The Rock is George Podcast

George Dionne Interviews ASIA vocalist HARRY WHITLEY about their latest album ‘Indigo’.  The album is set for release on November 6, 2026 through Frontiers Music.   ASIA features founder Geoff Downes on keyboards, Virgil Donati on drums, and John Mitchell on guitar.  ‘Indigo’ features guest musicians Steve Howe (YES, ex-ASIA) and Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER).  ”I try to ignore [criticism] for the...

George Dionne interviews THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP front woman ALEXANDRA ROSE about their sophomore album ‘Love You More’.  The album is out now through Rise Above Records / Popclaw. “We had the total sum of three whole band practices before we had our first gig.” - Alexandra Rose Highlights include:   -How the band formed -Their songwriting process -Stories behind the singles -1st female vocalist to c...

George Dionne interviews THE CALLING frontman ALEX BAND about their comeback album BEFORE THE WORLD TURNS TO DUST.  The album is out now through TLG | Virgin Music Group.  “THE CALLING (in 2001) was never like a band, I just hired people…This is actually the first time that I have band members that are contributing.” - Alex Band Highlights include:  -Why now was the right time for a new album -Roa...

George Dionne interviews musician JAMIE JAMES about his ‘Stepping Back’ series of albums, chronicling unreleased material from 1988-2009. The albums are available now through Oglio Entertainment. JAMIE JAMES was a member of the NEW STEPPENWOLF, fronted THE KINGBEES, played with actor HARRY DEAN STATNON’s band, and was a key member of DENNIS QUAID AND THE SHARKS. ”[THE KINGBEES] toured for a long t...

George Dionne interviews vocalist LEE-LA BAUM and drummer DAVE TRAINA of THE DAMN TRUTH about the Deluxe Edition release of their 2025 self-titled album.  The album is out now through Frontiers Music and was produced by Bob Rock (BON JOVI, AEROSMITH, METALLICA, THE CULT). ““Be Somebody” has become a defining track in [our] shows.  It sets the tone.” - Lee-La Baum Highlights include: -Why the album...

George Dionne interviews LED BY VULTURES mastermind BRIAN TICHY about their self-titled debut album. The album is out now through Deko Entertainment. Tichy has played drums for such Hard Rock luminaries as WHITESNAKE, BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER, and SASS JORDAN. He is currently performing with the GENE SIMMONS BAND. ”It’s no fun to get excited about an original piece of music and have it sit on a hard...

George Dionne interviews PAUL LAINE about his first solo album in over 30 years, ‘The Long Road Back’.  The album is set for release on September 25, 2026 through Frontiers Music.  Laine is also the current frontman for the Canadian Rock act TROOPER and the Melodic Rock trio THE DEFIANTS.  He also fronted DANGER DANGER from 1993-2003. For me, this is a follow up to ‘Stick It In Your Ear’, because...

George Dionne interviews ESCAPE THE HIVE guitarist CONRAD VARELA and vocalist MICHAEL THOMAS BECK about their latest album ‘Fight Or Flight’. The album is set for release on June 26, 2026 through Deko Entertainment. Highlights include: -Songwriting dynamics -Recording in the studio -Reduction in the ranks -Inspiration behind the album title -Stories behind the singles -The importance of testing ma...

George Dionne interviews JAYLER vocalist JAMES BARTHOLOMEW and guitarist TYLER ARROWSMITH about their debut album ‘Voices Unheard’. The album is out now through Silver Lining Music. “If you’re comparing us to probably the greatest band of the seventies, then that’s not really negative to me.” - Tyler Arrowsmith Highlights include: -LED ZEPPELIN comparisons -When the band formed -Songwriting dynami...

George Dionne interviews guitarist & vocalist GENE MARCHELLO about the 2026 re-release of the first two MARCHELLO albums, ‘Destiny’ (1989) and ‘The Power of Money’ (1991). Both albums are out now through High Roller Records. ”OZZY came down to see me…because he wanted a new guitar player to replace Jake E. Lee. He ended up going with Zakk Wylde.” - Gene Marchello Highlights include: -Forming the g...

George Dionne interviews RHINO RECORDS & SHOUT! FACTORY co-founder RICHARD FOOS about his contributions in the revitalization of abandoned, lost, and forgotten music, TV shows, and movies. “All James Brown music was out of print in ‘78, ‘79…except for his latest album that wasn’t selling very well. We went to [his record label] and they gave us the rights [to his music]…it was our biggest seller e...

George Dionne interviews ARMORED SAINT bassist JOEY VERA about their latest album ‘Emotion Factory Reset’. The album is set for release on May 22, 202 through Metal Blade Records. Vera is also the bassist for FATES WARNING and has been featured on releases by LIZZY BORDEN, JOHN ARCH, OSI, SEVEN WITCHES, MOTOR SISTER, and more. Highlights include: -How long the album has been in the works -What ins...

George Dionne interviews CRASHING WAYWARD vocalist PETE SUMMITT and guitarist DAVID HARRIS about their latest single “Holding for Dear Life” and upcoming EP ‘The Fight Within’. CRASHING WAYWARD are set to kick off The Crazy Eight Tour on April 23rd. “We are Modern Rock, but what is Modern Rock?” - Pete Summitt Highlights include: -Discussion of their latest single -Why criticism motivates them -Th...

George Dionne interviews Blues artist COLIN BURGESON about his debut solo album ‘From Sunshine Into Shadow’. The album is out now through Pavement Entertainment. “The funny thing is, what inspired the album’s title has absolutly nothing to do with [the music] whatsoever.” - Colin Burgeson Highlights include: -What inspired the album’s title -Why now was the time to ‘go solo’ -Collecting the songs...

George Dionne interviews LION’S SHARE guitarist LARS CHRISS about their first album in seventeen years, ‘Inferno’. The album is set for release on March 27, 2026 through Metalville. LION’S SHARE also features ASTRAL DOORS frontman Nils Patrik Johansson on vocals. Highlights include -Why the 17 year hiatus -Trickling singles since 2019 -Their songwriting process -Performance vs lyric videos -Plans...

George Dionne interviews RICK MONROE AND THE HITMEN frontman RICK MONROE about their latest single “Our Love” and upcoming album ‘Southern Tea Bags’. Highlights include: -Transitioning from a solo artist to a band -The stories behind the singles -Crowd sourcing the video for “Our Love” -Multiple albums set for release -How they settled on the album title ‘Southern Tea Bags’ -Releasing material on...

George Dionne interviews FEMMES OF ROCK violinist NINA DIGREGORIO about their 2026 tour. Highlights include: -What to expect at a FEMMES OF ROCK show -How the tour has been going so far -Venues & Towns that have long supported the group -Core and rotating members -Future touring plans -Backing up the Totally 80s Symphonic! show -The changing entertainment scene of Las Vegas -Opening for CHEAP TRIC...

George Dionne interviews TIM DURLING, the host of TIM’S VINYL CONFESSIONS, about his YouTube channel and series of music related publications.

George Dionne interviews A LIGHT WITHIN vocalist KYLE BRANDT and guitarist JEFF IRVINE about their latest single “Dying Clock”. Highlights include: -Discussion of the new single -How the song came together -Working toward a full-length album -Members of the band on a break -Guest drums by Kelli Scott (FAILURE) -Their prior concept EP releases -Updating some of that music -Other music projects thei...

George Dionne interviews vocalist PETER GOALBY about his lost solo album DON’T THINK THIS IS OVER. The album, originally recorded in the late ‘80s, was recently released on December 5, 2025 through Explore Rights Management. The album follows two prior releases of lost music PETER GOALBY recorded after his departure from URIAH HEEP in 1986. Highlights include: -His unreleased material finally gett...

George Dionne interviews Rock and Roll solo artist DES ROCS about his latest single “The Juice”, upcoming 2026 studio album, and recently announced North American tour. “The Juice” is available for streaming now through Sumerian Records. Highlights include: -Discussion of the new single -Previous released singles -His contributions to the video game Borderlands 4 -Collaborating with Zayn Malik (ON...

George Dionne interviews HORIZON THEORY vocalist JOSH HARRINGTON and guitarist CHRIS BLACK about their latest single TRANCENDANCE. The single is out now through Mindful Recordings, with a full studio album, MISSION CONTROL, expected March 2026. “We’re lucky that we have kind of a home studio set-up, because we can record all the time…we’ve got probably two years worth of music right now that we ca...

George Dionne interviews DEADLY APPLES frontman ALEX MARTEL about their latest singles, and upcoming album DISTRESS. DEADLY APPLES also features Antoine Lamonthe on drums and synth. Their upcoming album features guest spots by Richard Patrick (FILTER) and Danny Lohner (NINE INCH NAILS). ”I really think that the best way to experience Deadly Apples is live…as much as I’m a very calm and quiet perso...

“[On his time in SAGA] It is what it is, and thankfully it lasted at least three years. We pulled off a studio and live album…then Michael [Sadler] came out of retirement, and I understand that.” - Rob Moratti George Dionne interviews Melodic Rock solo artist ROB MORATTI about his latest album SOVEREIGN. The album is set for release on December 12, 2025 through Frontiers Music and features Joel Ho...

George Dionne interviews HELL IN THE CLUB drummer MARCO “MARK” LAZZARINI about their latest album JOKER IN THE PACK. The album is set for release on November 7, 2025 through Frontiers Music. Marco is also the drummer for SECRET SPHERE (w/bandmate Andy), ACHON ANGEL (w/Zak Stevens of SAVATAGE), and ODD DIMENSION. Highlights include: Frontman Davide Moras (ELVENKING) leaving the band How Tezzi Perss...