Earlier this week, Dave Palumbo broke the news on Heavy Muscle Radio that Mel Chancey would be joining the RxMuscle team to bring more radio entertainment to all of the bodybuilding fans around the world. For those not familiar with Mel he has a checkered past that includes time behind bars for his involvement with a notorious motorcycle club. I caught up with Mel, now 43, earlier this week to discuss his past, how bodybuilding has changed and help shape his life, and where he sees his place at RxMuscle.
For starters, Mel fell into the bodybuilding world at the same time he fell into the biker world. He began training out of a small, $10 a month gym in Chicago, where he met a guy who would take him under his wing and teach him not only the ins’ and outs’ of training, but also the beginning of what would be his fast rise through the ranks of one of the most infamous biker gangs in the world.
Before long, Mel would become President of the motorcycle club. But even while he was living the fast life, he still had a huge love for the sport of bodybuilding. “The first show I ever attended was the 1996 Mr. Olympia held in Chicago,” Mel explains, “I was close with Mike Matarazzo who introduced me to Jim Manion and Steve Weinberger. Then I got hooked up with MD where Dave did a story on me for the magazine.”
Not long after the Chicago Mr. Olympia, Mel found himself behind 
bars from 1997-2001 and again between 2004-2007. I asked Mel if he was able to train and eat like a bodybuilder. Did he have the Victor Martinez mindset or was it completely different for him? What he told me was very interesting.
Mel explained, “My first time in, in ’97 was completely different than in 2001. In ’97 they had weights and everybody trained. You could even get protein powder sent in from the outside. But in 2001, when the Feds got me for the RICO charge everything was different. If anything in prison is broke they don’t replace it. Plus the guards don’t like anyone training, even pushups and pull ups because they think gangs are starting to plan something. Victor was in a different situation, remember, he thought he could get out at any time, but with me, I knew I was in for a while, so I just had to make the best of my situation.”
Ever since getting out of prison in 2007, Mel has been on a mission to rebuild his life and body. His friends, like Jay Cutler, have always encouraged him to train and diet for a contest, but at this stage of his life he has realistic expectations of where that road would take him.
“Matt, I’m too far behind in the game to ever get up on stage bro. I like to enjoy my life and not deprive myself too much. I have my sights set on bigger and better things for my life.”
A rehabilitated Mel is doing just that. He speaks in schools to kids on why not to follow down the same path he did. “There’s nothing cool about living a life that will find you in the penitentiary,” Mel says.
And for those who follow bodybuilding and RxMuscle, you know that Dave and Mel have been good friends for quite a while. It was only a matter of time before the stars and moons would align and the two would brainstorm on how to bring Mel to RxMuscle. If you read my article on The Charismatic Bodybuilder, Mel fits the bill of the guy I was talking about. He’s full of opinion, a real student of bodybuilding, and great on camera. You will be seeing Mel alongside Aaron Singerman covering shows around the world. He’s set to have the very first 1 hour live call-in show in bodybuilding, where he and fans will get to interact. And Mel assured me he will be very active on the boards. I asked Mel where he sees RxMuscle and himself going forward in the future.
“To be more reputable amongst the higher ups in the business and continue to be innovative. I want to see myself and Rx do things that nobody else is doing,” he said.
When thinking about this story and talking with Mel it was clear I needed to ask Mel a few off topic questions that bodybuilding fans might enjoy.
Here is Mel Chancey’s Top 5
#1. Favorite TV Show: Criminal Minds
#2. Favorite Movie you’ve seen the past year: Ted
#3. Favorite Music: Old school classic rock, Black Sabbath, it could be anywhere, in the gym, in the car, wherever
#4. What is something that nobody on RxMuscle or in the bodybuilding community knows about you that might be interesting? My shoe collection. I have so many shoes, mostly gym shoes like Jordan’s, and they all have to match with the clothes I’m wearing that day.
#5 I told Mel I posed this question on the message boards, it’s a 3 Part question.
If you had 1 million dollars what would you do with it? I’d either invest it or donate it to charity for kids or animals. That’s my soft spot.
If you are on a dessert island name 1 woman you would have with you and it can’t be your wife or child? Gabriel Union (my wife is giving me dirty looks)
If you’re on Death Row, what is your last meal going to be? Sushi
Mel will debut his Live Radio call-in show within the next 4-6 weeks on RxMuscle. Make sure to have your questions ready. He specifically told me that anything goes and nothing is off limits so fans and callers don’t be shy! I can’t wait to see what Mel brings in 2013.
