I Love Rock & Roll Podcast

Singer songwriter Ben Kweller makes his ILRR debut and brings the heat! He talks about starting his first band at twelve, dropping out of the ninth grade so he could sign to a major label and tour the world at fifteen, getting the call to go on tour with Evan Dando, joining Foo Fighters on a record and on stage, and what it was like break out of the early 2000s NYC rock scene, alongside the Stroke...

Writer/director Kieran Turner returns to the show, alongside legal expert Nic, to discuss predatory pop songs. Why were so many Seventies artists so obsessed with underage girls? Which songs are open to interpretation, and which feel more like confessions? Who is Benny Mardones, and why did he make the creepiest, cringiest video of all-time? All this and more on a brand new ILRR!

Comedian KP Burke joins Ken and his daughter to convince Lyla of the greatness that was the Band. How did a group comprised almost entirely of Canadians become the quintessential American band? What did Dylan see in them that made him risk his career to tour with them? Why was The Last Waltz truly the end of touring for the original lineup? When Lyla saw Kidz Bop live, did they pay tribute to Robe...

Comedians Jenny Saldana and Mike Sicoli join Ken to talk about the career and legacy of one of the all-time best selling artists, Michael Jackon. They discuss his groundbreaking videos, his abusive father, the lasting impact of his music, and of course, those pesky allegations. Give it a listen!

Singer and Producer Rachel Burns joins the show to promote her hilarious new EP "What a Nasty Woman" and talk about surviving cancer, surviving Trump, playing in an eleven piece band with her best friends and husband, and channeling her grandmother through song. It's a funny and moving episode! Listen up!

Drummer Alvin Taylor returns to pay tribute to his dear friend and former boss Tina Turner. He talks about recording the classic "Nutbush City Limits", what Ike was really like behind the scenes, seeing his friend become the first black female rock star to play to stadiums, and helping to set the "Private Dancer" album in motion. Tune in!!

Johnny Goodtimes returns to the show to talk about one of the original Kings of Rock and Roll, Little Richard. How did he switch back and forth between gay icon and conservative Christian his whole life? Why was he so underappreciated by the very industry he helped to create? What tricks did he employ to make it tough for Pat Boone to sing his songs? He liked to read WHAT at orgies? Tune in and fi...

Recorded live in front of an audience at the Red Bank Comedy Festival, Ken and Chip are joined by Brian O'Halloran and KP Burke to discuss actors turned musicians, including Jared Leto, Steven Seagal, Corey Feldman and more. Why do so many actors try their hand at music, and why so many of them so, so bad at it? This one was an absolute blast to record! Have a listen!

Ken, Chip and Kahuna are joined by Ken's seven year old daughter Lyla. She talks about her love of the Gorillaz. De La Soul, Sub Urban and Melanie Martinez. She explains how kids her age find new music these days, schools Kahuna on Michael Jackson, Huey Lewis and Ghostbusters, and reacts to the songs that were big when Ken and Chip were seven.

Kahuna, Chip and Ken take a look at some of the wildest stories in rock history, from Ozzie Osbourne snorting a line of fire ants to Eddie Van Hal showing up in a tank to reclaim equipment Fred Durst stole from him, from Steven Tyler adopting a 14-year-old girl so he could date her, to Christ Bearer cutting off his own... well, you'll just have to listen and find out.

Billy Amendola (Drum Channel) drops in to talk about the tragic story of Jim Gordon, the recently deceased legendary session drummer who succumbed to the voices in his head and murdered his own mother. He also left behind a staggering body of work that can't be denied and we take a deep dive into some of the all-time classics he played on. How did his mental health go unchecked for so long, and ho...

Writer/director Kieran Turner (Jobriath AD) drops in to give the history of the most maligned category in the most maligned awards show, the Best New Artist Grammy. How have they so consistently gotten it wrong over the years? A Taste of Honey beat out whom?? Why was Mili Vanilli stripped of their Grammy when the academy had a history of nominating KNOWN lip-synching acts? How did so many of these...

Creem Magazine is back, and original editor Jaan Uhelszki (1970-1979) and current CEO John Martin join the show to talk about Creem's wild sex, drugs and rock n roll past, and their unlikely 2020s comeback. Why did the magazine move from the slums of Detroit to a commune in the middle of nowhere? What was it like to work and live with your colleagues 24/7? What made Lester Bangs such a wildcard? W...

Rapper Reef the Lost Cauze, writer and producer John Morrison, and comedian Darin Patterson join Ken to pay tribute to the greatest rap group of all-time, De La Soul. Why was their image as the "hippies of hip-hop" so misguided and wrong? How was their music in the Library of Congress but not available on Itunes for over twenty years? How did three childhood friends from Long Island, with only one...

Comedian and host of the "TV Guidance Counselor" podcast Ken Reid stops by to talk about being the teenage lead singer of Boston area punk band "30 Seconds Over Tokyo", the stories behind some of TV's most well known theme songs, and the best musical guest stars in television history.

Comedian Aaron Hertzog pops in to talk about Rolling Stone Magazine's recently updated Top 200 Singers List. Who did they get right? Who did they get wrong? Who was snubbed? Listen in and find out!

East Brunswick, NJ Natives Ed Guarnieri and John Matthews join fellow EBHS Alum Ken in breaking down ginker culture, which only seemed to exist in this one town for a period of 20-30 years. What exactly was a ginker, and why were most students scared of them? How big a factor was the music ginkers listened to? What was about them that seemed so scary it prompted John Matthews to write the only kno...

Journalist and author Anna Goldfarb drops by to share her love of legendary NYC rap and punk group, The Beastie Boys. How did their first album, which was supposed to be a joke, both sell over ten million copies and nearly end their careers? How did they follow up with a masterpiece second album that hardly anyone at the time even heard? What made them so undeniably cool in the Nineties? Listen in...

Trews guitarist John-Angus MacDonald joins Ken and guest co-host Max Antonucci to talk about touring in the time of Covid, what it's like to be in the same band for over twenty years with your brother, his love of the Black Crowes, opening for the Stones in a tiny club, jamming with Springsteen, and why Canada so consistently churns out amazing comedians.

Rapper Reef the Lost Cauze stops by to discuss the career of Luther Campell and 2 Live Crew. How did a block party DJ become first a hip hop pioneer and then a champion of free speech? Why was he willing to go to prison for his beliefs? Why did Bruce Springsteen allow Luther to sample "Born in the USA" at a time when he was famous for never licensing his music? Reef's mom likes WHICH 3 Live Crew s...

Author Barbara Bellisi Zito drops in to promote her excellent debut novel "Lucky Stiff" and to discuss her lifelong love of Boy George and Culture Club. How did Boy George go from club kid to one of the biggest pop stars on the planet in the space of a year or so? How was he able to hide his romantic relationship with drummer Jon Moss for so long? Why did America freak out after he called himself...

"Clerks III" star Brian O'Halloran and comedian Pat House return to the show to remember all the musicians we lost in 2022. It's sad and funny all at once, like a McDLT of emotions.

Found Footage Festival creator Joe Pickett joins Ken and Chip to discuss the seminal Christmas song "Do They Know It's Christmas" by British super group Band Aid. How was Bob Geldof able to assemble so many rock superstars so quickly? Is it the cringiest holiday song ever written? Did the money raised really end up in the hands of Russian arms dealers? Listen in and find out!

David Weitzman, Publishing Partner for Primary Wave Music, drops in to discuss his decades long career which includes being part of Sublime's original mgmt. team, working with the Black Crowes, being in charge of music supervision for Jackass, and his current work for Primary Wave, where he is part of the team that helped to buy Julian Casablancas, Huey Lewis, and Joey Ramone's publishing rights....

Legendary Miami Horns trumpet player Tony Pallagrosi stops by the studio to talk about recording with Southside Johnny in the early days, touring with Bruce Springsteen, starting Concerts East, getting involved with the Light of Day Foundation, and how to date a model on $150 a week.