Episode 45 Part 2 ‘Tonechaser’ Chronicles: Music Journalist Steve Rosen Talks About His Friendship With Eddie Van Halen
In Part 2 of Episode 45, Music Journalist Steve Rosen Talks About His 26-Year Friendship With Eddie Van Halen, Which He Chronicles in His Book ‘Tonechaser’.
Episode 45 Part 1 ‘Tonechaser’ Chronicles: Music Journalist Steve Rosen Talks About His Friendship With Eddie Van Halen
In Part 1 of Episode 45, Music Journalist Steve Rosen Talks About His 26-Year Friendship With Eddie Van Halen, Which He Chronicles in His Book ‘Tonechaser’.
Episode 44: Navigating the Musical Landscape of the 1960s with Frye Gaillard and His Book ‘A Hard Rain: America in the 1960s’
Join us on Rock is Lit as we explore the transformative 1960s with author Frye Gaillard and his nonfiction masterpiece ‘A Hard Rain,’ delving into the era’s tragic and hopeful narratives, cultural manifestations of change, influential figures, and the music that shaped this iconic American decade.
Bonus Episode Stairway to 80: Rock is Lit Celebrates Led Zeppelin Guitar Wizard Jimmy Page on His 80th Birthday
Rock is Lit is turning up the volume for a very special episode celebrating the 80th birthday of one of the greatest guitarists in rock ‘n roll history, Jimmy Page!
Episode 43 Soul Music and Southern Roots: Michael Parker On His Novel ‘If You Want Me to Stay’
In this episode of Rock is Lit, Tar Heel native and acclaimed author Michael Parker takes us on a melodic journey through his soul music-infused novel, ‘If You Want Me to Stay’.
Episode 42 Capturing the Legends: Photographer Neal Preston’s Rock Odyssey
Prepare for an epic journey into the heart of rock history with a living legend behind the lens—Neal Preston. In this exclusive Rock is Lit episode, we step into Neal’s unparalleled career spanning five decades. We talk about his background in NY and how he developed a love of music and photography, his unique style and philosophy as a photojournalist, his experiences working with Led Zeppelin in the hedonistic 1970s, his 50-year friendship with Cameron Crowe, the stories-behind-the-story of ‘Almost Famous’, and more.
Episode 41 Beyond ‘Double Fantasy’: Laurie Kaye’s Journey to John Lennon’s Final Interview
Step into the rhythm of rock’s golden era with Laurie Kaye on Rock is Lit. Join us as she shares the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments from her life leading up to John Lennon’s last interview, all of which she chronicles in her new memoir, ‘Confessions of a Rock ‘N’ Roll Name-Dropper’.
Episode 40 Prog Tales: Inside Jason Warburg’s Novel ‘Never Break the Chain’, with The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast Guys Talkin’ Prog Rock
In Episode 40 Jason Warburg talks about his novel ‘Never Break the Chain’, and Mac B. and Action Jackson from The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast talk prog rock.
Episode 39 Reckoning and Redemption: GenXCore Unveils the Punk Rock Soul of His Novel ‘California Roadkill’
In this episode of Rock is Lit, we journey into the punk-rock heart of GenXCore's novel, ‘California Roadkill’, exploring the raw and resonant narrative that unravels violence, homelessness, and addiction in the Golden State.
Episode 38: Music, Mystery, and Mountains: The Appalachian Influence in Emily Alice Katz’s Rockin’ Short Story “A Wayfarer at Devil’s Elbow”
Step into the mystical and melodic world of the Appalachian Mountains as we embark on an exploration of North Carolina author Emily Alice Katz’s short story “A Wayfarer at Devil’s Elbow,” which unravels the enigma of a reclusive 1970s rock musician who has vanished into the rugged terrain of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Episode 37: Rememberin' and Rockin' to the 1980s Cult Classic Film 'Eddie and The Cruisers' with Sherry Thomas
In this episode of Rock is Lit, join me for a captivating journey back to the 1980s, as my guest Sherry Thomas and I delve into the cult classic movie ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’, starring Michael Pare, Tom Berenger, and Ellen Barkin. We share our insights on the film’s enduring legacy and the magic behind its iconic soundtrack by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band. Discover the secrets, stories, and music that made ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ a timeless rock 'n' roll masterpiece.
Episode 36: From ‘60s Southern Rock to Nina Simone’s Soul: Peter McDade on His Rock Novel ‘Songs by Honeybird’ with Alan Light on His Bio of Nina Simone, ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’
In this episode of Rock is Lit, Peter McDade joins me to talk about his rock novel from Wampus Multimedia ‘Songs by Honeybird’, then journalist Alan Light, author of ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’, drops by to do a deep dive on Nina Simone, after whom one of Peter’s main characters is named.
Episode 35: Franz Nicolay
The Hold Steady’s and World Inferno Friendship Society’s Franz Nicolay joins me to talk about his rock novel ‘Someone Should Pay For Your Pain’, a story that follows singer-songwriter Rudy, his conflicted relationship with a successful former protégé named Ryan, and Rudy’s young niece, Lily, who wants to travel with him and whose surprise appearance forces a reckoning with himself and his past.
Episode 34: Rex Weiner
In this episode, Rex Weiner joins me to talk about his book ‘The (Original) Adventures of Ford Fairlane’. The 1990 movie starring Andrew Dice Clay is loosely based on the character Rex created.
Episode 33: Jason Warburg
Ever wondered if politics and rock ‘n roll had a baby what it would look like? In this episode of Rock is Lit, Jason Warburg is here to tell you. He’s the author of the rock novel ‘Believe in Me’ from Wampus Multimedia, a story in which young political operative Tim Green finds himself in the orbit of a super famous rock ‘n roll band.
Episode 32: Ben Arzate with David Novak
In this episode, Ben Arzate talks about his horror rock novel ‘Music Is Over’, a story that deals with the lost years of musician Juntaro Yamanouchi of the Japanese Noise band The Gerogerigegege. In the last segment of the episode, David Novak, author of the award-winning book ‘Japanoise: Music at the Edge of Circulation’, drops by to talk with me about this style of music.
Episode 31: Daniel Torday with Ty Gilpin
In this episode, Daniel Torday, author of the novel ‘Boomer1’, joins me to talk about the book, Bluegrass music, revolutionaries, political rants, and the Wild West of the Internet (otherwise known as the Deep Web). Later, mandolin player for the Bluegrass band Unspoken Tradition and music marketing director for Crossroads Studios, Ty Gilpin joins me to give a crash course on Bluegrass.
Bonus Episode: Scott Michaels
In this bonus episode, which is really an addendum to Season 1 Episode 6, featuring Zachary Lazar’s rock novel ‘Sway’, a story that brings together the early Rolling Stones, the films of avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger, and members of the Manson Family, Scott Michaels joins me to talk about Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders and what it was like working as a consultant on Quentin Tarantino’s film ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’.
Episode 30: John Wray with Jon Verno and Tom Gigliotti
In this episode, John Wray is here to talk about his brand-new novel, ‘Gone to the Wolves’, which author Raven Leilani describes as “a love letter to metal that captures both its brutal kinetics and its nearness to the sublime.” In the last segment, Jon Verno, from the Metal Mayhem ROC podcast, and Tom Gigliotti, co-host of Shout It Out Loudcast, school me on several subgenres of metal mentioned in ‘Gone to the Wolves’, including death, thrash, black, and glam metal.
Episode 29: Brett Marie (AKA Mat Treiber)
Brett Marie (AKA Musician Mat Treiber) is my guest in this episode. Brett and I talk about his novel, 'The Upsetter Blog'; working with his wife, singer-songwriter musician and writer, Roxanne Fontana; how Anton Newcombe inspired his main character; Gram Parsons’ room at the Joshua Tree Inn; and so much more.