Interview w/Jose Mangin (Sirius Radio) 3.28.08
BP: What's up man? Thanks so much for the interview!
JM: Killer brother...
BP: Alright, well start off by telling us a little about your boring day job (haha, yeah
riiiiiiight).
JM: Wow...it's a trip for sure man... wake up, take my oldest to school, jump on bus, listen to
Stern, and pretty much program and produce and host for a few different rock stations at
Sirius... Hard Attack // Sirius 27, Buzzsaw // Sirius 19 and Octane // Sirius 20... I schedule
music and non-music items, manage and coach DJ's, write copy for production and web,
work on promotions, brainstorm ideas for cool features, talk to industry folks, email fans, eat
tacos, say "hey now" to all and carry a smile everywhere I go.
BP: Let's go back a few years... you got your start in college radio right?
JM: Yeah man... University of Arizona in Tucson...started KAMP's first metal radio show in
1995 and fell in love with radio... the station's Music Director, Matt Sullivan, convinced me in
our guitar class together to come to station to meet people and check out... when I walked in
my life changed FOREVER! Posters covered the walls and all the volunteers were so f'ing
cool and totally into their respective music. I became KAMP's metal founder.
BP: And I didn't even know you worked in Memphis too, until I read it on the net.
What prompted the move to Memphis? Seemed like a pretty sweet gig.
JM: College radio is free man... all out of love for metal. The whole time I was in college I
was nerded out and majoring in Chemistry in order to go to graduate school. I applied to
three Pharmacy schools (AZ, CO and TN) and got accepted to all but chose to go to TN
because it was more of a life change and I wanted a cool notch of my life experience belt.
Memphis was a huge turning point in my life and loved every second of the hot sweaty city! I was
a slut for the first time in my life and sang in a band called Crippled Nation (now called Streetside
Symphony). After a couple of months of Pharmacy school, I got a job at the local FM rock station WMFS doing weeekend overnights and promotions. There I started the station's first metal show and later won national awards for my DJ'ing and metal programming that got the attention of record labels in NYC. In Jan of 2000 TVT Records made me an offer to move me to NJ so I could work for them in their radio promotions department. Months later I would start my job at Sirius.
BP: We all know Sirius Radio has exploded since inception. Did you realize, at the time, that it would get this big?
JM: Hellyeah I did!!!!! I totally believe in Sirius and am one of the biggest whores for Sirius... I'm very proud! I just hoped that it would happen and never stopped believing. There definitely were moments were I questioned outcome, but feel so great to be in this position now. I'm very lucky man...
BP: I checked out some of the Hard Attack stuff w/Dan Nelson (new Anthrax singer) earlier. I chatted with him just the one time last month and he seems like a pretty cool down-to-earth, grounded dude. Is Anthrax back for real this time? The guy's got some pipes...
JM: Dan is the MAN!!!! I'm proud of him and I know he'll please real fans!!!! He's a real fan and I quizzed him on his band knowledge... and he totally passed w/ flying colors! I'm a huge Anthrax fan and even hosted their DVD documentary (Alive 2) that came out a few years ago. I feel his sincerity and love for band... he won't let us down. Plus he deserves this shot... for it has been written!
BP: I know you've featured St. Louis metal favorites Vampire Mooose on your show alot, and since they're playing BannedPromotions. com's Metal Madness 3 in April, tell us what you think of the group....and umm...you DO know we expect you to host the show right? (ha, j/k)
JM: Fly my ass down there brah!!! Haha...any reason to hang w/ Ryan and los vampires that slay moooooooooooses is a good one! I'll be barefoot and chuckin' through the woods w/ those guys... extreme, funny and some of the coolest radio moments on Hard Attack have been w/ Ryan behind the mic!!!! Good friend and totally want to help spread their St. Louis sickness to the masses!!!!
BP: Alright, who's the first "major" band you interviewed?
JM: Testament I think... I interviewed some AZ local bands and some smaller national ones too... can't remember though... Testament's Chuck Billy stands out in my mind... it was at a Best Western in Tucson w/ some cheap micro cassette recorder... he smoked hash w/ me for the first time in my life...gave me half his Fosters in a Best Western cup, which I kept for years... we had a great time and he treated me w/ respect and to this day love him for it!
BP: Last band you interviewed?
JM: Dez and Jeff from Devildriver, Paul Booth (tattoo artist of the stars) and Mikey Doling from Invitro / Snot... all in the same room this past Monday. It was crazy and so f'in cool!!!! Dez is one of my closest metal friends out there and Paul is one of my tattoo artists!!!!
BP: Personal favorite band you've interviewed?
JM: Vinnie Paul, Max Cavalera, Ozzy, Korn
BP: Most controversial thing you've done on air?
JM: Ask my boss!!! I get busted a lot man... I censor myself for the most part but don't always think before I speak! Hahaha... I've said some pretty stupid shit and have regreted many things I let slip. But life moves on... I don't like to dwell on things... but that is beauty of Sirius... we can say whatever it takes to entertain YOU!
BP: Biggest fuck up on air?
JM: Losing amazing System of a Down interview w/ Shavo and John...one of their best interviews did not record...i forgot to press record??? I was so depressed and mad at myself... that was the lowest point of my eight plus years at Sirius... Shavo ended up coming back on his day off to do interview...we made up for it but still it was tough admitting to band and label that I f'ed up!
BP: Most grateful part about your job?
The fans and the bands and their gratitude and ears...
BP: Alright, speak your mind Jose. This is your free ranting space...
JM: Shit man... I gotta get back to work!!!??? Hahaha... I'm blessed and lucky to be doing all this cool shit... I never knew this would happen... I love hot chicks and their feet... tacos... decriminalize pot please... I love my daughters Mya and Ava... my house rules, AZ is best state in US... I host a TV show called LatiNation (www. latination. tv)... I love my Dime Dean guitar and play it everyday.... and i love to support anybody who supports and loves METAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BP: Thanks so much for the interview man. I've been a huge fan and will continue to enjoy Hard Attack - the best metal station on Earth - for years to come. Take care brother... now get back to work!!!
JM: Fuk yeah brah! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Visit Jose online at www.myspace.com/josemangin
Visit Sirius online at www.sirius.com
Interview by Randy M.
All photos courtesy of myspace
"I'm blessed and lucky to be doing all this cool shit... I never knew this would happen..."
Jose live on the air at Sirius
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