Ugly Things

For this episode we dug back into the Ugly Things tape vaults for an interview with Ian McLagan of the Small Faces recorded in January 2014. Mac chats about his many wild adventures with the Small Faces, recording for Immediate Records, songwriting, teen hysteria, LSD, and more. Patreon Bonus: Ian McLagan talks about Booker T Jones Please support the podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/u...

In this episode we explore the British R&B scene of the mid-60s through the eyes of someone who experienced it first-hand, Derek Griffiths of the Artwoods.   https://www.facebook.com/TheArtwoods/ Please support the podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod, where you can enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Check out Ugly Things Magazine: https://ugly-things.com/ To listen...

In this episode, Mike Stax talks to Hank Rank, drummer for the seminal 1970s West Coast punk rock group, CRIME: San Francisco’s First & Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Band. FOR MORE ON CRIME: Watch: "San Francisco's First and Only Rock'n'Roll Movie: CRIME 1978" here: https://crimesf.com/products/crime-movie Crime Official Website: http://www.crimesf.com *Ugly Things Magazine #14, 1995: http://www.ugly-things....

In this episode P.J. Proby’s talks about adventures and misadventures in England 1964-66 and his second Hollywood phase in 1966-68. https://www.facebook.com/pjproby/ Please support the podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod, where you can enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Check out Ugly Things Magazine: https://ugly-things.com/ To listen and connect to the Discograff...

In this unforgettable episode, Mike Stax talks to singer and hell-raiser P.J. Proby, who shares amazing stories about his early days in the music business in Hollywood, 1957-64, and his momentous arrival in England in 1964 to appear on a Beatles TV special. https://www.facebook.com/pjproby/ Please support the podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod, where you can enjoy special...

In this special episode we’re flipping the script with guest host Carl Rusk interviewing Mike Stax about the 40-year history of Ugly Things magazine—the world’s longest-running rock ‘n’ roll fanzine. Please support the podcast by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod, where you can enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Learn more about Carl Rusk at http://carlrusk.com/ Check out U...

In this episode we went deep into the Ugly Things archives for an unforgettable conversation with Sean Bonniwell of the Music Machine, one of the most original and innovative garage bands of the ‘60s. The interview with the visionary songwriter and musician was conducted by Mike Stax and Carl Rusk in 1983 and appeared in Issue #2 of the magazine. http://www.bonniwellmusicmachine.com/index.html Che...

Mike Stax chats with Peter Stanfield, the author of two groundbreaking new books, Pin-Ups 1972: Third Generation Rock 'n' Roll, and The Who: A Band With Built-In Hate. Topics of discussion include the rock scene and the early days of punk in the UK in the 1970s, rock journalism, Mick Farren, David Bowie, the Who, and the Yardbirds. https://www.peterstanfield.com/ Support us by becoming a Patreon h...

Ugly Things 40th Anniversary Weekender, August 25-27, San Diego.  Come join us at the Casbah and the Whistle Stop for a celebration of 40 years of bringing you the very best in garage, psychedelic and beat music! We have some great bands and DJ's lined up, including: The Nashville Ramblers, the Uni Boys ,the Wyld Gooms, the Loons, and Spanish psych rockers Mohama Saz from Madrid. Don't miss it! Ev...

Mike Stax talks to drummer/songwriter Don Stevenson and Moby Grape biographer Cam Cobb. Don shares stories about the band’s formation and the making of their monumental 1967 debut album. Cam Cobb's definitive book on the band, "What's Big and Purple and Lives in the Ocean?: The Moby Grape Story", can be found here: http://jawbonepress.com/moby-grape/ Cam's forthcoming book on Skip Spence: "Weighte...

Mike Stax talks to the ultimate psychedelic record expert Paul Major and Dave Gebroe, host and producer of the Discograffiti podcast, about the strange, alluring world of 1960s and ‘70s private press albums. Support us by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Check out Ugly Things Magazine: https://ugly-things.com/ Connect with Dave Gebroe...

In this episode Mike Stax interviews Cyril Jordan of the Flamin’ Groovies, one of the all-time greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands.  In this episode, Cyril shares stories about the making of their seminal albums Sneakers, Supersnazz, Flamingo and Teenage Head, and pays tribute to their original lead singer and driving force through the sixties and early seventies, Roy Loney. Check out Ugly Things Magazin...

Mike Stax talks to Johnny Echols, founder member and lead guitarist of LOVE, about the making of their second album, Da Capo. Completed in the autumn of 1966 and released in January 1967, Da Capo was an innovative fusion of jazz and rock that included some of their greatest songs, such as “Stephanie Knows Who,” “Orange Skies,” “The Castle” and – predating their jazzier approach – the unforgettable...

In this episode, Mike Stax talks to Derv Gordon, lead singer of the trailblazing UK rock/soul/pop group the Equals. Although best-known for smash hits like “Baby Come Back” and “Viva Bobby Joe,” the band’s catalogue—and their story – runs much deeper… as you will hear. Please support us by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Also, rate a...

In this episode we travel to New York City in the mid-sixties, the world of the Magicians, whose signature song “Invitation to Cry” appeared on the seminal Nuggets compilation. Mike Stax unpacks their remarkable story with writer Walter Roland Moore and Magicians guitarist John Townley. Order Ugly Things Magazine Issue No.61 with Walter Roland Moore's full feature article on the Magicians here: ht...

In this episode Mike Stax talks to Neil Norman and Alec Palao about their feature length documentary The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard. Neil’s father Gene Norman signed the Seeds to his GNP-Crescendo record label in 1965, and Neil spent countless hours watching them record, rehearse, and play live concerts so he has a unique personal perspective on the band and their music. Watch The Seeds: Pushin’ Too...

As Ugly Things magazine celebrates its 40th year, we dug way back into the archives for an extraordinary 1983 phone interview with Sky Sunlight Saxon of the Seeds. In this episode Mike Stax takes you back to the first year of scrappy no-budget fanzine publishing, and shares highlights from his tapes of his phone conversations with Sky, who talks about his music, his philosophy, his storied past, h...

In this episode, Mike Stax and author Dave Holzer discuss the life and work of the innovative Hungarian guitar player Gabor Szabo, whose spellbinding music cross-pollinated elements of jazz, pop, rock and psychedelia in the 1960s. Please join our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy  special bonus content plus much more.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mike talks to Andy Ellison, the lead singer for not one but three great bands in the ‘60s and ‘70s: John’s Children, Jet, and Radio Stars. We discuss his escapades with all of these bands and his immensely enjoyable new memoir, Stunt Rocker. Bonus content: Mike interviews Andy by phone as Andy wanders around Harrods in a kilt doing his Christmas shopping.  Join our Patreon at patre...

In this episode, Mike talks to music writer Harvey Kubernik, author of 20 books (and counting), including definitive works on the Monterey International Pop Festival, the music of Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles Radio 1956-72, the Band, and the Doors. His most recent book, co-written with his brother Kenneth, is Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Chile. Harvey is a music fan to the core and one the world’s foremost...

In this two part episode , Mike Stax enjoys an off-the-hook conversation with Greg Prevost, lead singer and founder of the Chesterfield Kings, about his newly published autobiography, On the Street I Met A Dog. Greg talks about growing up in Rochester, New York in the '50s and '60s, his rock 'n' roll awakening, his importance of fanzine culture, and his musical adventures with the Kings and in mor...

In this two part episode , Mike Stax enjoys an off-the-hook conversation with Greg Prevost, lead singer and founder of the Chesterfield Kings, about his newly published autobiography, On the Street I Met A Dog. Greg talks about growing up in Rochester, New York in the '50s and '60s, his rock 'n' roll awakening, his importance of fanzine culture, and his musical adventures with the Kings and in mor...

In Part 2 of our special Velvet Underground episode we explore more of Lou Reed’s activities at Pickwick Records, the public appearances of the Primitives, the Soundsville LP, the Surfsiders, and Lou’s first musical collaboration with John Cale, “Why Don’t You Smile Now.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Mike Stax talks to writer and Velvet Undergound expert Phil Milstein about Lou Reed’s early days as a songwriter for a budget record label, and the unlikely series of events that led to him first meeting John Cale – a classical/avant-garde musician from Wales who’d come to America to study composition on a Leonard Bernstein scholarship – and forming an alliance that would have an i...

In late 1967 Elektra Record released the only album by Clear Light, a multi-faceted jewel of melodic folk-rock and fierce psychedelia delivered with dramatic flair. In this episode music writer and researcher Gray Newell talks about how he tracked down all of the band members in order to write the definitive story of this dazzling but overlooked West Coast band. Learn more about your ad choices. V...