Stupid & Contagious

In episode 142 we’re joined by Phil Ward better known as The Albino Priest from Lo Fidelity Allstars ! A band that somehow went from their very first gig… straight to getting signed to Skint, landing on the cover of the music press, and suddenly finding themselves in the middle of the madness that was the late 90s! We get into everything, the chaotic early days, what it was really like being part...

This week… we’re going back to 1996! A year where Oasis ruled the world, the Spice Girls kicked the door down, and somehow both “Firestarter” and “Wannabe” existed at the same time and everyone loved both! We’re talking Knebworth. We’re talking Trainspotting. We’re talking the Fugees, Beck, Manics… and yes we are talking 'Jesus to a f*cking child'! So whether you were there, taped it off the radio...

There was a moment back in the 90s when music didn’t just soundtrack your life… it was your life! For some of us, that meant saving up for cassette singles, taping songs off the radio, or heading straight to the record shop the second something new dropped. For others, like this week’s guest it became something even bigger: a way of understanding who you were. Because for Anna Doble , the 90s were...

For every band that became a household name, there were dozens more who got this close, radio play, TV appearances, sold-out gigs and then… nothing. Today’s episode is one of those stories, in episode 139 we chat to Philip from Britpop 'Shouldhavebeens' Speedy ! We’re talking to the former frontman who went from indie buzz, Radio 1 singles, and national TV… to being dropped, walking away, and even...

Joining us for episode 138 is none other than Peter Holmström from the The Dandy Warhols ! We chat about the band’s journey from the early 90s Portland scene to global success, their influences, the reality behind the stories, and what it was really like being part of that era! And of course, we get into Dig ! that legendary documentary that followed The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massa...

This week in episode 137 on the podcast… we’re diving headfirst into chaos! 30 years on, we’re revisiting The Fat of the Land by The Prodigy, an album that didn’t just shake the 90s… it kicked the door in! From banned videos and media outrage to some of the most aggressive, genre-defining tracks ever released… this was the moment rave collided with rock and changed everything! We’re talking Firest...

This is Episode 136 and today’s one is a wild ride! We’re joined by Ronnie O’Hara musician, journalist, and full-on 90s scene survivor who’s done everything from starting riot grrrl bands to turning up to gigs uninvited… and somehow getting away with it! We get into DIY chaos, the reality of the 90s underground scene, sexism in music, and some genuinely unhinged stories from life on the road! Stup...

Walter Schreifels is one of the most influential figures to come out of the New York hardcore scene. From his early days playing guitar in Youth of Today to forming groundbreaking bands like Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, Rival Schools, and Walking Concert , Walter helped shape the sound and culture of hardcore and post-hardcore for decades. In episode 135, we dive into his journey growing up in New...

Episode 134 of the Stupid and Contagious Podcast… and this week we’ve got a big one. Today we’re talking about The God Machine, one of the most intense, mysterious and tragically short-lived bands of the 90s alternative scene. A band that started out in San Diego, ended up squatting in London, busking on the streets of Amsterdam just to survive, and somehow turned all of that chaos into some of th...

It's 'Wang' 26 and this week on the podcast, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most divisive eras in rock history… Nu Metal! Adidas tracksuits. Chain wallets. DJ scratches. Angsty screams. Woodstock ’99 literally going up in flames. Was it a genuine evolution of heavy music or a frat-boy fueled regression that undid everything the ‘90s stood for? From Korn and Limp Bizkit to Linkin Park and S...

In episode 132 we bagged a chat with Chris Olley of Six By Seven, one of the most prolific and uncompromising figures to come out of the 90s British alternative scene! From touring Germany in a caravan before they were signed to building a massive live guitar sound to going fully independent in 2004 this is a story about artistic survival 🤟🏻 We talk about the raw power of Peel Sessions, why he h...

This week on episode 131 of the podcast, we’re joined by a true 90s survivor! A man who’s Sat on top of a moving tour bus in Sweden with Liam Gallagher wearing nothing but a Union Jack… Turned down the chance to join Oasis at their peak… Played Live 8 with The Who… And somehow lived to write a book about it! From the chaos of Britpop to backstage madness at Knebworth… from John Peel sessions to Pa...

It's episode 130 and this week we’re joined by Steven McDonald aka Hollywood Steve, Redd Kross founder , bassist, songwriter, and survivor of just about every phase of alternative music you can name! From starting a band at 12 years old , playing with Black Flag , and accidentally standing at the ground zero of grunge , to navigating Britpop envy, major-label fallout, and the strange feeling of be...

This week is a wang week and we’re doing what we probably should’ve avoided… an Ask Us Anything?! We’re talking first gigs, worst gigs, bands we loved then fell out with, bands everyone else loves that we just don’t get and the ones we’ll defend forever! There are regrets, strong opinions, questionable memories, and at least one story we legally cannot explain properly! If you want nostalgia, hot...

In episode 128 we’re talking to a man who’s lived more lives than most people dream of! He started out as a bike courier, picked up a camera, and somehow ended up photographing rock history - Lemmy, Ozzy, the Pistols, Henry Rollins, Sepultura… the list just keeps on going. He’s shot legendary bands, directed music videos, crossed continents, and now lives full-time on a boat in the Mediterranean,...

In episode 127, we sit down with Andy Bollen ( Captain America ) and Derek McKee ( Boyfriend ) two key figures from the legendary early ’90s Scottish indie scene. Not only were they in two of its most revered bands, they were both in the room on the night Oasis were signed to Creation Records. Yep, that night As if that wasn’t enough, Andy also toured with Nirvana during their Nevermind era right...

In episode 126 we chat to Kevin Martin , the unmistakable voice behind Candlebox, one of the most enduring bands to emerge from the post-grunge era. From massive hits like Far Behind to navigating fame, backlash, and longevity in an unforgiving industry, Kevin’s career is a masterclass in resilience and authenticity. In this episode, we talk about the realities of the grunge explosion, what it was...

It's our end of year album special! In episode 125 it's time to go off piste again as Luke chats to some of our lovely listeners about their favourite albums of 2025! We escape from the 90s just for this one episode every year and it always proves popular so defo have a listen! Get some new recommendations from likeminded musos & get involved in the comments in our socials and let us know your...

Alright…It's the big one, it's Dave's End Of Year Quiz! It’s the end of the year, which means we’ve said a lot of stupid things… and today, we’re holding ourselves and you accountable! Do you actually remember anything from this podcast in 2025? If you’ve been listening all year, this should be easy, If not… well, let's find out! Stupid & Contagious STORE https://stupid-contagious-podcast.mysh...

In episode 123, we welcome back Alex Boucher MBE and yes, since his last appearance on the podcast, he’s only gone and picked up an MBE! Last time Alex joined us, we talked about his book Three And A Half Minutes Of Fame , which explored his brushes with fame in various guises throughout the 90s music scene. This time, he’s taking things a step further by turning the story into a documentary and h...

Its a 'wang week' and in episode 122 we’re 'deep diving' into one of the most fascinating, divisive, and quietly influential albums in British music history: The Stone Roses’ Second Coming! After five years of silence & legal battles the band returned not with more of the same, but with a sprawling, blues-soaked, guitar-driven odyssey that split fans right down the middle. Was it a misundersto...

In episode 121 we speak to acclaimed journalist, author, and one of the most incisive voices in rock Ian Winwood! Ian has spent decades chronicling the stories, struggles, and triumphs that live behind the music we love! From his celebrated work in Kerrang! and The Guardian to his powerful book Bodies , Ian has consistently peeled back the curtain on an industry that is as exhilarating as it is un...

In episodee 120 we are joined by Jake Shillingford, the charismatic frontman and mastermind behind the orchestral indie-pop collective My Life Story . Known for their lush arrangements, wry lyricism, and theatrical energy, My Life Story helped define the spirit of the ’90s art-pop scene! We dig into Jake’s creative journey: from the early days of experimenting with sound, to leading a full orchest...

In Episode 119 we are Chatting to Dr Sice from The Boo Radleys ! They are best known for one bright, unstoppable hit “Wake Up Boo!” but behind that sunny chorus lies a catalog full of dream-pop textures, bold experimentation, and some of the most quietly ambitious songwriting of the 90s. From the hazy soundscapes of Giant Steps to the fearless left turns that kept fans guessing, the Boo Radleys we...

It's episode 118 and time for a wang! This week we are going through the 'Shine' compilations from the 90s with very special guest Ross from Symposium! If you grew up in the era of oversized parkas, battered Adidas and Melody Maker, these albums were essential! Before streaming playlists, SHINE was how you discovered your next favorite band! A chaotic mixtape of Britpop bangers, indie anthems, and...