On the Road Again

How One Legendary Listener Rode the Airwaves and Highways of America To Become a Powerful Voice in His Own Right

BY KRISTA ROMAN

It’s summer 2024 and A.J. Cella has just returned home to Medford, Oregon, from one of his monumental cross-country motorcycle tours. Fans of Quite Frankly may know Cella better as Zosodude77 or simply Brother Zo. The charismatic elder statesman with the voice of a radio legend has been charming Franklies from coast to coast for half a decade. Whether you have conversed with Zoso in one of the show’s chat rooms, enjoyed his soothing vocals during a live broadcast, or met the man in person, you’ve likely come to appreciate his stories from the road and his life in the fast lane.

A.J. Cella takes in the sights of New York City as he makes his way to the Quite Frankly studio.

Born in 1959 in East Orange, New Jersey, to a first-generation Italian-American father and a British mother whose storied family came over on the Mayflower, the Cellas were a patriotic family. A descendant of Thomas Jefferson, Alice Jefferson Asbury’s family once donated the fabled Asbury Park to the State of New Jersey. This was long before Bruce Springsteen would arrive on the scene to definitively put the seaside community on the map.

As a boy growing up in the late 1960s, the family relocated to southern California, and it was there, in the San Fernando Valley, that Cella came of age. His love for music intensified and he was fortunate enough to find himself working in the entertainment industry in Hollywood throughout the ‘80s.

“I lived the life of ten men. By freak chance, I got a job on a new show, Entertainment Tonight, that exploded on to the scene. The next thing I knew, I was rubbing shoulders with stars from movies, television and most importantly to me, the music industry. Four nights per week we were out covering events. I tagged along and we went everywhere— The Academy Awards, the Grammys, you name it and I’ve probably been to it,” Cella recalled.

A young Zosodude (Right) hangs out with Megadeath lead guitarist Dave Mustaine at the RIP Magazine annual Christmas Party in Hollywood in the 1980s.

It wasn’t just at formal events but at private parties, iconic concerts and epic clubs that Cella began developing close personal relationships with many of the movers and shakers of his era.

“When I looked at the newspaper and saw that one of my favorite bands was coming to town, all I had to do was make a phone call. I would remind whoever was on the other end that we put their guys on the air, and they would gladly give me four tickets and backstage passes. I would take my girlfriends and buddies to the greatest times and Hollywood parties ever,” Cella fondly remembered.

“Probably one of the most memorable nights I ever had was when Motley Crue held a listening party for their album Girls, Girls, Girls. They threw the party at a well-known strip joint called The Body Shop. Everybody and their fucking dog was there. I met David Coverdale, Ted Nugent, the guys in Aerosmith...let me tell you: when Nikki Sixx and Vince Neil throw a party, they invite the world, and everybody shows. I’ll never forget it,” Cella reminisced.

In the 1990s, Cella left California and settled down in Oregon. He went on to become a father and eventually a grandfather. When Cella isn’t clocking in 60-70 hours each week working his day job in construction, or mapping out his next great adventure, he spends time with his loving wife of 12 years. He describes this supportive marriage as the best relationship of his life.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life right now. Life is what you make of it. Happiness is happenstance, but joy is a conscious decision. I wake up each and every day and choose to live a joy-filled life. I’ve been blessed with a great woman, two fantastic daughters, and a grandson who means the world to me. Pretty soon he’ll be big enough to go on these summer jaunts with me,” Cella beamed.

Zoso celebrates the graduation of his youngest daughter, Victoria, (Center) with his eldest daughter, Ashley, (Left).

It isn’t just Cella’s family or listeners of Quite Frankly who get to enjoy his words of wisdom and meditative perspectives on life. In recent years, Zosodude got back on the road again to his origins, reconnecting along the way with that vivacious inner radio broadcaster he had lost touch with many decades ago. He launched The Mystery Ship to an adoring audience of loyal riders. Despite being told his entire life, be it from strangers in line with him at the grocery store to distinguished colleagues in Los Angeles, that his voice was destined for stardom, it took generations for Cella to get behind the microphone. When asked if his pivot back to the entertainment world had anything to do with Quite Frankly, he stayed true to his nature and gave an honest response.

“About three quarters of my listening audience comes directly from Quite Frankly. I look up to guys like Frank who have these great shows with thousands of people tuned in, and I dream of making The Mystery Ship that big. What I love about Quite Frankly is the variety of guests and topics. I’ve learned a lot.”

Some of Cella’s favorite Quite Frankly guests include KrisAnne Hall, Timothy Gordon, and J Gulinello. He especially enjoys observing Frank’s reactions when 'King' or 'Willefixit' calls into the show. His deep appreciation and connection to the Quite Frankly community inspired his life-affirming decision to get on the road and see more of the country.

“I would see the same people in the chat rooms of shows like Quite Frankly, RedPill78, The Craig Mason Show and the Joey Mormann program. I kept looking at their tiny pictures and wondered to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to actually meet these people that I’ve been talking with forever in the chats?’ I wanted to do a show of my own, but I wanted to do a different kind of show. I decided to ride my Harley around the country, taking in sights like Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park and the Statue of Liberty, to share on my show with people who may have never been,” Cella detailed.

Having breakfast with fellow Franklie, QMAGOO, in Indiana.

In the five years since Zoso set out to tour the country to connect with his online friends, he has met no less than 50 Franklies along the way. Listeners from across the United States have graciously opened their homes to Cella, providing cooked meals, shared fellowship and a place to spend the night rather than getting a hotel.

“It’s a lot of fun for everyone. There are some people who I’ve stayed with multiple times over the years. Some of the most memorable times are when I met up with ‘Matty FnB’ from outside Philly, or my buddy ‘NewTech’ from down in Florida. These guys have their own Harleys and they ride along with me for a couple of hours or so on the road. It’s a gas,” Zoso shared.

Riding down the highway in Maryland next to Twitch Franklie, 'Matty FnB' (Above). 

YouTube Franklie 'John from Connecticut' (Below) kindly changes the oil on Zosodude's Harley during an overnight pit stop. 

In addition to riding with his fellow bikers, Zosodude has been known to give joy rides to Franklies who are willing to go for a spin.  

“I love to give people rides on my bike. I took Linda Love out for a ride when we went to lunch in Massachusetts. This past trip, I also gave my friend Arden in Pennsylvania a ride on my new bike.”

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Franklies Linda Love of Massachusetts (Left) and Arden of Pennsylvania (Right) each have their turn enjoying a bike ride with Brother Zo.

It isn’t always a carefree adventure on the highways and back roads of America. Cella cautions that you must consider everything from the weather to your health when you’re traveling solo in desolate locales. He ultimately believes that the triumphant peaks are worth every pit.

“Touring the country by motorcycle might be a romantic idea to some, but you really have to want to do it. I’ve been riding bikes since I was 15-years-old. Personally, I love it. If I see something interesting on the side of the road, like an armadillo for example, I can pull over in less than five seconds and take a photo or video. I love going deep into the country on the two-lane highways out in the middle of nowhere. That is where you really get to see the USA. I’ve been out so deep in Montana where I didn’t see another car for two hours; it feels like you are part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition…just all alone in nature. I love that. It feels like you’re the only man on Earth. But touring by motorcycle has its downsides, too, and you have to be prepared for it. I’ve tried the last three years to climb Pike’s Peak but something always gets in the way—usually the weather. I’ve ridden through snow (freezing my ass off!); I’ve ridden through rain and even rain mixed with hail (man, that stings your face); The worst is riding through heat. I rode three days through the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where temperatures got up to 117 degrees,” Cella recounted.

Zosodude stops in Wyoming to visit Devils Tower.

When asked about any plans and prospects for The Mystery Ship, Zosodude is looking ahead with a sense of eager anticipation and optimism. He would also love to plan a joint touring adventure with the Franklies.

“I really want to expand on what I’m doing while touring. Once I retire, I’ll be able to stay out longer on the road. I envision going for three months and taking my time seeing places, not just hauling my ass from state to state because I have to get back to work. I’ve mentioned to Frank that he should take Quite Frankly ‘On the Road’ and broadcast live each night from a new location while doing a tour with Lauren and Aurora in a motorhome. He could select cities and have meetups with Franklies on certain days, all while continuing to do his show every night remotely. The chatrooms love this idea. I would love to follow along for a week or two as I’ve been at it now for five years. It would be a blast,” Cella envisioned.

Zosodude spends time with Frank (Left) at the Quite Frankly studio.

Beyond touring the States, Zoso dreams of shipping his bike to Europe and riding all over the continent. Cella wants to improve live streaming from the road but until then, he is grateful for his stereo. Being able to listen to his favorite music and podcasts while riding his motorcycle has been a source of great comfort.

“I’ll put on about 10 of my favorite classic rock albums in succession, and the next thing you know, I’ve gone 700 miles. This past trip, I listened to Machine Head by Deep Purple, Bridge of Sighs from Robin Trower, Powerage and Highway to Hell by AC/DC, and all kinds of Zeppelin. Listening to podcasts is something I do a lot of as well. What’s hard for me though is listening to Quite Frankly while I’m actually riding. I listen faithfully during the week but I get tempted to pull over and chat in the chat rooms. All my friends are there,” Zoso revealed.

A.J. Cella is the type of guy who is always thinking about his friends; he has certainly never met a stranger. When pressed to know how he might like others to think of him, he humbly wishes that his ship riders, the Franklies, his family and friends will recall that he is a caring person and an honorable man.

“I would hope that folks remember me for just being who I think I am…an easygoing, good-natured son of a gun who thinks that it’s important to be a man of integrity. To do what you say you’re going to do (even if it takes a little longer than you thought), and to give a darn about your fellow man. I’ve always been the type who stops if I see someone stranded on the side of the road or see a woman with a flat tire and offer assistance if I can. I recently saw a guy in a wheelchair struggling with some wires below his ankles. I laid down on the pavement and fixed it for him. That kind of Karma always comes back my way eventually,” Cella said.

Whether it be credited to Karma or just old-fashioned charisma, a lot is coming down the pike for the friendly biker from Oregon by way of California and New Jersey.