Joe Smith, owner of Joe's Records, shared his extensive career journey in the music retail industry, from his early days managing Coconuts Music Store to opening his own record shop in 2004. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of running an independent record store, including the impact of digital downloads, the revival of vinyl, and the role of online sales. Joe also highlighted the importance of building relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as adapting to changing market trends. The conversation touched on various topics such as pricing strategies, the impact of tariffs on imports, and the challenges of managing a business in the music industry.
Tim Durling returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "The Sound That Haunts You: A Beginner's Companion to Fleetwood Mac" which explores the band's different eras and lineup changes through detailed coverage of their albums and discography. He shares insights about his writing process, challenges in organizing the band's early recordings, and his personal preferences for various Fleetwood Mac eras, while also discussing his appreciation for the band's cover versions. Tim also provided information about his other music-related books and projects.
Veteran rock author Gillian Gaar returns to the podcast to talk about her book "Tom Petty: The Life & Music," which covers Petty's life and career, from his birth to after his death, including his breakthrough with "Damn the Torpedoes" and the unsolved arson attack on his house. The book concludes with Petty's posthumous success, including a song featured in a popular video game that gained renewed popularity. She also briefly discusses the differences between approaching her publisher to pitch a book idea, in this instance the Queen book we discussed in a previous episode, and being asked to write this book.
In this episode, Christian Shields shared details about his new single "Fall Like Rain" and his musical journey, including discussions about his full-length rock album "This Is Rock and Roll." Christian also discuss3eed his focus on releasing singles rather than albums, upcoming projects, and technical challenges encountered during tours, while also providing information about where fans can find his music online. (Apologies for my audio. I forgot to bring my headset mic with me.)
In this episode I chatted with Adam DeGraide about his partnership with Dameon Aranda called "A.D.A.M. Music Project" and their newest single "They Are Here." It is a song inspired by iconic alien-themed video games like Half-Life and Halo. We also discussed the upcoming album "Knockdown," which features a blend of rock styles and includes songs inspired by video games like "Pitfall," "Mega Man," and "Galaga." Adam also explained the collaboration with his Damien and highlighted the involvement of various vocalists and musicians in the project.
In this episode I spoke with Owen Paulls, a former musician from England who transitioned to tattooing after years of touring as a drummer. Owen shares his journey from music to tattooing, discussing his apprenticeship, artistic style, and experiences winning awards at tattoo shows, while also offering advice for both tattoo clients and aspiring artists.
In this episode, we discussed Daniel's book "Iron Maiden at 50," which chronicles the band's history through various sections covering their early years to present day, including details about their lineup changes, visual branding, and cultural impact. Daniel shared insights about the book's creation process, including his approach to writing the text and the publisher's handling of visual elements, while also discussing the band's evolution from niche to mainstream popularity and their strong connection with fans. The conversation concluded with Daniel reflecting on his other writing projects and his positive experience working with Quarto Publishing, which has resulted in his books being widely available through various retailers.
In this episode, I spoke with Stevie Peavey about creating music videos, mainly focusing on his recent release of Deuce by KISS. Stevie gives a brief explanation of the process for animating action figures and synchronizing lyrics. He also spoke about his experience creating music videos for various bands while discussing his transition from working in the toy industry to becoming a music video director. You can find Stevie Peavey Films on YouTube and Instagram.
Scott and Greg from the band Horace Pinker discussed their new album "Now and the Future," their first full-length release since 2011, which reflects a more positive and forward-looking message compared to their previous work. They also discuss the band's history. Greg shared his experiences touring with the band in Europe, including a memorable performance at the Grosrock festival in Belgium. They also mentioned sharing the stage with various notable bands and attending festivals in different countries. Finally, they discussed their upcoming tour dates, including a performance at the Fest in Gainesville, Florida.
Tim Durling discussed his book "Unspooled" about 8-track tapes, which explores the format's history and collecting culture while combining personal biography with music collecting. The book's creation was inspired by a conversation with recent podcast guest Martin Popoff, who wrote the foreword, and was completed through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021. Tim shared his extensive 8-track collection and experiences as a collector, while also discussing the format's history and popularity, including its continued production beyond the 1980s. Additionally, he promoted his other books, which focus on specific bands and artists.
Trevor discussed his songwriting process, including how "Sunshine" emerged from an instrumental riff, and his collaboration with INXS bassists Gary Beers and Tea Party guitarist Jeff Martin on lead guitar on the song. He expressed interest in working with other musicians like Gilby Clark and Mike Kruger in the future. Trevor also shared his experiences working with Randy and Tal Bachman and mentioned his upcoming projects with Gary, which will be more collaborative and harder rock in style.
Martin and I discussed Martin's book "Guns N' Roses at 40," which covers 40 career highlights of the band in a chronological format. We also explored Martin's extensive writing process and experience authoring over 135 books, including his work on band biographies and historical accounts. The conversation concluded with discussions about Martin's upcoming book releases and their availability through various retailers.
This week I spoke to author Sean Egan about his new book "Bruce Springsteen and Born to Run: 50 Years," which explores the making and impact of the landmark 1975 album on its 50th anniversary. The book, published by Motorbooks, provides context about Bruce Springsteen's career and the challenging recording process that resulted in what many consider "the greatest record ever made." Sean discussed how Springsteen's songwriting style evolved for the album and the significant challenges faced during recording, including personnel changes and the artist's perfectionism.
Diego Sagredo, guitarist from the Chilean rock band Consequence of Energy, joins me this week to promote their debut single "Freedom" and upcoming album "We Are One." The band's new conceptual album, produced by Gard Richardson, blends hard rock with ancestral sounds and features 12 tracks including "Freedom," set for release in January 2026. The band shared their touring plans for South American festivals and potential tours in Europe and the United States, along with details about a special animated vinyl edition of the album with U.S. distribution.
In this conversation, Walter discussed the Headless album "Transitional Objects" released on August 29, 2025, on the M-Theory Audio label. He described it as a 37-minute, 8-track album with meticulous production and a dystopian perspective, inspired by personal experiences and events like 9/11 and the loss of a close friend. Walter highlighted specific songs, such as "Weightless," inspired by the birth of his son, and "Losing Power," reflecting on 9/11, emphasizing the album's diverse inspirations and emotional depth. Walter also discussed the history of the band.
In this interview, Derek Shulman discussed his life journey from his Scottish upbringing to becoming a successful musician and later music industry executive. He shared his experiences with various bands, including Simon Dupree and the Big Sound and Gentle Giant, and detailed his transition from performing to working in A&R at Polygram Records. Derek reflected on the evolution of the music industry and advised emerging artists to focus on authenticity rather than fame, while also mentioning his upcoming book "Giant Steps" which explores these themes and the future of music.
This week I had a chat with Francois and Junior from the Canadian hard rock band Atomik Train, who discussed their band's origins, current activities, and upcoming debut album release. The guys shared details about their album launch plans, including physical and digital releases, limited edition merchandise, and upcoming tour dates across Canada and the US.
In this episode I talk with veteran bassist Matt Bissonette, known for his work with legendary acts such as Elton John, Ringo Starr, and Rick Springfield. We discussed the formation and evolution of his band, The Squirts, including their musical influences, songwriting process, and recent album release. They touched on technical aspects of music production, such as digital audio workstations, and explored the thematic content, highlighting their lighthearted approach and influences, of the band's latest album. The conversation also covered future plans for touring, vinyl releases, and where fans can find The Squirts' music online.
In this conversation, Chandler, a member of the Foreigner tribute band Double Vision, discusses their new album of original material, which was released on July 11th. The band's journey into original music was driven by their goal to establish Double Vision as a benchmark for tribute bands, with half of the album co-written by a Swedish songwriter. Chandler explains their approach to balancing tribute shows with original work, discusses the challenges of competing with the original band Foreigner, and shares insights about their performance style and online presence.
Black Note Graffiti's Kris Keller discussed the band's history, their latest album "Resist the Divide," and musical influences in this conversation. The album's theme revolves around life's struggles and the importance of resilience, drawing from the band members' personal experiences. Kris also shared details about their upcoming performance at the MileOfMusic.com Festival and hinted at future shows to be announced on their website.