Rudy Sarzo: Bass Lines, Faith, and the Power of Resilience
Few musicians have lived through as many eras of rock and metal as Rudy Sarzo — and fewer still have done it with his humility, faith, and purpose intact. The CommonX Podcast sat down with the legendary bassist of Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot to talk legacy, loss, and the lifelong rhythm of reinvention.
By Ian Primmer | CommonX Podcast
Every generation has a few musicians who aren’t just players — they’re pillars. For Gen X, Rudy Sarzo stands tall among them.
From the roaring stages of Ozzy Osbourne’s early tours to the anthemic grit of Quiet Riot, Rudy’s bass lines shaped the soundtrack of a generation. But what makes his story truly powerful isn’t the fame — it’s his faith, his discipline, and the way he continues to live with intention long after the spotlight fades.
When Rudy joined us on the CommonX Podcast, he didn’t just tell road stories. He shared life lessons. The kind of wisdom you only get after decades of chasing purpose through chaos.
He talked about the late Randy Rhoads — a friend and musical soulmate whose impact still guides his spirit. He opened up about surviving the wildest years of metal and finding peace in balance, humility, and spirituality. You could hear it in his voice: this is a man who knows who he is, and who’s grateful for every note he’s played.
Rudy’s journey mirrors what we stand for here at CommonX — resilience, reflection, and real talk. He’s proof that greatness doesn’t come from ego; it comes from gratitude.
And even now, he’s still pushing boundaries, performing, writing, and giving back to the craft that made him. For Gen Xers who grew up with “Bang Your Head” blaring from their speakers, hearing Rudy talk about purpose hits harder than ever.
Because in the end, the groove doesn’t fade. It evolves. It deepens. It reminds us that every stage — from arenas to quiet reflection — matters.
🎸 #CommonXPodcast #RudySarzo #QuietRiot #OzzyOsbourne #GenX #XFiles
Before There Were Streams, There Were Grooves
From the underground to the airwaves, CommonX is spinning its own record — literally. Generation X’s voice of reason and rebellion just dropped on VYNL, celebrating the raw sound, real talk, and analog soul that built a movement. Crackle the dust off your turntable and cue the conversation — because the X is officially on wax.
Long before podcasts filled our earbuds, there was the turntable — a ritual of sound, smell, and touch. You didn’t click play, you lowered the needle. CommonX was born from that Gen-X era — a world where mixtapes, record sleeves, and late-night radio were sacred. So maybe it’s only natural that the conversation that started in digital form now spins back to where it all began: vinyl.
The Vinyl Sessions – A CommonX Concept
The idea is simple but beautifully rebellious — press CommonX onto wax. Not as a gimmick, but as an artifact: a time capsule of the best moments, guests, and insights from Season One. Imagine Side A: Ivan Doroschuk, Sid Griffin, Cory White, Rudy Sarzo — the musical DNA of our generation. Side B: The thinkers and cultural catalysts — Gerald Horne, Meemaws, Isaac, William Becker — the voices that turned talk into truth. Each track hand-picked, mastered for warmth and grit, with the crackle that digital will never capture.
Rare Vinyl Meets Victrola and Rare Vinyl
With partners like Rare Vinyl and Victrola, the move makes sense. Rare Vinyl gives CommonX a collector’s home — a place for limited-press runs, numbered editions, and liner notes worth reading twice. Victrola connects the dots between nostalgia and now, offering turntables that look vintage but stream modern. Together, they help CommonX bridge two worlds — the analog soul of Gen-X and the digital pulse of today.
Why Vinyl?
Because Gen-X has always been about authenticity. We’re the generation that taped songs off the radio, that flipped the cassette with a pencil, that made playlists before the algorithm existed. Vinyl isn’t just retro — it’s rebellion against disposable culture.
And CommonX on vinyl is more than a record — it’s a statement:
“Before podcasts streamed, we spun records. CommonX brings it back — one groove at a time.”
The Collectible Factor
Each pressing would come with:
A custom CommonX gatefold cover, with photography and design inspired by 90s MTV Unplugged.
Liner notes written by Jared & Ian, telling the behind-the-mic story.
A QR code linking to the full digital archive and bonus “Behind the Mic” episode.
Optional autographed, numbered collector’s editions — the first podcast ever archived like a classic album.
The Next Spin
What started as a thought is now a movement.
CommonX has always been about conversation — the kind that leaves an imprint.
And what better way to make it permanent than vinyl?
If streaming is the fast lane, vinyl is the scenic route. And Gen-X has always preferred the long drive.
#CommonXPodcast #TheXFiles #GenX #VinylRevival #PodcastOnWax #RareVinyl #Victrola #GenXCulture #PodcastRevolution
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.