Rock And Roll Confessional

In 1997, during Styx's tour, Lawrence Gowan's band performed as a supporting act for Styx at Montreal's Molson Center and Quebec City's Colisee. Tommty Shaw admired his talent and vibrant stage charisma and called him in May 1999 asking him to tour with them for 53 dates, temporarily replacing their lead singer, Dennis DeYoung who had fallen ill. Lawrence permaentaly replaced the lead singer after...

Our latest guest is Martin Popoff who is the author of over 100 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting , bringing both archival depth and fan-first storytelling. Today we are speaking with Martin about his new book: "KISS '76". KISS was formed in 1973, and was one of the hardest-working bands in rock, releasing three studio albums and their breakthrough Alive! album in...

Triumph formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1975 after a chance meeting led Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore to embark on a marathon jam session. They immediately decided to form a band and the debut album "Triumph" was released in 1976. With hits like: Lay It On The Line, Magic Power, and Never Surrender, The Canadian power trio stands out as a visionary with soaring melodies and exceptional song...

Over the last week, Southern California lost of the of the great DJs, "Uncle" Joe Benson. Uncle Joe was on KLSX, The Sound, Arrow and 95.5 KLOS. Rita and CW Both worked with Joe for many years. Unfortunately the mystery of life moved Joe onto different pastures in the past week. This is just a very brief show talking about how Joe includenced not only Rita and CW, but the radio listeners.  If you...

As the executive producer of KLOS' legendary Mark & Brian Show, Ted Lekas' typical day encouplassed managing talent, publicists, reporters, promotions, researching news stories and celebrity gossip, coordinating ticket give-aways, website promotions and booking guests. He led a daily brainstorming seassion with the team, contributing ideas for new sketches, show segments and events. The not as typ...

We've got the scoop! First to record it, first to announce it. It's an incredible interview with Derek Smalls, former lead bass player formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap. We have the official announcement! Spinal Tap, which had been together for over 40 years, officially has broken up. Derek is pursuing a solo career with the release of the first of 12 new songs - the first is: R.V....

Marc Bonilla is a renowned guitarist, composer, and producer whose dynamic career spans decades across the worlds of rock, film, and television. He first gained recognition touring with Warner Bros. recording artists Toy Matinee and later released three critically acclaimed instrumental guitar albums on Reprise Records: EE Ticket, American Matador, and Celluloid Debris.  A versatile and south-afte...

Few Metal bands havwe achieved Iron Maiden's enduring success - across popularity, musical integrity, and live performance power. Daniel Bukszpan's new book, Iron Maiden At 50, captures this extraordinary five-decade journey in full. Equal parts biography and anniversary tribute, the book chronicles Maiden form inception to global metal juggernaut via 50 pivotal moments that shaped the band's infl...

Original release date: September 20, 2025. Jerry Harrison is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. He launched is professional career with the pironeering band The Modern Lovers, before joining the iconic new wave group Talking Heads as their keyboards and guitarist. In 2002, Jerry was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.  One of the ba...

Today we are honored to share a rare and special conversation with one of Los Angeles' original punk icons - Exene Cervenka of the band X. As the co-lead vocalist, a core songwriter, poet, and artist, Exene has helped define a genre and inspire generations.  X Began shaking up the music scene nearly 50 years ago, and now, after decades of groundbresaking work, they're preparing to take their final...

When people talk about the great rock vocalists of all time, several familiar and redundant names will always appear, like Ronnie James Dio, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Chris Cornell and others.  One name that appears on those same lists is Rock And Roll Hall of Famer, Glenn Hughes, known for his work in Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, and as a solo artist. We were l...

Original air date: August 1, 2025   First off, we highly reccomend that you listen to part one before you listen to this half of the interview. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in the rock and roll business at the highest level, this guest has the answers to all of your questions.  Paul Rappaport started out as just a regular guy from Southern California - someone who loved ledgendar...

Original release date: July 17, 2025 If you have ever wondered what it was like to work in the rock and roll business at the highest level, our latest guest will be able to answer many of your questions.  Paul Rappaport was just a regular guy growing up in Southern California, who enjoyed seeing legendary concerts and even playing guitar in his own band.  As fate would have it, someone recommended...

Original release date: June 19, 2025 Formed in Los Angeles' lengendary Sunset Strip in 1985, Guns N' Roses quickly rose from the gritty club scene to become one of the biggest acts in rock music - achieving massive commercial success and becoming a top live draw in under three years. Along the way, their meteoric rise was matched by no shortage of controversy, internal conflict, and headline-makin...

Original release date: June 3, 2025 This interview we welcome an old friend back into the studio - someone who's been part of the soundtrack of our lives for decades, It's JR Richards, fromerly of Dishwalla. JR began his career as the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the iconice alternative rock band Dishwalls. The bands' debut album "Pet Your Friends" dropped in 1995, and it didn't take...

Original release date: May 1, 2025 A pioneer and one of the first aritsts ever inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, Dion DiMucci first rose to fame with his group Dion & The Belmonts, before becoming a solo sensation with iconic hits like The Wanderer, Runaround Sue and many more. His influence on American music spans more than six decades - and he's still going strong.  Earlier this year...

Original air date: April 3, 2025 One of the greatest rock bands in our generation was REO Speedwagon. At the beginning of this year, we received word that REO was officially no longer. But that doesn't mean that guitarist, song writter and lead vocalist Kevin Cronin is stopping. We had the opportunity to speak with Kevin not only about his upcoming tour (with many of the REO family members), but w...

Original air date: March 7, 2025 ZZ Ward was born in 1986 and is an American Singer-Songwriter from Roseburg, Oregon. She signed with Hollywood Records to release here debut EP, Criminal in 2012, which preceded the release of her debut studio album, Til The Casket Drops, that same year. Her second studio album, The Storm was released in 2017, which peaked atop the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. Her...

Original air date: February 13, 2025 This show is our amazing interview with Rick Springfield. You may remember Rick who played Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital, Pastor Charles on American Horror Story or even playing himself (naked) on Californication. But did you know he is also an amazing musician, singer & songwriter??? There is WAY more to Rick than "Jessie's Girl".  Hang tight for a great...

Original air date: December 21, 2024 We are back with our good friend Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Since the last time we interviewed Kenny, he has released a follow up album to "Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol 1" iornically titled, "Dirt On My Diamonds, Vol 2".  In addition to the new album, we talk about Kenny's experience actually playing Jimi Hendrix's "Woodstock" guitar and his upcoming tour, plus 2 new al...

Original air date: November 6, 2024 Formed in Toronto in 1968, Rush became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history, thanks to their tireless effort and imaginative, ever-evolving music. This richly illustrated and entertianingly written book from Rush expert and music journalist Dan Bukszpan pays tribute to the trio on the 50th anniversary of their debut album by curating an...

Original air date: October 10 2024 As one of the founding members, lead singer, lead guitarist, and wrote more than 90% of the Grand Funk Railroad music catalog, Mark Farner has always been known as the energetic driving force on stage, the engine that pulled the original Grank Funk Railroad to the top of the charts. From his soulful voice and power rock riffs, to fueling the Funk with his atomic...

Original air date: September 8, 2024 Joanne Shaw Taylor, discovered at 16 by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, quickly ascended as one of the world's leading rock guitarists. Championed by legends like Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, and Joe Bonamassa, her powerful songwriting and distinct vocals first captivated audiences with here 2009 debut, White Sugar. Over the years, Joanne has released numerous...

Original air date: June 28, 2024 Joe Bonamassa is not a household name. But if you ask any musician one of their top favorite guitarist, Joe will surely be included. Only in his 40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalogue. Collectively, Joe has over 40 albums to date with studio and live recordings, collaborative albums with blues sensation Beth Hart and his...

Original air date: June 4, 2024 Since their debut in 2011, Orange County's Robert Jon & The Wreck have captivated audiences worldwide, turning the Southern Rock sound on its head and making it distinctly their own. With Robert Jon Burrison's lead vocals and guitar, the band's synergy on stage is undeniable. As they embark on this next phase with their new release: Red Moon Rising coming out June 2...