I Love Rock & Roll Podcast

Bryn and Alex from rock band Bang Camaro join Ken and guest co-host Mike Sicoli to talk about forming in Boston in 2005 as kind of a goof but quickly grabbing national attention, playing legendary venues, having ten lead singers, and how a call from someone representing James Gunn landed their music in the hit show "Peacemaker" and paved the way for their first new music in over a decade!

"Jobriath AD" director and unofficial third co-host Kieran Turner drops in to tell the story of Latina powerhouse singer, Irene Cara. Why did a singer/actress with an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe disappear as quickly as she arrived on the scene? How did she score a "Best New Artist" nom at the Grammys despite not having an album out? Did her label hold her back, or was she difficult to work with...

Drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Kings of Chaos) joins Ken and guest co-host Don Jamieson (That Metal Show) to talk about his amazing new book, "Double Talkin' Jive", the hilarious text exchange when Lemmy asked him to do a tour with Motorhead. why Axl sometimes had to delay GNR shows for hours, getting Iggy Pop to recite lyrics on an answering machine for Billie Joe A...

Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe return to promote their amazing 12 Drummers Drumming auction and are joined by Shannon Larkin (Godsmack), Billy Amendola, Alvin Taylor, Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big), Larry Broughton (former Green Beret) to talk about the healing power of music, why it's impossible to have a great band with a bad drummer, and how when Rick Allen throws up the Bat Signal, everyone a...

J&R Music World (1971-2014) owner Rachelle Friedman makes her ILRR debut to discuss owning and operating a NYC institution for the better part of five decades. How did a five hundred square foot electronic store that was only supposed to help pay some extra bills turn into a three hundred thousand square foot compound that took up an entire city block? What made Joe Walsh's in-store performance so...

Toadies and Bowling for Soup frontmen Vaden Lewis and Jaret Reddick join Ken and Chip for their 100th episode. The four discuss the magic behind The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, their love of Willie Nelson, their respect of Townes Van Zandt, Kanye, The Jerky Boys, the vulnerability of putting down the guitar and just singing, Diff'rent Strokes, and much much more!

Ghost Hounds bassist Bennett Miller returns to talk about the extraordinary life of The Rolling Stones bass player, Darryl Jones. How did playing with Miles Davis help secure him a job with the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band? Why, after thirty years, isn't he a full-fledged member? What exactly is a pocket and the art of weaving? Bennett breaks it all down for us! Give it a listen!

Drummer Alvin Taylor makes his ILRR debut to talk about joining Little Richard's band at the age of thirteen, being the opening act for Elvis in Vegas and meeting kings, queens and presidents, recording with George Harrison and Stevie Wonder, and having Ronnie Wood name an album after him. Alvin has led an amazing life and stayed humble through it all! These stories are not to be missed!

Comedian Bonnie McFarlane joins Chip and Ken to talk about the turbulent life and career of Sinead O'Connor. Why did controversy seemingly follow her at every turn? Why did she consider tearing up a picture of the pope on SNL a triumph when everyone said it was career suicide? How come she refused to have the National Anthem played before a concert in NJ? Why did Prince insist on feeding her soup...

Musician Joe Moore stops by to talk about the strange history of the quintessential Halloween novelty song, "Monster Mash". How did a struggling TV actor write and record a number one hit in less than thirty minutes? Why was a novelty song about monsters dancing bannedin the UK? What's his connection to the Beach Boys and Eddie Van Halen? Listen in and make sure to check out Joe's album of Hallowe...

Ken and guest co-host Chris Covert welcome glam rocker Jimmy Maddon to the show all the way from the UK to talk about releasing his self-titled 2020 debut album in the height of the pandemic, his love of Queen, why America is still mecca for musicians, and who he would recruit to form a supergroup.

Comedian and author Doogie Horner stops by to talk about one of the most prolific artists in rock history, Neil Young. Why did he retreat from the massive success of "Harvest" and record "the Ditch Trilogy"? How come Geffen Records sued him shortly after signing him to a huge contract? What was behind his feud with Donald Trump, and why were some Trump supporters trying to have him canceled? How d...

Musician and producer Dave Brandwein makes his ILRR debut to discuss forming the band Turkuaz with his friend in college and taking the funk band all the way to Red Rocks and Bonnaroo, the fallout of their very public breakup, rising up from the ashes with not one but two excellent new projects, playing a Paul McCartney and Wings set with original Wings member Denny Laine at Jazzfest, his love of...

Comedian and Elvis superfan Mike Sicoli joins Kahuna and Ken to trade the wildest Elvis stories you never heard. How did Elvis stop a plane from taking off with nothing but a phony badge? Who were the Memphis mafia and what is a time consultant? Who was Scatter and how did he meet his untimely death? Does Mike Sicoli have an actual scarf signed by the King? No, no he does not. This was a wild one!

Podcaster Steve Cooper makes his ILRR debut to talk about The Police. How did a band that only lasted for seven years land four of their five records in Rolling Stone's top 500 albums? How did the biggest band in the world at the time break up with no one knowing? Did Sting ever really want to be in a group? Listen in and find out!

Comedian Rich Vos joins ken and guest co-host John Moses to talk about the dumpster fire that was Woodstock '99. Rich, who was an MC for the festival on the west stage, compares how the performers were treated versus how the attendees, which included Ken and John, were treated. Why were bottles of water but not drugs confiscated? Why were the promoters, twenty years on, still trying to blame the p...

For the first time in ILRR history, Ken and Chip turn hosting duties over, as director Kieran Turner (Jobriath AD) takes the lead on a tribute to Olivia Newton-John. Why was she loved by country fans, shunned by country artists, and then ultimately embraced by Nashville. Why was "Grease" the only movie that ever really worked for her? What song was deemed far too sexual for airplay in Utah and got...

No new episode this week so here's one from the ILRR vaults. Comedian Sean Donnelly stops by to talk about all things Monkees. Did Mike Nesmith basically invent MTV? Did they even play their own instruments? Do they get too little, or too much respect from other musicians? Recorded the day Mike Nesmith died, enjoy this never before heard episode!

Shuli Egar makes his ILRR debut to discuss the legendary all-time great Pink Floyd and founder Roger Water's troubling (for some) politics. Is it easy to separate the art from the artist? Should Jews consider boycotting his concerts? Was the Syd Barret era actually any good? Just HOW good a guitar player is Dave Gilmour? All this and more! Check it out!

Roxx Revolt of the great new rock band Roxx Revolt and the Velvets makes her show debut to discuss her love of glam rock, why she thinks it's poised to make a comeback, coming to America to chase her dreams, trying to find a band in the open mic circuit, and why being an opener is an uphill battle.

Musician Matt O'Ree returns to the show to talk about his love of blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughn. How did a fourteen year old kid catch the attention of ZZ Top? Exactly how close was he to forgoing a career in the blues to become David Bowie's sideman? How did he wind in the helicopter instead of Eric Clapton on the day he died? Listen in and go see Matt at The Vogel in Red Bank NJ on July 28th!

Comedian Kevin Gootee drops in to talk about the wild career of all-time great American band Guns N Roses. How did they set out to make the best-selling debut of all-time and actually accomplish it? What's the real reason Izzy Stradlin left the band at the height of their fame? Why did Axl always insist on being late to gigs, even if it meant causing riots? What was at the root of the alleged raci...

Menudo super fans Kyle Ocasio and Jenny Saldana come on to talk about their love of the original boy band, explain just how much their music meant to thousands of bi-lingual teen age girls in 1980s NYC and shine some light on just how much of a monster founding promoter Edgardo Diaz was.

Comedian Erik Bergstrom joins the show to talk about the early years of David Bowie, Why isn't his first album considered canon? What was he really trying to say about Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan? What was his obsession with the occult? Check it out!

Actor, playwright and musician Vincent Pastore makes his ILRR debut to talk about his days managing rock clubs, hanging out with Dion and Bono, running on stage with Bruce Springsteen, and why the music in The Sopranos was always so impeccable.