Jay R Smith

A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll

Music EN ↓ 88 episodes

I review cinematographic products related directly as well as tangentially to rock history and tell the stories of the artists, businesses, and technologies that fueled the development of this glorious cultural mutant known as Rock n' Roll.

Author

Jay R Smith

Category

Music

Podcast website

rocknfilmnrock.libsyn.com

Latest episode

Jun 24, 2026

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Episodes

From the Patreon Collection #5 24.06.2026

From time to time, I will populate the main feed with a Patreon episode that's at least a year old so casual listeners might get a taste of all the extra scholarship that does occur, but lands nowhere near a published episode:    Monthly exclusive Rock History bonus feed here https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money:...

Skynyrd and NASCAR and Zakk Wylde and Mojo Nixon and James Van Eaton 12.02.2026

According to a book I just snagged from the libarry, Ronnie Van Skynryd once opened for Black Sabbath and tried to kill his own guitarist while Sabbath guitarist ZAKK WYLDE looked on in horror. Yes you read that correctly.  Also I found out today that Mojo Nixon died on a day not far from the day the drummer he portrayed in "Great Balls of Fire" also died. Sounds like a good reason to go back to t...

"Raging Angels" (1995) | Sean Patrick Flannery, Michael Pare, Diane Ladd, Mone Mazure, Alan Smithee 03.02.2026

Hiya Hiya Hiya! We're back with a new film commentary, just the same kinda thing that started this whole podcast, Me and my pal Dan Teisan reacting in real time to a rock n' roll film from the mid 1990s. I was originally clued into the existence of this movie on either reddit or facebook in an "Old newspaper ads for films" group(because my life is a non stop action sensation of sensational action...

Green Room (2015) Dead Kennedys, SLAYER, Minor Threat 23.08.2025

Like Whoopie Goldberg in Sister Act 2 I'm back in the habit! Time for some SoCal thrash metal, hardcore CA punk, hardcore D.C. punk and Jeremy Saulnier's super violent thriller "Green Room". Come for the sadness of what it's like touring in a van and stay for Captain Picard's nazi goons murdering the JJ Abrams reboot version of Pavel Chekov.  Sources for this episode include American Hardcore by S...

#3 on White Zombie (1932) AND WHITE ZOMBIE: Sean Yseult, Rob Zombie, Jay Yuenger, Ivan DePrume 25.01.2025

Today is the IVAN DEPRUME INTERVIEW EPISODE! WOOOO! Also featuring more retrospective on the 1932 White Zombie film and narratives provided by Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult and Jay Yuenger from old interviews and blogs and books. The fine people at Radish Mattress and I will cover, among other topics: Ivan's upbringing in Brooklyn, his drum heros, and how he fit into the band over the years Rebuilding t...

From the Patreon collection #4 24.07.2024

From time to time, I will populate the main feed with a Patreon episode that's at least a year old so casual listeners might get a taste of all the extra scholarship that does occur, but lands nowhere near a published episode:  Bowie in '74 The rest of the SPIN 1995 readers poll Wanda Jackson's book One glimpse of the Beatles 1982 Penelope Spheeris interview More Nick Tosches! Gilbert Gottfried on...

From the Patreon collection #3 14.06.2024

From time to time, I will populate the main feed with a Patreon episode that's at least a year old so casual listeners might get a taste of all the extra scholarship that does occur, but lands nowhere near a published episode:  Original description for this episode:  Shaboom! Two hours of hotness for you today in the wake of my recent 3-parter on The Crow via the main feed. This was a nice slice o...

La Bamba! (1987) #2 | Ritchie Valens & Luis Valdez 02.06.2024

Today we finish up Ritchie's story with some more background on the filmmaker and the movie I've come to love even more and apparently get goddamn defensive about. Reviewing the legacy of the film via a look back with Valdez and Lou Diamond Phillips TV Tropes about "La Bamba!"  My takeaways about the making of the film in 3 parts A look back at Luis Valdez's career and activism featuring a note ab...

From the Patreon collection #2 21.05.2024

From time to time, I will populate the main feed with a Patreon episode that's at least a year old so casual listeners might get a taste of all the extra scholarship that does occur, but lands nowhere near a published episode:  Today: A return to Tosches! Checking in on the state of the Stones as they prep for a return to American crowds in '69. And an exploration of the relationship between SUN a...

From the Patreon Collection #1 27.04.2024

From time to time, I will populate the main feed with a Patreon episode that's at least a year old so casual listeners might get a taste of all the extra scholarship that does occur, but lands nowhere near a published episode:  Today we have: Ed Ward, Nick Tosches, Christopher Hitchens, a bad Nine Inch Nails biography, 70s DEVO origins, and lots of guitar modulation effects. Monthly exclusive Rock...

La Bamba! (1987) | Ritchie Valens, Lou Diamond Phillips, Curt Sobel 14.04.2024

I don't know how to warn you I might get a little wibbly-bibbly in the wobbles during this one. Verklempt, if you will. Similar to the way I was on the CROW episodes processing the loss of Brandon Lee all over again. Ritchie was clearly a marvel and a unique talent in ways I didn't understand until now. To be a guitar hero and a hit songwriter and a teen idol at the same time is a hurculean accomp...

Bonus material: The Diablo Guitars Interview with lil' ol' Moi 30.03.2024

I shared a link to this youtube video when it came out, but providing audio now for anyone who would like to listen. It's been a couple months, so I don't feel like this cuts into their Youtube traffic at all. And even if that was the case, I'm unsure as to whether this interview series will even continue now that Glenn himself is no longer with the brand. Enjoy! Original desc: "Long time Pacific...

Van Halen #6 | "Better Off Dead" (1985) 21.03.2024

Hello and get ready for so much Van Halen once again! And Better Off Dead! So much good stuff that could have only happened in the 1980s converging in one place. Along with more 70s Van Halen history too, of course. We'll cover stuff like: Savage Steve Holland's real life experiences that went into his script, and later work in children's cartoons Michael Anthony's first meetup with Sammy Hagar Ed...

Van Halen #5 | "The Wild Life" (1984) 04.03.2024

Next episode will feature a deep dive on "Better Off Dead" and conclude the Van Halen saga. But until then, please enjoy:  A very well-rounded view of VH history by Eddie Van Halen in 1990 Sammy Hagar's arguably sketchy claims about Van Halen's numbers before and after he joined Eddie producing and promoting a band called "Private Life" who obviously did not go on to amazing things (but hey, even...

Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Michelangelo Antonioni #2 | "Zabriskie Point" (1970) 15.02.2024

Well, this was ill-advised, I now think to myself... and now you've got a big ol' buffet to keep going back to for as many trips as you'd like, and I don't know how many of you were expecting Jell-O as well as sushi after your fried green beans. But, whether you listen to it all in sequence or segments, I hope it's valuable to you! Here's a few things you will hear about during the ride:  Contrapt...

Quick Announcement: A Free Patreon Episode and updates on the next release 14.02.2024

The next episode(s) featuring Floyd, The Dead and Zabriskie Point are mostly done and in final editing stages. I haven't decided whether or not to split it into two releases or keep all 4-5 hrs together yet. I figure if you love Pink Floyd and/or the Grateful Dead then having a healthy attention span is probably not an issue for you.  In the meantime, please avail yourself of one free episode from...

The Airing of Grievances episode! 07.01.2024

It's time to get cranky! I read internet exchanges with a psycho on Reverb.com and a former child star on Instagram as well as quotes from Steve Albini and a section of the recent Megadeth book featuring Dave Mustaine's racist-ass wife. Throughout it all, you will also hear some delightful children's poems to offset the awfulness.  Please check the links below for a few things I'm proud of taking...

"Zabriskie Point" (1970) | Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead 20.12.2023

Phil Lesh is the best music writer. Richard Wright may or may not have been incredibly smart for not legally being a member of Pink Floyd from 1980 onward. I agree with Roger Ebert for once. Bear knows a thing or two about sound reenforcement after going mostly deaf in one ear. EMI helps create the first internet conspiracy theories in rock. The Dead ditch the jug band thing after seeing "Hard Day...

"White Zombie" (1932) | Also, WHITE ZOMBIE! | Episode 2 30.11.2023

Hey goons! Welcome back to the 2nd part of my Zombie exploration! You'll hear more tales from Jay Yuenger and Sean Yseult about the early years, some guitar geek stuff about Jay's gear, explorations of the characters and themes found in "White Zombie" the film, interviews with White Zombie from the early/mid 90's and a hard-to-find instrumental track that J. recorded and released before the band b...

"White Zombie" (1932) & WHITE ZOMBIE | Bela Lugosi, Sean Yseult, Rob Zombie, Jay Yuenger, Ivan DePrume 20.10.2023

Damn right, I'm doing my "White Zombie" episode just before Halloween! I never had too much of a plan for when I was going to produce this one, because I knew it would be another massive undertaking as well as another "way more history of the band than the movie" situation. If this is your first episode of the show, WELCOME! I want you to know this is probably the coolest band that ever existed fo...

Shoot Episode #4 | Bass Player Book Reviews, Jann Wenner, Lester Bangs, "Wild in the Streets", Guns n' Roses formation 26.09.2023

Sometimes reading autobiographies leads to great (or just mild) disappointment and no great use for a normal episode of the show. In today's case, I refuse to be the only person who is disappointed, nay INCONVENIENCED, by the works of Nikki Sixx, Flea, and Dave Ellefson. None of these sources that I sought out will be usable in conjunction with a film, but that doesn't mean I can't squeeze at leas...

Bonus Patreon Preview: MTV, Monster Magnet, Spider-Man, 45 RPM, Nick Tosches 13.09.2023

Monthly 4-hr bonus feed here! https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.youtu...

Van Halen #4 | "The Wild Life" (1984) 04.09.2023

Just in time for the time that it is in your life right now at this moment, here comes part four of the ongoing Van Halen saga with Eddie, Alex, Dave, Sammy, Michael, Noel, Valerie and many others! This episode takes you through: Multiple POVs on the US Festival debacle. Or triumph, depending on your level of optimism Legal wranglings in management Deals gettin' done (no)Journey fans and Sheep and...

Patreon Bonus Clip: Skid Row in 1996 from SPIN 29.08.2023

$3 Monthly 4-hr bonus feed here!  https://www.patreon.com/rockfilmrock Choose your preferred method of supporting the show for no money or maybe some money: PayPal tips:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/whatsamatta Shirt designs with defeatist messaging delivered via bright colors and childish graphics: https://www.bonfire.com/store/justtheworstshirtsever/ Subscribe to me on YouTube: https://www.y...

Van Halen #3 | "The Wild Life" (1984) 26.08.2023

The Van Halen Summer continues! One more after this, I think. Maybe. Maybe just one more.  In this one we gots: Perspective on the Roth reuinion and Gary Cherone era from manager Ray Danniels  A Hit Parader feature from 1984 More thoughts from bassist Michael Anthony A Musician Magazine feature from 1984 on Eddie and Dave An excerpt from David Lee Roth's "Crazy From The Heat" book Some UK road sto...

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