Y&T

Radio Shows

Encore Guest DJ Show Posted Online: DAVE MENIKETTI (Y&T) 2008

February 4, 2025 Stig G. Nordahl

Welcome to a special episode from the Metal Express Radio archives! In 2008, Y&T’s legendary frontman Dave Meniketti took over the Friday Guest DJ Show to share ten of his all-time favorite tracks that shaped him as a musician. As the founder and lead guitarist/vocalist of Y&T since 1974, Dave’s musical journey has deep roots in the 1970s rock scene. This never-before-released episode finally makes its way to YouTube in 2025, offering fans a unique glimpse into the musical influences that helped forge one of hard rock’s most enduring voices. From his early days playing covers in Oakland to becoming a respected figure in the rock world, Dave’s musical taste reflects the rich history of 70s rock that would later influence Y&T’s signature sound. Join us as Dave Meniketti spins his personal selection of tracks, including one from Y&T’s own catalog, while sharing personal stories about how these songs and artists have impacted his musical journey.

Y&T (Live at Northumbria University, U.K., November 1, 2024)
Live Reviews

Y&T (Live)

November 2, 2024 Mick Burgess

Prior to Covid there was always something rather special about the first Friday night in November as pretty much every year for the previous decade or so, California’s Y&T, paid a visit to the town with their own brand of melodic Hard Rock. Alas Covid put paid to that for a couple of years and then founder member, lead vocalist and guitarist Dave Meniketti had his own scare with cancer which kept him off the road for some time but now after winning that battle he’s back and raring to go. This was not just any regular tour either, this was a 50th anniversary celebration of the formation of the band way back when they were called Yesterday and Today and the show in Newcastle was the penultimate night of their extensive European tour. Only Meniketti survives from the original band that cut their first seven albums across a ten year period including that incredible three album run of stone cold classics “Earthshaker”, “Black Tiger” and “Mean Streak” whose songs still form the cornerstone of their set. Tonight, the venue was absolutely rammed full of fans eager to catch Y&T after five long years away. Kicking off with the appropriately named “Hurricane”, Meniketti unleashed a whirlwind of riffs and screaming guitar work to open a show that would stretch for almost two and a quarter hours covering over 20 songs including at least one song from every album from their self-titled 1976 debut (“25 Hours A Day”) right through to 2010s Facemelter (“I’m Coming Home”). Of course those Y&T classics that we all want were present and judiciously sprinkled throughout the beautifully paced set from “Meanstreak”, “Black Tiger”, a stunning “I Believe In You” featuring an absolutely jaw dropping display of guitar wizardry from Meniketti, Rock club floor filler “Rescue …READ MORE

Tales from a Metalhead logo
Tales from a Metalhead

Tales from a Metalhead: Chapter 25: Go For the Throat!

November 23, 2020 Stig G. Nordahl

Y&T is one of those bands that has been around “Forever”. I knew a lot of their songs in the early early 80s, but for some strange reason I never took a deep dive into their back catalogue; not until the charity all-star album Hear ‘n Aid was released in 1985. …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE

Tales from a Metalhead logo
Tales from a Metalhead

Tales from a Metalhead: Chapter 4: “Blow Up My Camera!”

April 27, 2020 Stig G. Nordahl

I got to see AC/DC live for the first time on March 21, 1988. I missed them on their Fly on the Wall tour in 1986 (probably because I was saving money to see Twisted Sister a few weeks later on their Come Out and Play tour) …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE …READ MORE

Y&T (Live at The O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K., November 8, 2019)
Live Reviews

Y&T (Live)

November 9, 2019 Mick Burgess

This time last year there was something of a Y&T shaped hole in the calendar. Since 2007, it has become something of a tradition for Y&T to come up to Newcastle for the first or second Friday in November and kick off the weekend is style. Alas, guitarist/vocalist Dave Meniketti was laid up in bed with back problems that kept him off the road for a few months convalescing at home in the care of wife and manager Jill. Fast forward to 2019, a fully fit, rejuvenated Meniketti was back in the saddle and ready to open fire and with this year being the 45th anniversary of Y&T’s formation this was going to be one special night and Hurricane was the perfect opener, epitomising the power and melody of Y&T in one song. Meniketti proclaimed that the evening would be a celebration of their whole career and that at least one song from every single Y&T album would be performed over the course of the night. Y&T duly delivered, living up to that enticing promise and then some. Covering the old (Earthshaker, Struck Down, Sail On By), the new (I’m Coming Home, I Want Your Money), the live favourites (Midnight In Tokyo, Hang ‘Em High, Summertime Girls) and the gold plated classics (Rescue Me, Forever, Black Tiger, Meanstreak) as well as the deep, deep album cuts (Come In From The Rain, Face Like An Angel, 21st Century). They covered every conceivable base, drawing up a set list to please everyone and disappoint no one. Many a band could learn from this. Before Earthshaker, a song from their very first album Yesterday and Today, released in 1976, Meniketti paid a touching tribute to his original band, Phil Kennemore, Joey Alves and Leonard Haze, now all sadly departed whilst wearing Kennemore’s scarf. …READ MORE

Y&T (Live at the O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K., November 4, 2017)
Live Reviews

Y&T (Live)

November 4, 2017 Mick Burgess

There must be something about a Friday night in Newcastle that really appeals to Californian Rockers Y&T. Maybe the reputation of Newcastle as the Party City is enough to bring them back on a Friday night in November every year for the past 10 years. Not that anyone is complaining as, unlike some of our local football teams, you are always guaranteed a show of sweat, energy and 100% commitment from band and fans alike. One of the main reasons for Y&T’s enduring appeal when many of their peers struggle to fill much smaller halls is the quality of the songs. It’s not just the big hitters like opener Black Tiger or the hard rocking Mean Streak either. It’s when they can dig deep into their catalogue and pull out Masters and Slaves from their criminally underrated In Rock We Trust album or songs such as Hang ‘Em High and Contagious that really shows the depth and quality that Y&T have at their disposal. Not only that but lead singer/lead guitarist Dave Meniketti also brought out a couple of never played live before numbers, Storm and Lay Me Down from his solo release hailed by none other than tennis star Pat Cash, as one of his all-time favourite albums and who can argue with that. With original drummer Leonard Haze and rhythm guitarist Joey Alves recently passing away and with bassist Phil Kennemore departing a few years ago leaving Meniketti as the sole survivor of the original line-up, Meniketti dedicated a supreme Winds of Change to his fallen bandmates. There’s no gimmicks and no pomposity about Y&T, just great, classic melodic Hard Rock and maybe that’s part of the reason why they have endured for over 40 years. As the whims of fashion have come and gone, Y&T have stood …READ MORE

Y&T (Live at O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K., November 4, 2016)
Live Reviews

Y&T / PRAYING MANTIS (Live)

November 5, 2016 Mick Burgess

Quite how support act Praying Mantis didn’t quite hit the heights that their obvious talents deserved is something of a mystery. Their debut Time Tells No Lies sailed along on the euphoric resurgence of British Heavy Metal spearheaded by Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon at the turn of the ’80s but added a huge dash of melody and harmonies to the mix. Maybe it was the revolving door of singers passing through their ranks that denied them of their unique identity. Whatever it was, it’s a shame that they didn’t quite live up to that promise but that may well be about to change. With new singer John Cuijpers joining original members, brothers Chris and Tino Troy, their current album Legacy has class stamped right through it. With Cuijpers voice nodding in the direction of the great Ronnie James Dio, his powerhouse performance during their short opening set certainly caught the attention as Fight For Your Honour stood proudly alongside the vintage Captured City while Believable showed some strong vocal and guitar harmonies.This was a commanding and classy show that will hopefully kick start a renewed interest in the band. Californian Rockers Y&T are one of the most consistently impressive acts on the touring circuit today. While other acts from the late ’70s and ’80s have struggled to maintain their momentum, limping from show to show with ever diminishing returns, Y&T have no such problems. Every year they return to the UK for a run of shows and every year their fans come back again and again. It’s easy to see why. Frontman and lead guitarist Dave Meniketti still bubbles with enthusiasm and his passion for the band is clear. Y&T also possess a catalogue choc full of great songs. In fact they have so many great songs that …READ MORE

Y&T (Live at the O2 Academy, Newcastle, U.K., November 6, 2015)
Live Reviews

Y&T (Live)

November 9, 2015 Mick Burgess

It’s been an expensive week for Rock fans of the North and big bank balances have been needed to take in all of the bands visiting Newcastle over a seven day period that had already seen Mötley Crüe/Alice Cooper and Blackberry Smoke dropping by with Vintage Trouble and Skindred to follow over the weekend.  Californian Rockers, Y&T took the Friday night slot at the O2 Academy to get the weekend started with a bang. For any band that have toured the UK as frequently as Y&T have in recent years it may be tempting to skip the show in the face of so much choice, so it’s heartening to see such a packed O2 Academy ready to Rock at the rather early start time needed to fit everything in before the early Friday night curfew. Y&T have been touring for nigh on four decades and know just what to do to keep the crowds coming back for more and with 12 albums worth of material there is plenty of scope to change the set from tour to tour. Y&T certainly don’t disappoint with a ferocious Hurricane opening the show with Dave Meniketti in fine voice and even finer form on lead guitar.  Over the following two and a quarter hours Y&T deliver the big songs everyone wants to hear.  I Believe In You never grows old and Meniketti’s stunning climatic solo earned a suitably impressive ovation.   Rescue Me and Forever used to cram the dancefloor of the Mayfair every weekend and were greeted with unrestrained joy while Black Tiger and Meanstreak packed a killer punch. One of the great things about Y&T is that they aren’t afraid to dig deep into their catalogue and this is why their set remains so fresh.  This time their Contagious album was mined for …READ MORE