lot of things percolating regarding the Exies music.  The next chapter of this story brings us to the new song For What It's Worth.  Its inspiration comes from the path of the Exies eventually coming to a stop.  From there, Scott works with many amazing artists as producer and songwriter.  And then the path eventually leads back to creating music for the Exies again.   LA Lloyd has constantly questioned Scott if there would ever be an Exies reunion.  Fans will be happy to know that it will be at the venue that got it all started for Scott and the band.  After so many years, they will perform May 29, 2024 at The Viper Room in Los Angeles. In addition to Scott's success as an artist, he will talk about working as producer for Dorothy, Shinedown, Lzzy Hale, Daughtry, Starbenders, Lilith Czar and countless others.

Daughtry finally reached Number one on the LA Lloyd Rock 30 with the song Artificial.  Chris will give his thoughts on the inspiration of that song on how society is dealing with the growth of Artificial Intelligence at record breaking speed. You probably noticed in the Artificial video of Chris' workout ethic. He tells LA Lloyd, "I have the strongest willpower of anyone I know." He continued, "If I know that I am preparing for something, there is nothing you can do to make me crack."   The new single from Daughtry is Pieces.  The lyrics will definitely hit you emotionally when you listen to it.  He sings, "I'm learning to live with the pieces of me."  That's pretty heavy knowing the background of his pain losing a family member.

Papa Roach has an emotional song called leave A Light On. According to Jacoby Shaddix, it's his favorite moment during their set as it is done acoustically with the fans doing a sing-along. Benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the band's royalties on this song are being donated directly to the AFSP, in perpetuity. Every time the song is streamed, downloaded, or used in any way a donation is being made. The band's initial donation to the AFSP of $155,000 was presented at their final show in Denver, Colorado.  If you or a loved one is in crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or the Crisis Text Line (Text TALK to 741741) to talk to someone who can help. You are not alone. Together, we can talk away the dark." Chris Daughtry attended a Papa Roach show recently in Nashville. Jacoby will talk about how this collaboration came to happen after he invited Chris on stage to sing "Scars."

”Faith” is a word you will hear Scott Stapp mention many times in this Podcast.  The Grammy winning, platinum-certified artist released his fourth solo album, Higher Power on March 15, 2024. Working with long-time friend and producer Scott Stevens, the relationship led to writing some of the best songs in his career. Scott said this regarding the single Higher Power, “Where I was in my life at the time, without that song even being, it was the song that had to be the title track and had to be the first song on the record because that’s where the journey began.”  Dorothy will be featured on a duet on the track If These Walls Could Talk. Scott shares a great story about how he knew the minute he saw her live that she was the only person who had the vocals that would make this song come to life.  In addition, he talks about the Creed Reunion and the Creed Cruise as well.

Slash is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, original Guns N' Roses member and founder of Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators.  What's next for the Gibson axe-slinger?  He follows his dream and passion to recreate some of the greatest Blues songs ever written.  "Orgy Of The Damned" is a 12-song album dedicated to the Blues featuring Slash on guitar and an all-star lineup of vocalists including Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Beth Hart, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr, Billy F. Gibbons (ZZ Top), Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Demi Lovato, Dorothy, and Tash Neal on vocals.  The album will be released May 17, 2024.  Slash covers it all in this Podcast.

Caleb Shomo is one of the most dynamic front persons you will see live.  The Beartooth vocalist brings pure energy and doesn't stop moving for the entire set.   In this podcast, he discusses the sold out shows on his current tour, how he has stepped from his own shadow into the spotlight and why he loves it.  In addition, he talks about working with Country Rock superstar HARDY on the song and video The Better Me...and yes Caleb actually knows how to play golf well. LA Lloyd is very happy for Beartooth getting their first NUMBER ONE song on the Rock 30 called Might Love Myself.

If you haven't discovered the music from Austin Meade, this podcast should intrigue you to listen.  The Texas native has established himself as a story-driven songwriter whose latest album Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind showcases his work.  Blackout is Austin Meade's single that debuted on the Rock 30 late 2023.  According to Austin, the inspiration came to him after attending a Jelly Roll showcase.  He received the VIP treatment and and as he put it, "I'm having a good time until I'm not."  With a passion for cinematic narratives, the video pays homage to the film Fight Club.  I met Austin Meade at The Haute Spot in Cedar Park, TX several months ago.  Austin's Dad made sure that the meeting happened as he has been very influential in helping expand the awareness of his brand and music.  Austin will share some great stories on the powerful influence his father has had on him since day one!

Josey Scott stepped away from being frontman of Saliva at the end of 2011.  What has he been up to since that major decision?  A LOT! He is back with a new band called “Josey Scott’s Saliva.”  They have been touring and writing in 2023.   Wayne Swinny Wayne Swinny, original Saliva guitarist passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2023.  Josey was devastated but will share how happy he was he had one last chance to reunite with Wayne and Saliva on September 11, 2022.  At The Blue Ridge Rock Festival September 11, 2022, Josey made his first appearance with the band as a special guest since departing in 2011.  They performed three songs together: “Your Disease”, “Always”, and “Click Click Boom.” Josey Scott’s Saliva has been playing live shows, writing new music and preparing to unleash a new song and album in 2024.  Who has Josey been working with in the studio?  Who is in his current band?  When can you get some new tunes?  Josey will answer all these questions in this Podcast.

Smashing Pumpkins released the highly anticipated triple album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts.  It is the twelfth studio album released in three separate installments of 11 songs—Atum: Act One was released on November 15, 2022, Atum: Act Two was released on January 31, 2023, and Atum: Act Three on May 5, 2023.   Billy Corgan talks in-depth about the album box set.  In addition, he talks about his love of wrestling and the purchase of NWA.

Only days before we heard the news that original Saliva guitarist Wayne Swinny unexpectedly passed away, LA Lloyd interviewed their vocalist Bobby Amaru.  We send condolences to the Saliva fans and family.

White Reaper is a band from Louisville, KY.  Their sound has been called "Garage Punk" but when you see them live, they are just basically a great Rock Band period.  They released their album Asking For A Ride January 27, 2023.  Hunter Thompson, guitarist and Sam Wilkerson will tell LA Lloyd the stories behind many of the songs on the album including their current single Fog Machine.

It's been a long time since we heard a new song from the Exies.  Scott Stevens, vocalist shares the story of how "Spirits High" came to be when he first began working on it in lockdown 2020.  Two and a half years later the song was finalized.  Scott also reveals if there will be more music coming from the Exies. After The Exies split up in 2010, Scott honed his craft of songwriting and producing eventually working with many top rock artists.  In this Podcast, Scott will go artist by artist and give his feelings on working with Halestorm, Shinedown, Daughtry, Scott Stapp and many more.

Rory Rodriguez, Dayseeker vocalist talks in-depth with LA Lloyd about their album Dark Sun which was released November 4, 2022. Fans of the Rock 30 have been requesting the new single from Dayseeker called Without Me.  As Rory explains, we were encouraged to do a co-write with someone outside the band.  That person was Matt Squire, who had worked previously with Panic At The Disco, Te Used and even Demi Lovato.  It was a good decision as the song is turning out to be one of their biggest hits.

Giovannie and the Hired Guns was the surprise success story of 2022.  Their song Ramon Ayala went to number one on not one but two charts. This is the first time since 2006 that an artist’s first career-charting radio single reached No. 1 at both Alternative and Active Rock. LA Lloyd actually recorded this episode in Gio's limo on Congress Avenue in Austin, TX at the historic Paramount Theatre.  It's the perfect match as Giovannie and the Hired Guns was touring with Los Lonely Boys and as you can see from the marquis below, fans love it as this one was SOLD OUT!

Royal Bliss current single Black Rhino was written during lockdown. According to their vocalist Neal Middleton, "originally it was a song written about survival for a rock band."  As time moved forward and the lockdown continued, they changed up the lyrics "to be about a survival of the people, where it's like we're gonna make it through this pandemic."

Robert DeLeo, bassist and principal songwriter of Stone Temple Pilots released his first solo album, Lessons Learned October 21, 2022.  He and LA Lloyd will talk in-depth about this album including a wide variety of unique instruments used and several guests that played on it.

It's been a long time since LA Lloyd said, "this artist is going to change the face of current ROCK."  In fact it was just over 30 years ago after he first played a song called "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Nirvana.  There's no denying that Rock has been pushed to the underground since the early 2000s.  Even though some great music and artists have emerged in the past 20 years, there really hasn't been a "scene" created since Grunge emerged in the early 90s.  So who is this artist Lloyd believes is leading the pack?  His name is HARDY!!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra has definitely been a holiday tradition for LA Lloyd almost two decades.  The lights, pyro, sound, musicians and vocalists all encompass the true feeling of the holidays turned up to 11.  Al Pitrelli, TSO guitarist and band leader takes us behind the scenes on this podcast.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!