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The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds artwork

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

The Vinyl Guide·Hosted by Nate Goyer·567 episodes

InterviewsHistoryMusicMusic interviewsVinyl collectingRock historyStandalone episodes50-70 minWeekly

Nate is a record collector, music lover and vinyl maniac. Join him on his journey to discuss, share and review all things related to vinyl records. We feature stories about and interviews with musicians, artists and people of knowledge in the area of vinyl records. Additionally we share information on desirable pressings of records, how to tell a $5 pressing from a $500 pressing and care and maintenance for your cratedigging hobby. Subscribe and share with your record-nerd friends. Cheers!

Why listen

The Vinyl Guide is a long-running interview show for people who care about records as objects, artifacts, and pieces of music history. Host Nate Goyer talks with musicians, producers, label people, collectors, and archivists, often getting into rare pressings, reissues, lost tapes, punk stories, studio lore, and the practical obsession of crate digging. It is especially good for listeners who love rock, punk, metal, jazz, and outsider music and want conversations that treat vinyl culture as part fandom, part scholarship, and part treasure hunt.

Episodes

52 min
Jun 1, 2026Episode 551
Lydia Lunch - Confrontationalist, Poet, No Wave Pioneer

Lydia Lunch unpacks the raw origins of No Wave, her squatting-and-surviving New York story, and why after five decades of confrontational art, pleasure remains the ultimate rebellion. Australian tour tickets and show info here. Topics Include: Lydia Lunch is touring Australia and New Zealand in June She's performing Suicide and Alan Vega covers across multiple cities Australia holds deep personal meaning — Roland S. Howard, Tex Perkins, lifelong friends Lydia considers herself a comedian; most people are just too afraid to laugh Words are her primary art — music is just the machine gun She sleeps in two-hour shifts and wakes famished at 5am every day Creativity has no fixed time — she writes song lyrics in five minutes flat She self-publishes through 48-hour printing, selling books for $20, cost $4 True crime forensics and Matthew McConaughey in Magic Mike are her guilty pleasures Daily she rotates between war, politics, and apocalyptic comedy — Dear Ivanka included She's actively promoting new bands: Genra's Death, Bog Creeper, New City Slang Instrumental music — Budos Band, Yusef Lateef, Baba Zula — is her listening diet Suicide and Mars were already playing when she arrived in New York Suicide actually coined the term "punk rock" on flyers back in 1972 No Wave wasn't a movement — it was personal insanity in a decaying city The name "No Wave" just came out of her mouth in one interview <li class= "font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl

36 min
May 20, 2026Episode 550
Black Flag Vocalist Max Zanelly

Black Flag vocalist Max Zanelly shares how she went from waitressing to fronting one of punk's most legendary bands and how the new lineup is carving their own space in legacy of the band. Australian tour tickets and info here. Topics Include: Max Zanelly checks in from Toronto, post-Canada tour Black Flag heading to Australia: four cities in late May One year ago, Max had just started rehearsing with Black Flag Only prior music experience: saxophone in middle school band A longtime fan, Max attended a Black Flag show in Vancouver Greg Ginn noticed Max singing every word from the front row Numbers exchanged; Greg said he wanted to make music someday A month later: the vocalist left, Greg offered Max the role Max sent vocal demos and flew to Texas to rehearse Already knew the full catalog; My War was the gateway album Side two's slow, sludgy tracks resonated the most deeply Favourite songs to perform live New recordings underway, still at early instrumental stages Max currently writing lyrics for a potential new Black Flag record Big age gap with Greg, but the band dynamic gels well Lineup reveal photos triggered massive online backlash before any shows Live shows quickly won skeptics over, including 80s-era veterans Henry Rollins is Max's personal favourite past Black Flag vocalist <li cl

1 hr 18 min
May 18, 2026Episode 549
Dave Markey & The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell

Filmmaker Dave Markey discusses his documentary "The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell", the punk scene's most fascinating, mysterious, and surprisingly influential behind-the-scenes figure. Stream it now | Order the Blu-Ray Topics Include: Dave Markey has a large record collection but stopped buying recently. Vinyl prices have skyrocketed — once cheap records now cost thousands. Dave bought records directly from band members at punk shows. Ian MacKaye sold Dave a first press Minor Threat 7". Dave bought Minutemen and Descendents EPs from D-Boon for a dollar. Dave made the Bill Bartell documentary for people who don't know him. Bill Bartell was unknowable — different things to different people. Dave tried making this film in the 90s; Bill refused to cooperate. The film was made ten years after Bill passed away. Bill Bartell faked backstage passes to get into arena rock shows. Bill named the Iron Maiden live EP Maiden Japan. Bill gave Steve Harris his outfit, worn in the "Run to the Hills" video. Bill saw no distinction between the Scorpions, the Germs, and the Beatles. Bill would tell artists exactly what he thought — no filter whatsoever. Bill told Steve Perry he was responsible for the worst night of his life. Bill told Beck "I don't like you" upon their very first meeting. Bill tried out as guitarist for Public Image Ltd in 1981. Kiss circulated photos of Bill to security: do not let him in. Bill befriended Sean Lennon, which led to a friendship with Yoko Ono. Bill's 1988 Beatlefest noise performance nearly caused a riot. Bill talked Kiss manager Bill Aucoin into discovering Generation X. That connection indirectly launched Billy Idol's massive solo career. Billy Idol himself didn't know Bill Bartell's role until recently. Bill gave Kurt Cobain Os Mutantes tapes, reviving the band's career. Pat Smear and Drew Barrymore were sought for the film

2 hr 11 min
May 13, 2026Episode 548
Jack Douglas (1945-2026) - The Vinyl Guide interview

The legend himself Jack Douglas (1945-2026) shares stories from five decades of rock history — from producing John Lennon's final album to the memories Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, The Who, and his recent production of Silverplanes. Topics Include: Jack Douglas joins Nate from a snowy driveway, cigar in hand. Silverplanes' debut album Airbus is finally releasing after years of delays. Jack met Silverplanes' Aaron Smart through his college-age son. Aaron turned out to own the Sunset Boulevard studio Jack had worked in. Jeff Emerick mixed the album shortly before his sudden death in 2018. The pandemic added two more years of delay to the release. Jack and Aaron are now label partners with New York real estate billionaire Douglas Durst. Their label operates 50/50 with artists — no standard royalty deals. Signed artists include Robin Taylor Zander and the Detroit Youth Choir. Jack builds songs from a single acoustic guitar performance first. Aerosmith was different — built from the band groove up, lyrics last. Walk This Way had no lyric until a Young Frankenstein gag unlocked it. Jack started his career as a TV composer while janitoring at Record Plant. He worked on sessions that became The Who's Who's Next. Kit Lambert and Keith Moon were both, politely, out of their minds. Jack survived eccentric clients by being reliably sober and crazy simultaneously. John Lennon was the easiest artist Jack ever worked with. John would say: "I'm the artist, you're the producer — let's work like that." <li

58 min
May 11, 2026Episode 548
After the Astronaut - Butthole Surfers' Lost Album w Paul Leary & King Coffey

Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary and King Coffey trace the band's unlikely major label journey — from America's top-grossing indie act to MTV hitmakers to a lost album finally resurrected after nearly three decades. Preorder "After the Astronaut" LP here Topics Include: After the Astronaut releases June 26 after sitting unreleased for 28 years. Capitol signed Butthole Surfers when they were America's top-grossing indie band. Label president Hale Milgram believed in them; his firing changed everything. Pepper was written on the spot after a producer demanded one more song. Pepper won radio call-in polls for a month and played MTV hourly. The hit turned them into a "follow-up band," which was never their thing. John Paul Jones produced Worm Saloon and taught Paul Leary how to produce. Jones and the band shared a Lagavulin obsession, running up a $20,000 scotch bill. Capitol's big budgets contrasted sharply with Touch and Go's approach. After the Astronaut was a deliberate return to experimental, art-school Butthole Surfers DNA. Mark Ryden painted the original cover; getting dropped handed it to Marcy Playground. Declining a Hellraiser soundtrack placement created the first real rift with Capitol. Their manager's heroin relapse coincided with the band getting dropped mid-promo cycle. Promo cassettes already pressed now sell for $800–$1,000 on the secondary market. Hollywood Records funded Weird Revolution; Rob Cavallo showed up once a week for ten minutes. Finding two-inch master tapes in a storage locker triggered the After the Astronaut remix. Documentary The Whole Truth and Nothing But took director Tom Stern five years to make. Rob Reiner called it one of the best music docs ever — hours before his murder. A potential box set looms, but Paul prefers naps, his cat, and his bicycle. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://

1 hr 7 min
Apr 27, 2026Episode 547
Greg Ginn - Black Flag, SST Records

In a rare interview, Greg Ginn opens up about the latest Black Flag lineup, the SST catalogue, the possibility of long-overdue reissues and the legacy of one of punk's most beloved bands. Tickets for Black Flag's 2026 Australian Tour Topics Include: Greg Ginn is based in Texas but currently in Long Beach after a tour. Black Flag is heading to Hong Kong and then Australia next. This will be Black Flag's third tour of Australia. Rumors of new recordings remain unconfirmed — Ginn stays tight-lipped. The current lineup has been together for about a year. Band plays nearly two hours a night across two full sets. Proximity of bandmates in Texas keeps the band constantly tight. Ginn discovered punk through the Stooges, MC5, and New York bands. Television, Ramones, Blondie, and The Damned were early major influences. Ginn identifies more with open, varied 70s punk than 80s hardcore. He never planned to be in a band — guitar was a personal outlet. Finding like-minded people in the mid-70s was genuinely rare and meaningful. Ginn started a business at 12 selling ham radio equipment he built. He published his own amateur radio magazine as a teenager. Black Flag's first EP was recorded as a demo, not a label release. Nobody wanted to sign them, so starting SST was a reluctant default. Ginn has applied the same DIY experimentation to an organic fertilizer brand. He gets bored easily and improvisation is central to keeping music alive. Ginn stays connected to a song's emotional meaning, not just its notes. Seven band members once lived in a single room during Black Flag's peak. <li class="whitespace-normal break-words pl-

1 hr 18 min
Apr 21, 2026Episode 546
One-Step Audiophile Vinyl w Tom Grover Biery

From funding the first Record Store Day to producing limited one-step pressings of Pet Sounds, Prince, and Dr. Dre, Tom "Grover" Biery is one of the most influential figures in modern vinyl culture - Hear all about his next adventures with the vinyl artform. Topics Include: Tom "Grover" Biery spent 20 years at Warner Bros. Records He pushed vinyl internally around 2004 when nobody believed in it His boss Tom Wally gave him the green light to proceed First pressings were Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman catalog titles Warner's vinyl billing exploded from $300K to $5M in 18 months Failure's Fantastic Planet was among the earliest titles he championed Neil Young gave an impassioned in-office speech about the importance of sound That speech directly inspired the "Because Sound Matters" brand name BSM is Warner's audiophile imprint; DSS covers Interscope and Capitol Tom now operates as a consultant to both major label groups His own label, Slow Down Sounds, has been running nearly a decade One-step pressings go lacquer to stamper, skipping generational quality loss Each stamper yields only 500–750 pressings, requiring multiple lacquer cuts Neotech's D2 vinyl compound produces exceptionally quiet, revealing pressings Mastering costs alone run nine times higher on one-step projects Sources are vetted exhaustively — flat masters, tape, or high-res files Artists and managers approve every test pressing throughout the process A newly discovered 1972 Pet Sounds master changed everything for the reissue Chris Bellman confirmed the tape matched a 1972 white label perfectly Only 6,000 copies of the Pet Sounds DSS one-step will ever exist Tom has been transparent about sourcing since 2005, long before the MoFi controversy Quality now ranks second or third in why fans buy vinyl Beck's Morning Phase and Tom Petty's Wildflowers one-steps surprised even skeptics</li

1 hr 5 min
Apr 13, 2026Episode 545
Zev Feldman Returns for Record Store Day 2026

Zev Feldman returns to reveal 11 Record Store Day 2026 releases, including stunning discoveries from the legendary Joe Siegel Jazz Showcase tape archive featuring Ahmad Jamal, Yusef Lateef, Freddie King, and more never-before-heard recordings. Topics Include: Zev Feldman returns, now dubbed the "Jazz Attorney General" by Nate Feldman has 11 releases this Record Store Day — a personal record The Joe Segal tape archive is the foundation of five RSD releases Segal was an NEA Jazz Master and Chicago's greatest jazz impresario He presented legends like Lester Young starting back in 1947 Feldman first connected with Siegel around 2010-2011 via word of mouth A breakfast meeting with Siegel led to three follow-up Chicago trips The archive may be the world's largest collection of unissued jazz recordings Between 8,000 and 10,000 tapes discovered across reels, cassettes, and more Resonance is partnering with the Siegel family and Wayne Siegel on releases Joe Henderson's 1978 quartet at the Jazz Showcase is raw and electrifying Pianist Joanne Burkeen confirmed this captures exactly how the band really played Ahmad Jamal's 1976 Jazz Showcase run includes a full 26-minute Swahililand Jamal and Siegel shared a deep longstanding friendship spanning many years Yusef Lateef with Kenny Barron: a burning three-LP set from 1975 Lateef played the Jazz Showcase more than any other single artist Mal Waldron and Sonny Stitt reunite in an unusual 1979 bebop week Nate predicts Mal Waldron will be the sleeper hit of RSD 2026 Bill Evans at the BBC features performances Feldman first saw on laser disc This marks Feldman's 15th Bill Evans release — the catalog keeps growing Freddie King from the French INA archives is Nate's personal favourite of the batch <li class="whitespa

21 min
Apr 8, 2026Episode 544
Zakk Wylde - Ozzy's Final Chapter, Pantera's Future, and Black Label Society

Zakk Wylde opens up about Ozzy's final show, the 17 days that followed, Dimebag's unfinished recordings, and the making of Black Label Society's crushing new album Engines of Demolition. Topics Include: Zakk runs on 14 pots of Valhalla coffee every single day. He was invited to Back to the Beginning well in advance. Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, and Ritchie Blackmore are mythical heroes to Zakk. No More Tears was rehearsed but Ozzy pulled it on the day. Ozzy was giddy meeting Axl Rose — couldn't believe it was happening. Zakk watched Sabbath's final set alongside Axl Rose and Sharon Osbourne. Just 17 days after the show, Ozzy passed away unexpectedly. They'd been texting memes and planning another record together right until the end. Zakk envisioned a global Back to the Beginning charity tour series. A sober Zakk and Ozzy watched their blasted crew destroy a Tokyo restaurant. Dimebag left hours of unfinished song ideas on tape for potential release. Playing Dime's solos means staying faithful — like Stevie Ray covering Hendrix. Zakk and Eddie Van Halen's amp, calling it life-altering history. Engines of Demolition was built across several years alongside the Pantera Celebration tour. Zakk confirms BLS, Zakk Sabbath, and more Pantera shows are all coming. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

48 min
Apr 7, 2026Episode 543
Remembering Rozz Williams & Christian Death

Rikk Agnew, James McGearty, and David Glass share stories about Rozz Williams nobody could explain why it didn't record. The released vocals paled against what was actually performed that night. The entire album artwork and layout was hand-drawn by Rozz himself. Lisa Fancher of Frontier financed the record; the band were teenagers. Catastrophe Ballet launched in Europe first; Death Wish emerged mysteriously unauthorised. Only Theater of Pain's influence grew gradually, now considered truly seminal. Rozz's final wish was a full-band studio recording of Flowers. Rikk, James, and David completed Flowers separately, finding it deeply emotional. Romeo's Distress documentary premieres April 18th with a live reunion performance. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/Vin

56 min
Apr 2, 2026Episode 542
Music Documentary Producer Jeanne Elfant Festa

Documentary producer & record collector Jeanne Elfant Festa has made films about The Beatles, Foo Fighters, Pavarotti, Bee Gees and more. Today she discusses her latest movie on Billy Preston — revealing rare archive footage, Olivia Harrison's key role, and Eric Clapton's emotional on-camera tribute and a lot more. Check outtrailer and documentary screenings here Topics Include: Jeanne lost her entire vinyl collection in the Palisades fire. Her family and animals all escaped the fire safely. A custom-built, mathematically designed sound room housed the collection. Rebuilding takes time — the turntable alone hasn't been replaced yet. Music passion began with her Brooklyn-raised parents' rich jazz collection. Her dad snuck into the Apollo Theater via the fire escape. He carried a saxophone, jamming with musicians at the loading dock. The family soundtrack: Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker. Jeanne and her dad bonded over Bruce Springsteen's sax player. Her father did house calls exclusively for one patient — Miles Davis. Storytelling instincts came from parents who loved plays, movies, and performance. Her own record collection ranged from Rage Against the Machine to Supertramp. Vinyl's tactile magic: liner notes, textures, and each album's unique smell. Albums are movies — side one plays straight through, no skipping. Documentary filmmaking is passion-driven, not a path to big money. <li class="whitespace-normal break-word

42 min
Mar 30, 2026Episode 541
TV Smith - 50 Years of The Adverts

TV Smith joins Nate to discuss the 50th anniversary of The Adverts, an Australian tour backed by The Hard-Ons, and a career full of great songs and terrible label luck. Topics Include: TV Smith is touring Australia in April with The Hard-Ons. The tour celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Adverts. The Hard-Ons are already learning the surprisingly complex Adverts songs. TV finds it odd but joyful to still be performing. He got back into vinyl to quality-check his own releases. Bowie, Roxy Music, and reggae were key early influences for TV. The Sex Pistols made TV believe he could actually do this. The Roxy Club punk scene started with just 30 people. Brian James of The Damned personally recommended The Adverts to Stiff. They recorded One Chord Wonders in a single afternoon at Pathway. Stiff misspelled the title and controversially centred Gaye Advert on the cover. Gary Gilmore's Eyes was TV's satirical response to exploitative media coverage. The BBC was deeply reluctant to air Gary Gilmore's Eyes on TV. Anchor Records collapsed mid-momentum, leaving The Adverts suddenly without a label. Crossing the Red Sea was recorded at Abbey Road with John Leckie. Gary Gilmore's Eyes was left off the album deliberately — vinyl runtime constraints. RCA signed them against their own A&R team's wishes — chaos followed. Cast of Thousands suffered a botched mix, a terrible cover, label indifference. Channel 5 was finally properly remastered after the producer found a safety tape. TV is bringing vinyl to the merch table — especially the Handwriting LP. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

1 hr
Mar 23, 2026Episode 540
Swami John Reis - Record Collector

Swami John Reis of Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu digs deep on record collecting, the thrill of the hunt, running Swami Records, and why the next release always matters most. Get yer tix to the Punk Rock Museum's 3rd Anniversary Show here Topics Include: Swami John Reis joins to talk record collecting and Punk Rock Museum. His collection is evolving — trading old hardcore for more desired records. Collection is 95% 45s, driven by a lifelong musical pursuit. Early punk led him to hunt for MC5, Stooges, Velvet Underground. The thrill: records still exist that nobody knows about yet. Digging through boxes feels calming, healthy, and satisfying every time. Hawaii vintage shop surprise — radio station collection hidden outside for decades. Detroit and Pittsburgh are his highest strike-rate cities for finds. Always ask the clerk — the best stuff is never on the floor. Styrene vs vinyl: the label sticker is the definitive tell. Making records informed his collecting — plain white sleeves, big hole 45s. Pressing plant relationships are everything; affordability is the biggest challenge. Customs delays under the current administration are wrecking release schedules badly. Major labels scrapped their own pressing plants — now everyone competes for time. Marketing records stopped making sense; the artist always drives interest anyway. Every record is essentially limited and out of print from day one. Smaller runs mean no unsold closet stock and more collector value later. Hot Snakes packaging and Rick Griffin's creativity still inspire him deeply. <li class="whitespace-norm

50 min
Mar 18, 2026Episode 539
Dr Strange Records' Summer Bash Festival

Dr. Strange Records' Bill Plaster talks Summer Bash and the chaos of booking a festival, punk history, record collecting, Live Strange, and how punk rock can genuinely change lives. Get Summer Bash tix here  |  Follow Dr Strange for Live Strange here Topics Include: Bill Plaster of Dr. Strange Records joins to discuss the upcoming Summer Bash. Punk Rock Bowling's cancellation — visa bans, politics, venue loss — created the opportunity. Bill connected with Gallo, who runs the Fox Theater and the Cathedral in Pomona. The Cathedral: a stunning, refurbished 1921 four-story YMCA venue hosting the event. A massive two-day lineup — 30-plus bands across punk, hardcore, and old-school SoCal. Notable acts include the Effigies, Channel 3, the Skulls, featuring Kevin from Green Day. Every band asked said yes — Bill takes no money, purely doing it for the community. Dealing with booking agents was the biggest headache of organising the festival. Planning started in November; Bill hopes Summer Bash becomes an annual event. The Punk in the Park cancellations discussed — Bill argues protest with your vote, not boycotts. Bill credits Rod for building Dr. Strange's social media profile and making the festival possible. Bill's mentorship philosophy: punk rock can genuinely change lives for the better. The Dr. Strange "family" ethos — making fun of people with love, never punching down. Bill's book discussed — early punk discoveries via Damned, Buzzcocks, and XTC seven-inches. The brutal gang violence at early 80s LA/SoCal punk shows — constantly watching your back. A close call at Spanky's: the guy next to Bill got stabbed during a Guttermouth gig. Biggest missed show regret: skipped Oingo Boingo due to peer pressure from girls in line. Never saw Black Flag — their reputation for brutality genuinely scared him off. Eight years of mail order before opening the store; Voodoo Glow Skulls his biggest-selling record. <li class="

55 min
Mar 16, 2026Episode 538
John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants Returns!

John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants talks rare vinyl rarities, the chaotic story behind the new album's cover art, why re-recording old music is almost always a mistake and lots more Order the new album "The World Is to Dig" here Topics Include: Flansburgh owns roughly 2,000 records across three turntable setups at home He doesn't identify as a collector — just a serious listener His rarest record: an Andy Warhol-autographed Sticky Fingers with wild provenance photos He also owns a peeled-banana Velvet Underground and a Blonde on Blonde rarity Deep dive into what makes each of those pressings so collectible TMBG's new album title comes from a Maurice Sendak-illustrated children's book That led to a fascinating detour on painter Ad Reinhardt's secret black-on-black canvases Flansburgh has been TMBG's de facto art director for 35 years The new album's cover art was nearly a Washington Post-licensed sinkhole photo Washington Post's mass layoffs killed the deal at the last possible moment A Hudson Valley School painting of Yosemite became the actual cover Flansburgh and Linnell don't stockpile songs — cuts are made for specific artistic reasons He once had to shelve a song because Linnell came in with a nearly identical opening line TMBG song titles are uniquely searchable — except the new one referencing Wu-Tang Flansburgh is firmly against re-recording old material — cites Zappa as a cautionary tale Great discussion on remastering: Beatles got it right, Hendrix remaster was disorienting TMBG evolved from NYC performance art venues to rock clubs — crowd energy changed everything Their boutique 8-track manufacturer couldn't keep up when TMBG needed a thousand units Dolby Atmos debate: Flansburgh is skeptical, Nate makes the case for spatial audio Nate's most collectible record is a Nevermind test pressing — rejected pressings are worth more Extended & High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spoti

1 hr 1 min
Mar 9, 2026Episode 537
Bongo Fury at 50 – Zappa, Beefheart and the Vaultmeister

Zappa Vaultmeister Joe Travers discusses the Bongo Fury box set, the Frank and Beefheart origin story, Frank's cutting edge approach and what may be next from the Zappa Universe. Order the Zappa/Beefheart Bongo Fury 50th Anniversary editions here Topics Include: Joe and Nate bond over the Stooges and unreleased raw recordings Bongo Fury turns 50 with 48 previously unheard tracks Two complete Armadillo shows finally presented unedited in sequence Portuguese Lunar Landing emerges from rehearsal tapes—a true nugget Frank kept tour itineraries but few detailed production notes Joe worked solo digitizing tapes for decades under Gail's direction Universal now controls the vault—the process has changed significantly Frank's Mac had one gigabyte—they dumped mixes to tape constantly Kennedy backup tapes and Synclavier data may be unplayable forever Racing against tape decay and obsolete machines that can't be replaced Heartbreak: 1630 tapes getting stuck and destroyed inside malfunctioning machines Early history of Frank and Captain Beefheart The Soots recorded together—Tiger Roach released, two covers still unreleased Frank invited Beefheart to join tour to get him some money Beefheart was unpredictable—lyrics in paper bags, sketching onstage mid-show "Born to Suck" captures spontaneous studio magic with Snoop tape banter Frank constantly taped everything—jokes often sparked future song ideas Post-tour darkness: Herb Cohen fallout left Frank uncertain about everything Frank and Beefheart reconnected—hour-long phone calls in Frank's final months Warner Brothers failed to promote One Size Fits All and Bongo Fury Cheaper Than Cheap footage sat in vault for decades—sync issues unresolved Joe finally identified the mystery tapes; Universal funded the restoration More Atmos projects coming—Joe teases a big announcement next month Extended & High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: <a href= "https://tinyurl.com/tv

1 hr 2 min
Feb 23, 2026Episode 536
Danny Goldberg - Bumping Into Geniuses (Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, & more)

Danny Goldberg shares insider stories from his 50-year career as Led Zeppelin's publicist and Nirvana's manager, revealing Kurt Cobain's creative genius and the first-hand dynamics behind rock's biggest bands. Order Danny's book "Bumping Into Geniuses" here Topics Include: Danny discusses the 2026 reissue of "Bumping into Genius" Admits his turntables are mostly for show, prefers streaming now Kept about 100 vinyls including The Fugs on ESP Records Answered a Billboard ad not knowing music business existed Found his calling through enthusiasm and sensitivity to artists Became Led Zeppelin's US publicist in 1973 for Houses of the Holy The biggest band in the world had never gotten positive press Peter Grant described them as "just mild barbarians" Bonzo would arrive early to tune drums for each room's acoustics Jimmy Page avoided TV—felt it couldn't deliver Zeppelin's true sound Physical Graffiti era: Danny became Swan Song Records vice president His blues tribute pitch rejected—later repurposed for Foghat Robert Plant was eloquent and handled most press duties willingly Jimmy's Crowley interest rarely came up in day-to-day interactions Met Ringo, never John or George—All Things Must Pass is essential Nirvana's 92 Australian tour produced the Rolling Stone cover shoot Kurt's "Corporate magazines still suck" shirt was pure tightrope genius He storyboarded every Nirvana video shot by shot himself Appeared on Headbangers Ball in a dress to subvert metal culture Nevermind hit five radio formats simultaneously—unprecedented crossover success Kurt agreed to edit In Utero packaging for Walmart-only kids <li class="whitespace-normal b

1 hr 5 min
Feb 10, 2026Episode 535
Making Music & Vinyl History w Producer Plug

Producer Plug discusses his journey from New York DJ to hip hop producer for Wu-Tang members, running multiple record stores, and launching R&G Records in Inglewood with Snoop Dogg. Topics Include: Producer Plug discusses meeting again at Austin Record Fair His three superpowers: DJing, executive producing, and music production Born in Flushing Queens with father's influential Fisher sound system Father introduced him to WCBS-FM and classic disc jockeys The Fugees "Killing Me Softly" became his first musicology lesson Father taught him to stay curious and humble about music Started buying records at Nobody Beats The Wiz and Coconuts Carried white garbage bag of records through high school All The Right Records shop combined haircuts and vinyl shopping Made popular mixtapes across Queens neighborhoods, sold as CDs Got on record label promo lists by showcasing his tapes Mixtapes evolved into producing albums with original beats naturally Career progression through DJing, A&R, and label executive roles Opened multiple Records & Goods locations across different cities R&G stores feature unique Grail Museum showcasing rare pressings Hip hop's importance: taking best moments from every music genre Each store represents a spiritual piece of his father Haradio Sound Lab offers vinyl meditation space for listening sessions Tom Silverman's advice: learn from my billion-dollar mistakes instead Vinyl On Demand releases reissues plus upcoming Big Boo collaboration High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: <a href= "https://tinyurl.com/

51 min
Feb 7, 2026Episode 534
Chuck Negron (1942-2026) - The Vinyl Guide interview

Co-founder and former Three Dog Night frontman Chuck Negron (1942-2026) discusses the collectible records of his career, the early releases on small labels, the rare and recalled albums of Three Dog Night and mega-smash excesses and turnaround of his life and career. Interview from July 2022 Topics Include: Chuck's autobiography Three Dog Nightmare . Basketball was first passion growing up in Bronx schoolyards. Made first record "Oh Baby" in 1958 at age fifteen. Early releases on tiny Bronx Records label extremely rare today. Progressed through Rondelles, Marlinda, and Heart Van regional California labels. "I Dream of an Angel" became regional hit across central California. Columbia Records offered deal while playing college basketball at Hancock. Chose to finish basketball season, damaging initial Columbia Records excitement. Learned hard lesson about commitment after squandering early industry enthusiasm. Bill Sharman offered Cal State LA scholarship but chose music. Left school permanently, ending high-level basketball career for music industry. Three Dog Night formed with three lead singers sharing spotlight. Band's strategy: find great songs, not write them themselves exclusively. "One" by Harry Nilsson became breakthrough hit launching massive success. Achieved 21 consecutive Top 40 hits selling over 60 million records. "Joy to the World" became worldwide number one, band's biggest success. "Black and White" addressed racial integration as mainstream social statement message. Hard Labor's controversial birthing cover recalled after hundreds of thousands distributed. Now hosts weekly WhatNot show selling rare Three Dog Night collectibles. At 80, credits basketball training for vocal stamina and survival. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: <a href= "http://ww

1 hr 1 min
Feb 2, 2026Episode 534
Celebrating Chess Records with Steve Jordan

Legendary drummer some duplicates recovered from Europe thankfully Early stereo versions often poorly done with hard-panned instruments and fake echo Chess building preserved physically but control room was completely stripped of gear Steve brought API console and ribbon mics for 2010 session there Correctly guessed drum placement; Hubert Sumlin confirmed the next day Otis Spann's piano still vibrates sympathetically when musicians play the room Jack Wiener designed Chess gear and later mastered recordings in basement Mastering represents twenty-five percent of the mix, often overlooked historically Jamie Krentz alerted Universal to Chess catalog's 75th anniversary reissue potential Rarities campaign revealed extraordinary alternate takes including deep Lowell Fulsom version Willie Mitchell spent years perfecting Royal Recording's signature snare drum sound Keith Richards session led to lifelong friendship with Willie Mitchell Willie gave Steve one of Al Jackson's tom-toms from Al Green recordings Recording, overdubbing, and mixi

59 min
Jan 26, 2026Episode 533
Exploring the Pusciverse with Carina Round

Carina Round discusses the new Puscifer album "Normal Isn't", their creative partnership, how motherhood transformed her songwriting, the emotional experience of revisiting The Disconnection and much more. Topics Include: New Puscifer album "Normal Isn't" and concert film drop February 6th Puscifer described as dark multimedia project with interconnecting 20-year storyline New characters introduced: Belendia Black, Fanny Gray, the Synth Whisperer Writing began post-Existential Reckoning; Mat keeps a magical idea folder Maynard learned Logic software, contributed more initial musical sketches this time Carina waits for lyrics—word rhythms shape her vocal approach entirely Mat masters specific gear per album: Fairlight, Synclavier, custom guitars Carina sang through Eventide effects unit, letting it shape melodies Mat designs all stage plots, lighting, and visual concepts himself Carina recently started improv classes—facing her worst nightmare on purpose Mat discovered her at LA show; V is for Vagina hooked her Maynard conveys mood clearly while leaving lyrics open to interpretation Humbling River audition taught her: no preciousness about ideas here Maynard's response—"as long as it doesn't interfere with me"—was freeing Having an eight-year-old son completely changed her creative process Revisiting The Disconnection live revealed surprising wisdom in her youth Music became her way to connect rather than dissociate emotionally She bootlegged her own Interscope album just to have it on vinyl Kids today skip songs constantly—no commitment to full album journeys Rare Ocean Blue pressing was a happy accident—only 13 copies exist High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide </ul

55 min
Jan 19, 2026Episode 532
Lucinda Williams in a World Gone Wrong

Lucinda Williams discusses her recent creative surge with multiple tribute albums, paying homage to the masters, Folkways days, post-stroke recovery and the new album World's Gone Wrong Topics Include: Lucinda announces her 18th album "World's Gone Wrong" releasing January 23rd Reveals dramatic shift from releasing albums every 3-8 years recently Credits husband-manager Tom Overby for keeping creative momentum going post-stroke Explains how new band members made working out songs fun Describes creative process challenges between inspiration and studio deadlines Shares need for quiet, private spaces to write freely Reveals hotel rooms as unexpected creative sanctuaries like John Prine Discusses how songs emerge either formed or requiring detailed work Explains editing process of refining and "trimming the fat" Details collaboration with Tom Overby on "We've Come Too Far" Talks recording at Ray Kennedy's Room and Board studio Shares Steve Earle connection from Car Wheels on Gravel Road Laments losing song ideas when unable to record immediately Recalls taking control in studio despite band's initial surprise Tells sweet story of meeting Ringo Starr at Capitol Records Discusses transformative Beatles albums from early work to Sergeant Pepper Names Bob Dylan as her North Star musical mentor Explains The Doors' influence especially their

41 min
Jan 12, 2026Episode 531
Erik "Smelly" Sandin of NOFX

Erik "Smelly" Sandin discusses NOFX life after touring, new music, sobriety through the NOFX hurricane, the Las Vegas incident controversy, the upcoming NOFX Retrospective at the Punk Rock Museum and more. Topics Include: NOFX didn't break up, just stopped touring, still recording new music together Band recorded 6-7 new songs three months ago in the studio Mike constantly writes new material, has lots of unreleased songs ready January 16-18 NOFX retrospective exhibit opening at Las Vegas Punk Rock Museum Smelly will give personal tours but doesn't know what artifacts they'll display Never kept any memorabilia from 42 years, always gave everything away immediately Shocked that original PMRC records now sell for $5,000+ on collector market Band relationships remain same, they talk regularly but need space between tours Currently playing drums with Randy from Pennywise, Cameron Webb Fills in with the Vandals when Josh Freese tours with other bands Recorded drums on Vandals' Christmas album 30 years ago, including transgender song Early drug experimentation began with acid at 16, escalated quickly into addiction Became homeless junkie living on streets for years during darkest period Got clean in 1992, has maintained sobriety for over 30 years now Joined NOFX through classified ad, instant chemistry with Mike during first jam Band went through multiple lineup changes before finding the classic NOFX formula Fascinated by ancient mysteries like underground Turkish cities, pre-Incan megalithic structures Favorite museum artifact: Joe Strummer's original "London Calling" lyrics with water stains His museum tour focuses on how punk rock saved his life story High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

55 min
Jan 5, 2026Episode 530
Tales of The Ramones with Monte A Melnick

The Ramones influenced generations despite critical dismissal and radio absence. Ramones tour manager Monte A Melnick reveals insider history, promotional collectables, diplomatic strategies for handling volatile band dynamics and the journey of the revival and current cultural adoration of the band. "On The Road with The Ramones" book is available here. Topics Include: Monte Melnick's bonus edition adds 40 pages to his Ramones road stories collection Full-color book features posters, tour passes, and interactive visual design beyond typical text Monte served as diplomat, psychologist, babysitter, and mediator between wildly different band personalities Managing crazy crews, promoters, and venues doubled the nutty people Monte handled daily He delayed writing until after Joey's death to avoid discussing uncomfortable personal problems Frank Meyer co-authored as musician and Ramones fan, earning full credit beyond ghostwriter Book structured as oral history combining new interviews with archived quotes from multiple sources Early reviews dismissed the Ramones as "crap" unlike today's celebrated 10/10 album ratings Sex Pistols' anarchy lumped Ramones into punk danger zone, killing radio station support Major acts like Talking Heads, B-52s, and Blondie opened for Ramones before surpassing The band never considered quitting despite frustration, constantly seeking new producers for radio Johnny Ramone insisted on maintaining consistent sound while others wanted musical growth experimentation The Ramones acted as "Johnny Appleseeds," inspiring kids worldwide to form their own bands 1996 Lollapalooza tour revealed Metallica and Soundgarden formed bands inspired by Ramones performances Record labels rarely interfered except removing "Carbona Not Glue" fearing potential lawsuits The Simpsons appearance was considered an honor with special studio recording and commemorative jackets John Holmstrom created Rocket to Russia artwork and illustrations later used for merchandise Monte immortalized in song lyrics: "Monty's driving me crazy, it's like being in the Navy" <li class="MsoNormal"

50 min
Dec 22, 2025Episode 529
Johnny Brennan of The Jerky Boys

Johnny Brennan reveals how The Jerky Boys' underground cassette tapes became an American comedy phenomenon, spreading from NYC musicians to Howard Stern's radar before landing an Atlantic Records deal and finding success with voiceover work on Family Guy. Get yerself (or a friend) a Cameo holiday video from Johnny Brennan here Topics Include: Johnny Brennan reveals The Jerky Boys infiltrated American vocabulary for over five decades People still answer phones with "tough guy" and use Jerky Boys catchphrases daily Johnny started creating characters on tape for his brothers back in the 1960s Father's threat to "put boot in ass" drove kids to creative outdoor activities Nine-year-old Johnny was already doing fake sportscasting with neighborhood friends on tape Looking through Buy Lines magazine for trucks sparked idea to record prank calls First recordings made on boombox intended just for family gatherings upstate New York All characters based on real people: Frank Rizzo was Johnny's father's personality Sweet innocent voice character came directly from observing his mother's speaking style Friend Kamal discovered forgotten tapes and declared them funniest things he'd ever heard Kamal distributed copies to musician friends throughout NYC's Village music scene underground Tape trading exploded nationwide through word-of-mouth before internet or computers existed Howard Stern desperately searched on-air for mysterious Frank Rizzo character's true identity Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun signed band after discovering underground cult phenomenon spreading Johnny's mom actually came up with "The Jerky Boys" name for the act Catchphrases like "sizzle chest" and "milky licker" were completely spontaneous during calls Johnny spent incredible week with Ozzy Osbourne filming The Jerky Boys movie Currently voices Mort Goldman on Family Guy for over twenty-one consecutive years Records at professional studio thirty seconds from home, works with hardcore bands Offers personalized Cameo messages, giving special shoutout to Australian fans after forty years High resolution version of this podcast is available at: <a href= "http://www

51 min
Dec 1, 2025Episode 528
The Legacy of SNFU with Brent & Marc Belke

SNFU founders Marc and Brent Belke discuss band history, rare recordings, records, vinyl reissues on Trust Records, upcoming events at the Punk Rock Museum & more. Topics Include: Marc and Brent Belke join from Vancouver and Victoria to discuss SNFU's December 5th Punk Rock Museum exhibit and album re-release. The exhibit coincides with Trust Records' re-release of SNFU's debut album "...And No One Else Wanted to Play" with extensive extras. The re-release includes a 53-page booklet with rare photos, interview excerpts, and a full record of early demos and alternate versions. The exhibit features band paraphernalia, posters, t-shirts, and artwork, originally displayed at a Saskatchewan museum last summer before moving to Vegas. Marc and Brent will provide guided tours at the Punk Rock Museum and participate in a roundtable discussion on December 5th. The brothers describe Edmonton's early 1980s scene as intimate with only 50 people, mixing new wave, rockabilly, and emerging hardcore sounds. Getting punk records in Alberta meant ordering from New York stores via mail, waiting two months, and receiving only 25% of selections. Pivotal records included Bad Brains' ROIR cassette, Let Them Eat Jellybeans compilation, Sex Pistols' debut, and Minor Threat's Out of Step. The LA hardcore scene heavily influenced SNFU, with bands like Circle Jerks, Social Distortion, and Youth Brigade making significant impressions. SNFU formed when Marc and Brent's band lost members, recruiting bassist Curtis and drummer Evan Kaufmann based on personality over experience. Singer Chi Pig brought irreverent humor and sarcastic lyrics that became central to SNFU's identity and separated them from serious hardcore bands. The band recorded their debut album in two weeks with limited preparation, creating the raw energy that defined their sound. Early SNFU combined hardcore speed with melodic elements, drawing from both aggressive punk and bands like The Damned and Buzzcocks. The band signed with BYO Records for their second album, appreciating the

1 hr 12 min
Nov 28, 2025Episode 527
Tales from the Stooges with Mike Watt

Mike Watt played with Iggy & The Stooges for over 10 years - today he shares all about his times with the brotherhood - Iggy, the Asheton Brothers, Steve Mackay, the comeback tours, The Weirdness, the end of the road and more! Topics Include: Mike Watt discusses new Record Store Day release: 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" Without the Stooges, Watt believes punk movement wouldn't have existed as we know it Played with Stooges for 126 months after Iggy Pop called him in 2003 First heard Funhouse in 1970-71 when most people dismissed the band entirely Stooges music helped Watt recover from serious illness 25 years ago Initially met Ronnie Asheton at Minutemen gigs in Detroit's Greektown neighborhood Played with Ronnie in 1996 for Todd Haynes film Velvet Goldmine Iggy and Ronnie hadn't spoken for 29 years before 2003 reunion Watt received fateful call at Tallahassee club: "Ronnie says you're the man" Iggy's first concern: Would Watt wear T-shirt instead of flannel? "Fuck yeah" Thought Coachella would be one-off gig, became decade-long musical journey Being youngest member at 45 allowed Watt to absorb everything from legends Asheton brothers had telepathic connection, communicated through rhythm more than words Lost Ronnie in 2009, Brother Steve in 2014-2015: "You always think you got time" Watt never wore same T-shirt twice during entire Stooges tenure One time played shirtless in New Orleans after wearing orange triggered Iggy's nightmare After Ronnie died, switched from T-shirts to black flannel honouring his memory Final years wore Dickies work clothes, embracing mechanic aesthetic Iggy appreciated Still calls Iggy every April 21st for his birthday, ringtone is "TV Eye" Instrumental tribute albums with Larry Mullins represent "paying back the debt" High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-

56 min
Nov 27, 2025Episode 526
Tales From The Stooges with Larry Mullins

Larry Mullins (Stooges, Swans, Nick Cave) discusses his love of the Stooges, playing with Iggy and the Asheton Brothers and shares how he and Mike Watt reworked several Stooges tracks for multiple Record Store Day releases, including a 40-minute version of "We Will Fall", available RSD-BF 2025. Topics Include: Larry Mullins discusses Stooges tribute project with Mike Watt, creating extended instrumental versions Record Store Day release features 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" from the Stooges Mike Watt initiated project after Steve Mackay's death as band tribute without vocals Recording involves aggressive nine-minute live takes with bass representing lead vocal parts Sessions happen in San Pedro with releases on seven-inch records that fade between sides Songs like TV Eye, 1969, 1970, Fun House only available on limited seven-inch releases Pandemic interrupted recording process, forcing creative remote collaboration between Berlin and San Pedro "We Will Fall" chosen specifically because original had no drums, allowing remote recording Brian Kehew mastered Rhino reissues, revealed original Stooges takes were 12-15 minutes long John Cale edited and faded original lengthy jams into known three-minute song versions Stooges wrote most songs at Chelsea Hotel night before recording first album sessions Band originally performed as wild improvisational psychedelic jam band before structured songs Recording process involved jamming songs for entire tape reel length, then editing down Story reveals Steve Mackay's green saxophone matched his deteriorating health but sounded fantastic Limited to 1,000 copies globally, pushing boundaries furthest of all their tribute releases High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

54 min
Nov 24, 2025Episode 525
RSD with Jen Keenan - Queen B Vinyl Cafe

Jen Keenan reveals how she built a thriving vinyl destination in rural Arizona, Queen B Vinyl Cafe, combining record sales with coffee roasting, ramen, and live music in a 12,000-person town. Topics Include: Jen Keenan owns Queen B Vinyl in Cottonwood, Arizona, a unique multi-business destination spot Record Store Day philosophy focuses on obscure, abstract, and smaller indie bands over mainstream releases RSD features 9am opening, numbered line system, DJs, live bands, and free chair massage Record stores can choose RSD titles but quantities received remain unpredictable surprises Queen B Vinyl spans two buildings with courtyard, housing vinyl, cafe, barbershop, ramen house Coffee roasting happens in-house alongside direct-to-garment printing press and live music stage Cottonwood serves as crossroads for tourists heading to Jerome, Sedona, and Grand Canyon Maynard James Keenan's presence helped amplify area's wine industry from handful to 100 wineries Rural record stores require more advertising and unique inventory unavailable at big box stores Used vinyl comprises 30% of inventory, with curated selection over quantity focus Jen drives five hours to Tucson for quality collections like 80s metal acquisitions After school music programs inspired Jen's punk rock journey from trumpet to cello Band Glitter Wizard emerged from record store workplace, requiring careful schedule coordination Queen B stocks diverse punk releases, carefully avoiding exclusion based on political perspectives Vinyl manufacturing delays from nine-month backlog created significant challenges for store operations Small town stores thrive through exceptional customer service recognizing individual preferences and needs Pandemic surprisingly improved business by bringing new audiences to smaller town locations Falconry hobby involves training hawks with telemetry tracking within one-mile range Jen and Maynard maintain separate vinyl collections despite sharing everything else Tool vinyl represses remain frustratingly delayed, creating bootleg market opportunities Rural record stores serve as essential community spaces beyond commercial transactions High r

1 hr 5 min
Nov 17, 2025Episode 524
Population II - Randy Holden's Enduring Legacy

Guitar pioneer Randy Holden reveals how record label incompetence destroyed his 1970 masterpiece Population II, leading to depression, exile in Hawaii, and eventual vindication through cult status. Get Population II and III at Riding Easy Records or preorder Population II reissue at Noble Records online Topics Include: Randy Holden is surprised Population II remains influential after recording it in 1970 He knew it would be big—there was nothing like it musically then Population II was ready to release with Sun Amplifiers sponsoring monthly magazine ads National promoters wanted to book shows but needed the album released first Hobbit Records delayed release for eight or nine months, destroying Randy's career The label wouldn't release the record or let Randy out of his contract Owner Leonard Poncher's background was Latino music and auto parts wholesaling Randy was creating a new form of music that became known as heavy metal Poncher's lawsuit with MCA distribution completely tied up the album's release Recording Population II went smoothly with Randy overdubbing all bass parts himself He used four to eight amps recording through a Fender Jazz Bass Engineer Hank Cicalo placed three mics at different distances for guitar tone Randy pioneered mixing through car speakers instead of massive studio monitors His original mix had full dynamics with sweeping highs and lows Mastering engineers destroyed the mix, cutting frequencies to prevent needle skips Randy joined Blue Cheer replacing Dickie Peterson but left over musical differences Blue Cheer wanted shorter songs while Randy pursued extended musical compositions He formed Population II with Chris Lockheed on keyboards and organ bass pedals The name meant two people creating massive sound usually requiring four musicians Randy's guitar journey began with Fender IV, then Sons of Adam The Other Half featured Randy's early heavy guitar work before Blue Cheer He recorded Guitar God album i

42 min
Nov 10, 2025Episode 523
Celebrating John Prine w Jack Prine

Jack Prine shares intimate stories about his legendary father John Prine, discusses the new "You Got Gold" movie, the history and state of "Oh Boy Records" and reveals intentions for unreleased recordings from the family archives. Check out screenings of "You Got Gold - A Celebration of John Prine" here Topics Include: Jack Prine discusses "You Got Gold" film celebrating his father John Prine's legacy Film originated through family friend connection at Radical Media, directed by Michael John Warren Documentary captures 2022 Ryman concert series benefiting the Hello In There Foundation Foundation started after John's death in April 2020, helping family navigate grief Jack reflects on balancing family's personal grief with fans' collective loss Film features collaborators like Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams sharing stories and performances Many people know John Prine's songs without realizing he wrote them Movie bridges generations from Dwight Yoakam to Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell Tyler Childers shares quirky story about John keeping Dairy Queen coupon in wallet Jack's legal name is John Patrick Prine; uses Jack to separate identity Growing up in Nashville, didn't have special musicians' kids friend group Jack joined family business at Oh Boy Records after college, learning the ropes Worked in warehouse initially, understanding physical product and distribution fundamentals Oh Boy Records started in 1984 as fiercely independent label maintaining creative control Archives contain decades of unreleased recordings being carefully curated for future releases Lost Dogs deluxe edition recently released with unheard track "Hey, Aw, Nothing" John Prine disliked his debut album cover showing him on hay bale John was technologically simple, kept flip phone until he died, browsed cars on eBay 80th birthday celebration planned for October, possibly in Chicago rather than Nashville Jack's lessons from father: live in the moment and always give to others Extended and High resolution version of this podcast is available at: <a href= "http://www.patreon.com/VinylGuide

32 min
Nov 3, 2025Episode 522
The Soul Purpose of Bootsy Collins

Bootsy Collins shares tales of P-Funk, Praxis, Buckethead and community work, philanthropy and mental health advocacy. Bootsy online  |  Bootsy George Clinton allowed creative freedom and experimentation Most P-Funk classics were created spontaneously "while the tape was running" Both Bootsy and Buckethead must wear their signature headgear while recording Eddie Hazel's solo album used Bootsy's instrumental tracks - George's "superhero" vision Reveals George Duke's "Reach For It" is the funk hit he wishes he was on High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

1 hr 5 min
Oct 27, 2025Episode 521
The Raymond Pettibon Interview

In an extraordinarily rare interview, artist Raymond Pettibon discusses his journey, from early punk rock works to present day artistic themes, technique and rhythms, the Getty archives and more. Topics Include: Raymond Pettibon has been drawing constantly since childhood, "always with a pen in hand" Started with crayons, pastels, pencil - India ink came later as too messy Early influences included Albrecht Dürer, etchings, and comic book art equally Self-taught artist who learned through trial and error, never attended art school Studied economics in college, bringing analytical thinking to his art practice Approaches work as fine art, not commercial art, values creative freedom Rarely takes commissions - the more constraints, the less he likes it Band artwork usually selected from existing drawings rather than commissioned pieces Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown" images came from his "Captive Chains" book Artwork inspired by "Blackboard Jungle" film - students destroying teacher's jazz records Has experience teaching, can identify with teacher-student conflicts from that period Left SST Records in 1985-86 due to oppressive environment Describes certain subjects he returns to repeatedly over the decades Works on multiple drawings simultaneously, some remaining unfinished for years Enters a meditative "fugue state" when drawing or writing Never experiences artist's block - blank paper doesn't intimidate him Believes he can write about any subject with natural fluency Doesn't plan series - they develop organically through returning to themes Sometimes works directly on gallery walls during exhibitions for coherence Used to work all day and night when deeply engaged Dislikes deadlines - they make work harder, not easier for him Sees deadlines as triggering psychological rebellion despite wanting to please collectors Hates when people s

46 min
Oct 20, 2025Episode 520
Toody Cole - The Legacy of Dead Moon

Toody Cole of Dead Moon discusses their vinyl rarities, the DIY ethic of the band, owning a mono cutting lathe, refusing major labels, inspiring a generation of musicians around the world. DeadMoonUSA.com | Zipper LP Reissue | Melbourne 2025 shows Topics Include: Toody Cole rushing to airport to retrieve guitar from Spain before Australian tour November 2025 Melbourne shows - jumping on Jenny Don't and the Spurs tour dates First time in New Zealand described as most fun tour ever - prehistoric landscapes Missed Nirvana tour opportunity due to Fred's rule: never cancel committed gigs Fred restored a 1954 mono cutting lathe from pieces using xeroxed manual Machine had tubes like mason jars that dimmed house lights when powered up First 45 cut on the lathe was "Hey Joe" and "Parchment Farm" The Weeds played Vegas Teen Beat Club in the hullabaloo/shindig TV era Teen Beat Records pressing was probably only 300-500 copies maximum Fred never owned original Weeds single - got it back from younger sister Lollipop Shop nightmare: Fred sold publishing for $1, forced into pink sweater Manager claimed Fred Cole was stage name, real name "Freddy Colletti" - totally false Zipper lived in their house, practiced in basement - "70s butt rock" era Captain Whizeagle store name came from Fred's children's story about Snake Troopers 1970 Yukon homesteading attempt broke down outside Whitehorse, changed everything Dead Moon started after splitting business partnership, opening Tombstone Music in 1986 Kelly Manahan drew logo through dozen iterations - Fred kept demanding "gnarlier!" <li clas

1 hr 21 min
Oct 13, 2025Episode 519
Inside Levitation, Greenway & Reverb Records w/ Harry Portnof

Record nerd Harry Portnof started Greenway Records, revived Reverb Appreciation Society, and now leads Levitation's label operations - today we discuss the elaborate vinyl variants and the clear passion for music the Levitation festival inspires. Topics Include: Harry Portnof runs Greenway Records, Levitation, and Reverberation Appreciation Society labels. Dad blasted southern rock and Allman Brothers at excessive volumes throughout childhood. Discovered dad's CD collection, dove deep into classic rock discographies. Taught himself guitar in high school after getting kicked off tennis team. Found grandmother's records in attic with broken turntable playing in mono. Mesmerized by grooves holding information, felt more futuristic than digital files. Got Project turntable in college, started seriously collecting vinyl records. College dorm had file sharing programs to download everyone's music collections. Became obsessed with seven-inch singles and exclusive B-side hunting on Discogs. Studied accounting, got CPA, worked Manhattan while spending money on records. Brooklyn DIY scene 2010-12: Death by Audio, Glasslands, 285 Kent venues thriving. Third Man Records inspired with collectible releases, impossible to get from New York. Playing in surf rock cover band The Midnight Snacks around Long Island. Started Greenway with friend Joey's pop punk band, 300 hand-screened seven-inches sold. Online forum of ten new labels supporting each other, Greenway only one remaining. Artist Dan Curran created lino cut covers for first thirty Greenway releases. Met LA Witch outside Music Hall, promised European tour records in two months. LA Witch success led to more touring bands wanting Greenway releases. Met Levitation founder Rob Fitzpatrick backstage at Desert Daze festival in California. Pandemic hit, launched Levitation Sessions producing concert films with thirty bands. Suddenly working with dream artists like Ty Segall and The Oh Sees. Levitation started as Austin Psych Fest in 2008, became major three-day festival. <li

1 hr 3 min
Oct 6, 2025Episode 518
Year One of Absolute Elsewhere w/ Blood Incantation

Paul Riedl and Morris Kolontyrsky of Blood Incantation discuss the incredible 1st year of the album "Absolute Elsewhere", how it's transformed their lives and art, the creation of the record, the band's deep interest in vinyl collecting and lots more. Enter to win a signed vinyl copy of "Absolute Elsewhere" by becoming a sponsor at Patreon.com/VinylGuide Topics Include: Absolute Elsewhere transformed their lives: bigger venues, mainstream press, entirely new audiences. Album allows new stage production; band already writing faster than ever before. Now headlining shows in US; Europe tours were always headliners, just smaller. Forbes called it one of most important death metal records in history. Record serves as gateway, exposing listeners to extreme metal and progressive influences. Vinyl LP format is their artistic endpoint; last two albums are side-long tracks. Twenty-minute sides provide perfect breathing room for their narrative-driven compositions and riffs. Maxed out Pro Tools voices at Hansa Studios during Absolute Elsewhere recording sessions. First three records recorded live on analog tape; complete takes, minimal punch-ins. Absolute Elsewhere used hybrid approach: drums on tape, then built digitally with Arthur. Recording live on tape creates collective synergy and tension they want captured. Band uses Oblique Strategies cards; asks "what would Trey, Chuck, or Eno do?" Paul designs all layouts; collects test pressings and creates prototype covers himself. Searching for roughly 200 more records; has specific rare pressings in mind. Weakling's Dead as Dreams LP extremely rare; basement flood destroyed most copies. Double album versus double LP distinction: complementary discs versus interrupted single work. Songs start with riffs that suggest where to go; excitable band keeps moving. Timewave Zero was critical palate cleanser enabling more holistic collaborative approach forward. Tangerine Dream collaboration manifested unexpectedly; Thorsten used vintage Edgar Froese Mellotron samples. Future dreams include Brian Eno, Steve Roach; already have secret collaborations lined up. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyu

1 hr 11 min
Sep 29, 2025Episode 517
Preserving the Westbound Sound

Mastering Engineer Dave Gardner & Audio Archivist Catherine Vericolli discuss the preservation of the Westbound Records audio catalogue, including the masters of legendary recordings by Funkadelic, The Counts, Ohio Players & more. Topics Include: Dave Gardner (mastering engineer) and Catherine Vericoli (archivist) introduce their specialized roles Mastering serves as link between creative process and manufacturing standards Catherine transfers analog tapes to highest possible digital quality preservation Physical restoration work includes extensive mold and splice remediation tasks Much archival work involves "audio archaeology" detective work with clues Working backwards from incomplete information when documentation is missing completely Common assumption that old records were always done "the right way" Reality reveals beloved records often weren't made using proper methods Got rare access to examine entire Westbound Records collection together Westbound Records started late 1960s by distributor Armin Bolodian in Detroit Detroit-based independent label achieved regional success with multiple hit records Funkadelic, Ohio Players, Detroit Emeralds were among their major successful acts Complete catalog reissue approach rather than cherry-picking just popular hits Assets moved between multiple locations over decades, not everything returned Found various generations and copies of tapes for each release Maggot Brain original masters were believed to be permanently missing Discovery of missing masters hidden in completely unmarked white archive boxes Original tape playback speeds rarely match speeds of vinyl releases Spent entire week meticulously fine-tuning correct playback speeds for accuracy Academic ethnomusicologist confirmed musical key was wrong on commercial releases <li class="MsoN

55 min
Sep 8, 2025Episode 516
Punk Cinema with Kevin Smith & Josh Roush

Kevin Smith and Josh Roush discuss punk cinema and share how the DIY ethos of punk rock influenced both their filmmaking careers and their lifelong love of music and vinyl records. September 20 at the Punk Rock Museum - book now! Topics Include: Josh Roush introduces his punk rock film "Wrong Reasons" screening at Punk Rock Museum Film described as dramedy about fan kidnapping singer to clean her up Josh discovered punk through Rancid track in Beavis and Butthead movie Kevin Smith joins, reveals his rebellion was hip hop not punk rock Kevin explains his DIY punk ethos despite loving Run DMC and Public Enemy Jason Reitman told Kevin that "Clerks" is essentially a punk rock song Kevin compares his film career to Anthrax (the band not the disease) Josh wrote "Wrong Reasons" for his love of punk rock Discussion of Punk Rock Museum displays including Lemmy's boots and Germs footage John Hughes soundtracks praised for passionate music curation and detailed planning Kevin reveals his vinyl collection started with father's stolen postal records Heavy Metal Parking Lot documentary celebrated as authentic snapshot of 1980s culture Josh secured soundtrack through Tim Armstrong connections, most artists said yes immediately Licensing music from Black Flag, The Wipers, L7 and more. Kevin shares $400,000 Fleetwood Mac "Tusk" song licensing horror story from film Lindsay Buckingham put "fuck you" price on track, producers paid anyway Vinyl collecting discussed as communal church-like experience for non-religious people Josh rips personal vinyl at high quality for authentic movie soundtrack pops September 20th museum screening includes Q&A, signed posters, and bar party High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: <a href= "https://

42 min
Sep 1, 2025Episode 515
Greg Norton - Hüsker Dü's Miracle Year & more

Hüsker Dü & UltraBomb bassist Greg Norton discusses the Miracle Year of 1985, vinyl rarities, the archive fire, Reflex records, the making of Zen Arcade, the Punk Rock Museum and more See Greg at the Punk Rock Museum Sept 9  |  Preorder "Hüsker Dü - The Miracle Years" here Topics Include: Greg Norton announces September 9th Punk Rock Museum guided tour and performance Norton discusses favorite museum pieces including Joe Strummer's guitar and burned DOA Stratocaster Band's archive mostly intact despite Grant Hart's 2011 house fire destroying materials Norton used to own 7,000 vinyl records but downsized after difficult moves Hüsker Dü formed through Minneapolis record store connections at Melody Lane and Cheapo Band members met when Bob Mould heard Grant Hart blasting Ramones music Northern Lights record store basement became their rehearsal space after hours Twin Tone rejected their demo, leading to self-releasing on Reflex Records Band assembled and sold first singles themselves, no distribution deals initially BREAKING NEWS: Numero Group announces "Hüsker Dü 1985: The Miracle Year" box set Previously unreleased First Avenue live recording from January 1985 finally gets release 1985 was pivotal year with

52 min
Aug 25, 2025Episode 514
Waylon's Lost Tapes - Shooter Continues the Jennings Legacy

Shooter Jennings reveals the story of hundreds of unreleased recordings his father Waylon made between 1974-1984, including stunning covers now being released as "Songbird" - plus more musical stories from the lives of the Jennings family. Order the new "Songbird" LP here. Topics Include: Shooter Jennings discusses upcoming Songbird release featuring his late father Waylon's unfinished recordings Most songs were actually complete with vocals and instruments already recorded professionally Waylon privately recorded after 1974 RCA battle, keeping hundreds of tapes unlabeled Tapes digitized in 2008 but sat untouched until Shooter systematically catalogued everything recently Discovery process was emotional journey revealing Waylon's constant studio experimentation and joy Found treasure trove including Fleetwood Mac's "Songbird" cover and multiple complete albums worth Shooter mixed everything on vintage 1976 analog console maintaining authentic original sound Three planned album releases starting with Songbird, featuring different themes and flavors Tony Joe White plays harmonica, Jessi Colter sings, original band members returned Cataloging required detective work, Googling lyrics, consulting surviving band members for identification Growing up as Waylon's son meant different childhood, touring summers, recognizing fame Family record collection included Beatles, Harry Nilsson, later Waylon bought entire collections Teenage Shooter brought home Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana; parents showed concern but support Waylon's deep friendship with Buddy Holly, plane crash guilt haunted him for years Eventually found closure visiting crash site, could finally look at wreckage photos Parents advised being authentic, not copying others; mother worried about rough crowd Shooter's career shows risk-taking from country to experimental electronic and industrial music Produced diverse artists from Duff McKagan to Marilyn Manson, always seeking creative challenges Early collaboration with father on Fenixon project mixed country with industrial influence

1 hr 8 min
Aug 17, 2025Episode 513
Finally, a Davey Lane Interview

Australian guitarist Davey Lane discusses his new album 'Finally, a Party Record', joining You Am I at 18, meeting Paul McCartney & nerding out on vinyl! Listen to the new album here. Topics Include: Davey Lane discusses his new album "Finally, a Party Record" and the ironic title choice Originally titled "The Great Unraveling" but changed to something more approachable and chipper Despite upbeat title, songs deal with dark subject matter that inspires his songwriting Finding peace with mental state and place in world as he's gotten older Always includes glimmer of optimism even when writing about romantic catastrophes going wrong Makes music as compulsion, not for career goals - realistic about posthumous appreciation Big Star, Nick Drake - artists appreciated later in life Avid record collector who browses sections aimlessly rather than shopping with lists Discovers new bands like Comets on Fire by hearing them playing in record stores Vinyl is primary listening format - meditative experience that keeps him focused and level Thinks about album sequencing early, including crossfades between songs on new record Beatles were gateway drug, fascinated by production techniques on Sgt Pepper's at age seven Met Paul McCartney in 2017 backstage in Melbourne through Jimmy Barnes and Michael Gudinski Took Valium beforehand, talked about McCartney's jacket instead of asking musical questions Started transcribing You Am I songs as teenager, sent tabs to drummer Rusty Got invited on stage at 16 to play with You Am I at all-ages show Returned to high school as local hero after performing with established rock band Tim Rogers called offering solo tour opportunity, left university after two days to tour Officially joined You Am I in 1999 at age 18 after proving compatibility on tour Took years to feel like full band member rather than nervous new guy Learned importance of authenticity over netw

1 hr 7 min
Aug 11, 2025Episode 512
The Collectable Records of Elvis Presley

Lifelong Elvis collector Ian McQuillan discusses the rarest records of Elvis Presley - from Sun Records worth $10,000+, international rarities, even shares insider tips for spotting counterfeits, and explains why young collectors are driving a thriving market for the King's rarest vinyl. Topics Include: Ian McQuillan introduces himself as 55-year Elvis fan since age 2 Scottish parents in New Zealand exposed him to Elvis on record player "Big Hunk of Love" was his first memorable Elvis song obsession RCA distributed Elvis records globally, making them widely available worldwide Elvis market remains strong while other 50s rockabilly artists declined significantly Elvis cornered teenage markets in UK, Australia, New Zealand more than US Parkes, Australia hosts massive annual Elvis festival with 20,000+ attendees Elvis Week celebration started small, now draws 50,000+ fans to Memphis Elvis has bigger catalog depth than any other recording artist Sun Records represent collectible pinnacle - only five official 45/78 releases 78rpm records rarer due to shellac brittleness, 95% destroyed over time Sun 209 "That's All Right" commands $10,000-12,000 in mint condition Sam Phillips used multiple pressing plants, creating interesting variants and rarities Initial Sun pressings probably 20,000-30,000 copies, reaching 200,000 total eventually Early distribution concentrated in American South, spreading through Elvis touring Promotional Sun records exist with distinctive red stamps, worth significant premiums Jack White famously paid $300,000 for unreleased Elvis acetate recording RCA reissues sound much cleaner than original hissy Sun pressings Sam Phillips likely pressed extra inventory after selling Elvis to RCA Counterfeit Sun records identifiable by shiny vinyl, wrong dates, label gaps Pre-army Elvis albums (1954-1960) remain most collectible among LP collectors SPD promotional EPs from first album worth $1,200-4,000 in good condition Australian gold label first album worth $1,500-2,000, extremely hard to find Colored vinyl "Moody Blue" pressings command $2,000-3,000 from collectors</li

1 hr 14 min
Aug 5, 2025Episode 511
Nick Aguilar - Record Collector

Nick Aguilar of Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Slaughterhouse is a vinyl maniac! Today we discuss his collection, his obsession, the rarities and a life of music & record collecting. Topics Include: Nick Aguilar plays drums in multiple bands including Frankie and the Witch Fingers Currently focusing mainly on Frankie due to busy touring schedule ahead Extensive tour dates planned through end of year across US and Europe Considers himself a music fan first, musician second since childhood Dad played tapes during Nick's colic as baby, introducing classic rock Father went to San Pedro High School with future Minutemen members Dad chose commercial fishing over music after graduation in 1976 San Pedro's shipping port culture shaped the local music scene Nick has surpassed his dad's music knowledge over the years Started collecting at age 11 when neighbor gave away record collection First records included Rolling Stones "Some Girls" and Led Zeppelin "Physical Graffiti" Still regrets not taking Buzzcocks "Singles Going Steady" from that collection Casual collecting through school, seriously ramped up after high school graduation Pandemic period 2020-2022 massively accelerated his collecting and cataloging habits Taught himself DJing during lockdown to play records for people Discovered new genres like soul, funk, kraut rock through deep diving Got lucky buying expensive records cheap before current inflated market Focuses on 45s and 12-inches that work well for DJing Extreme organization needed to juggle multiple bands, touring, collecting, DJing Record store strategy: always hit new arrivals section first Holy grail wants include The Litter and James Knight records Uses both Discogs hunting and in-person digging at stores Thrift store finds getting much rarer as market knowledge spreads Appreciates reissue labels like Numero Group for discovering rare music Limited record shopping time while touring due to tight schedules Favorite shops include Breakaway in Austi

1 hr 9 min
Aug 1, 2025Episode 510
Matt Pinfield - Record Collector

Obsessive vinyl collector and radio & MTV legend Matt Pinfield discusses his music collection, holy grails, music industry stories, his recent health scares and sharing stories at the Punk Rock Museum. The Punk Rock Museum info and tickets are here Matt's book "My Insane Improbable Rock Life" is here Topics Include: Matt discusses his post-stroke meal plan after months without solid food Friends like Mike Ness from Social Distortion visited him in hospital Stroke happened at drummer John Tempesta's house, remembers calling EMS Had both stroke and meningeal pneumonia with 85% mortality rate Daughters told he would die, was touch and go situation Lost feeling on right side, still numb but walking with cane Previous near-death experiences: aneurysm at 15, car accident, sobriety struggles Recovery includes acupuncture from former punk drummer and intense physical therapy Currently doing tours at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas Favorite museum artifact is rare Germs concert footage never released Stories of interviewing Iggy Pop who once knocked microphone from hands Hosted Wayne Kramer tribute concert at Sing Sing prison for inmates Getting punk acts on MTV 120 Minutes easier than expected Started in college radio at Rutgers, only 13 alternative stations existed CBGBs regular, Athens Georgia born with B-52s/R.E.M. connections there Kevin Bacon joked there's only two degrees of separation with Matt Neil Young remains his interview "holy grail" Matt is a serious 45 RPM collector Lived in Paul Kantner's old apartment with psychedelic laser showerhead DJed at clubs where James Gandolfini was regular Friends with Don Bolles from Germs, both love 70s glam records Personal rule: must buy something from every record store visited Also supports opening bands by buying their vinyl and t-shirts Postal service recently stole entire box of rare 45s shipment Still searching for holy grail records like Panic Squad 12-inch single

57 min
Jul 28, 2025Episode 509
Gibby Haynes of Butthole Surfers

Gibby Haynes discusses his upcoming EU/UK tour, the completed Butthole Surfers documentary, early punk memories, near-death stage experiences, vinyl reissues and lots more. EU/UK Tour Tickets here Topics Include: Gibby discusses upcoming European & UK tour with Scott Thunes and musical kids Tour dates are limited, zero chance of expansion beyond Europe/UK Scott Thunes was Frank Zappa's former bassist and "clone meister" Gibby confirms he's a Frank Zappa fan, particularly loved "Apostrophe" album Lost interest in Zappa after "Apostrophe" due to scatological humor focus Initial confusion about Scott Thunes - Gibby doesn't know who he is Clarifies he works with Paul Green's School of Rock for 20 years Scott Thunes may be coming on tour, is friend of Paul Green Gibby has no direct connection to Scott Thunes, only knows Paul Green Sometimes tours individually with kids, different kids each time Butthole Surfers once toured Europe with School of Rock as opener Kids' performance quality varies - sometimes really good, sometimes not Gibby lost entire record collection when engineer sold it during tour Collection was 3-4 feet of curated vinyl, mostly punk and hardcore Had valuable Buzzcocks singles collection among other rare records Met record dealer in San Antonio mall who introduced great albums Dealer showed him Devo's first album when it came out Key collection moment was hitchhiking trip to LA in summer 1979 Saw early LA punk shows including Go-Gos opening for Fear LA was only US city where audience spit at bands Witnessed massive amounts of phlegm on Belinda Carlisle during show John Belushi was standing next to him at the Go-Gos show Almost saw the Dickies' "last show" but it was cancelled Dickies are apparently still performing, contrary to expectations Gibby wrote memoir "Me and Mr. Cigar," wants to do sequel Critic

52 min
Jul 22, 2025Episode 508
Forming The Germs - Chris Ashford of What Records

Chris Ashford of What Records? discusses releasing the first LA punk single "Forming" by the Germs, rarities, tapes, memories of Darby Crash and early punk scene stories. Topics Include: Chris Ashford founded What Records? and knew Germs members George (Pat Smear) and Paul (Darby Crash) He worked in record stores through high school and was fascinated by record labels Chris decided to start a label while his friends formed the Germs band He had no formal education about making records, learned from Richard Fuse at Rhino "Forming" was recorded in a garage with two-track deck and two microphones The single had multiple takes but most were erased years ago B-side used cassette recording from Germs' Cheech & Chong "Up in Smoke" audition Master tape for "Forming" is missing, possibly in Canada, but Chris owns rights Cheech & Chong footage shows Germs performing "Sexboy" - same version as B-side They kept the cassette source secret initially to avoid potential lawsuits Lou Adler excluded Germs from movie because audiences wouldn't believe they were real Chris missed the "Up in Smoke" taping because he had to work his day job He financed all What Records releases including "Forming" himself Black rectangle on sleeve was intentionally ambiguous, meant as tongue-in-cheek band photo Address on record was Chris's parents' house where he lived He quickly moved to P.O. Box and removed address to protect his mother First pressing had wrong labels on wrong sides due to Monarch pressing plant error About 1,000 copies were made, most of original pressing was destroyed 600-700 defective records were thrown down hill as frisbees for fun None of them expected anything significant to happen with the record "Forming" was technically the first independent DIY punk single from Los Angeles The record served as legitimizing calling card for the Germs Darby Crash

49 min
Jul 16, 2025Episode 507
Milo Re-Enrolls in College - Descendents Reclaim Their Legacy

Descendents have reclaimed their music catalog with pre-orders of 'Milo Goes To College' starting today - Bill and Milo give us updates on ALL, FLAG, new music and more. Topics Include: "Milo Goes to College" reissue announced for September 19th via Org Music Limited vinyl variants available including special "punk note" Blue Note-style packaging Both band members report good health, Bill has been hitting gym regularly Milo had recent heart attack despite being most athletic member historically Coffee remains firmly on the menu for both musicians despite health focus Band regained rights to their back catalog once held by SST All original SST releases will be reissued including Bonus Fat, Enjoy Master tape ownership involves multiple parties, topic too sensitive to discuss New Alliance originally issued record, later transferred to SST seamlessly South Bay punk scene was tight-knit community with handshake deals Reissues will be exact replicas except for special punk note variants Fat EP might get separate reissue, Ride the Wild included Milo retired from corporate science job in 2016 for full-time music Band played around 90 shows last year, planning 70 this year Bill balances drumming with fewer Blasting Room studio production projects Bill struggles with songwriting perfectionism, has 75 unfinished song ideas Band has 25 new songs recorded, planning 2026 album release deadline Soundcheck covers help "sanitize" big venue stages, played entire Germs album Haven't performed new songs live yet, prefer trashy covers at soundcheck Australia tour likely after new album, great crowds and venues there China tour required submitting all lyrics for government approval beforehand Minister of Culture attended Beijing show, made drummer put shirt back FLAG reunions may be happening more regularly at select festivals All playing Canadian shows with Scott and Chad alternating on vocals Milo stepped in for lost-voice Chad at sold-out New York show

1 hr
Jul 10, 2025Episode 506
Craig Ferguson - Comedian, Actor, TV Host & Music Fanatic

Comedian, Actor, Author Craig Ferguson discusses his early punk days, making music and comedy records, avoiding David Bowie and many musical moments that influenced his path. Topics Include: Discussion begins about Craig's new vinyl release "I'm So Happy" Craig has released most of his comedy specials on vinyl His first album was vinyl in 1986 when that was standard Vinyl became the poor cousin during the CD era Craig's vinyl collection is currently boxed up after moving Used red sleeves for expensive records when kids were young First owned record: Monkees "Headquarters" from uncle James First purchased: Brian Eno "Here Come the Warm Jets" 1976 Son experienced vinyl for first time with Mogwai album Son said he felt "robbed" by digital music quality Modern music feels overproduced and digitally assembled to Craig Artists release music before it's properly developed or ready His first concert: Blue Oyster Cult 1975 Nassau Coliseum Still shops at record stores with tour manager Thomas Prefers tactile experience over buying vinyl records online Has couple of precious singles from his own bands Missed lots of music during blackout drunk years 15-30 Now discovering missed artists like John Cale collaborations Doesn't consider himself musician but thinks like one musically Stand-up comedy has tempos, moods, feels like musical performance Music and comedy both require audience participation for value Paul Weller didn't want interview despite initial tour requests Never invited David Bowie due to being too in awe Never spent time with Iggy Pop except seeing performances Drummed for Nico briefly when young and impaired Last public drumming was disastrous Rock Bottom Remainders performance Billy Connolly's vinyl albums were forbidden contraband as kid Vinyl comedy creates different atmosphere than digital formats Watch "I'm So Happy" on YouTube & <a href="https://craigferguson.merc

1 hr 45 min
Jul 7, 2025Episode 505
Desolë and Reunions: Umlaut's New Album and Mr Bungle Memories

Melbourne band Umlaut discuss their upcoming heartbreak-themed album "Desolë", inspirations and reflections on Mr Bungle memories and performances. Topics Include: Vinyl Guide podcast video episode with Melbourne band Umlaut Band members: Bär McKinnon, Shane, Angus, Danny introduced New album "Desolë" coming out July 25th/21st "Desolë" means "sorry" in French, originally song title Track became album title after Angus suggested it Album themes center around heartbreak and personal material Bär moved toward more earnest songwriting recently Danny wrote some lyrics, band becoming more collaborative Bär describes creative process while driving, cycling melodies Recording these personal songs felt embarrassing for Bär Songs existed for some time before band recorded Bär historically very controlling, now trying to relinquish Most songs originated with Bär, others contributed sections Danny brings different drumming ideas than just copying Peter Jackson Beatles documentary inspired collaborative approach Final track created spontaneously in rehearsal room Bär and Danny worked together 25 years ago Different now because they're actually playing together Previously recorded separately, rarely rehearsed together More open to other ideas and input now "Vinny" track completely transformed from Bär's original demo Band has revolving door history with members Current quartet setup works well for these songs All members play multiple instruments during live shows Mr. Bungle 2024 Melbourne show at Festival Hall happened Only had 12 minutes to work out songs Performed "Travolta" with Danny and Bär rejoining Teased "Carry Stress in the Jaw" then stopped Angus sang backing vocals on Travolta performance Security almost didn't let them on stage Bär wore boiler suit and scarface shirt Extended saxophone solo during the performance Considered doing secret sideshow but di

1 hr 6 min
Jun 30, 2025Episode 500
Ed Colver - The Eye of LA Punk - Crackpot Record Collector

Ed Colver discusses his iconic punk rock photography career, including shooting legendary album covers like Black Flag's "Damaged" and Circle Jerks' "Group Sex," as well as his passion for collecting strange "crackpot records". Topics Include: Ed Colver known for punk photography, also collects strange records Calls his collection "crackpot records" - religious, political, spoken word Started buying records at 14 in 1964, Pretty Things album Always liked heavy underground psychedelic music growing up Collected antiques, spent time at flea markets and thrift stores Would hide good records behind Sean Cassidy albums Put Herb Alpert records in front to fool other collectors Music and art were everything to him growing up Exposed to avant-garde classical in 1967 by art teacher Learned Stockhausen, John Cage, Edgar Varèse, Toru Takamitsu Called electronic music "your grandfather's punk rock" George Antheil's Ballet Mechanique caused riots in 1923 Hated high school, dropped out at 18 for junior college Studied all kinds of applied art classes and woodworking Made skateboard in 1963, year Kennedy was shot Beatles on Ed Sullivan made no impact on him Preferred Pretty Things over Beatles and Rolling Stones Never tried playing instruments, glad didn't buy drum kit Started photography in late 1978 at punk shows Took friend Robert Hill to shows, now works national security Couldn't afford much film, had to be selective Used manual focus with small flash, paid attention constantly Shot rhythm-timed photos, watched for dramatic moments Lost lens in right eye 30 years ago Famous Chuck Berk stage dive photo taken July 1981 Met Chuck next night, never saw him again since Chuck gets paid when photo is licensed commercially Levi's and Vans perfect product placement in photo Circle Jerks "Group Sex" cover shot at Marina skate park Was there specifically to shoot album cover, not spontaneous Used color film, took more than one roll

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Listening context

Casual listening
Best for: commutes, long drives, housework, record shopping, evening listening
Tone: conversational, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, nostalgic

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