The Devil's Music with Pleasant Gehman – Details, episodes & analysis

Cynthia Ross is a musician, writer, poet and spoken word performer. Better known as her stage name Cynthia B-Girl, she’s a punk rock pioneer and one of the earliest of proponents of the underground scene in Toronto, Canada. In 1977, Cynthia and B-Girls singer Lucasta met at post-concert afterparty, and soon after formed The B-Girls. Like several bands in those days, The B-Girls basically learned to play onstage. Soon they were traveling back and forth to New York City, for monthly shows atCBGB; They opened for Blondie, toured with The Clash and were huge in Japan. In this episode, Cynthia and hostess Pleasant Gehman discuss New York’s Lower East Side punk scene, women in punk, the B-Girls’ career, and Cynthia tells wild stores about Stiv Bators, Johnny Thunders, The Ramones and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Pompeo is a senior correspondent at Vanity Fair and an author. His first book “Blood And Ink: The Scandalous Jazz Age Double Murder That Hooked America on True Crime” was a New York Times Book Review Best True Crime pick of 2022. He’s also written for The New Yorker, New York Magazine, and many other publications. He's also a longtime super-fan and admirer of the early L.A. punk scene. In this episode, Joe and hostess Pleasant Gehman discuss the murder of Jane King, an aspiring actress who fell prey to The Hillside Stranglers. Because Jane was dating Rick Wilder of The Berlin Brats and Mau Maus, she frequented The Masque, Hollywood’s infamous underground punk club. Like the Black Dahlia, who became more famous after death than in life, Jane’s tragic death is also the subject of an article Joe wrote for the 30th Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue titled “Death And The Masque”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 Author Chuck Hawley is known the world over for advocating kindness, compassion, hope and love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

El Vez, known for decades as “The Mexican Elvis” is a rockstar, cultural phenomenon and the alter ego of early West Coast punk rock icon Robert Lopez of The Zeros and later, Catholic Discipline. But that’s not even close where it stops. He’s not just a singer and songwriter, he wrote his own chapter in John Doe and Tom Desavia’s “Under The Big Black Sun”. He’s also an artistc workaholic with multiple projects going at once. He fronts The Little Richards, recently did a tribute show covering the songs of LA punk icons The Screamers, and is touring Spain with Los Straightjackets. In this episode, Robert and lifelong pal hostess Pleasant Gehman chat about the gloomy storytelling show he created, “The Unhappy Hour” featuring his dark humor and dirge-like renditions of 70’s pop hits. They get into their shared experiences during Elvis Week the early 1990s as well as in the 70’s LA punk scene, specifically the infamous night at The Orpheum Theater, where The Germs made their first appearance ever and the Zeros made their first Los Angeles appearance and wound up getting signed on the spot by Bomp! Records...plus much more. Website: www.elvez.net Instagram: @elvezofficial , @mr.rpbertlopez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Penelope Houston is an iconic punk rock queen. As the fierce singer and songwriter for San Francisco’s legendary band The Avengers, she was among the first boundary-pushing wave of American women fronting punk bands. A year after forming, The Avengers made a splash opening for The Sex Pistols’ last show at Winterland Ballroom. Over the years, Penelope’s music took a softer turn as she helped originate the West Coast neo-folk movement, touring incessantly through Europe and winning several awards in the 1990’s. Forty five years after forming, The Avengers are back and still going strong. In this episode, Penelope and hostess Pleasant Gehman chat about the band’s recent European tour, the band’s early years, and the late 70’s California punk scene in both San Francisco and LA. Penelope also talks about her close connection with The Screamers; working with director Renee Daalder, what that infamous Sex Pistols show was really like, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Staci Layne Wilson is a bestselling author, award winning filmmaker and the hostess of the popular “Rock’n’Roll Nightmares” podcast. One of her books, “So LA: A Hollywood Memoir” features wild anecdotes about Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and several others. The ultimate California girl, she’s the daughter of a pinup model and Don Wilson, legendary guitarist and founding member of The Ventures. Staci wrote and directed the acclaimed documentary “The Ventures: Stars On Guitars” The film chronicles the group’s incredible history. In this episode, Staci and hostess Pleasant Gehman chat about everything from the horror films Staci’s directed, an odd Manson Family connection, the 1980’s Sunset Strip hair metal scene and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tarot and astrology expert Theresa Reed is the author of eight metaphysical books. Her latest, “Twist Your Fate: Manifest Success With Astrology And Tarot” is a terrific guide to getting what you want out of life the “witchy woo woo” way.  In this episode, hostess Pleasant Gehman and Theresa talk about everything from her new book to the best ways to deal with Mercury Retrograde, what your moon sign says about you, and the fascinating science of Astrocartography. They get into 1970’s and 80’s punk and seeing Bowie, Patti Smith, The Sex Pistols and The Plasmatics back in the day. Plus more stories involving psychedelic drugs, True Detective Magazine and Jason Momoa...but as separate entities, not one story. www.thetarotlady.com Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @thetarotlady Patreon: www.patreon.com/thetarotlady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The illustrious Mink Stole is a national treasure. Her incredible career has spanned over five decades, beginning in the late 1960’s when she and John Waters began their lifelong collaboration; she’s had roles in every one of his feature films. She’s also a singer and former advice column writer for The Baltimore City Paper. In this episode, Mink and hostess Pleasant Gehman dish about everything from the pre- “Pink Flamingos” days to her bohemian lifestyle in Baltimore, New York and Provincetown. They compare notes on their time served as cellmates in director Steve Balderson’s women in prison film “Stuck!” as well as her role as an art agent his latest work, “Alchemy Of The Spirit”, currently making the rounds of film festivals. Mink also spills the beans on her latest foray as a budding pianist, working with Peaches Christ, and a sweet but shocking paranormal experience. Website: www.minkstole.com Facebook: www.facebook.comminkstolefanpage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Multi-talented Charlie Paulson is a musician and actor. He’s the guitarist for the bands Goldfinger and Black President, and has appeared in a number of films and television shows. He’s also a writer, an avid animal activist and, in his own words, “a son of Los Angeles”. In this episode, Charlie and hostess Pleasant Gehman talk about his constant touring, psychedelics, and his appearances in a number of films as well as working with horror director Tobe Hooper. They also get into Charlie’s escapades as an underage kid in  the LA rock’n’roll and punk scene in the early to mid 1980s.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick O’Neil is a prolific author and talented writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications: Juxtapoz, Salon, The Fix, Decibel and Razorcake. A former heroin addict who lead a bank-robbing ring, he cleaned up, started writing in jail and eventually got an MFA in creative writing. This lead to his memoirs “Gun, Needle, Spoon” and “Hold Up”. He’s also an infamous punk legend who spent the 1980’s working behind the scenes as a roadie and tour manager for several famous bands. His latest memoir is out now on Punk Hostage Press. “Anarchy At The Circle K: On The Road With The Dead Kennedys, TSOL, Flipper, Subhumans and...Heroin” has a title that’s self explanatory and the book’s a terrific read. In this episode, Patrick and hostess Pleasant Gehman compare notes on the early 1980’s California punk scene and swap insane cross-country touring stories. Patrick’s experienced everything getting kicked off the Lollapalooza tour and stranded at truck stops in Wyoming or lots at Dead Kennedys concerts to drug deals gone wrong and more. You’ll also hear a few tales from his bank robbing days before he was busted by the feds, got sober in prison and turned his life around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices