In this episode of Ampocalypse, Damian FitzGerald is joined by Tony West of Blacklist Union to explore the stories and scars behind the band’s latest album Slay The Dragon. Fresh from the record’s release, Tony opens up about personal trauma, loss, healing, and how music became both catharsis and confrontation. It’s an honest conversation about transformation, resilience, and finding strength through rock and roll.

We also dive into Tony’s time in the Amazon jungle with the Shipibo tribe, where ayahuasca ceremonies and spiritual discovery reshaped his outlook on life and creativity. From confronting inner demons to accepting chaos in a fractured world, he explains how these experiences directly influenced his songwriting and the emotional depth of Slay The Dragon.

Then the big red button is pushed and the Ampocalypse arrives. With civilisation collapsing and nature reclaiming the earth, would Tony’s real-world jungle experience give him the edge?

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Videographer: Damian FitzGerald

Editor: Damian FitzGerald

Producer: Damian FitzGerald

#Ampocalypse #TonyWest #BlacklistUnion #SlayTheDragon #RockPodcast #MusicInterview #HardRock #AmazonJungle #Shipibo #Ayahuasca #Apocalypse

Social links

Band socials:

https://blacklistunion.com

https://www.instagram.com/blacklistunionofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/BlacklistUnionRocks/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZvz3BE8RtN8NenLZ67ARw

V13 Media:

https://v13.net

https://twitter.com/v13media

https://www.instagram.com/v13media/

https://www.facebook.com/v13media

https://soundcloud.com/v13media

Damian FitzGerald:

https://v13.net/author/damian_fitzgerald/

https://twitter.com/damolition82

https://www.instagram.com/damolition82/

https://www.facebook.com/damian.fitzgerald1/

https://www.threads.net/@damolition82

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Ampocalypse

01:30 Releasing 'Slay the Dragon'

03:51 Healing Through Music

08:32 Ayahuasca Journeys and Spiritual Insights

19:39 Surviving the Apocalypse

23:15 Messages for the Future