Chris DeMakes A Podcast

In 1997, Smoking Popes released their major label debut album Destination Failure. Buried deep in the record's track listing was "Megan", a heartfelt song that resonated with fans and became one of the band's signature songs. In this episode, vocalist and guitarist Josh Caterer discusses the song's origins and its somewhat mysterious narrative. If you enjoy Chris DeMakes A Podcast and would like t...

The aggressive punk rock sound of Good Riddance took a step toward the melodic side with the release of their 2006 album My Republic, which featured the standout single "Darkest Days". In this episode, vocalist Russ Rankin details the writing and recording of the fan favorite song, which included him diving headfirst into the new and exciting home recording technology of the time. If you enjoy Chr...

"I Melt With You" is one of the most iconic songs of the 80s, having withstood the test of time and bringing joy to generation after generation. In this episode, Modern English bassist and vocalist Mick Conroy discusses the writing, recording, release, and legacy of this unforgettable classic. If you enjoy Chris DeMakes A Podcast, check out http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to join the Supporting Cast....

The upbeat power pop sound of "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" became a smash hit for Nine Days in the year 2000, propelling the band to MTV and Top 40 radio stardom. Decades later, the infectious single remains in the public consciousness, even making its way into the award-winning film Everything Everywhere All At Once. In this episode, guitarist and vocalist John Hampson tells the story behind th...

Flogging Molly’s 2002 single “Drunken Lullabies” is a punk rock classic, combining traditional Irish elements with a breakneck tempo, meaningful lyrics, and an anthemic chorus. In this episode, singer and guitarist Dave King details the inspiration, writing, recording, release, and legacy of this beloved song. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episodes of The After Party podc...

Hawthorne Heights caught fire in the mid 2000s, thanks in part to the success of their debut single "Ohio Is For Lovers". In this episode, guitarist and vocalist JT Woodruff details the inspiring (and sometimes hilarious) story behind the writing, recording, release, and legacy of this fan favorite song. If you'd like to support Chris DeMakes A Podcast AND get weekly bonus episodes, head to http:/...

Ben Lee's infectious (no pun intended) 2005 single "Catch My Disease" earned him an APRA Award for Song of the Year, and it gained international acclaim when it was featured on the American television drama series Grey's Anatomy. In this episode, Ben breaks down the creation of this fun and heartfelt song. If you love Chris DeMakes A Podcast and you'd like to support the show (and get a bonus epis...

Most people know the hit song "St. Elmo's Fire" from the soundtrack of the 1985 film of the same name, but it was the true story of Paralympic athlete Rick Hansen that inspired John Parr to write this classic single. In this episode, John breaks down the writing and recording of the song, which featured a world class cast of musicians. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast (and get weekly bonus episo...

In this episode, guitarist JB Brubaker opens up about the inspiration and creation of "White Washed", a fan favorite from melodic metal mainstays August Burns Red. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episodes, head to http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com and sign up for the Supporting Cast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2004, KT Tunstall was a last minute addition to an episode of Later...With Jools Holland. Her performance of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" launched her career sky high, as she blew away the television audience with her inventive loop pedal rendition of this brand new song. The song was SO new and the demand for it was SO high, in fact, that the Jools Holland performance was featured on the...

This week's Throwback Thursday is from March 1st of 2021, when Karina Deniké sat in to discuss the writing, recording, and release of the classic Dance Hall Crashers song "Go", taken from their 1995 album Lockjaw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1986, Canadian rock band Glass Tiger's ultra-catchy single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" took the airwaves by storm, rising all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. A Grammy nomination and several Juno Awards followed, cementing the band's place in music history and launching a career that continues to thrive. In this episode, keyboardist Sam Reid details the writing...

Chris and Chris travel back in time to January 1993 to explore everything that was happening in popular culture. To become a member of the Chris DeMakes A Podcast Supporting Cast and get weekly bonus episodes like this one every week, head to http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Toadies vocalist and guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis discusses the writing, recording, and release of the band's 1994 hit single "Possum Kingdom". The song's eerie lyrical content matched with its unique composition made it stand out in an era of inventive rock music, leading to a long and storied career for the legendary Fort Worth band. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get week...

In this episode, legendary vocalist Joe Lynn Turner discusses the wild true story behind Rainbow’s 1983 hit single “Street of Dreams”. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episodes, head to http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to sign up for the Supporting Cast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glasgow's Del Amitri has had a long and storied career, releasing five albums that reached the Top 10 in the UK and selling over 6 millions albums worldwide. In the United States, it was the 1995 hit single "Roll To Me" that showcased the band to the whole country via pop radio. In this episode, bassist and vocalist Justin Currie discusses the writing, recording, and release of this 90s classic. F...

Neil Sanderson is much more than just the drummer of Three Days Grace. Aside from providing the hard-hitting backbone of the band's signature sound, Neil's songwriting ability and proficiency at multiple instruments makes him a true force in the world of rock music. In this episode, he breaks down the writing, recording, and release of the band's 2003 breakout hit single "I Hate Everything About Y...

Useless ID's 2005 single "State of Fear" combines infectious melodies with punk rock spirit to create an anthem that speaks to fans around the world. In this episode, guitarist and vocalist Yotam Ben Horin discusses the writing, recording, and release of a song that tells the story about his own personal experience of living in Israel. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episod...

A newspaper story about a missing couple sparked the idea for Fastball's 1998 hit single "The Way". In this episode, bassist and vocalist Tony Scalzo details the writing, recording, and meteoric rise of this unique and catchy track. Visit http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to sign up for the Chris DeMakes A Podcast Supporting Cast, where you'll get weekly bonus episodes of The After Party podcast. Learn...

Generation after generation has enjoyed the feel-good sound of Toto's "Africa", making it one of the most beloved songs of all time. In this episode, vocalist and keyboardist David Paich discusses the writing, recording, release, and legacy of this 1982 smash hit single. For weekly bonus episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, sign up for the Supporting Cast at http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com Learn more...

Every Time I Die's 2021 single "Planet Shit" is an intense commentary on the current state of society. In this episode, vocalist Keith Buckley details the writing. recording, and release of this brutal, no holds barred track. If you'd like to get weekly bonus episodes AND support Chris DeMakes A Podcast, head to http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to sign up for the Supporting Cast. Learn more about your...

When a demo of the song leaked on the internet, I Am The Avalanche's "Brooklyn Dodgers" became a fan favorite before it was even released. In this episode, vocalist Vinnie Caruana discusses the writing and recording of the band's hard-hitting 2011 single. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast, head to http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to sign up for the Supporting Cast. Subscribers will receive a giant ba...

Pennywise guitarist Fletcher Dragge is not a fan of being told what to do, and the band's 2001 single "F**k Authority" became a rallying cry for fans all over the world who felt the same way. In this episode, Fletcher discusses the writing, recording, release, and legacy of one of punk rock's most in-your-face anthems. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episodes of The After P...

This week, Jellyfish's Roger Joseph Manning Jr. breaks down the writing, recording, and release of the band's epic 1993 single "New Mistake". Decades after Jellyfish's disbandment, the legend of this underappreciated band continues to grow thanks to the lush compositions and undeniable melodies found in tracks like this. To support Chris DeMakes A Podcast and get weekly bonus episodes, head to htt...

In this episode, Kris Roe breaks down the inspiration and writing of "In This Diary", the personal and heartfelt single from The Ataris' 2003 album So Long, Astoria. If you enjoy Chris DeMakes A Podcast and you'd like to get weekly bonus episodes PLUS a giant back catalog of bonus episodes, check out http://www. ChrisDeMakes.com to sign up for the Supporting Cast. Learn more about your ad choices....