Big Al's Rockin' Podcast

In this episode I talk to Canadian author Tim Durling about his latest book "On Record: The April Wine Album Review," which is his seventh book and his first focused on a Canadian band. Tim explained that the inspiration came from wanting to cover a band from his home region of the Canadian maritime provinces, as April Wine is one of the few Canadian bands from that region to achieve worldwide success. I also went off-topic and asked his advice about writing books as an indie author.

Jonathan Joseph from the Pittsburg band "Guides" joins me on this episode to discuss their new single "Drain," which is their first new music release since 2023. The song represents an elevation in production value and sonic quality compared to their debut EP "When Everything Reverses." He explained that the song was inspired by personal experiences about emotional growth and maturity, particularly observing how not everyone chooses to grow up at the same rate, which impacts relationships and causes people to grow apart. Jonathan described Guides' musical style as blending the textured aggression of nu metal with the emotional depth of post-hardcore, similar to bands like Taproot, Finch, and AFI, with the bass carrying much of the melodic structure. The band plans to release another single called "Failure Defines" on June 17th and have a third single coming out in July, with plans to return to the studio in the fall.

In this episode I spoke with Pat Gilbert, author of the book "Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash." We discussed the revised 50th anniversary edition of the essential biography about the influential British punk band. Pat explained how the book began as a series of articles for Mojo Magazine in the late 1990s after he gained access to band members, and was eventually published in 2004 following Joe Strummer's death in 2002. The revised edition includes expanded chapters on the White Riot tour, New York recording sessions, and Jamaica, with additional interviews and corrections to chronology. Pat discussed how The Clash evolved from punk roots to more experimental genres, attributing this shift primarily to guitarist Mick Jones' desire to create musically sophisticated work, particularly incorporating reggae influences into their rock music.

Author Daniel Bukszpan joins the show again. This time he's here to discuss his new book "Rush and 2112: 50 Years," which explores the influential 1976 album and its impact on the band's career. Daniel explained how the book's three sections cover the album's creation, musical analysis, and aftermath, while also revealing new insights about Mercury Records' supportive role during the album's development. The discussion included Daniel's writing process, his other published works with Quarto, and his upcoming projects including a book about the Big Four metal bands.

In this episode, Martin and I discussed his latest book, "KISS 1976: 12 Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land," which will be released on February 24th. Martin explained the book's structure, which covers each month of 1976 with sections on KISS' activities, world events, and music industry happenings. He described the research process and challenges he faced while writing the book. Martin also shared insights into his writing process and mentioned some of his other recent publications.

In this episode talk with I Jeff and Kyle from "A Light Within" about their recent single "Dying Clock," a 9-minute track inspired by Tool, Pink Floyd, and Alan Parsons. The band members discussed their approach to music creation, noting that while COVID-19 was challenging, it allowed them time to write new material. Jeff mentioned working on ideas for a 2026 album release. We also discussed their musical journey, starting with their first EP "Preface" in 2013, which they later remixed and remastered.

In this episode, Michael Jahnz discussed the upcoming Richrath Project REO tribute show in Evansville on January 16th, which will feature three bands including Johnny Cash and Ozzy Osbourne tributes. Jahnz explained his history with Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon, including their work together in the Richrath Band and Project 3:13, and how 3:13 became a significant symbol for their fans. The discussion covered the current state of REO Speedwagon following Kevin Cronin's departure, the band's evolving fan base across generations, and their commitment to performing authentic rock music.

Joe Smith, owner of Joe's Records, shared his extensive career journey in the music retail industry, from his early days managing Coconuts Music Store to opening his own record shop in 2004. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of running an independent record store, including the impact of digital downloads, the revival of vinyl, and the role of online sales. Joe also highlighted the importance of building relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as adapting to changing market trends. The conversation touched on various topics such as pricing strategies, the impact of tariffs on imports, and the challenges of managing a business in the music industry.

Tim Durling returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "The Sound That Haunts You: A Beginner's Companion to Fleetwood Mac" which explores the band's different eras and lineup changes through detailed coverage of their albums and discography. He shares insights about his writing process, challenges in organizing the band's early recordings, and his personal preferences for various Fleetwood Mac eras, while also discussing his appreciation for the band's cover versions. Tim also provided information about his other music-related books and projects.

Veteran rock author Gillian Gaar returns to the podcast to talk about her book "Tom Petty: The Life & Music," which covers Petty's life and career, from his birth to after his death, including his breakthrough with "Damn the Torpedoes" and the unsolved arson attack on his house. The book concludes with Petty's posthumous success, including a song featured in a popular video game that gained renewed popularity. She also briefly discusses the differences between approaching her publisher to pitch a book idea, in this instance the Queen book we discussed in a previous episode, and being asked to write this book.

In this episode, Christian Shields shared details about his new single "Fall Like Rain" and his musical journey, including discussions about his full-length rock album "This Is Rock and Roll." Christian also discuss3eed his focus on releasing singles rather than albums, upcoming projects, and technical challenges encountered during tours, while also providing information about where fans can find his music online. (Apologies for my audio. I forgot to bring my headset mic with me.)

In this episode I chatted with Adam DeGraide about his partnership with Dameon Aranda called "A.D.A.M. Music Project" and their newest single "They Are Here." It is a song inspired by iconic alien-themed video games like Half-Life and Halo. We also discussed the upcoming album "Knockdown," which features a blend of rock styles and includes songs inspired by video games like "Pitfall," "Mega Man," and "Galaga." Adam also explained the collaboration with his Damien and highlighted the involvement of various vocalists and musicians in the project.

In this episode I spoke with Owen Paulls, a former musician from England who transitioned to tattooing after years of touring as a drummer. Owen shares his journey from music to tattooing, discussing his apprenticeship, artistic style, and experiences winning awards at tattoo shows, while also offering advice for both tattoo clients and aspiring artists.

In this episode, we discussed Daniel's book "Iron Maiden at 50," which chronicles the band's history through various sections covering their early years to present day, including details about their lineup changes, visual branding, and cultural impact. Daniel shared insights about the book's creation process, including his approach to writing the text and the publisher's handling of visual elements, while also discussing the band's evolution from niche to mainstream popularity and their strong connection with fans. The conversation concluded with Daniel reflecting on his other writing projects and his positive experience working with Quarto Publishing, which has resulted in his books being widely available through various retailers.

In this episode, I spoke with Stevie Peavey about creating music videos, mainly focusing on his recent release of Deuce by KISS. Stevie gives a brief explanation of the process for animating action figures and synchronizing lyrics. He also spoke about his experience creating music videos for various bands while discussing his transition from working in the toy industry to becoming a music video director. You can find Stevie Peavey Films on YouTube and Instagram.

Scott and Greg from the band Horace Pinker discussed their new album "Now and the Future," their first full-length release since 2011, which reflects a more positive and forward-looking message compared to their previous work. They also discuss the band's history. Greg shared his experiences touring with the band in Europe, including a memorable performance at the Grosrock festival in Belgium. They also mentioned sharing the stage with various notable bands and attending festivals in different countries. Finally, they discussed their upcoming tour dates, including a performance at the Fest in Gainesville, Florida.

Tim Durling discussed his book "Unspooled" about 8-track tapes, which explores the format's history and collecting culture while combining personal biography with music collecting. The book's creation was inspired by a conversation with recent podcast guest Martin Popoff, who wrote the foreword, and was completed through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021. Tim shared his extensive 8-track collection and experiences as a collector, while also discussing the format's history and popularity, including its continued production beyond the 1980s. Additionally, he promoted his other books, which focus on specific bands and artists.

Trevor discussed his songwriting process, including how "Sunshine" emerged from an instrumental riff, and his collaboration with INXS bassists Gary Beers and Tea Party guitarist Jeff Martin on lead guitar on the song. He expressed interest in working with other musicians like Gilby Clark and Mike Kruger in the future. Trevor also shared his experiences working with Randy and Tal Bachman and mentioned his upcoming projects with Gary, which will be more collaborative and harder rock in style.

Martin and I discussed Martin's book "Guns N' Roses at 40," which covers 40 career highlights of the band in a chronological format. We also explored Martin's extensive writing process and experience authoring over 135 books, including his work on band biographies and historical accounts. The conversation concluded with discussions about Martin's upcoming book releases and their availability through various retailers.

This week I spoke to author Sean Egan about his new book "Bruce Springsteen and Born to Run: 50 Years," which explores the making and impact of the landmark 1975 album on its 50th anniversary. The book, published by Motorbooks, provides context about Bruce Springsteen's career and the challenging recording process that resulted in what many consider "the greatest record ever made." Sean discussed how Springsteen's songwriting style evolved for the album and the significant challenges faced during recording, including personnel changes and the artist's perfectionism.

Diego Sagredo, guitarist from the Chilean rock band Consequence of Energy, joins me this week to promote their debut single "Freedom" and upcoming album "We Are One." The band's new conceptual album, produced by Gard Richardson, blends hard rock with ancestral sounds and features 12 tracks including "Freedom," set for release in January 2026. The band shared their touring plans for South American festivals and potential tours in Europe and the United States, along with details about a special animated vinyl edition of the album with U.S. distribution.

In this conversation, Walter discussed the Headless album "Transitional Objects" released on August 29, 2025, on the M-Theory Audio label. He described it as a 37-minute, 8-track album with meticulous production and a dystopian perspective, inspired by personal experiences and events like 9/11 and the loss of a close friend. Walter highlighted specific songs, such as "Weightless," inspired by the birth of his son, and "Losing Power," reflecting on 9/11, emphasizing the album's diverse inspirations and emotional depth. Walter also discussed the history of the band.

In this interview, Derek Shulman discussed his life journey from his Scottish upbringing to becoming a successful musician and later music industry executive. He shared his experiences with various bands, including Simon Dupree and the Big Sound and Gentle Giant, and detailed his transition from performing to working in A&R at Polygram Records. Derek reflected on the evolution of the music industry and advised emerging artists to focus on authenticity rather than fame, while also mentioning his upcoming book "Giant Steps" which explores these themes and the future of music.

This week I had a chat with Francois and Junior from the Canadian hard rock band Atomik Train, who discussed their band's origins, current activities, and upcoming debut album release. The guys shared details about their album launch plans, including physical and digital releases, limited edition merchandise, and upcoming tour dates across Canada and the US.

In this episode I talk with veteran bassist Matt Bissonette, known for his work with legendary acts such as Elton John, Ringo Starr, and Rick Springfield. We discussed the formation and evolution of his band, The Squirts, including their musical influences, songwriting process, and recent album release. They touched on technical aspects of music production, such as digital audio workstations, and explored the thematic content, highlighting their lighthearted approach and influences, of the band's latest album. The conversation also covered future plans for touring, vinyl releases, and where fans can find The Squirts' music online.

In this conversation, Chandler, a member of the Foreigner tribute band Double Vision, discusses their new album of original material, which was released on July 11th. The band's journey into original music was driven by their goal to establish Double Vision as a benchmark for tribute bands, with half of the album co-written by a Swedish songwriter. Chandler explains their approach to balancing tribute shows with original work, discusses the challenges of competing with the original band Foreigner, and shares insights about their performance style and online presence.

Black Note Graffiti's Kris Keller discussed the band's history, their latest album "Resist the Divide," and musical influences in this conversation. The album's theme revolves around life's struggles and the importance of resilience, drawing from the band members' personal experiences. Kris also shared details about their upcoming performance at the MileOfMusic.com Festival and hinted at future shows to be announced on their website.

Musician and songwriter Rachel Lipsky and I discussed her experiences with Armed Forces Entertainment tours and discussed her career in the music industry, including her songwriting process, challenges as an independent artist, and musical influences. She highlighted her work with the Charlie and Hazel Daniel Veterans and Family Center at MTSU and discussed upcoming music releases and dream collaborations.

This week I speak with author and editor Gary Graff about his recently released book "501 Essential Albums of the '80s." We discuss the process for creating this book, along with "501 Essential Albums of the '90s," including the challenges of selecting albums and organizing the content. The conversation also covers Gary's career as a music journalist.

Here's an apology and a quick update about why I've been absent lately.

Selena discussed her book about Alanis Morissette's groundbreaking album "Jagged Little Pill," which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. She explored the album's creation, Alanis' background as a pop and child star, and the album's massive success with 33 million copies sold worldwide. Selena revealed that she was surprised by Alanis's love for the movie Grease and her experiences and challenges as a child star, which she believes influenced her later work. We also briefly discussed the challenges faced by other child stars like Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes.

In this episode I talked with Aaron Camaro about CHW Pro Wrestling and his career in the wrestling entertainment industry, including his experiences as a ring announcer, commentator, and writer. We explored the art of professional wrestling, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, character development, and engaging narratives in creating successful wrestling events. Aaron shared insights into his writing process, challenges faced in producing wrestling shows, and the growth of CHW Pro Wrestling. Aaron talks about a couple great wrestling storylines as well as talking about one that didn't have the anticipated the impact. The episode concludes with an announcement of an upcoming CHW event.

My concert buddy Bryan Harris and I discuss our recent trip to Beaver Dam, Kentucky, to see The Gene Simmons Band with openers The Iron Maidens. We also shared our thoughts on the venue (Beaver Dam Amphitheater), each band's set list, as well as Gene's music career and merchandise sales.

While at Nashville ROCKNPOD 2025, I took a few minutes and spoke with Alan Rueda of Stone Whiskey. He spoke a little about their second album "Scream for Rock," music videos on their YouTube page, musical influences, their upcoming show in June at the "Leather and Lace Festival" in Sparta, NC, and a potential 2026 event.

This week I had a chat with Nate "Bushy" Atchison from "The Plug Podcast" about our experiences at the recent ROCKNPOD Expo in Nashville. Bushy praised the event's organizer, Tracy McAndrew, for her successful first time in charge, while I praised the Christine Perry, who continues to do excellent work organizing the volunteers who work behind the scenes to keep things running seamlessly. We also discussed our podcasting and radio DJ activities, highlighting our passion for music and broadcasting. Bushy expressed surprise and delight at meeting Tiffany, a celebrity he had admired since his teenage years. He also mentioned that Tiffany was there to sell her clothing brand, Radical Reds, and was very friendly and accommodating.

I spoke briefly with comedienne Courtney Cronin at the recent RockNPod Expo in Nashville, TN. We talked a little about one of my TikTok videos gaining 23,000 views while the next one only received a few. Courtney shares about her dog, Rainey, while I talked about my dog, Buddy, and the challenges of dog-proofing my home. Courtney discussed some upcoming LA shows as well as the upcoming Mountain Music Festival. The conversation touches on my dad jokes on TikTok and Courtney's preference for writing over performing. We close out the conversation humorously discussing microphone covers and promotional items from past events.

Kevin Minnis, founder of Menace Guitars, shared his journey into guitar building, discussing his influences, techniques, and personal experiences. He emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and encouraged others to pursue their passions in instrument crafting. The conversation concluded with plans for Kevin to lend Allen a prototype bass guitar and give him feedback as a musician.

Jaymi Millard, from the band Applehead, joins me in this episode to discuss the band's history, genre, and recent activities. We talked about Applehead's album releases, upcoming projects, and live performances, including a new song licensed for the Hot Wheels fan film "Hot Wheels AcceleRacers: The Fog Realm" and plans for future shows. Our conversation also covers Jaymi's various musical collaborations and his impressive collection of pink bass guitars.

Author Gillian G. Gaar discussed her book "Queen and A Night at the Opera: 50 Years," detailing her research process and the book's structure, which explores the band's creative peak and rise to stardom. She also touched on other Queen-related projects, including an updated version of a previous book and her experience attending a Queen concert with Adam Lambert. Additionally, Gillian mentioned her other works, including books on Elvis Presley, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and Nirvana, and shared information about her current project on Tom Petty, which is expected to be released later this year.

MEGG, a musician with a background in musical theater and pop punk, shared her journey from studying at USC's Thornton School of Music to appearing on "The Voice" and recently moving to Nashville. She discussed her musical influences, style, and experiences in the industry, including her upcoming performances on the "Vans Warped Tour" and the release of her new single "The End." MEGG also shared her plans for future projects and recommended several female artists for Allen's radio show.

Stuart Corden from the Nottingham UK band Blitz discusses their new album 'Kicking Up A Storm' and the sound of the band. They aim to bring back the music that inspired them to play instruments. The album combines classic rock with modern twists and influences. Stuart describes the themes and songs on the album, including a tribute to a friend through music. The band plans to tour in the UK and hopes to expand to Europe and the United States. They are working on a new project to elevate their music further. Stuart highlights the importance of having a supportive team and mentions their social media presence on Facebook for fans to connect and access their music and merchandise.

Kenny Wilkerson is the bassist for Nova Rex, a kick ass rock band that formed in the mid 80s. In this episode we discuss the band's new documentary AIN'T EASY STAYING CHEESY, the follow up to the first documentary AIN'T EASY BEING CHEESY. We also discuss Kenny's cookbook ROCKIN' RECIPES FOR AUTISM, which is an excellent collection of recipes from rockers and others in the music industry. As a bonus, Kenny gives me his unsolicited thoughts on artificial intelligence and musicians turning themselves into avatars. Visit http://www.novarexrocks.com/ for more information about the band.

Anthony White is the singer and songwriter for the band Generation Landslide. In this episode we discuss how the band got its name. We also discuss their most recent album RULING THE STREET SCENE. You can find more about them here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Generation-Landslide/100076124659223/

Jennifer Benson is the singer and songwriter for the Chicago, Illinois band Ignescent. On this episode we discuss their debut album FIGHT IN ME, coming out on November 10, 2023. We talk about the inspiration for the album title along with stories behind some of the song on this album. You can find more information about their album, tour information, and merch by visiting https://ignescentmusic.com/.

Jean Beauvoir is a Haitian-American singer, bassist, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and entertainment executive. He came to prominence in the early 1980s with the punk group the Plasmatics and went on to work with Little Steven, Kiss, the Ramones, and as a solo artist. On this debut episode we will be discussing his 2022 book "Bet My Soul on Rock 'n' Roll: Diary of a Black Punk Icon" along with his recording of "Who Want's To Be Lonely" for the Maria Love Convalescent Fund, and some of the music he wrote and/or produced for other artists.