Sentimental Illness

I have really enjoyed doing my show over the last 5 years. I've met so many incredible people. I've chatted with amazing bands and influential creatives who breathe life into the artform. A good buddy of mine knew perpetually upcoming music producer, Chris Collier and made the introduction. Why do I say perpetually upcoming? Because Chris is always upping his game. He won't rest on his accomplishm...

Every once in a while, I am so excited to talk to a member of a band that I can't see straight. I can't slow myself down. My stomach hurts before the interview and I get dry mouth. Honestly, I'm just a walking embarrassment. Today, I have Brian Mullins, the monster drummer from The Cold Stares. Brian is a magical player and The Cold Stares are the best place to hear his groove. The duo has been to...

I may not be the best interviewer, but I feel like I do alright most of the time. This week's interview with an absolute legend, Rohan Stevenson of I Built The Sky, was one where I fought tooth and nail to stay in the conversation. Not because Rohan but because of a little thing called the Moderna shot. Yes, I got a Coronavirus injection before the interview and well... I felt like crap. Rohan was...

I've spent the past few days trying to figure out the appropriate words to describe Frontierer, the band, the music, and these 2 souls, Pedram and Calum. Given that it's taken me so long to form my words might give you insight into exactly what makes Frontierer so epic. If you listen to the radio, or love traditional pop music, there's an extremely good chance you have never heard of them or would...

Matt Flood and Chris McIntosh are 2 of the 5 members of Caskets, a musical force of nature from Leeds in the UK. I had the opportunity to connect with these kind guys as they are starting the promotional rollout for their major label debut on Sharp Tone Records. The new record, Lost Souls, drops on August 13th and I admit I'm pretty excited about it. The guys were super cool, put up with all my fa...

His name is Davidavi Dolev, but you can call him "Vidi," and his band is Subterranean Masquerade. Wow is the word. I don't know if I've ever had a more intimate conversation and the honor was all mine. Vidi lives in Israel, and like life in that torn country, there is a great dissonance hidden inside. What sets Vidi apart is his ability to speak truth and meaning into every day trauma. This cathar...

Yawn has created a new thing. Yes, it's common to say this about a band you love or are inspired by, but oftentimes, there is little truth to the statement. However, Yawn have made something unlike anything else in music. I have to admit that I didn't know what to ask the guys even though I wrote a number of questions down because I just wanted to hang out with these curious strangers. And hang ou...

So, here's a twist. Tom and Seth from Weston Super Maim and yours truly has struck up an interesting new friendship, seemingly out of the blue. I can't tell you why, but these 2 guys are just what my heart and ears needed, when I probably didn't think I did. How does it happen that two completely different men on two different continents would jive with weird little me? Well, it happened. So, here...

Billy Cobham's existence is one of the few reasons I play drums at the level I do. His surprise appearance in my life, at a key juncture in 1977, was an indirect influence on me, and gave my parents the go ahead to invest in their young, ambitious son. You'll hear that story today. Bill, as he prefers to be called today, is a man full of energy. As he nears 80 years old, he still looks like he's i...

You probably know Eric Bazilian from the well known 80's group, the Hooters. Eric has played the biggest stages in the world, opening Live Aid in 1985, playing the huge Amnesty International gig in 1986, and even participating in Roger Waters epic 1990 performance of The Wall, at the site of the former Berlin Wall. Eric has seen it all. So, why did Eric end up in Sweden, working with a plethora of...

Living in the United States presents difficulties when you're trying to find new music for inspiration. Oftentimes, I leaf through YouTube, watching some older favorites and the algorithm points me towards a band I might enjoy. This happened again recently with a Danish band called VOLA. This band writes incredibly thoughtful, engaging melodic songs with complex rhythms that speak to the drummer i...

Mari Sandvær Kreken and Tor Egil Kreken are known to the world at large as Darling West, a Spellemannprisen award winning folk music duo from Oslo Norway. They have striking musical talent, writing soaring love songs of bittersweet power and heart tugging Lyrics. Their music is an amazing twist on Americana and Bluegrass. An intensely personal and private couple, I was elated to be able to collect...

I fell in love with Oliver's music when I heard the dreamiest sounds around via an emotionally charged sonic masterpiece, Open Season, The song was written in collaboration with Jack Milas, his partner in the Australian duo HIGH HIGHS. Oliver's music has evolved tremendously over the years, weaving in and out of the dream pop space into dance, techno, house, industrial and ultimately some of the m...

Suzi Quatro is all that and she's always been all that. She has never quit or compromised. She is so legit, it almost hurts. What else do we want to know about Suzi? Hopefully, poking the beehive will teach us something new, because Suzi always has something to say. Please enjoy this special show with the legendary Queen of Rock and Roll, Suzi Quatro. Time Codes: 2:05 Suzi Quatro is not a glam art...

There are singers, there are vocalists, there are front men, and there are a very small few who own all three categories. Jon Howard, of Imonolith is that guy. I've been a fan since the early 2000's when Jon's old band, Threat Signal, made a serious splash on a website designed to help you discover the world's best talent. At the time, Threat Signal was riding the top of the metal charts at Garage...

As I get older, I'm much more difficult to impress. I've heard a lot of new material from bands that should have that secret sauce, but instead rely on predictability to get somewhere in this business. Recently, I discovered an amazing new group from the UK, eager to fill the holes left behind by the great emo and hardcore bands that have come before it. Who is this band, with the seemingly perfec...

Every once in awhile, I speak to someone who makes me reconsider much of what I do. It's rare, but special because it's times like these that I am so deeply honored to have a real connection. I would even say it's been happening a lot lately, as I've been speaking to a number of newer musical artists from Norway. Geirmund Hansen is one such person. I fell in love with his voice a few years back wh...

An unbelievably talented guitarist, Steve Lynch, of Autograph fame, made time for me today calling in from his home in Florida. Steve is on the cusp of releasing his autobiography and was open to sharing some time talking about his history, his influences, and how he sees life. He's a wonderfully kind man who may never die. Have you seen what this guy looks like? I swear he has discovered the foun...

I met Rodney Shurelds in a tough season in my life. That season had a complex emotional bent for reasons you'll discover on this podcast. Rodney was the normal American male. Living in central Texas with his family, Rodney received a terrifying medical diagnosis that didn't just change his life, but many around him. In the following year, Rodney stepped closer to death and lost so much of what mad...

Hey guys.... dig on this classic episode from the Spike and Jones podcast back in 2017 when we got to interview the legendary comedian, Craig Gass. Since the Spike and Jones podcast no longer exists in its current form (maybe one day to return?), we thought it might be fun to present a new edit with new material, along with a new opener where Gene Simmons makes an appearance. It's too bad we can't...

It's rare to meet a hero.   I have been a Tubes fan and, subsequently, a massive Fee Waybill fan by default since I was old enough to understand their music and subversive nature. They were a cosmic force, built in the 60's and unleashed on the world in the 70's. They had it all.  Musicianship, showmanship, and crazy bonkers attitude. There was no stopping them. Interviewing Fee was a dream and if...

Today, on Rockstar Superhero, we are blessed to have a conversation with the legendary front man, Mike Reno from the Canadian rock powerhouse, Loverboy. As we all know, Loverboy is pure rock and roll from a time when there wasn't so much of that on the airwaves, at least in the United States. In 1980, the music business was coming down from the disco era, and new era of musical styles were emergin...

Recently, I had the blessing of speaking to the soap opera legend, Ian Buchanan and wow... what fun that was. I was incredibly intimidated, possibly because I also realized I was speaking with Dick Tremayne from the early 90's ABC show, Twin Peaks. Who can't submit to the legendary smile and charms of everyone's favorite Dick? Between his career in modeling, to the many times he's shifted from soa...

Here's an interview with the amazing Procter & Gamble executive, Ray Brook of Summit Seekers. Incredible true story! Hear his exploits while hiking the PCT, Kayaking the Sea of Cortez, climbing various mountains around the world, or biking all 50 states, 10 provinces and still finding time for his amazing wife. Just wait until you hear his proposal story! You won't be able to stop listening, and I...

Every so often, I'm blessed with a fabulous guest that belies expectations.  This week on the show, I have a chance to meet and chat with one of my favorite singers, Jim Grey, from Caligula's Horse. I love love love this band.  I mean, I love them.  Like LOVE them.  Did I mention that I love them?   Jim was a humorous, engaging gentleman.  His whole style, his demeanor and skills are just so amazi...