When Josh Todd walks into a room—or more accurately, walks onto a stage—he doesn’t ask for permission to bring the noise. He’s been doing it for over two decades, and with Roar Like Thunder, Buckcherry’s upcoming 11th studio album, he’s not slowing down.
“We just wanted it to rock from beginning to end,” Todd says during an exclusive conversation with SNSMix (full video can be found below). “No ballads, no cover songs. We worked really hard on it, and it’s very special.”
Due June 13, Roar Like Thunder is, by design, a no-filler, straight-ahead rock record. Todd and longtime collaborator/guitarist Stevie D. once again joined forces with producer Marty Fredrickson—an old-school multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose chemistry with Buckcherry goes back nearly two decades. “We met him back in 2005,” Todd recalls. “We co-wrote ‘Sorry’ together, and the list goes on. We really love him. He’s very talented and really gets Buckcherry.”
Fredrickson’s musical sensibility and work ethic proved to be a perfect match for the band’s current rhythm. “Our songwriting sessions are quick,” Todd explains. “We fly to Nashville and spend about two weeks with him, and we crank out a great record.”
Despite Nashville’s rep as a songwriter’s paradise, Todd insists the location is more logistics than inspiration. “It’s the same as if we were in L.A. We go to his house, write songs, or go to the studio and record. Then we head to our hotel rooms, and I’ll spend the night writing lyrics.”
The album kicks off with the title track—a chest-thumping, riff-heavy mission statement. “It’s the title track and the first song we came up with,” Todd says. “It felt right to be first. It’s a great song—we’re actually opening shows with it right now.”
And they’ve had plenty of shows. Buckcherry has never been a band content to live off old hits and social media nostalgia. They’re road warriors, and always have been. “That’s what you’ve got to do in rock,” Todd says bluntly. “You can’t sit at home and collect checks—it doesn’t work that way anymore. You’ve got to be out there hustling on stage. That’s how you make a living.”
That blue-collar ethic runs through the record—and the band’s entire ethos. “Passion is key. I still love it,” he says. “You’ve also got to keep working that songwriting muscle, keep performing. If I wasn’t working consistently, I’d be on to the next thing.”
Todd shrugs off the idea that shorter attention spans mean albums are dead. While artists like Chris Jericho’s Fozzy have leaned into singles, Buckcherry stays album-focused. “We can put a great record together quickly,” Todd says. “We’re always accumulating ideas and recording songs, even while touring. If we worked around the clock, we could do it in two weeks with Marty.”
That consistency has earned Buckcherry a loyal fan base that’s stuck with them since the Lit Up days. “We’ve got a platinum record, a gold record—it’s rare now,” Todd says. “They really need to change those certification thresholds because they don’t reflect the current reality. I really feel for new bands, especially in rock.”
Still, he’s encouraged by the next wave of rockers. “All those bands are creating great packages and festivals. That keeps it alive. People still love going to rock shows.”
A standout on Roar Like Thunder is the punchy “Let It Burn,” which Todd says exemplifies their philosophy: “Ten songs—that’s all you need. Anything more starts to feel like filler. People don’t listen to long records anymore.”
Todd’s admiration for his bandmates, particularly guitarist Stevie D., runs deep. “He’s the real lead guitar player. A very good guitarist and a well-rounded musician,” he says. “Stevie’s a good producer too—he can program drums, play bass, keyboards, and he sings well. He’s also the longest-running guitarist in Buckcherry. I’ve known him since I was nineteen.”
Reflecting on his career, Todd shares vivid memories—from playing Woodstock ’99 to surreal run-ins with legends. “Meeting James Brown was one of the most amazing days in my music life,” he recalls. “His assistant told him about me, and I just ran up, got the pic, said, ‘I love you,’ and he walked off. He didn’t care, but I was fired up. That was enough for me.”
Then there was AC/DC. “We did four shows with them on the Time Bomb tour. The last one was a sold-out Madison Square Garden,” he says. “I sat next to Angus on the couch—his wife made us tea. Malcolm was there. Brian Johnson was telling jokes. They were the most humble, coolest people ever.”
Todd is still chasing that feeling. Still writing. Still performing. Still roaring. “You can put [Roar Like Thunder] on and leave it on,” he promises. “It’s a great ride from start to finish. You’re going to love it.”
