For a quarter of a century Eddie Trunk has been front and center in the world of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. He’s transformed his vast knowledge of the genre from a weekend radio show into a full blown career that not only boasts a syndicated radio show on both terrestrial and satellite radio, but he also has become a fixture on VH1 for both his artist interviews and his weekly That Metal Show.
by Mark LaSpina
In the world of Rock, encompassing the harder and heavier side, there are few who can sport the pedigree of Eddie Trunk, let alone his passion and drive. Turn the clock back to 1983 as the “Metal” era was starting explode. While at WDHA/Dover, Trunk debuted, what may have been, the very first “specialty” show for Metal. That show would become part of WDHA for over ten years.
In 1986, Ed joined Megaforce/Atlantic Records as VP. There he was instrumental in developing the likes of Anthrax, Overkill, Testament, Kings X and Ace Frehley. A career shift brought him back to radio in 1994 when he joined Q104.3/New York. In 1998 he moved to crosstown WNEW, and it was there that he got the break he needed to put a show spotlighting Hard Rock/Metal on in a major market. The show became so popular that when the station went all talk, Trunk’s show continued to air two nights a week. It was at this time he began to syndicate the show.
In 2002, Trunk returned to Q104.3, the flagship of his weekly Friday night show which is currently syndicated on a dozen stations. His Sirius XM show, Eddie Trunk Live, airs Monday nights from 6-10 p.m. In 2007 he started working for MSG Network in NYC as a music host and correspondent. In 2008 he developed and served as co-host for a program called “That Metal Show,” which is currently on VH1 Classic. His website www.eddietrunk.com has become an outlet for news, video and audio covering the hard rock world.
When did you become the “go to guy” in the world of hard rock?
That probably came about as a combination of everything I’ve done. Things really started to go to another level for me once I broke into NYC radio. There’s much more reach and awareness for what you do just by nature of the market and audience you can access. To this day, it’s the only outlet for many Classic Hard Rock and Metal artists from the biggest to the smallest in the number one market. I wish more PD’s would take a shot on the show and not marginalize this music and audience. With three hours a week, Q104 owns the audience for this stuff and they would never touch 95 percent of it outside my hours. I credit former PD Bob Buchmann for seeing the value of what the show can bring and truly “getting it”. I’m grateful for what I have, but always hoping to find more time or stations to reach.
The Sirius/XM show has become pretty popular because it is a live interactive show and a hybrid of music and talk on satellite, which is rare for music channels. I enjoy doing that one also and it’s cool to reach all of the U.S. and Canada on both services. The show was born on XM and has been there for about five years. We’re getting great response from the Sirius subscribers also.
You’ve recently celebrated your 25th anniversary in radio. Has it seemed that long?
No. It’s really hard to comprehend. I’ve been so lucky working in something I love. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a tremendous amount of stress and challenges, especially now with a wife and two kids counting on me, but I would not trade it for anything and feel blessed. It seems like yesterday I was playing “Kill Em All” and trying to tell people why Metallica could be huge and should be played on the radio! Last year Judas Priest played a private show for my anniversary in the business. That was surreal to say the least! To have that sort of relationship and respect from the legends is just awesome.
From your early days on the record side, you helped in the careers of many of Rock acts. Talk about some of the artists you’ve worked with.
The first act I signed was Ace Frehley. My first show was KISS in ’77 at MSG. If anyone told me I would be working with the lead guitarist and making them my first signing less than ten years later, I would have thought they were insane! I am still close with Ace to this day and proud to report he is sober and healthy. I remember the day the Kings X demo came to the office. Jonny Z (Megaforce President) and I didn’t know what to make of it, but we knew we had to work with them. They’re a great band that still has not been given their due. I’m still very close with the Anthrax guys. We worked with them in management as well as label. I did a short stint at Loud & Proud Management where we had six acts on six different majors. White Lion was the biggest act at the time. Many of the acts I was involved with on that level are still friends and now I work with them when they are guests of mine in TV and Radio. Having the label experience was great and helped me connect better with artists I interview. I miss some of the label A&R work and still dabble in it and help where I can when asked.
You’ve also developed some longtime friendships with some of Rock’s elite as well.
I’ve made so many great friends. Just the people I’ve known and have met over the years has been very rewarding. Some of my favorite people are the Priest guys, Ronnie James Dio, Ace, just so many. I got a chance to do TV twice with Robert Plant, go to Joe Perry‘s house with all ofAerosmith. It’s hard to talk about without sounding like I’m name dropping, but I am lucky to have made a connection with some of these guys. They like the fact that I know their history and truly know the music, and even though I’m a fan I don’t geek out. That’s important. I know how these guys are and what makes many of them tick and I try and be as “normal” as possible with them. That’s how you gain some trust and respect. To have guys like Geddy and Alex of Rush fly in on their own just to do my TV show is unreal for me. Or to sit with Lars Ulrich for forty-five minutes before Metallica plays, means the world to me and I’m blessed.
When did you get started at VH1 and what led to your prominent role as the chief interviewer?
Around 2001, I started auditioning for VH1 Classic. I didn’t even know there was such a thing at the time. It was great to get in on the ground floor and great to be part of it again. In TV so few artists ever get interviewed by anyone who ever truly knows their music (ever see Larry King or Greta Van Susterninterview Motley Crue?!). So when these artists really sense they are with someone who knows music and their history they open up and change their attitude totally. I’ve been told interviewing is one of my greatest strengths. Guys like John Mellencamp, Dick Cavettand others have said I was one of the best they ever sat with and that means a lot. As much as I am a hard rock guy, I also know something about other music as well from my years working in a record store. It was cool to cover all kinds of music in my initial run at the channel.
Your second season of That Metal Show is set to debut on March 7. Talk about the first season and the process getting that show up and running.
I had been pitching the concept for a show like this for years to anyone who would listen. The show went through an evolution and had some other people attached at one point. Don Jamieson andJim Florentine are good friends and legit metal fans. They sit in on my radio show often and are stand up comics. I introduced them to VH1 execs and they saw our chemistry. We shot a pilot that was picked up and shot Season 1 and were cleared for Season 2 before we even went to air. VH1 and VH1 Classic do well with classic hard rock so this show and the mix of elements were perfect for them. Ratings and buzz were great for Season 1. I book many of the guests in conjunction with VH1 and every one of them I have history with, so it makes it comfortable for all. There’s a ton of ball busting and obviously it’s not a serious show by any stretch, but we are all big fans of the music and happy to be doing it. It’s also cool that everyone gets to be real and sound off on stuff and give an honest opinion. I’ve killed the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and was happy VH1 left it in.JJ French (Twisted Sister) killed KISS and they left it in. Everyone should have the right to an opinion, which is what I stress in radio also.
How is it working with Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson?
They keep the show on the edge and do some funny stuff in the field. They are experts in messing with people and busting balls. As stand up comics that is their role in the show. They can be pretty brutal on me at times, but it’s all in good fun and that’s their job. I fire back, but the editors usually cut my stuff out! One thing I’ve learned in TV is that the editors hold all the cards. I have no idea what does and doesn’t make a show until it airs. The cool thing is the three of us would be doing the same things together if we weren’t on TV. We’re just lucky to have a show and make a few bucks doing it.
Is the radio show growing as you’d like to see it?
To be honest it has not grown nearly to the level I would have hoped. Many PD’s are so afraid to take a chance and do something different. I know my show is not an easy sell and part of the problem is that it is different every week. Some weeks more talk, others more music. I pride myself in keeping it dynamic. It reacts to what is going on and truly connects to the station’s audience. It is not a voice-tracked syndicated sounding show. Some PD’s will say, “We would never play that artist or song.” That’s EXACTLY the reason to have a show like mine! Why would you want a specialty show if it does what you do anyway? If people give it a shot, it works. Axl Rose walked into my studio two years ago and it’s still the only radio interview he did in about fifteen years. That’s the beauty. It’s real and live or recorded live. You don’t get that in a canned show. Stations can get the show and own this audience and advertisers with just three hours a week, and it makes a nice complement to a local in house hard rock/metal show. Being cleared and flagshipped from NYC brings some great opportunities. Anyone interested can contact me throughwww.eddietrunk.com or Larry Kahn at Radio KG at lkahn@radiokgb.com
What are some of the standout moments in your career?
Having Priest play a private show at the Hard Rock for free last year was insane. They are amazing people to do that and they are legends. Nobody ever saw Priest like that. For me it was over in a flash and still hard to digest. Not only Priest playing for me but all the rock royalty that showed up in the audience to honor me. Just crazy. We had Sabbath and Priest under the same roof that night.
My proudest moment was an event I did in 2001 for police and fire fighters for 9/11 called NY Steel. I reunited Twisted Sister for the first time in thirteen years (they’ve been going since!), had Ace, Sebastian Bach, Overkill and Anthrax play. It was a great night for Metal for a great cause. It was sold-out and raised over $200,000 for the cause. I always hate the stereotypes that come with this music. Axl walking in to the radio show was huge and I’m still asked about it. I’m hoping to do something with him again.
Breaking into NY radio was a big turning point as was breaking into TV. I’m thankful and blessed for everything I have on a professional and personal level. Two great healthy kids and a wife who gets it and lets me be me. But I am never complacent. I’m always looking to build more on what I am doing currently or what the next thing can be. Sincere thanks to every listener or industry person who has supported me or given me a shot. I am truly grateful!
**QB Content By Mark LaSpina**
