Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank Meyer.
Hi Frank, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In the music world, I am known for fronting L.A. punk vets The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs for nearly three decades of albums, tours, awards, and mayhem (One More Drink out in 2021 on Dead Beat Records), but also serve as a frequent collaborator of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer James Williamson (Iggy and the Stooges), having recorded two albums together. I also am a recording and touring companion to Eddie Spaghetti of fellow rock ‘n’ rollers The Supersuckers (our album Motherfuckin’ Rock ‘n’ Roll was released in 2021 on Kitten Robot Records). I front the blues trio Sweet Justice (Redline EP on Eternal Music), the Copenhagen-based hard rock act Trading Aces, and have worked with everyone from heavy metal cult hero Thor, New York alt-metal act Warrior Soul, Cherie Currie of The Runaways, Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman, Cheetah Chrome and Jimmy of the Dead Boys, Sylvain Sylvain of New York Dolls, and even Schoolhouse Rock’s Bob Dorough!
Additionally, I am a published author, writing rock ‘n’ roll biographies such as On the Road with the Ramones (Bobcat/Omnibus), When the Wall of Sound Met The New York Underground (Rhino/WB), and Van Halen: A Visual History 1978 – 1985 (Chronicle). My latest books, Diaper Dude and From Dude to Dad: The Diaper Dude Guide to Pregnancy are both top sellers on Penguin/Random House.
Meanwhile, my feature film directorial debut Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith is a documentary film about a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate rapper who suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm and his road to recovery. The award-winning documentary was released on Amazon Prime in March 2020 via Indie Rights Distribution, and the follow-up, Freestyle 101: Hip-Hop History, will be out in late 2022. I also co-produced the award-winning doc I Am Thor.
Along the way, I served as Video Director at fitness-tech company Tonal in 2022 and Sr. Content Producer at Fender Musical Instruments from 2016 to 2020. Before that, I was Sr. Interactive Content Producer at NBC’s Esquire Network and G4tv, where I fine-tuned my skills as a director of TV commercials (Dyson, Sonic), promotional spots (Jurassic World, State Farm, Little Caesars) and campaigns (American Ninja Warrior, Knife Fight) while racking up multiple Telly, Webby, and W3 awards along the way. I also morphed into a digital content producer and field producer, covering red carpets and events around the world such as Tokyo Game Show in Japan, Comic-Con, GDC, PAX, C.E.S., E3, and more. Yet more Telly and Webby awards were nabbed when I created G4tv’s web series Freestyle 101, as well as digital shoulder programming for TV shows like American Ninja Warrior, Attack of the Show, X-Play, and many others.
Whew! As you can imagine, I sleep very little…IG
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s always a balance between making money and making art. You have to find that sweet spot between doing what pays the bills (what you can make the most money doing) and what inspires you (your art). If you are lucky or play your cards right, they are the same thing. Most important thing is to try and stay happy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve written eight published books. My first was a co-write with Monte A Menick about his life on tour with The Ramones. Then I worked with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth on what became his first book. I did a Van Halen book with Neil Zlozower, a Phil Spector book. I did a book with Walter Iooss Jr. a big sports photographer, of football of all things, then I did a book From Dude To Dad and a book called Diaper Dude. It was a hard left but since I was a single father that raised a now 16-year-old daughter, the other thing I knew besides music was how to raise kids, so I got involved with that and those books did very well. I’ve also directed two documentary films — “Risen The Story of Chron ‘Hell Razah’ Smith” and the upcoming “Freestyle 101: Hip Hop History” — and produced another (“I Am Thor”).
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Always finish what you started. Don’t let anyone tell you can’t. Don’t let anyone drag you down. Don’t listen to haters. It’s ok to fail, just learn from it and move forward.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefrankmeyer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankmmeyer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyvSIb8Vvl5K2DTLwQuAb1w
Image Credits
Jason Valdez, Heather Harris, Steve Allen
