Explore every episode of the podcast Talkin‘ the Talk With Don

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.  

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!!!

Check out my Patreon for some cool extras, including exclusive content not heard/seen by anyone but me. Your support is what keeps this podcast independent, so any and all support is greatly appreciated.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/talkingthetalk

Check out my Socials here: https://linktr.ee/southeastofheaven1

GHOST CULT MAG LINKS: https://linktr.ee/ghostcultmag

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Keef is one of my closest pals. He's an amazing journalist, an amazing podcast host, and he's a huge inspiration to me and has been for nearly 12 years. This is a do-over of a lost interview form last year, so better late than never! We talked about Ghost Cult, being a journalist, the stresses of it all, and why it is that we're insane enough to do this stuff as our passions!

In 2019, I stumbled upon a young band out of Sweden called Children of the Sun.  Their debut album Flowers knocked me out with it's flower power Jesus Christ Superstar like qualities.  It was a beautiful album and I was a fan immediately.  Since then, Children of the Sun has grown personally and creatively.  They have performed countless live shows all over Europe and they continue to shoot for the moon. 

I have been friends with guitarist/songwriter Jacob Hellenrud for some time now and I FINALLY convinced him to be on the podcast after all these years.  Speaking English isn't his favorite thing to do but he made it his favorite thing for an hour or so just to talk to me.  We talked about the weird way Americans measure things, the growth of the band, his solo material, and the band's new album Leaving Ground, Greet the End. 

For more on Children of the Sun, head over to https://www.facebook.com/Childrenofthesuun

Thanks for checking out the first episode of my On and Off the Records segment. This is where I will be joined by friends (and sometimes even members of the band of the said album) and talk about the history of the album, comments, and reviews, and finally revisit the album track by track.

To kick it all off, we'll dive into $1.99 Romances by '90s Jam Band Legends God Street Wine. Joining me as guests are none other than Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell of God Street Wine.

This is a first for this Podcast. This time around, my good friend/fellow podcaster Nik Cameron of the Glacially Musical Pouredcast got together with zero time notice to talk about the "Final" Black Sabbath/Ozzy appearance on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. As usual, Nik patiently dealt with my ADHD-ranting brain and did a great job wrangling us back on target. This was fun, this was different, and this was the first of many!

For the news/wordy side of things: https://www.southeastofheaven.com

For ridiculous pix and viny stuff:   / southeastofheaven  

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/dond

Check out Glacially Musical Pouredcast: https://www.youtube.com@glaciallymusical355 

Since I first heard the iconic Scottish metal band The Almighty in 1990, I have been a huge fan of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ricky Warwick.  At a mere 58 years old, Ricky Warwick has lived the dreams many of us can ONLY dream about.  Ricky was handpicked to front a newly re-formed Thin Lizzy in 2009 and later co-founded the Black Star Riders with former Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham.  He has worked with amazing artists such as Joe Elliot of Def Leppard, Billy Duffy of The Cult, Lita Ford, and the legendary Irish punk rock band The Stiff Little Fingers.  

I had the honor of talking with Ricky from his home in California, where his family is safe and sound from the California Wildfires.  Ricky and I spoke about his forthcoming album Bloodties, the art and excitement of songwriting, and shared many laughs.  Ricky is an absolutely amazing human being and a talent like no other.  

https://www.rickywarwick.com/

Happy New Year!  2024 was an awesome year of interviews here at Talking the Talk, and 2025 is already shaping up to be awesome.  Kicking the year off is the hilariously kick-ass Rebecca Markus.  Rebecca hosts a podcast called TV Tangents and a TikTok account of the same name. 

Rebecca is a Gen X master when it comes to Gen X television shows and I have always loved her stuff and I was stoked when she agreed to be a guest. Besides, she LOVES Simon and Simon so I knew I'd found a new friend!

Rebecca was a great guest, and I think you all will enjoy this one. 

Check out TV Tangents here:

TV Tangents on Spotify

I love what I do.  Getting to talk to musicians and other artistic people has been one of the joys in life.  Every now and then I have a guest on that has a personal connection with me and my guest this time is a special one.  DB Edmunds (aka Doug Edmunds) was my boss for about 6 years or so when I worked in IT at UNC in Chapel Hill.  He's also an amazingly talented singer/songwriter/guitarist/drummer. 

DB Edmunds released his latest solo album, Everybody Knows By Now this year and it is an absolutely fantastic collection of good ol Rock n' Roll with a pop senseability in vain of bands such as The Jam, Jellyfish, and Big Star just to name a few.  Getting to talk shop with Doug was, and always is, a treat so kick back and enjoy this one. 

You can pick up Everybody Knows By Now as a digital download, vinyl or CD by CLICKING HERE.

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

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

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

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. 

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!

Billy Sheehan is a living legend when it comes to hard rock music.  He broke into the mainstream as the bassist for David Lee Roth, experienced huge commercial success with the band Mr. Big and now he is letting it all loose with the progressive hard rock supergroup, Winery Dogs. 

I had a great time talking to Billy about what he hates about interviews (luckily not this one), his excitement about the new Winery Dogs album and tour, and his extreme fandom of all things King Crimson.  Billy was a truly awesome guy and I hope you all will dig this one!

Enjoy, y'all!

I didn't discover Hanoi Rocks until around 1986-87 or so but once I did, they became a huge favorite of mine.  It's hard to believe that it has already been 40 years since the release of Hanoi Rocks' sophomore album, Oriental Beat.  2023 doesn't just see Oriental Beat turning 40, we will see a much anticipated re-mix (or re(al)-mix as the band calls it) and for the first time nearly 30 years will see a vinyl release via Finnish label Svart Records. 

I had the honor of talking to legendary Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe about the re(al)-mix release of Oriental Beat as well as his 60th birthday concert that featured a reunion with the original Hanoi Rocks featuring original drummer Gyp Casino.  We also talked about what it is that keeps him going and other cool stuff. 

Enjoy, y'all!

In 2011, I was immersing myself in a whole new world of music.  The Swedish psychedelic rock movement was something that I became obsessed with.  After hearing their 2011 live album, Root Jam, Siena Root quickly became one of favorite bands. 

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with lead vocalist/keyboardist Zubaida Solid and drummer Love Forsberg.  We talked about the solidified lineup of the band, the new album Revelations, and life and creativity during Covid-19.  This was a great interview with two of the sweetest people I know. 

Enjoy, y'all!

In 1993 while at a friends house getting high as the moon, he turned to me and said, "Dude, your hippie ass is going to love this."  He then put on the song "Superman Song" by Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies.  I was so blown away by how insanely deep his voice was accompanied by this incredible folky sounding stuff.  Shortly after, he put on the album God Shuffled His Feet and to say that I was in love right away is an understatement. I vividly remember planting myself in the corner of his couch, closing my eyes, and letting the song "God Shuffled His Feet" take me to another plane.  It's a feeling I still get to this day (even when not high as the moon.)

Since that fateful day, I have been a fan of Crash Test Dummies and their music has been consistent part of my life's soundtrack.  In 2023, Crash Test Dummies will be hitting the road once again to bring the magic of their songs to the people once again and I was so excited to have the chance to talk to lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Brad Roberts.  Brad is an amazing human being and I had an absolute blast talking to him about all things Crash Test Dummies.  We laughed and laughed some more and it was such a thrill for me. 

Enjoy, y'all!

Troy Marks is a living legend when it comes to being a part of the New Orleans Heavy Metal music scene as the vocalist for Razor White.  To me, nobody did it better than Razor White.  I know some will say Lillian Axe did but honestly, I LOVE them but it was the Razor that pumped me up like no other. 

In 1988, Razor White released a 5 song demo that became known as "The Black Tape" that featured five amazing songs.  Razor White followed it up with a full length called Just What The Doctor Ordered and then disbanded not long after it's release in 1991.

35 years later, vocalist/songwriter Troy Marks announced that both the The Black Tape and Just What the Doctor Ordered will be re-released via Lost Real Records and I was beside myself!  Being an old buddy of mine, I reached out to Troy and got him to talk about this huge news.  As always, it was an absolute blast talking to him about the old days of the New Orleans music scene, the releases, and even the possibility seeing these songs re-visited in a live setting. 

Every now and then a band will come along and completely capture my heart.  It always seems that this happens when I'm at a certain point in my life when I need something to lift me up that band just happened to be an Atlanta band called Lunar Vacation.

Not too many can say that they discovered a new favorite band by serving jury duty with a band member's mom.  Well, that's exactly what happened.  Since that fateful week, I have become a diehard fan of Lunar Vacation snatching up all that I can of the band’s music.  The music of Lunar Vacation is what I would call perfect (for me, at least).  It's psychedelic, it's dreamy, it's poppy, and they can rock the fuck out.  Lunar Vacation scratches a lot of itches for me and I couldn't be happier. 

After seeing one of their sold-out Atlanta shows end of last year, I talked lead vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Grace Repasky and guitarist Maggie Geeslin into being guests on my podcast.  In all honesty, this was one of my favorite, most fun ones I've done.  They were so kind, warm, and hilarious to talk to and Grace's cat Science even made a cameo to show his "good" side. 

Enjoy this one y'all and please check out Lunar Vacation now. 

Hellsingland Underground is a band out of Sweden that is one of the most UN-SWEDISH bands I have ever heard.  Sounding more like they could've come straight out of the Southeastern part of the US, their sound is a hodgepodge of influences such as Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band, and Dr. Hook just to name a few. 

I would've never heard one bit about had it not been for my good friend Jacob Hellrud from Children of the Sun.  Jacob sent me a press release for Hellsingland Underground that was written by lead singer Charlie Granberg's 16 year old daughter and it was so amazing, I had to listen to them.  Here's just a portion of said press release:

My dad and his gang of smelly bearded geezers release another “record.”  Good for them.

And once again he’s forced me to do a job that he obviously is too lazy or incompetent to do himself. He apparently things child labour is perfectly fine in 2022.

I didn’t’ even know what a press release was. But after a lot of nagging and bribery of various kinds, I finally put forward my terms: I will write it if it presented in my version, without censorship. And he agreed with it. So, blame yourself.

First of all, I don’t understand why anyone would want to buy a piece of plastic that is just insanely difficult to play. Feels damn 20th century if you ask me. He says, that I don’t “get the point” but in truth, it’s he himself who’s old and lagging behind. 

I have no idea how to get anyone interested in this. But sometimes I can  feel a little sad for them for still trying.

Charlie is not just a great singer and songwriter but he is an amazing human being and was so much fun to talk to.  We discussed the band's American southern rock influences, his love for Bob Dylan, the band's new album "Endless Optimism", and other random bullshit that made each of us laugh and become good friends! 

Check out these badasses at https://hellsinglandunderground.com/

I happened to be on the app TikTok one night and to my delight, I stumbled upon a band that really blew me away.  TikTok ya don't stop.  Ok, that was lame but you know what isn't lame?  PROPER PET. 

Proper Pet is a duo based out of Tempe, Arizona and they the breath of fresh air that I (and probably you) need.  With a vast array of influences which include, EDM, folk, indie pop, synth pop, and new wave (just to name a few), Proper Pet leaves no stone unturned.  There is a bit of everything for everyone but the best part is that all of their songs are so accessible, catchy, and easy to love. 

I had the privilege of being Proper Pet's first interview.  Lead vocalist/keyboardist Abigail Corrine and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Zach Christian were so much fun to talk to as we discussed the concept behind Proper Pet, playing live, being a musician in the Social Mediasphere of TikTok, and dreaming big. We even bonded over my TikTok user name (jesusisonmyspace) and introduced our dogs virtually.  I loved talking to them and I hope you will enjoy checking out their music. 

Find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProperPetMusic

It's hard to believe that I have been doing interviews for over 12 years.  My very first big interview too place on July 15, 2010 and it was with former Quiet Riot and current (at the time) Ratt guitarist Carlos Cavazo.  It was after Ratt's opening set with the Scorpions at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Alpharetta, GA. 

After waiting about 20 minutes backstage, Carlos made his way to the corner of the room and took a seat.  I didn’t approach him right away because I really didn’t know what the etiquette for doing this was.  I was totally flying blind here.  Carlos managed to lock eyes with me, he smiled, and then motioned for me to come over to him.  I walked over and he says, “Hey man.  You must be Don.”  I asked him how he knew and he said, “Well, the printed out interview questions and the recorder in your hand kinda gave it away.”  We both laughed and all of a sudden he wasn’t a rock god to me.  He was a really nice, funny, and humble guy. 

This is the interview that started it all and here it is, unedited in all it's glory.  I hope you'll enjoy this blast from the past!

Anne K. O'Neill (Serpentent) emerged from the void and delivered one of the most disturbingly, dark, yet beautiful collection of music that I have heard in a long time.  Based out of Seattle, WA, Anne is a multi-instrumentalist, artist, and musician who's influences range from Kate Bush to the legendary dark folk sounds of Buffy Sainte Marie and Joan Baez.  Under the Serpentent umbrella, Anne has released Ancient Tomes I: The Mother of Light which is the first of a three part concept album.  

It was so exciting to have the opportunity to speak with Anne since it seems pretty rare these days that I get to speak to a brand new emerging artist that I don't know a whole lot about.  It was so interesting to talk to her about her influences, the concept behind the Ancient Tomes trilogy, and how it's just not bad to love the dark.  

Based out of Sweden, Hallas plays what they refer to as "Adventure Rock."  With an ongoing theme of sci-fi adventure and pure escapism, one listen to songs like "Carry On", "Star Rider," and "Ellusion's Gate" and you will have an "A-HA!" moment for sure.  

Hallas just put out their second album Isle of Wisdom and has garnered critical acclaim from writers and music fans worldwide.  With only two albums under their belt, it's already clear that Hallas is going to be on a long journey and thankfully so.  

I had the chance to talk to Hallas vocalist/bassist Tommy Alexandersson and it was a great time.  We talked about the new album, the return to live music in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and what a pain in the ass it was for them to make their epic b-rate movie-like video for "Ellusion's Gate."  

Hallas is one of the most important bands of the century that you don't know about... YET. 

TikTok for the longest time, to me, was a young person's game.  I just didn't get it.  My wife convinced me to at least lurk and check things out and I was blown away by how many cool music related things were all over the place.  One of the people who really stood out to me was a Canadian by the name of Vanessa Hughes.  Vanessa is much like me in that she's a music dork who loves sharing random facts about artists ranging from Aretha Franklin to Alice In Chains.  

Vanessa is a really cool person and I had a blast talking with her and getting to know more about her and what she does.  

If you wanna connect with Vanessa on TikTok, her handle is raised_by_hippies and is on Instagram under the same handle.  

Matt Kozar is a guitarist that I have loved for quite a while now.  As the guitarist for one of my favorite bands, Brave, Matt's style of guitar playing is a unique blend of various influences including post-rock, ambient, and straight up Heavy Metal.  Last year Matt and co-guitarist in Brave, Scott Loose, released Scott's Stellar Death project and now, with Matt at the captain's helm, we have been presented with Day of Departure, a Sci-Fi, thought provoking collection of songs that hit me in the hardest but best of ways.

Matt's an old friend so talking to him was just us having a regular conversation.  As always, prepare for me to derail shit and go off into other territories but it was a blast talking about everything from the music he is passionate about to his love of the Star Wars Holiday Special.  Yeah, we went there.

Wilma Nea is a super talented pop singer/songwriter from Sweden who has just released her debut album This Too Shall Pass.  Wilma is also a member of the psychedelic roots/rock group Children of the Sun.  Wilma was such a gracious, funny, and charming person to talk to and I really enjoyed our conversation from her home in Sweden.  We talked about her work producing, writing, and performing nearly all of the instruments on her album, growing up in Sweden, and our love of singing along with "Bohemian Rhapsody."  

This interview was conducted shortly before her album release concert which took place on March 18th to a receptive crowd and she is currently booking more shows in support of her solo album.  She will also be doing shows with Children of the Sun so 2022 is going to be a busy year for my friend!   "This To Shall Pass" is now on all streaming platforms so head over the one of your choice and give it a listen.  If you like it, let her know and tell her Don sent ya!

Slik Toxik was a band that blew my mind when I first saw them blow Faster Pussycat off the Masquerade stage here in Atlanta in 1992.  Even though the band was short lived, Slik Toxik's debut Doin' the Nasty is a favorite of mine 30 years later. 

What happens when you put a Canadian and New Orleans native on a podcast together?  You get a shit ton of talking but that's ok because you know what?  We had a lot to talk about.  I have been good friends with former Slik Toxik guitarist Kevin Gale for a few years and it was a great time talking to him as always.  

We talked about the 30th anniversary of Doin' the Nasty, the state of the world, and other cool shit so just settle in and enjoy!  Thanks for a great talk, as always, KG.  

For anyone who knows me at all, it will come as no surprise just how absolutely giddy I was to finally have the opportunity to speak with the legendary metal vocalist/songwriter Tony Martin.  Tony is nothing less than a humble gentleman with stories to tell and while proud of his past, Tony is very much about where he is and where he will be going from here. We talked about the his work with Sabbath of course, his thoughts on the Sabbath album Forbidden, his post Sabbath solo work, and his fantastic latest solo release, Thorns.  

Tony was so much fun to talk to and this was a bucket list experience of the highest level. Ok, I'm going to shut up, now.  Enjoy this one!

In my 12 years as a music writer, I have had the pleasure and honor of meeting and talking with someone of my musical heroes and in some rare cases becoming great friends with them.  Rock journalist Katherine Turman wrote for RIP Magazine when I was in high school and to now get to call her a friend and a mentor has been a life highlight for me. 

Katherine has had features in Rolling Stone, the LA Times, The Village Voice, Billboard, and Spin magazine just to name a few.  She is the co-author of the book Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal and has also been a featured expert in several of VH1’s “Behind the Music” episodes.

Katherine has just about seen it all from the heyday of the Sunset Strip 80's metal scene to the arrival of grunge and back around full circle to where we are now.  I hope you'll dig this one as it was a real treat to pick the brain of my good friend and journalist Katherine Turman. 

Dorian Sorriaux has been an artist that I have admired for quite some time.  Since his work in modern psychedelic soul icons Blues Pills, Dorian has been a favorite of mine and I loved hearing and watching his dynamic guitar presence.  In 2018, Dorian and Blues Pills parted ways which opened the door for him to pursue his true musical passion: folk music.  Dorian released his stellar and critically acclaimed debut folk EP, Hungry Ghost and in 2022 is planning on releasing his long awaited full-length follow-up.  

Dorian is always a great guy to chat with and this time around was no different as we bonded over our love of folk music and, well, folk music.  

Enjoy this one!

Rebecca Martin is an artist that I have been a fan of for nearly 30 years.  From her time in the cult NYC jazz rock band Once Blue to her 2022 release After Midnight (featuring Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos and husband/bassist Larry Grenadier), I have been a fan.  I have watched her grow and set the path to becoming what I would consider to be a jazz legend.  She has all the makings to do so and I really do believe that she will be name that will spread amongst the people long after we are gone.  

Rebecca has always been a great conversationalist and this time proved no different.  We covered all kinds of ground.  We bonded over being in weird bands in our youths (Rebecca sang metal and punk at one point!), the influence of social media, the excitement and privilege of growing older, and her philanthropy work as a director for Riverkeeper, which protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law.

Enjoy this interview with the great Rebecca Martin and spread the word!  

Lawrence Gowan of Styx has become a favorite of mine to interview.  When I first interviewed him back in 2017 about the release of The Mission, we hit it off immediately and since then he's been on the show three times.  As always, Lawrence cracked me as we talked about life during Covid, touring in a bubble, the new Styx album Crash of the Crown, and a bunch of other random crap that had us entertaining each other.  Hopefully, you will be entertained as well!!!!