In my over 15 years of being a music journalist/writer, I have been so lucky to make some truly amazing friends within the industry.  Gail Worley is without a doubt one of those great, amazing friends.  I remember Gail's awesome pieces that would appear in Metal Edge Magazine as well as Modern Drummer (which I read even though I wasn't a drummer).  All these years later, Gail and I got connected via out good friend Keefy (Ghost Cult Magazine.)

While not writing in the music world any more, Gail is still very active with her long running blog, The Worley Gig which covers all things awesome in and around NYC where she resides.  Gail is such a killer person and I was so excited to have her as a guest on my podcast to bond over our stories of working with "rockstars" and doing for the sheer love of "the trophy."  

Enjoy, y'all!

Drummer, pianist, lyricist, artist, and whatever else you can imagine is what makes up the life of legendary former Scorpions drummer, Herman Rarebell.  Since leaving the Scorpions in 1996, Herman Zee German has been a busy so and so.  Never one to sit still, Herman has returned in 2025 with a new release called What About Love as Herman Rarebell and Friends.

It was such an honor speaking with such a legendary, iconic artist and he couldn't have been more amazing.  We talked about the new album and why he chose to cover his favorite '80s songs.  We also talked about the Scorpions now legendary performances at the 1984 US Festival and the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival. It was just such a great conversation and I hope y'all enjoy this one.  

I've been a fan of Danish prog metal icons Anubis Gate for nearly 15 years.  Every band has its strengths, and while Anubis Gate is powerful, I find the real strength to lie with vocalist/lyricist/bassist Henrik Fevre.  Fevre and Anubis Gate have been on a break since last year's release, Interference.  Not one to sit still, Fevre returned to his other musical passion, electronic pop music.  

Henrik Fevre released his latest album, ElectriCITY, this year, and it had me excited to talk to him about it all.  We discussed Anubis Gate, his love of Pink Floyd's ANIMALS album, and other cool stuff.  Check it out!!!

Enjoy, y'all.  

Check out ElectriCITY HERE

Since being strong armed into finally giving them a listen, Walking Papers very quickly became one of my favorite bands.  In 2018, the band released one of my top albums of 2018 with WP2 and the band has since had a successful opening slot with Alice in Chains, a successful European headlining tour, and now […]

It’s amazing what you can find when just digging for new music.  One day I was listening to Hope Sandoval and I decided to click on the “Related Artists” link.  As I perused through the list, I saw Marissa Nadler.  For some reason, she just looked really interesting so I clicked it and the first […]

As anyone who has read this blog for any amount of time would know, I have been a Blues Pills fan since first hearing their debut EP, Bliss.  After 7 years in Blues Pills, guitarist Doria Sorriaux has stepped into the light, pulled up a stool, and released one of my favorite releases of 2018, […]

  Icarus Witch is considered to be one of the forefathers of the NWOTHM movement.  After numerous lineup changes, the creative core of Lukas and bassist Jason Myers still stands strong.  The Witch returned in 2018 with a brand new album and a new line up featuring new vocalist Andrew D’Cagna, formerly of Brimstone Coven.  […]

For this first installment of On The Record, I had the pleasure of speaking with Randy Jackson of Zebra about their iconic 1983 Debut Self-Titled Album. Randy recounted some great stories and memories from the making of this album so I hope you all will enjoy this.

Thrash metal guitar legend, blogger, jazz master, and cat lover. These are all things that pretty much encompass the man you are about to hear me talking to. Better known for his work as Testsament’s lead guitarist, Alex Skolnick has done everything from jazz albums to playing with Ozzy and his currnet project Metal Allegiance. […]

It was such an awesome time talking to Craig Goldy. The guy is pretty much an unsung legend in my opinion. He played and co-wrote Dream Evil, my fave Dio album. He was also Ronnie’s longest running guitarist and was a great friend of his for many years. While Craig and I did have a […]

Johnny Gioeli is a true veteran metal vocalist.  Why this guy isn’t a household name I will never understand but in my opinion he sits up there with best of them.  From this early days (and current days) in Hardline to his long running stint as lead vocalist for legendary German guitar god Axel Rudi […]

Welcome to Episode 20 of Blowin’ Wind with The Great Southern Brainfart.  This episode is going to be quite a surprise for y’all because it’s not a hard rock or heavy metal episode.  Today we’re going to be talk to, what I consider to be, a modern jazz icon. 22 years ago a friend of […]

It’s hard to believe that 27 years ago, a little band out of Florida would release a song that would catch my ear and make me a life long fan.  The band was Saigon Kick and the song was “What You Say.”  With their spot on two part harmonies and the versatile arrangements of their […]

If Jeff Sipe isn't a name you know at this point, it's probably time now that you should.  For over 40 years, Jeff Sipe has been a drummer that has wowed people all over the world with some of the most notable improvisational musicians on the planet.  While studying at Berklee, Jeff met and played in a band with a young guitarist named Steve Vai in a band called Winter.  Jeff moved to Atlanta in 1983 where he was teaching and Atlanta Institute of Music and this is when he met a gentleman by the name of Col. Bruce Hampton who took a liking to this young fellas drumming.

Jeff reached out to some friends of his, Jimmy Herring (guitar) and Otiel Burbridge (bass) and together they formed the Aquarium Rescue Unit and as a band they are considered forefathers of the modern Jam Band movement.  Along with other up and coming bands like Phish, Spin Doctors, and Blues Traveler, ARU embarked on the first ever HORDE Tour which exposed this improvisational concept of musical performance to Amphitheater's all over the US. 

Jeff Left ARU in 1995 and joined the bluegrass jam band Leftover Salmon in 1997 (my wife and I followed Leftover Salmon all over the southeast for 3 years.)  After leaving the band in 2000, Jeff would go on to work with such artists as Jonas Hellborg, Jay Lane, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Leftover Salmon, and Jazz Is Dead just to name a few.  Jeff is a living legend and I am lucky to call him a great friend. 

Enjoy this one, y'all!

Check out Jeff Sipe's Official Site: www.jeffsipe.com

 

For nearly 3 decades, Thomas o’ Keefe was known in the NC Triangle area as the bassist for punk rock legends Antiseen.  When Thomas decided to put the bass down for just a bit, his life took him in a totally different direction. Currently out on the road as the tour manager for Weezer, Thomas […]

Welcome to Episode 17!  This time around I had a great time talking to guitarist Scott Moughton.  You may know Scott for his role as Geoff Tate’s right hand man for the past few years.  From his debut on Geoff Tate’s first solo album through the Trilogy of albums released under the Operation: Mindcrime moniker, […]

From The Oath to the latest chapter of her band Lucifer, Johanna Sadonis has been on a personal and artistic roller coaster for the past 5 years or so.  Rising from the ashes like the phoenix she is, Johanna Sadonis returned unscathed turning all of that pain and suffering into what we now have has […]

37 years.  That’s how long vocalist/singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Geoff Tate has been in the game.  From his 31 years as leader of Queensryche to his six years releasing an amazing solo album and a trilogy of albums under the Operation Mindcrime moniker, Geoff Tate is a man that stays artistically busy. The Operation Mindcrime album is celebrating […]

Having been doing interviews now for nearly 10 years, it’s always awesome for me when a connection is made.  Sometimes, and interview is just an interview.  It’s a Q&A, it’s fun, but it’s very much a “thanks for talking, see ya later” kind of thing.  I’ve been lucky enough to have some pretty amazing moments […]

Gods bumble bees, Stryper, are back and in 2018 they have delivered their strongest, hard hitting album to date, God Damn Evil.  I had yet another opportunity to talk with lead singer/guitarist Michael Sweet which is always a treat.  Michael is a fan of the blog and so even though he’s used to my “f” […]

Welcome to Episode 11 of Blowin’ Wind with the Great Southern Brainfart.  This time around we are featuring legendary shock rocker Lizzy Borden.  Inspired by such psychodrama acts as Alice Cooper and KISS, Lizzy Borden hit the LA scene delivering an over the top stage show that made W.A.S.P look like Warrant at times.  Many […]

Welcome to Episode 11 of Blowin’ Wind with the Great Southern Brainfart.  This time around we are featuring lead guitarist of Swedish psych/roots rock masters, Graveyard.  If you have been a fan of my blog for any time now you will know that, in my opinion, nobody does it like Graveyard.  They are a band […]

Welcome to Episode 10 of Blowin’ Wind with the Great Southern Brainfart.  This time around we are featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr, former whizkid/singer/songwriter/keyboardist/guitarist for the legendary 90’s power pop rock band, Jellyfish.  These days, Roger can be found out on the road and on albums as Beck’s right hand man.   This was a really […]

Known primarily by one name, and one name only , Jess is the lead vocalist for Finnish psych rock masters Jess and the Ancient Ones.  She is also a songwriter, musician, mother, and all around bad ass.  Jess took time out to talk to me even though she had the flu and it was a […]

This is the 2nd time I've interviewed guitarist Maggie Geeslin and guitarist/vocalist Grace "GEP" Repasky.  I have been a fan of them ever since meeting Maggie's mother very fatefully doing, of all things, JURY DUTY.  This story never gets old.  Anyway, Maggie's mom and I were talking while serving jury duty, I told her I was a music writer, and she said, "You need to hear my daughter's band."  From there, I became a HUGE Lunar Vacation fan with a whopping 3 shows under my belt now!

2024 saw Lunar Vacation releasing their 2nd full length album Everything Matters, Everything's Fire which, in my opinion is their best stuff to date.  I had a great time talking to Maggie and Gep about everything, and I really mean, EVERYTHING.  Life on the road, Bob Weir's wicked workout regiment, and killer ideas for merch are just a few things we gabbed about and I had an absolute blast.  These two are hands down two of my favorite people to interview and it's always a great time. 

CHECK OUT THEIR NEW ALBUM HERE

Whether you like them or not, Styx has been a strong musical force for nearly 40 years.  Styx has a lot of cred in the hard rock/metal community and rightfully so.  While known for their ballads such as “Lady” and “Babe”, Styx can also rock with the best of them with songs such as “The […]

When most people hear the name Randy Jackson, they think of that dude from American Idol.  When I hear the name Randy Jackson, I immediately think of the legendary classic rock band, Zebra.  Responsible for songs like “Who’s Behind The Door”, “Tell Me What You Want”, and “Bears” which have all been spun on classic […]

With 29 years and 10 albums under their belt, Monster Magnet have truly earned the status of legends in their own right. Dave Wyndorf was a pioneer of that style of retro psychedelic hard rock before there was even a term for it and is still going strong to this day. Monster Magnet just released […]

Jordan Rudess has without a doubt achieved legendary status. Known primarily as the keyboardist for progressive metal masters Dream Theater, Jordan has been featured on 16 Dream Theater albums as well as projects with Rod Mogenstein, tony Levin, and Marco Minnemann. Jordan has also released 15 solo albums, developed countless music based apps for mobile […]

The late 80’s early 90’s saw a whole new style of hard rock emerging that rose to the top like curdled cream in coffee. Bands like Dangerous Toys, Circus of Power, Tora Tora, and Junkyard just to name a few made quite a huge statement to a young kid like me. While bands like Poison, […]

Welcome to Episode 02 of Blowin’ Wind w/ The Great Southern Brainfart.  This time around I had the pleasure of speaking with Mike LePond, bassist for Symphony X, Symphony X, Silent Assassins, Them, and just about any other fucking band on the planet.  Mike was a really great and fun guy to talk to.  Mike […]

Welcome to Episode 1 of Blowin’ Wind with The Great Southern Brainfart!  As you can see, things are going to be done a bit differently here in the form of interviews.  In the past I have done all of my interviews old school.  I transcribed them, I edited them, and posted them but many of […]

If you were alive in the '90s, you undoubtedly heard a Collective Soul song or two. "Shine" dominated MTV and radio and was followed by a string of hits such as "The World I Know," "December," and "Precious Declaration" just to name a few. Collective Soul had a busy summer on tour with Hootie and the Blowfish and Edwin McCain and recently embarked on their own headlining tour.

During a brief break from the insanity, i had a great chat with Collective Soul bassist/founding member Will Turpin. We talked about the bands 30 year career, what it was like being a musician in Atlanta in the '90s, and we bonded over drinking at Applebees in Stockbridge, GA which, believe it or not, was the hoppin' place for Southside rats like myself on a Tuesday night!

I have interviewed musicians of may different genres: pop, alternative, classic rock, psych rock, jazz, blues, etc.  I have also interviewed an author, a b-rate horror movie actress, and a tour manager but never a comedian... until now. 

One evening while aimlessly scrolling through TikTok after taking my evening edible, I stumbled upon some videos from LA comedian Emily Vokal.  Emily is an up and coming comedian and she is definitely on her way up.  Her materials is witty, self-deprecating (sometimes we have to make fun of ourselves, I know I do.), and observant of the world around her.  Being on her own in LA, working hard to make a mark on the world of stand up comedy, Emily is putting the work into it and it shows. 

It was a great time talking with her about her journey as a comedian, mental health in comedy, and other awesome shit.  Enjoy this one.  I know I did. 

I have been a huge fan of the songwriting husband/wife duo Mat and Maria Fowler since first hearing their previous band Galley Beggar back in 2015.  After the release of their 2017 album Heathen Hymns, I finally stalked Mat and Maria out and managed to get Maria to be a guest on my podcast.  Since then, we have become very good friends and watching them grow as humans and as artists has been an honor. 

Galley Beggar called it a day in 2022 but Mat and Maria aren't ones to just lay down and rest it out.  They returned in 2023 with a new band called Guillotine Spring and this year they released their debut album Ecolision which is hands down one of my favorites of 2024.  I caught Mat and Maria shortly after they put their kids to bed and we had a long distance wine date and talked about the new album, the future of Guillotine Spring, and Maria and I bonded over our love for Wilhelmina Cunk (Cunk on Earth.) 

I hope y'all enjoy this one as much as I did!

Poison, Mother Head's Family Reunion, Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, Smith/Kotzen, and highly regarded and iconic solo artist.  Exhausted yet?  Being in ONE band was enough to wear me down but for Richie Kotzen, wearing many different hats and staying busy is what he does.  Richie recently released a new song called "Cheap Shots" and it's classic Richie.  Soulful, gritty, and full of 'tude, "Cheap Shots" is a testament to the fact that he is nowhere near being done. 

This was my 2nd time talking to Richie and he's a great human being and a great conversationalist.  We bonded over our love for Dobermans and also talked about the new song and why it's just better to not know the story behind a song and to create you own narrative for it.   Once again, a great talk with Richie Kotzen and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Enjoy, y'all. 

One of the things I love the most about being a music journalist is that there is no end to the absolutely amazing music that I cross paths with from time to time.  While I do see and hear a lot of crap, every now and then an artist stands out from the pack and grabs my full attention.  This was the case with Dutch vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer Kati Ran. 

Kati Ran performs an eclectic genre of music that pulls from her ancient Nordic roots using instruments such as  Swedish nyckelharpa, moraharpa, hammered dulcimer, Norwegian Kraviklyra, bone flutes and overtone whistles, hurre, shells, primal percussive textures and skin-drums and vocalizes mystical ‘characters’ and powerful emotions.

Kati was gracious enough to take the time to talk with me about her forthcoming album SÁLA’ which is her first release since 2015's Lys.  We talked about the spiritual and emotional connection to this style of music as well as the sensual yet primal elements to the music used to evoke emotions of solace, discomfort, and tension (sometimes all at the same time.)  Kati was amazing and I hope you all will dig getting to know more about Kati Ran and her spectacular talents.

Enjoy, y'all.

As of 2024, folksinger/songwriter Dorian Sorriaux has been kicking it on his own as a solo act since parting ways with Swedish rockers Blues Pills (who hate me by the way, but that's a different story) in 2018.  Since then, he released his debut EP Hungry Ghost, toured all over Europe doing festivals and supporting Alter Bridge/Slash vocalist Myles Kennedy.   In 2023 he signed with The Sign Records and this year released his full-length album Children of the Moon. 

This was the 2nd time having Dorian on my podcast and he's a fantastic human being to talk with.  I hope you'll enjoy hearing us bond over our love of folk music, songwriting, and more folk music!

Enjoy, y'all!

The first time I heard Whitesnake in 1987 I became obsessed.  I loved everything about that band but after seeing them live in 1988, that's what pushed it over the top for me.  I was so captivated by guitarist Adrian Vandenberg that he quickly became one of my guitar heroes.  From there, I dove headfirst into the discography of his solo band Vandenberg and that just solidified his place as one of my favorite guitar players ever. 

In 2024, Adrian and his new Vandenberg lineup hit the road with former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate for an extensive Spring tour of North America.  This was his first tour of North America since the 1990 Whitesnake tour so this was a truly exciting time for me.  Who would've thought that at the age of 50 I would be having a conversation with Adrian Vandenberg?  Adrian is an amazing guy and much like us music dorks could talk about music all day.  His passion for the Allman Brothers, classic blues, and soul music was such a great thing to hear him talk about. 

Adrian was such a joy to talk to and this was without a doubt one of my absolute favorite interviews.  I hope you dig it and then go check out the new Vandenberg album, Sin. 

In 1988, a friend of mine showed up at my house with a cassette and said, "Dude, you need to hear this song."  He put on the LA Guns debut album and played me the song "Electric Gypsy" and I loved it.  I picked up the album and played it until the tape was almost clear.  LA Guns has been at it for 40 years.  With 15 studio albums, 10 live releases, and countless videos, LA Guns, in 2025, is surely not going anywhere anytime soon.  

I had a chance to talk to LA Guns guitarist/songwriter/founding member Tracii Guns and I couldn't have had a better time.  We talked about the new album, being dorks in school, and our mutual love and admiration for Poison guitarist CC DeVille.  This was a lot of fun and I hope y'all enjoy it!!!

 

Living in a city that has the highest number of shitty bands per capita than any other city in the US can be a real drag.  Atlanta is a city full of bands and musicians that have underwhelmed me to the point of no return but there are a few exceptions to that.  One of those exceptions is that outstanding band Rae and the Ragdolls. 

Rae and the Ragdolls are a band of young hippie misfits with old souls and a sound as classic yet fresh as the ‘60s and ‘70s bands that inspire them.  Rae and the Ragdolls pull from influences such as the Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and Jefferson Airplane.  Just don’t go trying to compare lead vocalist  Natasha “Rae” Wermers to Stevie Nicks. 

Rae and the Ragdolls are something very new yet very familiar.  They are a band that I very much needed to hear and I’m so glad I stumbled upon them.  I had the pleasure of talking with vocalist Natasha “Rae” Wermers and guitarist Will Bennett and they were so much fun to chat with.  We talked about their love of the Grateful Dead and jam bands, why playing live is where it’s at for them, and just how a bunch of youngins got into playing the fantastic music that the make!

Enjoy, y’all!

In 1996, I heard a song by a band called Dog's Eye View called "Everything Falls Apart" and not only did it become a favorite song of mine, I connected to it on a very personal level (sadly).  Lead by singer/songwriter Peter Stuart, Dog's Eye View became a favorite band of mine that would be a huge part of the soundtrack of my life for 27 years and counting. 

After the release of their 1997 album Daisy, Peter Stuart and Dog's Eye View sadly were dropped from their label and after releasing a couple of independent releases, Peter Stuart dropped out of the Public Eye's View (see what I did there) and found a new a life outside of music, and lived a happy, fruitful life...  until I reached out to him and hounded him to do an interview!

I was so ecstatic that Peter actually agreed to do an interview with me and he was equally as into it as I was as we talked about the Dog's Eye View years, his feelings about the music industry, and life in general after Dog's Eye View.  This was a total bucket list interview for me and I am so grateful to Peter for taking so much time to talk, laugh, and reminisce on the good ol' days! 

Enjoy, y'all. 

Back in 2011, a good friend of mine who was working at the record label Nuclear Blast called me up.  I knew it was something super important if she was calling me.  When I picked up, without hesitation, she said, “Don!  I just heard your new favorite band.  They’re called Graveyard and their new album is called Hisingen Blues.”  After the first listen of the album, I knew she was right.  This was a band that was doing something unlike I’d ever heard and I loved it.  Twelve years later, here I am, still a massive Graveyard fan and geeking out over their latest (and best) album, 6.

It has been nothing less than surreal to watch Graveyard grow from a new band to a band that is now being considered influential and fathers of their movement.  I had the pleasure of once again speaking with guitarist Jonatan Larocca-Ramm and it was great to talk to as always.  We touched on the writing process during the Covid-19 pandemic, not taking things for granted, and the growing, strengthening bond between the members of the band. 

Enjoy, y’all!

I can honestly tell you that I don't think I have ever interviewed a "competitor" before!  Honestly, Keefy isn't a competitor at all.  He is a friend and a fellow music writer with the long running Ghost Cult Magazine.  For over a decade, Ghost Cult Magazine has been an incredible source for hard rock/metal reviews, interviews, and editorials.  These days, Ghost Cult Magazine's web and social media presence has earned them a reputation of being a great outlet and their weekly recap videos featuring Keefy himself is yet another way to connect and reach their audience.  

Keefy was really awesome to talk to and I can tell you now that this isn't the last time.  There was so much to talk about that even in an hour I barely touched on 1/3 of the things I wanted to talk about.  Hope you enjoy this interview talking with a fellow music writer and please head over to www.ghostcultmagazine.com to check them out!

After 22 years as the drummer for the Black Crowes, Steve Gorman's creative life is nowhere near over.  Since parting ways with the Black Crowes in 2015, Gorman has kept himself busy.   The Steve Gorman Sports podcast, Steve Gorman Rocks!, his talk show on Westwood One as well as his bands Trigger Hippy and his newest band, Bag Men featuring North Mississippi All-Stars' Luther Dickinson and long time friend and Trigger Hippy bassist/songwriter Nick Govrik.  

Being a fan of Gorman since 1990, it was a real treat to get to talk to one of my favorite drummers.  We talked a little about the Black Crowes and his style of drumming.  We talked out the outstanding post-Crowes bands Trigger Hippy and Bag Men, and life in general.  Steve was an outstanding guest and I had so much fun talking to this guy.  

Enjoy, y'all!

Styx has been a long time favorite of mine since I was a kid listening to my Dad play The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight on our living room stereo.  Even though he's been singing and playing keys for Styx for nearly half their career, Lawrence Gowan is totally fine being called the "new guy."  This was our fourth time talking and we never seem to run out of things to talk about.  The mouth of the south and the mouth of the Great White North join forces and talk about all kinds of awesome shit like the stellar new Styx album Crash of the Crown, touring life after Covid, and how the pandemic made Styx's bond with their fans and with each other stronger than ever. 

 

Enjoy, y'all!

Back in 2001 or so, I was in shitty club in Charlotte, NC to see a little band that was about to break huge called Train.  Their opening act that night was a brand new act called Five For Fighting.  I had never heard one chord from them but after their powerful 45 minute set, I had the shirt, the CD, and a new band that I loved.  Like many fans of music, sometime after their 2006 release Two Lights I lost touch with them. 

After hearing Ondrasik's 2022 song for the Ukrainian people, "Can One Man Save the World," my interest and love for his songwriting was rekindled.  Getting the chance to talk to John Ondrasik was a real treat and he couldn't have been a sweeter, kinder person.  We bonded over our love of good ol' classic rock, the art of songwriting, and our mutual admiration of the Laurel Canyon folk scene of the '60s and '70s. 

Enjoy, y'all!

At 34 years of age, guitarist/songwriter Nili Brosh has lived the life of 10 guitarists.  Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2009, Nili has performed with legends in the truest since of the word.  Shrapnel guitar legend Tony MacAlpine, former Nevermore and current Arch Enemy guitarist Jeff Loomis, drummer Marco Minneman, and bassist Stu Hamm just to name a few.

Nili has also been a part of Danny Elfman's band, the guitarist for Cirque Du Soleil's Michael Jackson ONE, and as part of the cartoon based metal gods, Dethklok. 

Obviously, Nili is a VERY busy person and I was lucky enough that she took the time out of her busy schedule to talk to a dreg like myself.  Nili is a kind, funny, and super talented person and I loved talking to her about why sometimes being called a "shredder" can be annoying, how being called a "female guitarist" is also not a term of endearment, and other things. 

To check out more on Nili, head to hear website www.nilibrosh.com

Enjoy, y'all. 

Since I first heard them in 1992, Ugly Kid Joe has been a favorite band of mine.  Regardless of the shit I got from friends and others about my fandom for UKJ, much like them, I lived unapologetically as a lifelong fan from beginning until, well, now. 

2022 saw Ugly Kid Joe releasing their stellar seventh album, Rad Wings of Destiny and just when I thought shit couldn’t get any better, Ugly Kid Joe announced their first North American tour in nearly 27 years.  The minute they went on sale, I threw my money at Ticketmaster without any ifs, ands, or butts.

Ugly Kid Joe isn’t a big “press band” and haven’t been so in a many years so when I had the opportunity to speak with founding guitarist Klaus Eichstadt, I was ecstatic.  For over an hour, Klaus and I discussed his love of AC/DC, his Mock N’ Roll t-shirt biz featuring parody metal band logos (etc. Lizzo written in the Ozzy logo), and our fascination with runaway truck ramps. 

This interview was about as random as you can fucking imagine and honestly, I loved every minute of it as this was in my top 10 favorite interviews without a doubt.  Enjoy y’all!

Check out Mock N' Roll shirts at www.mocknroll.com

 

One of the many reasons I love doing interviews is the sheer unpredictability of it all.  When I got asked to interview Amber Doig-Thorne, all I said was "Sign me up."  I mean, how could I possibly pass on the opportunity to talk to my first actor ever who also is the star of "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."  ... and yes.  It really is a truly awesome as the title would make you think so. 

Amber was so much fun to talk to as we discussed things like, her epic "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" movie, her upcoming projects, our mutual admiration about stories from our childhood becoming horror films (Amber, don't forget about The Smurfs.), and bonding over both of us being neurodivergent.

I hope y'all get a kick out of this one.  It was a blast and after this, go watch Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey!