Episodes
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George Dionne interviews NOVO COMBO vocalist/bassist STEPHEN DEES and drummer MICHAEL SHRIEVE about their latest album 45 WEST 55TH. Shrieve is also known for his work with SANTANA, and Dees for his work with THE BANDEES.
Highlights include:
- What brought the band back together
- Discussion of their new album
- Re-recording their best and reviving old demos
- Two year journey to get the album completed
- How THE BEATLES inspired the release
- Recording individually now vs. in studio then
- Songwriting dynamics within the group
- Having their old music stolen
- Streaming vs. physical media
- An aside on THE TALKING HEADS
- Chances of NOVO COMBO reuniting live
- Archive live performances
- Story behind 45 WEST 55TH title
- BILL AUCOIN bringing Stephen & Michael together
- Passing on vocalist KIM MILFORD
- Recruiting the rest of the band
- What led to the break up of NOVO COMBO
- Record label BS
- An aside on drummer SINA DOERING
- Michael’s The StickPeople Podcast
- And much, much more
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George Dionne interviews STEEL CITY guitarist MIKE FLOROS and bassist JASON CORNWELL about their latest album REVERENCE.
Highlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- How a solo project became a band
- Jason being brought into the fold
- Recruiting ROY CATHEY (THE FIFTH, COLD SWEAT)
- What inspired the album's title
- Songwriting dynamics
- Stories behind the singles
- Signing with Frontiers Music
- Past labels helping raise their profile
- Recent show at The Whiskey
- Future live performances
- Their other working band LOVE IN CHAINS
- Other music ventures
- 4th album already in the works
- And much, much more!
*Photos by Joe Schaeffer, Jody Wilk, and Jimmy Taaffe
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Missing episodes?
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George Dionne interviews RADIOACTIVE founder and guitarist TOMMY DENANDER about their latest album RESET.
Highlights include:
- How the project formed out of band drama
- TOTO’s involvement in the first album
- Discussion of RESET
- Why a reset in sound was needed
- MUTT LANGE cutting demos but avoids vocal feature
- His relationship with ROBIN MCAULEY (MSG)
- JIM JIDHED (ALIEN) contributing
- DENANDER returning the favor on his solo album
- Newcoming HARRIS DIO ZINDANI
- Joey Vanna (MECCA) making an appearance
- DENANDER’s 1st time singing on his own album
- Trading his services for a new JEFF PARIS album
- Signing with Frontiers Music
- Songwriters taking a backseat to the performers
- Enjoying being the guy in the background
- Working with ALICE COOPER for over a decade
- RADIOACTIVE documentary
- Comparisons to Fredrik Salma’s AOR project
- Other artists and projects he’s working on
- His thoughts on the upcoming GIANT album
- Working debut solo album by STEFAN BLOMQVIST (BLACK PAISLEY)
- And much, much more!
*Photo by Marty Punch
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George Dionne interviews DAYTONA vocalist FREDRIK WERNER about their debut album GARDER LA FLAMME.
Highlights include:
- How the band formed
- Discussion of the new album
- Influences from the '70s & '80s
- writing & arranging with guitarist ERIK HEIKNE (MISS BEHAVIOR)
- Surprising response to their first two singles
- Big video production for "Slave To The Rhythm"
- Story behind the album cover
- Signing with Escape Music
- Live show opportunities
- Summer shows with his band AIR RAID
- New music with AIR RAID?
- 15 year anniversary of his band OKUSARU
- Possibility of a FREDRIK WERNER solo album
- Settling on the band name DAYTONA
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews BLIND EGO founder KALLE WALLNER about their latest album THE HUNTING PARTY.
Highlights include:
- How the project came to be
- Discussion of the new album
- Collaborating with outside lyricist DOMINIK FEINER
- Lyrics coming before music
- Freedom to take chances outside of a band setting
- Recruiting vocalist KEVIN KEARNS (CYANT)
- Releasing to longest song as the first single
- Upcoming tour of Germany & the Netherlands
- How their last tour was cut short
- Their 2017 "Storm Concert" at Night of the Prog Festival
- His recent tour as a member of RPWL
- The group's upcoming 20th anniversary plans
- Writing & producing with other acts
- Origins of the project name
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews Glam Rock newcomer BOBBIE DAZZLE about her debut album FANDABIDOZI.
Highlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- Being to young to catch the 1st wave of Glam Rock
- Main influence SWEET
- BOBBIE DAZZLE project born out of tragedy
- Music as therapy
- Story behind the album's title
- Recording in a traditional studio
- Stories behind the singles
- "Lightening Fantasy" taken from father's childhood lyrics
- The trippy 70s style video for "Merry Go Round"
- Incorporating the flute into her music
- Surprising response to first singles
- Co-writing with Dean Ashton (DIAMOND HEAD)
- Signing with Rise Above Records
- Selling out of vinyl editions
- Upcoming UK Tour
- Saying farewell to previous band ALUNAH
- Catsuits & Glam
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews LOVE IN REVERSE frontman MICHAEL FERENTINO about their latest album AMYGDALA. Ferentino is also the frontman for BEDTIME FOR ROBOTS, CORDUROY POO-POO, TRANFUSION M, and is featured on other projects.
Highlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- Story behind its title
- Why AMYGDALA was not originally in the cards
- Stories behind the music
- Origins of the band's name
- Society becoming a big reality show
- Group think tearing the World apart
- The retro album cover
- Their LOST & FOUND compilation
- Leaving Warner Brothers Records in 1998-1999
- Working with producer Russ Titleman
- His BEDTIME FOR ROBOTS project
- New CORDUROY POO-POO compilation
- His latest release as TRANSFUSION M
- Collaborating with A FAIL ASSOCIATION
- CONCRETE PLATFORM SHOES solo album
- Stepping back from live performing
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews VERTICAL HORIZON frontman MATT SCANNELL about the 25th anniversary release of EVERYTHING YOU WANT.
"Military shows are the most meaningful things we do...we get to support the people that take care of us."
Highlights include:
- Revisiting EVERYTHING YOU WANT (1999)
- Signing with RCA
- Stories behind the singles
- The muse behind "Everything You Want"
- Local radio embracing "We Are"
- "You're a God" appearing in BRUCE ALMIGHTY (2003)
- Adding "Give You Back" to the set at the suggestion of RICHARD MARX
- Recent tour with GIN BLOSSOMS & TOAD THE WET SPROCKET
- Joining the Summer of '99 Tour with CREED in California
- Upcoming 25th anniversary headlining shows
- Working with the Gary Sinise Foundation to entertain the troops
- Two new studio albums in the works
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews SWEET guitarist ANDY SCOTT about their latest and final studio album FULL CIRCLE.
Highlights include:
- The evolution of the band’s sound
- Discussion of the new album
- Starting the writing in 2019
- Shifting gears to record Isolation Boulevard (2020)
- Andy’s fight with Stage 4 cancer
- Avoiding after show get togethers
- His love of fly fishing
- The farewell tour
- Why FULL CIRCLE is their last album
- Songs he wrote for the album
- Their recent performance at Wacken 2024
- SWEET continuing on without him?
- And much, much more
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George Dionne interviews OTIS frontman BOONE FROGGETT about the history of the band and their latest single “Last Fool In The Line”.
Highlights include:
- Formation of the band in 2013
- Releasing a tribute to JOHN BRIM as 1st album
- Producer GREG MARTIN (KENTUCKY HEAD HUNTERS)
- Catching the ear of BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ TOP)
- Boone’s ties to BLACK STONE CHERRY
- Signing with Cleopatra Records for EYES OF THE SUN (2017)
- Working with the late PAUL NELSON (JOHNNY WINTER)
- Appearing on the STREET SURVIVORS soundtrack
- Touring the UK for the 1st time
- Discussion of new single “Last Fool In The Line”
- Surviving thyroid cancer
- Touring as crew for the KENTUCKY HEAD HUNTERS
- The next full-length album
- Working with producer KEVIN MCKENDREE
- The origins of the band’s name
- And much, much more!
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George Dionne interviews CACTUS drummer CARMINE APPICE about their latest album TEMPLE OF THE BLUES - INFLUENCES AND FRIENDS.
“[CACTUS] was supposed to be JEFF BECK, ROD STEWART, ME, and TIM [BOGART].”
Highlights include:
- The formation of CACTUS is 1970
- How/why CACTUS became an all-star project
- Discussion of the new album
- Recruiting the guest musicians
- Having to adjust his recording style
- Deciding on who plays on what
- Being surprised by who was influenced by CACTUS
- Eddie Van Halen’s “Eruption” born from a CACTUS song
- Why two versions of “Guiltless Glider”
- Who passed on appearing on the new album
- Debuting on the Billboard Blues Chart at #3
- Working with an AI version of folk vocalist Melanie (Safka)
- The parallels between this album and his Guitar Zeus (1995) series
- Vinyl release of CACTUS - THE BIRTH OF CACTUS 1970
- His thoughts on the 2023 Royal Albert Hall tribute to JEFF BECK
- KING KOBRA’s 2023 album WE ARE WARRIORS
- No money in writing new music
- His live Rod Stewart Tribute show with ROB CAUDILL
- Touring with CACTUS & VANILLA FUDGE
- 2023’s BECK, BOGART, & APPICE - Live 1973 & 1974
- And much, much more! -
George Dionne interviews solo artist MADISON GALLOWAY about her latest self-titled album.
Hightlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- How the album developed from a couple of singles
- Stories behind some of the songs
- Collaborating with other songwriters
- How her cover of "White Rabbit" (JEFFERSON AIRPLANCE) came to be
- Recording in multiple studios
- Crowdfunding the album and U.K. Tour
- Creative side of music vs. the business side
- Reward for fans helping to fund the U.K. Tour
- Her Mad Cats fan club
- Performances after she returns from the U.K.
- How Purple Bee Records came to be
-And much, much more!
*Photo credit Dan Fisher -
George Dionne interviews HER HEAD'S ON FIRE guitarist JEFF DEAN about their latest album STRANGE DESIRES.
Highlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- How the project originally formed
- How the band has progressed since their debut
- Songwriting dynamics within the group
- Stories behind the singles
- Their tribute to GARED O'DONNELL (PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS)
- Working with co-producer JASON NARDUCY (SUPERCHUNCK)
- Signing with Iodine Records
- Collecting vinyl
- Recent tours of the U.S. & U.K.
- Working with bands HEAVY SEAS & DEEP TUNNEL PROJECT
- Origins of the band's name
- And much, much more!
*Photo by Nathaniel Shannon -
George Dionne interviews COLLECTIVE SOUL bassist WILL TURPIN about their latest album HERE TO ETERNITY.
Highlights include:
- Discussion of the new album
- Recording at ELVIS’ Palm Spring House
- Songwriting dynamics within the group
- Stories behind the singles
- Special guests MICKEY THOMAS (JEFFERSON STARSHIP), PETER STROUD (CHERYL CROW) and BRAIN RAY (PAUL MCCARTNEY)
- Touring with HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH
- Playing arenas & ball fields
- Band longevity
-Opening for VAN HALEN 30 years ago
-Performing at WOODSTOCK ‘94 & ‘99
-Turpin’s REEL TO REEL recording studio
-Musicians in the family
-A follow up to his solo album SERENGETI DRIVERS (2018)
-Looking at the next COLLECTIVE SOUL album
-And much, much more!
*Photos by Lee Clower -
George Dionne interviews Norwegian vocalist ISSA about her latest album ANOTHER WORLD. ISSA also discusses the advantages to writing and recording in-house, working with collaborators JAMES MARTIN & TOM MARTIN (Martin Brothers Productions), how the songwriting process develops between the group, the stories behind the singles, how the video for “Armed & Dangerous” came together, paying homage to 80s movie soundtracks, album artwork, why ISSA preforms live very rarely, her work on the 2023 NITRATE album FEEL THE HEAT, how she met her husband JAMES MARTIN, whether their are plans to make album releases completely in-house, and much, much more.
*Photos by James Martin -
George Dionne interviews guitarist DAN LORENZO of PATRIARCHS IN BLACK about their latest album VISIONING. Lorenzo also discusses how he formed the project with JOHNNY KELLY (TYPE O NEGATIVE) & guest vocalists, releasing a new album each year since their formation, stories behind the singles, working on DARRYL “DMC” MCDANIELS’ upcoming solo album, signing with Metalville Records, guest singers and bassists he couldn’t secure, the conclusion of his band CASSIUS KING, working on new music with VESSEL OF LIGHT, his 1982-2011 band HADES, opening for TWISTED SISTER in the early ‘80s, brushes with members of KISS, and much, much more.
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George Dionne interviews COREY & ANDI SCHENCK of PANGAEA about their latest album BEOWULF. The duo also discusses the stories behind the singles, reuniting after 15 years, working with longtime producer ROBERT BERRY (SIX BY SIX), why the album is not available for streaming, side projects each have done with Berry, album cover artist RAINDER KALWITZ, leftovers from their writing & recording sessions, their 2 hour performance at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, future live show plans, re-releasing their back catalog, the fate of their unreleased 2003 album THE RECKONING, recording at PETER & DAN AYKROYD’s house, the origins of the band name, and much, much more.
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George Dionne interviews guitarist JEFF KOLLMAN about his latest album 2023 A.D. Kollman discusses how the album links to guitar legend JEFF BECK, the stories behind the singles, the appearance of CHAD SMITH (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), whether he and Chad will reunite in the BOMBASTIC MEATBATS, his axe of choice when recording the album, his COSMOSQUAD side project, why he missed out on JOE SATRINANI’s 2018 G3 tour, and how often he gets to perform his solo material live.
Kollman also discusses getting his gig with ALAN PARSONS via DAVID PACK (AMBROSIA), splitting his touring this year with Parsons, LOU GRAMM, and JOHN PAYNE’S ASIA, his work on the 1999 MOGG/WAY release Chocolate Box, getting offers to join UFO, NIGHT RANGER, JOHN MAYER, and others, his other studio based projects, and much, much more.
*Photos by John Payne Photography and Alex Solca -
George Dionne interviews bassist MIKE GORMAN of the band THE OUTFIT about their latest album GO. Gorman also discusses the formation of the group, writing albums with their vocalist across the country, working with multi-platinum producer ULRICH WILD (PANTERA, DEFTONES), signing with Pavement Entertainment, the band’s touring prospects for 2024, Mike’s late ‘70s project PEZBAND, an upcoming retrospective release by the group, his other music ventures, the origins of the band name, and much, much more.
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George Dionne interviews Rock violinist NINA DIGREGORIO about her latest viral video of her performing EDDIE VAN HALEN’s ERUPTION. DiGregorio also discusses the preparation that went into pulling off the composition and video, the positive and negative responses she’s received about it, how she first got into playing Rock covers on the violin, her FEMMES OF ROCK live performance group, her future plans to ‘go solo’, her admiration for the Buffalo Bills, and much, much more.
*Photo by Patrick Rivera Photography & Videography - Show more
