GB-STEVIE2015

Stevie Rachelle got his share of flak back in the day, “oh he’s just a Bret-wannabe” they would say, or that Tuff were a bunch of Poison clones.  But he always put his fist first, and never gave up.  His story is about finding a way to make what you do work.  When his style of rock wasn’t in vogue and magazines didn’t want to give him press anymore, what did he do...he thought of a way to generate his own public soundboard, and invented Metal Sludge, a website that became a community long before social media became the norm.  We discuss that and more in this interview.  When I think back, the band was always savvy in presenting themselves, whether it be hiring the best photographers of the time, or being entertaining with their telephone hotline messages, Tuff stood out among the rest.  They were dedicated.  Stevie tells us about the days of flyering the streets of L.A. from 3am til the sun came up.  The infamous Tuff Muff Mansion.  Organizing their own tours, all before the label deal came along.  He also voices out on his contemporaries or competition from the Sunset Strip era.  It’s all here in this podcast episode.


DOWNLOAD INTERVIEW


Rock me till I burn...TO THE BONE!

GB - Tuk of July (Biters interview)

BITERS are leaving their mark everywhere.  They’ve been on a steady trajectory upward and this month sees the official label release of  “Electric Blood” on Earache
Records.  In this podcast episode, Tuk tells us about his hopes and dreams and also
the realities of what comes with the territory for a band like theirs.  From the beginning, The Biters had in place what most bands simply don’t...brotherhood.  A clear unity amongst each member that is more like a gang than anything else.  Tuk expresses his
gratitude for the many that wear the band’s logo on the back of their jackets, or that’ve tatted up their skin with an emblem of the band.  These are members of an Army.  People love this band.  If you don’t already, listen here to find out why you might too.
Most of all, what comes across vividly is that Tuk himself is a huge fan of music, and not afraid to let you know just what he digs, or cockblockin’ those influences to shine through in his own songs. This band certainly has a heart fulla rock ‘n roll.  One look at their new video for "Restless Hearts" says it all, it's like watching Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused jam packed into a 3 minute 32 second song and dance.  This is the feeling I remember having when I was a kid, seeing a band that just embodies the epitome of cool.  They've captured that spirit.  Where's the fun in rock 'n roll?  I'll tell you where, it's where The Biters are. 







BITERS interview







Git'cha bone on!

GBJUNE2015 - Simon Daniels interview

Simon Daniels lost his mind in Brazil, long before he moved to America.  But the voice not only in his head has guided him, the voice in his throat very well has as well.  His journey to most of you that know of Simon begins in Los Angeles.  Forming the band Agent X, with guitarist Billy DeVette, they had the hooks and looks that quickly attracted music madman Kim Fowley into their circle.  He would produce a 5 song demo of the band, and as we find out here, was influencial in convincing them to turn their best tune into an anthem for the young, he named it “Rock N Roll Angels.”
Agent X however would find themselves on a hard road to heaven.  Simon soon after rebounded with Jailhouse.  The band looked and sounded great as a 4-piece, but when Rough Cutt approached him after Paul Shortino left the fold, it was Simon who suggested 3/5 of Rough Cutt merge with him and guitarist Michael Raphael and adopt the name Jailhouse, thus giving both bands a new lease on life. 
I witnessed Jailhouse at one of their headling Country Club shows way back when, and the impression has stayed.  They were solid.  Simon proved to be a bonafide frontman, rockstar in the making.
Subsequent bands later, Simon has signed in with Autograph, taking over the reins of Steve Plunkett, and going strong for the past couple of years now.  What appears to be non-stop touring, listen/download this podcast episode here and hear Simon talk about past, present, future plans.  And leave it to Glambone to throw in a special treat once again.

GB-April2015

If you think Mark Slaughter is a name to lump in with bands like Firehouse and the like of whomever else came late in the 80’s/early 90’s, think again.  With a 30+ year career as a recording artist, the man has earned his place in rock ‘n roll.  In this interview we backtrace his steps that got him here.  His band Roz Parade in 1985, living in Las Vegas and taking weekly trips into L.A. to absorb the scene, we learn of his audition with Rik Fox, which inevitably led to him meeting Dana Strum and his position with Vinnie Vincent Invasion.  The make-up was applied and boys are gonna rock, VVI was over-the-top glam.  Enter the days of Slaughter, “Stick It To Ya” was a record chock full of 3 1/2 minute gems.  Songs that weren’t released as singles like “Desperately,” “Gave You My Heart,” should have easily been singles.  Mark speaks out about the change in the music scene in the 90’s that wiped bands like his off the map.  And while his bandmates are moonlighting now as Vince Neil’s backup band, Mark retreated to his own project of making a solo record for the first time.  We chat about that and everything else in this podcast episode, you can listen or download it here.

GBSPRING-2015

The name implies rebellion, Blackboard Jungle schooled L.A. with their in-your-face raw power.  After the demise of Filthy Rittz at the tail end of the 80’s, head songwriter/bassist Britt Panella claimed his place on the Sunset Strip when manager meastro Kim Fowley took him and the band under his wing simply because he reminded the living giant of Jonathan from Electric Angels.  A lesson in rock ‘n roll would bestow the new band, a Rolling Stone article would spotlight them, but what happened along the way?  Enter 2015 and Britt and his gang is ready to celebrate their annual Blackboard Jungle reunion with another “one night only” show in Hollywood.  Its fanfare draws people from all over the world to reminisce and relive again.  In this interview, Britt tells us why he thinks the yearly reunion show has caught on so well.  He also makes no bones about his influence of Motley Crue.  In fact, my favorite photo of the band depicts the foursome standing in front of their apartment buliding, back against a landscape of trees & plants, much like the early ’81 Motley photo shoot Too Fast For Love era.  Coincidence or not?  Download and listen to the podcast here.

Fade To Strange

GB FEB 2015 episode

First time becoming aware of Salty Dog was seeing Bret Michaels sport a button on his shirt,  yellow with black face Courier type.  In this interview, former Salty bassist Michael Hannon talks briefly about his days signing with Geffen, but we backtrack before that and continue the Kery Doll saga as Hannon reflects on memories about playing with the shock rocker in the band Doll.  It’s a no-frills/no nonsense conversation.  Get it here.