CommonX: The Modern-Day Rolling Stone Meets MTV
CommonX Podcast is redefining what modern Gen-X media sounds like. Blending the raw storytelling of Rolling Stone with the cultural punch of MTV and VH1, hosts Ian Primmer and Jared Mayzak bring legendary guests like Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot), Ivan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats), Steve Thoma (Fleetwood Mac, Glenn Frey), Richard Oshen (Aerosmith, The Who), and Chris Ballew (Presidents of the USA) together for real, unfiltered conversations that prove authenticity never goes out of style.
The Revival of Real Culture
Before the era of algorithms and influencers, there were storytellers who shaped the world — Rolling Stone, MTV, VH1. They didn’t just cover culture; they created it.
That same energy lives again through CommonX Podcast, the creation of Ian Primmer and Jared Mayzak — two voices from the Gen-X era who saw a gap in the modern media landscape and decided to fill it with something real. CommonX isn’t clickbait. It’s conversation — honest, human, and often hilariously off-script.
From the Garage to the Global Stage
Born from late-night conversations and the grind of true independent creators, CommonX began as a passion project. Now it’s a growing cultural hub where rock legends, thinkers, and creators meet to tell their stories the way they want them told.
What started as two mics and a vision has turned into a time capsule for the Gen-X soul — one that’s both a tribute and a rebellion.
Where Legends Still Have a Voice
From Rudy Sarzo, bassist for Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne, to Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats, CommonX has become a home for the voices that defined the 80s and 90s — and still define rock authenticity today. The lineup doesn’t stop there.
Steve Thoma, who’s shared stages with Fleetwood Mac and Glenn Frey of The Eagles, brought stories that could fill a dozen behind-the-scenes documentaries.
Richard Oshen, the legendary lighting designer who worked with The Who and Aerosmith, offered an inside look at what it took to light up the biggest tours in rock history.
And Chris Ballew, frontman of The Presidents of the United States of America, reminded us that creativity doesn’t fade with time — it just evolves.
Each guest represents a chapter in the soundtrack of Gen-X, and together, they give CommonX its heartbeat.
Rolling Stone Spirit, MTV Energy
CommonX feels like flipping through an old Rolling Stone issue while a VJ queues up your favorite 90s video on MTV. It’s nostalgic without being stuck in the past — a blend of classic storytelling and digital energy that captures both the grit and glory of growing up Gen-X.
The interviews run deep. The laughs are real. And the moments feel like you’re sitting backstage with people who actually lived it.
Why It Matters Now
In a world of short attention spans and cookie-cutter media, CommonX stands apart as a space where authenticity still leads. It’s part cultural reflection, part rebellion — a reminder that Gen-X isn’t done influencing the world; it’s just doing it in a different format.
Every episode adds another piece to the digital legacy of Gen-X: the artists, the thinkers, the musicians, the misfits — all connected by that same instinct to tell it like it is.
CommonX isn’t nostalgia. It’s relevance rediscovered. If Rolling Stone had a podcast baby with MTV, it would sound a lot like this.
🎧 Listen now at commonxpodcast.com and join the modern Gen-X revolution where legends meet the new generation.
🧩 The Algorithm That Ate Rock ’n’ RollFiled under the X by Jared & Ian | Curb Fail Productions™
🎸 When the Beat Went Digital
Once upon a mixtape, we ruled the airwaves. We made playlists with pencils, burned CDs in real time, and hunted for B-sides in dusty bins. Then came the algorithm—a silent DJ with no soul but unlimited data.
It promised to “learn our taste.” Instead, it learned what keeps us scrolling.
📲 From Counterculture to Calculated Culture
Rock used to break rules. Now, playlists break metrics.
Every chorus is shorter, intros vanish, and hooks hit by second 11 because that’s when TikTok users start swiping. Labels don’t ask, “Does it move people?” They ask, “Does it trend?”
The garage band became a content brand. The anthem became an “asset.”
We didn’t sell out—the system bought us wholesale.
🧠 The Data Knows You Better Than You Do
Streaming platforms read mood swings like psychologists on caffeine.
Play three breakup songs, and they’ll drown you in melancholy until you forget what silence sounds like.
The algorithm isn’t evil—it’s efficient. But efficiency kills surprise. When everything’s predicted, nothing feels dangerous, and rock was born in danger.
⚡ Can the Spirit Survive?
Rock never dies; it mutates. The same Gen-X grit that survived dial-up is now hiding in garage livestreams, indie podcasts, and vinyl resurrections. The algorithm can mimic rhythm, but it can’t fake heart.
Maybe the next rebellion isn’t distortion through an amp—it’s authenticity through the noise.
🧭 The CommonX Frequency
We talk about this every week—real voices cutting through the static. Tune in, share the stories, and keep that analog soul alive inside the digital machine.
🎙️ Listen to the full CommonX Podcast on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you still believe in rock ’n’ roll.