Eddie Trunk has done more than just about anyone over the past thirty years to make sure the masses are aware of the past, present and future of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. His many radios shows, as well as his job on VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show put Eddie in the position as Poster Boy for Hard Rock and Metal, a position he would humbly state was not the truth but secretly is one he relishes. Not that Eddie has an ego, its more that Eddie deserves some recognition as a guy who has truly sold his soul for the music that he is hopelessly passionate about.

Trunk has added “Author” to his resume with the release of Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock & Heavy Metal book which showcases the bands that meant the most to the rocker from his Rock n’ Roll adolescents to the present day.

In the interview that follows, Trunk and I debate some bands not in the book, with Eddie ever so gently reminding me of the title of his book and that I can’t dictate what bands meant something to him. It is done in fun and with a smile. We also discuss some of the bands that made Eddie’s list that don’t always appear in the day to day Rock world anymore.

The book is a fun read and allows one to understand and get to know Trunk in a more human way. While we may wonder how one of our favorite bands is not one of his, no one can deny that Ed loves these bands and he puts it all in black and white, with backstage tales, and fun stories, that are addictive to read. Once you pick this one up it is hard to put down.

I would love to spend a few hours talking about Hard Rock and Metal with Eddie in person in a bar and arguing this song over that. Something tells me that, one day, that just may happen. We could have a few beers (soda for me as I had to quit the Devil’s elixir) and argue this album over that, this producer over that and even the size of TMS co-host Jim Florentine’s balls or the silliness of TMS co-host Don Jamison’s sideburns. Until then, do what I did, pick up the book, crank up some tunes and enjoy.

Eddie: Thanks. I had always wanted to do a book and an old friend, and musician, Neal Casal had experience with Abrams, my publisher. He had done a book of photos on Ryan Adams for them. He called and said they wanted to do a book on Rock and Metal and wanted to meet with me, and it just went from there.

Eddie: I think the classic bands are alive and well, and maybe healthier than they have been in a long time. AC/DC is the biggest band on the planet and not stopping almost 40 years on. Bon Jovi has been huge on a global level for decades. On the Metal side, The Big 4 are doing massive stuff all over the place. I’m also impressed with the new music the classic bands are making. The new Whitesnake, BCC, Warrant, Anthrax, Mr Big, Motorhead and Rush are great new music. I just wish more people would support it or care about it. Its amazing the music some of these older bands are doing now, but sadly they get little airplay or interest. That, to me, is a big problem, people only want the hits and don’t want to explore new stuff.

Eddie: That’s impossible to say. Sitting here in 2011, and growing up with that stuff, it’s our music, so of course we feel that, but who’s to say in 40 years someone won’t look at that era like we view the ‘50’s and they will talk about the 2000’s as the Golden Era? It’s all relative.

Eddie: I have always loved Hard Rock & Heavy Metal. In radio, TV, and now this book, I clearly define what the difference is. I’m actually not a fan of the name That Metal Show for TV because clearly the show is a Rock & Metal show, but VH1 wanted that name. Every show opens with me saying “Hard rock and Heavy Metal.”

In TV, radio and the book, it’s all classic leaning Rock and Metal from mostly the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Its what I love and have grown up with and is targeted toward that generation. I am fully aware there are tons of other eras and styles, but this is what I do. My book has everything from Billy Squier to Slayer. Both I have loved and supported and I think are important for the reasons I state in the book. I have always been about that.

Eddie: All fair opinions. But it is important to note the book is titled EDDIE TRUNK’s Essential Hard Rock & Metal. A book is personal, so those choices were made because of the impact the artists had on me, and again for the reasons I state.

Billy was the bridge to the MTV era of rock, in my opinion, and the first artist I ever saw live with Piper. Skid Row were a local band for me here in NJ. I have been close with them for years. I think they are one of the great bands to come from the ‘80’s. Again, it’s personal. You should also know that the “More Essentials” and the bands that only get a paragraph were intended, and written, as full chapters. They had to be cut for space but will more than likely will start the next book. TONS of bands I wanted to include, but space considerations is why they were limited. People should also know the playlist songs are in no order of importance and super edited as well, for space. I intentionally left out the hits as well.

Eddie: I have never slammed any of the bands that you mentioned, and like many of them. But to me, Queen & Cheap Trick, in their prime, had a much bigger impact on the Hard Rock and Metal worlds. Many Metal bands loved and covered songs by Queen and Cheap Trick. To me, there is a closer connection there than with the other bands you mention to Hard Rock. I know for me there was and is. But I personally love a lot of the music from the groups you mention. I’m referencing Queen & Cheap Trick from the 70’s, which to me had more edge than most of the approach and output of the others you list. Just an opinion, but it does not diminish the material they made as well. You could go further and say Yes, Skynyrd, Kansas, the line gets drawn somewhere.

Eddie: Totally disagree, especially with Bon Jovi, who I say in the book created Pop Metal, for better or worse, in my view, and, of course, are still massive globally and the only true survivors to still flourish. Poison and Bon Jovi obviously fall in the Hard Rock side. Bon Jovi barely today is Hard Rock, but in the context of the ‘80’s they sure were. VH1 Classic still plays videos from both bands in the Metal Mania hours. That’s how they are viewed from that era. You can love or hate either band but the success speaks for itself. Very few are still truly big from the ‘80’s, they both clearly are. To say “pop band with distortion” sums up that whole scene in some ways, but some did it better than others. I don’t love everything they both did, but think they are important to the era.

Eddie: Again, if I wanted to do a book that featured every band it would be double the price and size. Krokus I loved, didn’t find them to be essential enough to me to include in Volume 1.

Eddie: Respect the band but was never a massive fan and the history goes back even a bit before my time. The book is bands important to ME.

Eddie: Loved them as a kid, not nearly enough impact in America.

Eddie: Known for maybe two songs in the US. Not enough for me.

Eddie: Respect the band, don’t see them as Hard Rock or Metal. It’s not a “every rock band that ever existed book.”

Eddie: Total respect but the book is rooted in the time I grew up, late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, this is more ‘60’s based and again, not hugely important to me as a kid, but I of course acknowledge that it all comes from them. Hell, if you want to go down all these roads, where are the Beatles?

Eddie: I never thought of them as part of this world, if anything more progressive

Eddie: Great band, again, not this world to me. Maybe in five books I’ll get to every band. Its all personal and the bands I had space for in book one define me growing up, and what I have also played in almost 30 years in radio doing Hard Rock/Metal shows.

Eddie: I loved Rainbow and got into them in 1980 with Difficult To Cure, but as I got older discovered the Dio and the Graham Bonnet album, which is also great.

Eddie: Michael is a HUGE part of UFO, but not the only part. I equally love the Paul Chapman albums and the current Vinnie Moore albums. I think Michael, solo, has been very hit or miss. I love the first two albums and also love Assault Attack, but outside of that it gets dicey. The Robin McAulley stuff was way to commercial for my tastes. He is a brilliant player but at his best when he has a great writing partner and band around him, which has not always been the case. Same could be said about UFO. Their catalog is far from perfect, but many more highs than lows, especially with any of the three I mentioned playing.

Eddie: Metal and Rock God. I think it’s limiting to just call him Metal as he did more than that. But I’m sure the mainstream has no clue about that stuff and just looks at him as the “Rainbow In The Dark” guy who made the devil horns, which is obviously sad if that’s the case. The Dio chapter was a tough one, I had to rewrite it after he passed away. We were close and I loved the man and the music. He is a one of a kind talent and person.

Eddie: I explain in that chapter why they are so important. Along with Skid Row, they are two of the best of that period in time for me. When they came out it was the peak of makeup and hairspray and they were never about that. Still a great band.

Eddie: Tragically, all most people know is “The Boys Are Back In Town” in the US. I love getting email from people that say they discovered more from these artists catalog because of my radio shows, or now, this book.

Eddie: Sure. Love those guys and had a role in their comeback, to some degree, so there is a personal angle for sure, which also plays a role in the bands making the books. Again, my name is above the title, so it’s about me and the bands as well. That’s not an ego thing, it’s just that a book is personal by nature unless you want to just reprint bios and billboard groups. I’ve never been much for that. People love the stories and I’m lucky I have 30 years of them. This book doesn’t even scratch the surface but is a great start.

Eddie: I love both, but feel as full albums, the first four VH cannot be touched. I like 1984 and Diver Down, but not as much as the first four, which are just magic. I was a big Hagar fan, and still am, before he joined VH. I was thrilled when he came in because about that time Roth was wearing on me a bit. 5150 was a great album. Outside of that, I think the Hagar catalog is spotty at times. All the albums have some great moments but nothing in the recorded history of the band, to me, is as consistent, or mind blowing, as the first four with Roth. 5150 and For Unlawful probably closest from the Hagar years, for me.

Eddie: Amazing. He and Dio were always the best to me. That connection continued at Dio’s funeral, which I cover in the book. He just texted me on the 4^th of July, from Greece, to say hi. As long as I do this I will never not be a fan, and even though these people are friends, it still blows me away. When it came time to write a book on Hard Rock and Metal, who better than The Metal God to do the forward? It was an honor that he did it. The fact that Priest played a private show for me for my 25^th anniversary in radio is still something I can’t believe and I am forever grateful for.

Eddie: Well, I don’t think it is the final tour, or album, from the latest news. It seems they very much want to, and will continue, just maybe scaled back some as they get older. I have been in touch with KK. He has been very supportive of Priest with the new lineup and does not want to do anything to take away from it. I’d be lying if I said it was not devastating news as a fan, almost as big as when Rob left but, by all accounts, Richie Faulkner has done a great job. It’s a tough spot of course, but Priest would not hire someone who could not handle the gig, but clearly there will never be another KK and he will be missed greatly.

Eddie: Again, this is me talking from a personal standpoint of importance: Kiss, UFO, Judas Priest, Rush, Aerosmith.

Eddie: Shooting season eight of TMS with the new shows coming 8/20, Then shoot season nine in October. TMS has been a blast and has become huge around the world and I am grateful. I assume another book at some point? And I’m always looking to grow the radio shows. More affiliates and outlets, more time, better hours, more shows... After 30 years I still love radio. I’m lucky and grateful for what I have, but have so many more things I want to do. I have tons of ideas for more TV shows also, one day, if I’m so lucky.