JNQP 81 031422 NJ Midnite Hellion Interview

·17 min·1 clip

True Rizzo worked at Burger King at 15 to save $800 for his first Tama Imperial Stars drum set, which he still owns today.

The episode is an interview with True Rizzo, drummer of the band Midnight Hellion, conducted by host Nick Perkel. Rizzo begins by recounting how he worked at Burger King at age 15 to save $800 for his first drum set, a Tama Imperial Stars from 1982, which he still owns. He details his music education, starting with piano lessons from his mother, then studying violin, tenor saxophone, and cello in school, and later taking private drum instruction under Tony DiNicola. Rizzo explains his current sound system, which includes old PA speakers with three 12-inch speakers each, and his preference for listening to music in the car for its pure sound. He discusses his songwriting philosophy, emphasizing natural flow over forced creation. The conversation shifts to producer Alex Perialis, with Rizzo highlighting three albums he worked on: S.O.D.'s 'Speak English or Die', Anthrax's 'Spreading the Disease' (recorded in the same session), and Overkill's 'Taking Over', praising their sonic qualities. Rizzo describes the recording process for Midnight Hellion's album 'Kingdom of the Immortal', which was done live in the studio without click tracks to capture raw energy, using a 1980 Les Paul Custom for most guitar tracks. He shares insights into specific songs like 'Phantom Lord', which evolved from discarded riffs, and 'In Sickness and in Hell', which features a bass intro originally intended for guitar. Rizzo talks about the band's live show in Baltimore, their first since 2019, which sold out one night, and touring challenges, including a postponed Loudness show due to visa issues. He lists rare items in his collection, such as a KISS pinball machine signed by Ace Frehley, Ryan Lipnicki's drum set from Overkill's Ironbound tour, and a Spinal Tap colander from a 1992 misprint. Rizzo reveals his most cherished possession is the original painting for the 'Kingdom of the Immortal' album cover. The interview concludes with Rizzo thanking Perkel for his support of the band.

As heard by us

Rizzo connects an $800 Tama kit to the layered craft of Midnight Hellion sessions.

Rizzo frames the interview as a musician's working life, built through patience, side jobs, and a steady habit of learning whatever instrument was within reach.

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Why you'd press play

You get a drummer's first-kit story, double-bass metronome checks, and the 1980 Les Paul Custom that shaped the sessions.

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