Rock & Roll Nightmares

Nils Goldschmidt , the bassist and founder of the hard rock band Velvet Chains , joins Staci to talk about the Las Vegas music scene, how he started the band, and why they decided to cover an Elvis song. and Staci plays their hit single, “Last Drop,” (which is also the name of Nils’s drink in the Rock & Roll Nightmares recipe book, RockTails ).

Staci goes in-depth on the Australian music legacy with Debbie Kruger , the author of “Songwriters Speak” a comprehensive book about the country’s most popular and important songwriters. Debbie’s interviewees include members of the Little River Band , Split Enz , Midnight Oil , and INXS to name a few. Part 1 of 2.

Author and musician Ronald Malfi joins Staci on this week's Rock & Roll Nightmares Podcast to talk about his horror novels, and his hard rock band, Veer . They discuss his thoughts on being compared to Stephen King , the pros and cons of listening to music while writing, what inspired him to become a professional writer and musician, the best book he’s read lately, and his own personal “rock &...

Staci Layne Wilson chats with filmmaker and special effects maestro Stacy Davidson . They discuss his gore-soaked, music-drenched horror extravaganza, Sweatshop —plus the importance of music in horror films. Movies discussed include: Dario Argento’s Tenebrae ( Goblin ), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors ( Dokken ), and John Carpenter’s The Thing ( Ennio Morricone ).

Steven Blush is the author of a fascinating new nonfiction book called When Rock Met Disco , which covers a unique era in music history and goes in-depth on rockers that crossed over into disco—such as, Rod Stewart , Blondie , The Stones , and many more. Steve also shares his own personal “rock & roll nightmare” with Staci (let’s hope Jimmy Page isn’t listening) and gives a scoop on his next b...

Staci talks with hard rock and metal guitarist Marc Ferrari , who started in the KEEL band and has worked with Gene Simmons , Pantera , and many others. He’s in the rock & roll comedies, Wayne’s World 1 and 2 , and is a music producer, an entrepreneur, and an author—plus, he contributed a cocktail recipe for Rock & Roll Nightmares: RockTails . Marc remembers wild parties at The Record Plan...

Music publicist Mitchell Schneider joins Staci to talk about working with the likes of Tom Petty , David Bowie , Heart , and many others throughout his storied (and still ongoing) career, which began in New York City as a writer when he was inspired by seeing Lou Reed live in concert. Mitch talks about some of the more out-there publicity “stunts” with former clients (including Ted Nugent , and Ko...

Staci Layne Wilson interviews Omar Doom , who, as Straight Razor , performs techno and industrial music. He is in the process of debuting a new record label Doom Vision , with an album of Straight Razor remixes. He is also known for his turns on the big screen in movies like Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds . What’s more, he contributed one of the few absinthe drinks to the newest book in the...

Andy Cahan , the “Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of” and “One-Man Wrecking Crew” shares stories with Staci on this week’s Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast about Jimi Hendrix , John Bonham , The Turtles , Harry Nilsson , and Ringo Starr , to name only a few (plus a little love for The Ventures ). Andy has written his memoir, The Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of —you’ll hear abo...

Staci interviews punk rock drummer and historian, S.W. Lauden . They dig into his newest book, The Oral History of Popsicko , which delves into an up-and-coming 1990s band whose trajectory was tragically cut short and their current resurgence. Steve also talks about his works of music-themed crime fiction, which include the Greg Salem punk rock P.I. trilogy. Lastly, there’s a special excerpt from...

Staci chats with Patti Quatro , guitarist of the pioneering all-female rock groups, The Pleasure Seekers , Cradle , and Fanny . She joined Fanny in 1974 after founding member June Millington left the band; June was on this podcast last year to talk about the documentary Fanny: the Right to Rock when it was out in theaters… now it’s brand new to streaming and Patti gives her perspective on the film...

Film director and producer, Mike Schiff talks with Staci about his newest film, The History of Metal and Horror . Mike also talks about his start in television production working for the Howard Stern Show; creating music videos for John Carpenter , Fozzy , and Charred Walls of the Damned ; and gives the inside scoop on snagging names like Arthur Brown , Alice Cooper , Rob Zombie , and Marky Ramone...

Journalist, biographer, and expert on all things Elvis Presley , Alanna Nash , joins Staci to chat about The King’s love life via her book, Baby, Let’s Play House . She delves into his complex psychological profile; remembers Lisa Marie fondly; shares stories about attending Elvis ’s funeral, and interviewing Col. Tom Parker . Alanna also wrote a book about Dolly Parton , so she gives some insight...

Staci talks with the effervescent Ron Keel , frontman of KEEL —the hard rock band that formed in the 1980s and had hits with anthems like “ The Right to Rock ” (produced by Gene Simmons of KISS ). Since then, Ron has fronted several bands and made his mark on country music. He goes into detail about his memoir, Even Keel ; shares insight on recording at Sound Studio and Electric Lady ; what it was...

Staci chats with the talented, lovely, and totally cool Britt Lightning from the hard rock band, Vixen —Britt is also the Musical Director at Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp , where she’s shared the stage with the likes of The Who’s Roger Daltrey and many more. Britt tells stories of auditioning for Lady Gaga ; being intimidated by the Viking-like Zakk Wylde ; and shares her favorite tiki bar hangouts....

Staci talks with the eclectic and creative Paul Andre Blom from the industrial rock band, Terminatryx . He’s also an entertainment journalist, a music video producer, and runs several film festivals, including Sound on Screen and the South African HorrorFest . Paul gives a rundown on several new music documentaries; talks about growing up during Apartheid in South Africa and how that affected musi...

This week, we have a mini-episode from the press junket for SPINNING GOLD , the true story of Casablanca Records . It's set in the swinging seventies and features the music of KISS , P-Funk , Donna Summer , and many more. Staci chatted with the film's director, Tim Bogart ; the star, Jeremy Jordan , who plays Casablanca's founder, Neil Bogart ; and Tayla Parx , who portrays Donna Summer . In honor...

Staci’s guest is Mary Kryah , the frontwoman of a fantastic Las Vegas-based rock band, Hell Mary . Mary started out singing opera as a teenager but after hearing Queen’s Tie Your Mother Down , there was no holding her back from rock & roll! She shares fun stories about growing up in St. Louis, having “Dark Shadows” as her babysitter, meeting Brian May , and why she goes to New Orleans every Ha...

Staci has a quick chat with Living Dead Girl’ s bubblegum pop goth frontwoman, Molly Rennick —Molly reveals the story behind how the band got their name (hint: it’s not after the Rob Zombie song), shares her very unusual use for Tinder, talks about a special honor from Hustler magazine, and spills the dates for LDG’s upcoming tour.

Surf historian and musician John Blair joins Staci Layne Wilson on this week’s Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast to talk about his new documentary, The Sound of the Surf , which features the late Dick Dale , as well as the Bel Airs , the Chantays , and Kathy Marshall . John’s own band, Jon and the Nightriders , was at the crest of the second wave of surf music in southern California, and he talks...

Staci talks with Todd “Dammit” Kerns , an esteemed multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who’s played with several bands, including Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators . Todd gives us the scoop on his kickass new band, a power trio called Heroes and Monsters ; talks about learning fretless bass; lets us into his haunted hotel room, and gives insight into how the music-making process ha...

Staci chats with George Bunnell , an original member of the psychedelic pop band Strawberry Alarm Clock on this episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast. Strawberry Alarm Clock is mostly remembered by casual music fans for their 1967 hit, “ Incense & Peppermints ” but there’s a lot more to be known about this long-lived Southern California rock band—in fact, they’re still performing a...

Staci talks to Claire Jane , a guest who truly hits all the Rock & Roll Nightmares sweet spots—she’s worked in the special effects department of some of the scariest horror film franchises and now she is a designer of clothing and accessories that rock; you’ll see her wearable art on Joe Elliott ( Def Leppard ), Jimmy Page ( Led Zeppelin ), and Phil Soussan ( Ozzy Osbourne , Last in Line ), to...

Staci interviews Kelly Garni , a founding member of the great California hard rock outfit, Quiet Riot . He formed the band with Randy Rhoads , then went on to pursue other endeavors ranging from EMT to restauranteur. But his most enduring passion is photography and he has a beautiful new coffee table book out called “ Naked Vegas: The Highs & Lows of a Photographer's Journey ” which is more th...

Staci and cohost Andy Garrison talk to guitarist, songwriter, producer, and session-man Waddy Wachtel , who is known for lending his talents to artists including Kim Carnes , Linda Ronstadt , The Rolling Stones , Keith Richards , Warren Zevon , and, most notably, Stevie Nicks . Waddy talks about working with those superstars and more, including giving us the scoop on the upcoming documentary, " Im...