Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

Mark Weiss is an acclaimed American rock ‘n’ roll photographer whose lens has captured some of the most iconic moments in music history. Rising to prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s, Weiss became a go-to visual chronicler for the era’s biggest hard rock and heavy metal acts. His photographs—often featured in Circus, Hit Parader, and album covers—helped define the look and attitude of the glam...

Michael Kiske joins us to discuss Helloween’s powerful new album Giants and Monsters. In this exclusive interview, he breaks down the creative process behind the record, the band’s unique triple-vocal approach, and what fans can expect from the new material. Formed in Hamburg, Germany in the early 1980s, Helloween became one of the pioneering forces in European power metal. Their groundbreaking al...

Jesse Hughes, best known as the wild frontman of Eagles of Death Metal, is a force of charisma, chaos, and crunchy desert rock riffs. Born September 24, 1972, in Greenville, South Carolina, Hughes was raised in Palm Desert, California, where his lifelong friendship with Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age) would set the stage for one of rock’s most energetic duos. While Homme often drums and co...

Callum Kerr is a rising Scottish actor and country singer making waves on both screen and stage. Born in Musselburgh, Scotland, on May 11, 1994, he originally had plans to pursue a career in finance before the acting bug bit. After a stint with the National Youth Theatre of Scotland, he trained in London and soon found himself swapping spreadsheets for scripts. His breakthrough role came as PC Geo...

Primal Fear was formed in 1997 in Germany by vocalist Ralf Scheepers (formerly of Gamma Ray) and bassist/producer Mat Sinner (of Sinner). The band emerged after Scheepers was considered for the vocal slot in Judas Priest—a move that didn’t happen but fueled his desire to create a powerful new metal force. The result was Primal Fear, rooted in traditional heavy metal with a modern power metal edge....

oel Hoekstra is a powerhouse guitarist known for his technical skill, versatility, and relentless work ethic. Born on December 13, 1970, in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in a musical household, he started out playing cello and piano. But everything changed when he saw Angus Young of AC/DC on TV—at that moment, he knew guitar was his calling. That inspiration launched a career that would span Broadwa...

Tony Dolan has come forward to call out former Venom and Venom Inc. drummer Abaddon (Anthony Bray) for what he describes as ongoing toxic behavior at fans. According to Dolan, Abaddon has been targeting fans online, engaging in bullying and harassment, especially toward supporters of Venom Inc. Tony also talks publishing and art battles in the band that Abaddon has taken credit for!

Johnette Napolitano was born on September 22, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. From a young age, she showed signs of being musically gifted—learning songs by ear and absorbing the sounds of everything from show tunes to soul. Her powerful voice and introspective writing would later become the soul of a band that defined a piece of the alternative rock era. But long before that, she was a quiet ob...

Courtney Cox, known in metal circles as “CC Shred,” has been a standout guitarist since her early teens. Hailing from Philadelphia, she began playing guitar at 13 and by 15 was touring nationally thanks to her training with the Paul Green School of Rock. Her dedication and ferocious style quickly set her apart in the male-dominated world of metal guitar. Courtney moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to fu...

Eric Martin, born October 10, 1960, in Long Island, New York, is best known as the soulful, powerhouse lead vocalist of the rock band Mr. Big. Raised in a military family that moved frequently, Martin eventually found his way to the West Coast, where his passion for music took root. Originally a drummer, he discovered his true calling as a frontman after stepping out from behind the kit. With a na...

Guitarist Stevie Dacanay—better known as Stevie D—has been a defining force in Buckcherry since joining the band during its 2005 revival. After Buckcherry’s brief hiatus in the early 2000s, the reformed lineup, featuring Stevie D alongside founding vocalist Josh Todd, breathed new life into the band’s hard rock roots. His guitar work helped shape their comeback album 15, which launched hits like “...

In this episode, Mandy Lion joins the show to discuss his brand-new single, “Red Rain”, marking a powerful return to form. Best known for his work with World War III, Mandy’s unmistakable vocal style is once again front and center. He reveals that Red Rain is just the beginning, with four full-length albums currently in development — each offering something unique for longtime fans and new listene...

In Episode 575 of the podcast, we sit down with Drew Rose, best known as the singer from the cult-favorite ‘90s hard rock band Wildside. While fans of glam, sleaze, and Sunset Strip may remember Drew for singing in Wildside’s MTV-era heyday, these days he’s earning a different kind of spotlight on YouTube. Drew has been the man behind The 80's Metal Recycle Bin—a fun, raw, and passionate chann...

Skunk Anansie exploded onto the UK rock scene in the mid-1990s with a sound that defied easy categorization—combining elements of punk, metal, electronic, and soul, all powered by the unmistakable voice and stage presence of frontwoman Skin. Formed in 1994, the band quickly made waves with their bold political lyrics and uncompromising sound, releasing their debut album Paranoid & Sunburnt in...

BulletBoys exploded onto the scene in 1988 with their self-titled debut, produced by Ted Templeman (famed for his work with Van Halen and David Lee Roth). The album went gold, fueled by hits like “Smooth Up in Ya” and a blistering cover of The O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money.” With comparisons to Van Halen swirling, it was no surprise when Marq eventually struck up a friendship with Eddie Van Halen...

Few bands on Earth—or any planet, for that matter—have carved out a legacy as insane, outrageous, and gloriously grotesque as GWAR. Born in the underground punk and metal scenes of Richmond, Virginia, GWAR exploded into the music world in the late ‘80s wearing monster costumes, wielding foam weapons, and spraying audiences with fake blood, bile, and even more questionable fluids. But beneath the t...

Snowy Shaw is one of the most versatile and visually distinctive figures in heavy metal. A Swedish multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and visual artist, Snowy first made a name for himself in the late 1980s as the drummer for doom pioneers Memento Mori, and later King Diamond, where his theatrical approach to drumming and showmanship stood out. He would go on to play in a long list of infl...

John Robb stands as a multifaceted figure in the British music scene—a musician, journalist, author, and cultural commentator whose influence spans decades. Emerging from the punk explosion of the late 1970s, Robb co-founded the post-punk band The Membranes in 1977, infusing their music with experimental noise and avant-garde sensibilities. After a hiatus, the band reformed in 2009, releasing crit...

Meet Dandy Brown, the multifaceted producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist renowned for his work with Hermano, Orquesta del Desierto, John Garcia, and more. Alongside him is his wife, Dawn Brown, a talented multi-media artist, guitarist, and vocalist. Together, they form The Fizz Fuzz, a blues-rock band that originated in the high desert of Southern California in 2017 and later settled in Sant...

Alex Kane is a fiercely inventive guitarist, songwriter, and musical visionary whose career has spanned decades and continents. Best known for his work with bands like Life Sex & Death, Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, Antiproduct, and Enuff Z’Nuff, Kane is one of rock’s true cult heroes—a player whose style fuses punk ferocity, glam flamboyance, metal precision, and a sense of showmanship that feel...

n this raw and revelatory episode, we welcome back the legendary rock icon Wino—the voice and soul of The Obsessed. He dives deep into the creation of his new solo album, sharing the spirit and stories behind the music. Wino also gives us the latest on Ritual Arcana, Sharlee's tarot card - inspired band they are planning on playing out and releasing a full album of crushing tunes soon. We talk...

The Rose Carleo Band, led by the powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Rose Carleo, has been a formidable presence in Australia’s rock and blues scene for over two decades. Known for their gritty riffs, soulful melodies, and emotionally charged performances, the band has consistently delivered music that resonates deeply with audiences. Released on May 9, 2025, “Daisy’s Song” marks a poignant chapter...

Jimmy Gestapo, born James Drescher, has been the wild-hearted, unfiltered voice of Murphy’s Law since day one. Formed in 1982 in the gritty heart of New York City, Murphy’s Law quickly became a standout in the hardcore scene—not just for their aggressive energy, but for their infectious sense of humor and blend of punk, ska, and party-rock vibes. With a larger-than-life personality, Jimmy G made s...

Stephen Gibb – “Kill the Robot” Ignites with New Single as Rock Veteran Steps into the SpotlightStephen Gibb, the name that might first catch your ear as the son of Bee Gees legend Barry Gibb, has long carved out his own raw, relentless path in the world of heavy music. Now, he’s stepping further into his own spotlight with the new single from his band Kill the Robot, delivering a blend of molten...

Kula Shaker, the British psych-rock band renowned for their fusion of Eastern mysticism and Western rock, have been experiencing a vibrant resurgence. Following the release of their seventh studio album, Natural Magick , in 2024, the band has continued to captivate audiences with their unique soundscapes and energetic performances. Natural Magick marked a significant milestone for Kula Shaker, reu...