Frankie Kazarian: TNA Bound for Glory, Mentoring Avery Styles, Entrance Themes & Favorite Metallica Bassist
Frankie Kazarian (@FrankieKazarian) is a professional wrestler currently signed to TNA, a former TNA World Champion, and an accomplished musician. He sits down with John Kiernan on Ropes N Riffs to discuss TNA's upcoming Bound for Glory event in Tampa, taking AJ Styles' son Avery Styles under his wing, his favorite Metallica bassist, switching back from pick to fingerstyle bass, his entrance theme "Kings of the Asylum" by Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, and his favorite TNA entrance themes of all time.
What does Bound for Glory mean to TNA and your legacy?
“Bound for Glory is our Super Bowl, our World Series, our NBA finals. It's the big event that all roads lead to all year. It's just one of those special nights for TNA given the history and some of the incredible matches that have happened at Bound for Glory. This one will really be looking into the future because we got so many incredible, hungry, young, gifted men and women that are gonna be bringing their A game. You got guys like me that have been there and done that in terms of TNA and Bound for Glory, but are still performing at our top level. That mixture creates an incredible product. We're psyched to be in Tampa and Florida again and bring Bound for Glory to the masses like only TNA can.”
Why did you step in between Avery Styles and AJ Francis?
“Look, it's no secret. AJ Styles is legitimately one of my best friends, on screen and off. I've known the guy—he's like a brother to me. I've told him in no uncertain terms that I'm looking out for his boy's best interest no matter what. Avery, look, he's ten or eleven matches in and he's special. He's going to be special, but he is ten or eleven matches in. He's a few months into this, and to send him out there with a guy the size of AJ Francis, who's a killer, would be stupid. If I was Avery at 19 years old, I would be itching to get my first match too. I would have said yes and accepted too. What I didn't have at 19 years old that I do now is the experience and the knowledge that I do have. I'm only there for Avery's best interests, and when it's right for him to have his first match, I'll be the one cheering the loudest.”
How does it feel looking back on becoming TNA World Champion?
“It's surreal. When I got into this business, all I wanted to do was wrestle. I didn't know a paycheck came with that. I didn't care what initials were on the ring skirt; I just wanted to be a wrestler. Then once you get started, you set these goals for yourself, and being a world champion is quite a lofty goal. There were times in my career it felt unreachable, but I persevered, bet on myself, and stuck with it through the good times and the bad. Knowing that I'm a Grand Slam champion and I've held that title is awesome, but it didn't cure a hunger for me because I'm still eyeing that title and would like another substantial run.”
Who is your favorite Metallica bassist?
“That's such a difficult question to answer, man. The bass position of Metallica is the weirdest because it's the only position where a guy left voluntarily and a guy was taken from us. Cliff Burton will always be the spiritual guide for Metallica. What he helped them create in those early records and the fact that he brought that classical influence as well as the Southern ZZ Top/Lynyrd Skynyrd vibe really set Metallica apart because of what Cliff could do with that instrument and because he was such a virtuoso.
Then you bring in Jason Newsted, who was—with no disrespect to any other bass players in the band—I think he was the best live bass player. His energy is infectious, I think he's the best backing vocal that Metallica has ever had as a bass player, and the time he took with the fans... he was a fan that got the greatest gig in the world to play with his favorite band, and he killed it.
And then you've got Rob Trujillo, who is an absolute beast and brings the best of what both those guys brought. He plays with his fingers and attacks the bass the way Cliff did, but he also brings that infectious energy the way Jason did. I got into playing the bass when Jason Newsted was in the band, so I really gravitated towards him, but I really have a love and respect and admiration for all three of those guys.”
Do you prefer playing bass with a pick or your fingers?
“Back to playing with my fingers! I joined this band, Gutter Candy, almost a decade ago. At the time, we were playing a lot of Mötley Crüe, Guns N' Roses, Poison covers, and '80s and '90s radio rock stuff. A lot of that stuff was pick-driven—like Duff McKagan and Mike Inez—so I switched to a pick. But now, when I pick up that instrument, I'm pretty much strictly playing with my fingers. I feel more natural with my fingers. I feel like I have better control of the strings, better speed, and a better feel. I feel like I'm more in tune with my instrument because I'm touching the strings with both hands.”
How did you choose your entrance theme "Kings of the Asylum"?
“My current entrance theme is a song called 'Kings of the Asylum' by a band called Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. I got that record when it first dropped, and thought the whole thing top to bottom was incredible. I met those guys on the first Jericho Cruise and they were super cool. A couple of the guys in the band are wrestling fans, and I knew I was doing a character change really soon and switching heel.
I was blessed to have been using a song called 'Deadly Business' by Jamie Josta, but I needed something with a little more swagger to it, a little more groove, and just attitude. So I hit those guys up and they were thrilled. It just fit, man. It's my favorite entrance music, and it's the music I'll use for the rest of my time in the ring. When that music hits, Frankie Kazarian comes alive.”
What are your favorite TNA entrance themes of all time?
“If I'm not saying mine, that damn Righteous song, with the snapping and all that, that gets stuck in your head. Moose's music is cool; I always thought Moose's music really fit him. Elijah is another fellow musician, and that's another really good one that gets stuck in your head.
For all-time TNA babyface themes, it's hard to argue with 'Get Ready to Fly,' AJ Styles' old music. When that music hit, everybody knew what was about to happen. And for the greatest TNA heel theme, Jeff Jarrett—those first notes, people would erupt in boos because they knew it was coming. That's the sign of a great song.”
Which musician would you want to write your dream entrance theme?
“James Hetfield (guitarist, Metallica). James Hetfield writing a riff specifically designed for me—I don't mark out about a lot of things, but that would be an incredible achievement in my life. 1A and 1B for best riff writers ever would be James Hetfield and Tony Iommi.”
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