Rock & Roll Nightmares

Staci welcomes Gillian G. Gaar, an accomplished rock author and journalist whose work has appeared in Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. With previous titles including "She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll," "Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana," and "Bruce Springsteen at 75," Gaar discusses her newest publication - the beautifully crafted hardcover "Queen: A Night at the Opera 50."

Today's episode features an interview with Angie Moon, founder of The Diversity of Classic Rock (found at CrazyOnClassicRock.com). As a music historian and author, Moon discusses her new nonfiction true crime book "Crime of the Century" along with insights from her work celebrating diverse voices in classic rock music.

1991 wasn't just another year—it was a musical and cultural earthquake. Grunge went from the underground to the mainstream, changing rock music and an entire generation's outlook along the way. Staci's guest, Rob Janicke, has written a book, Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created, which explores the movement's impact, the key players, and why the world embraced it so fiercely. Rob is also the founder of Generation Riff. On this episode he talks about the continuing relevance of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, to name a few. He also discusses the narrowing gap between Gen X and Gen Z rock music fans and how that keeps this vintage music vital in our lives.

What's it like to get a guitar lesson from Keith Richards, sword-fight Bruce Dickinson, or launch a Pink Floyd airship? For legendary rock promoter Paul Rappaport, it was all just part of the job. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci talks with Paul about his memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood, which pulls back the curtain on the wild world of rock promotion.With a career spanning decades at Columbia Records, Paul was instrumental in shaping the success of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Judas Priest, and Bob Dylan. He shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories, from the golden age of rock radio to the creative (and sometimes chaotic) world of marketing music's biggest legends. Tune in for an unforgettable ride through rock history!

David Bowie was the ultimate musical chameleon, but his transformation after Let's Dance in 1983 led to one of the most unexpected chapters of his career. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci Layne Wilson welcomes author Don Klees to discuss his book On Track, which takes a deep dive into Bowie's later years—from the Tin Machine experiment to his haunting farewell, Blackstar.Staci and Don explore Bowie's shifting artistic identity, his response to the rise of New Wave and New Romantic, and his often-overlooked but intriguing albums like Black Tie, White Noise. Don also shares his personal experiences seeing Bowie live and reflects on the icon's continued relevance even as music trends evolved around him. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about one of rock's most enigmatic figures.

Staci's guest is Alycen Rowse, the author of a memoir, “We've Got Tonight: The Life and Times of a Notorious Groupie.” She currently hosts the popular Cocktails and Rock Tales podcast, in which she dishes on the two decades she spent waking up next to the most infamous musicians in rock history. Alycen has some funny stories and insightful perspectives on the groupie lifestyle, which she discusses here – as well as sharing her “rock and roll nightmares” which include two members of The Who.

Staci welcomes music historian and author Madeline Bocaro, who returns to the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast for a second time to talk more about her book, “In Your Mind, the Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono.” The book has been out for several months now and Madeline has had time to pause and reflect on how Yoko Ono's legacy continues to grow and morph with the changing times, which she discusses here.

Here is a special episode featuring the creative minds behind the new film, "Becoming Led Zeppelin." Director Bernard MacMahon and co-writer and co-producer Allison McGourty join Staci to discuss the creative choices they made when editing the documentary, what it was like to sit down and interview Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones (as well as giving a voice to the late John Bonham), and much more.

Staci's guest is Roni Lee, a powerhouse singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose career stretches back to the 1970s L.A. rock scene. She was a member of the legendary punk band Venus and the Razorblades, wrote songs for The Runaways, and has shared the stage with some of rock's biggest names. But she's not just about legacy—she's still out there tearing it up, and she's got a brand-new EP, Feels Good 2 Be Bad, which she discusses today.

Staci talks with filmmaker Jordan Albertsen, whose documentary BOOM! A Film About the Sonics explores the groundbreaking legacy of The Sonics, a pioneering rock band from Tacoma, Washington, that helped shape the sound of punk before the genre even had a name. The film is not just a chronicle of the band's influence but also a testament to Albertsen's 15-year journey to bring their story to the screen. His filmmaking odyssey, marked by chance encounters with rock legends and a relentless DIY approach, echoes the raw energy of The Sonics themselves. In this episode, Albertsen shares the challenges and triumphs of making BOOM and offers an inside look at the band's enduring impact on rock history.

Staci's guest is Chris Kocher, a writer, editor, and the creative force behind a brand new book on the Kinks called “Thank You for the Days.” Chris's articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the nation, and since 2011, he has hosted The Signal, a music and entertainment radio show on WHRW FM. In this episode, he discusses his own love of The Kinks music and how he connected with fans all over the world, plus he shares his process for compiling hundreds of stories.

Former child star and current badass rock singer Lisa Foiles joins Staci on this episode of “Rock & Roll Nightmares” to discuss her current role as host of the “Temperamental” podcast and her work as lead vocalist with the band Von Boldt. The conversation covers their upcoming album, her audacious metal interpretations of Frank Sinatra classics, covering The Ramones, and stories about her two cats who share the same name—Kevin.

Director Alison Tavel discusses her touching new documentary Resynator, which chronicles her journey to restore a synthesizer prototype created by her father, Don Tavel, who passed away when she was just weeks old. The film reveals unexpected family secrets while celebrating Don's legacy and features interviews with Jimmy Jam, Grace Potter, Peter Gabriel, and Fred Armisen to name a few.

Staci stage-dives into the world of Heavier Trip, the outrageous and hilarious sequel to the cult classic feature film Heavy Trip—she chats with the masterminds behind the madness, Finnish filmmakers Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren. The directors take the world's most ferocious death metal band, Impaled Rektum, on an epic journey from prison cells to the legendary Wacken festival, with reindeer, revenge, and a cameo from Baby Metal along the way and they tell all on this episode.

Staci's guests are Jeff and Steven McDonald from the long-running California rock band, Redd Kross—they started it at the ages of 11 and 15 in the 1970s and are still going strong to this day. They talk about their brand new documentary, Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story and how it all came about. Discussion includes women in rock, growing up Gen X, the early punk and grunge scenes, plus the brothers sharing their own personal rock and roll nightmares.

Staci's guest is Sally Steele, a true rock historian who lived the scene and has the stories to prove it. Known for creating the Vegas Rocks! Awards Show, she's celebrated legends and rising stars alike. Sally is also the director of the documentary Raised on Rock - The Burnett Family Legacy, which explores the impact of one of rock's most influential families. She shares fun stories about driving Alice Cooper in a limo, auditioning as a Motley Crue dancer, and reveals her own personal “rock and roll nightmare,” which involves Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony.

Martin Popoff, the author of a new hardcover book, Judas Priest: Album by Album, joins Staci on this episode to talk all things our favorite metal gods. Martin jokes about JP's so-called “KISS album,” discusses some of their cover songs, reveals what it was like to work with guest celebs on his book (Slash, Todd La Torre, et al), and shares his own “rock and roll nightmare” which involves Queen. He also gives us a sneak peek at his next book.

Staci's guest is music industry legend Dave Robinson. As the co-founder of Stiff Records, Dave was at the forefront of the punk and new wave movements, working with iconic artists like Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, and The Damned. His career spans decades, including time as tour manager for Jimi Hendrix (Dave's own “rock and roll nightmare” involves Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell). He's currently managing the up-and-coming British band Hardwicke Circus, which he discusses, as well as his vision of the future of rock music through albums and performances.

This episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast features veteran music journalist and author Daniel Bukszpan, who brings over 30 years of experience covering the world of rock and beyond. Dan discusses his latest book, Rush at 50, a stunning hardcover that celebrates one of the most beloved and enduring bands in rock history. The book chronicles 50 milestone moments from Rush's incredible career, and Staci's conversation with Dan delves into its creation and much more.

Staci chats with Emmy Award-winner Andrew Reich on this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares. Andrew discusses his new music documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story, which premieres in theaters nationwide on December 5th. The film tells the wild, hilarious and moving story of two brothers from Southern California who started a band as pre-teens and have been on a 45 year rockin' rollercoaster ride ever since - a journey that's included encounters with David Bowie, David Cassidy, and even a few fictional rock stars. Andrew also shares his own personal rock and roll nightmare, which has something to do with The Grateful Dead.

Staci's guest is Susan Cowsill, the legendary vocalist known for being a child singing star in The Cowsills, her family's chart-topping group that actually inspired the 1970s TV sitcom The Partridge Family. Susan discusses the brand new book about her other long-running supergroup, The Continental Drifters on this episode, plus she remembers being on the music scene in L.A. in the 1970s (in fact, her “rock and roll nightmare” involves none other than The Runaways' svengali, Kim Fowley!), moving to New Orleans and learning to love jazz, bidding farewell to Kris Kristofferson, and much more.

Staci's guest is Spencer Charnas, the frontman of the “theatricore” metal band, Ice Nine Kills. The band name comes from the fictional substance Ice-nine from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. But their sound and inspiration come from horror movies, and their latest collaboration is with the twisted minds behind the Terrifier franchise. Spencer and Art the Clown star in Ice Nine Kills' latest music video, "A Work of Art." Spencer also talks about some of his favorite horror movies, and touring with Metallica.

Staci's guest is Chris O'Dell, the author of an incredible memoir called “Miss O'Dell.” Chris worked for Apple Corps and was in the studio when the Beatles recorded The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, and she sang in the Hey Jude chorus. She lived with George Harrison and Pattie Boyd and she's the subject of Leon Russell's song, Pisces Apple Lady. She's “the woman down the hall” in Joni Mitchell's song Coyote, the “mystery woman” pictured on the Stones album Exile on Main Street, and the Miss O'Dell of George Harrison's song. She's even in Staci's latest book, “Rock & Roll Nightmares: Phantom Chords,” which has a chapter on the haunted goings-on at Friar Park, where she lived when she was working for George Harrison. She has a lot to say about Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, John and Yoko, and her upcoming "Miss O'Dell" documentary.

Staci's guest is Erik Nelson, the director of DAYTIME REVOLUTION, a new documentary that chronicles one week in 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the most popular show on daytime TV, The Mike Douglas Show, bringing together iconic leaders of the cultural, musical, and political revolution. Erik is also known for producing Grizzly Man, directed by Werner Herzog, and his own projects, such as Dreams With Sharp Teeth, the only authorized Harlan Ellison bio.

Staci's guest is a longtime friend and colleague of hers, Scott Huver. Scott has written an incredibly well-researched, truly immersive true crime book, “Beverly Hills Noir: Crime, Sin & Scandal in 90210,” which covers an amazing array of evil deeds. Scott is a former Beverly Hills newspaper reporter and longtime entertainment journalist, and with this book, he takes readers on a century-long jaunt through some of the city's most notorious events—including a couple that are rock & roll adjacent. Listen to find out the real story behind the Eagle's Hotel California album cover, Sammy David Jr.'s brush with Satanism, and how the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, "helped" law enforcement in the 90210.

Staci's guest is Alice Maio Mackay, a young, award-winning genre filmmaker. Satranic Panic is her fourth film, and it was released in Australia last year; this horror musical comedy is now debuting in the States. Alice's debut feature, So Vam, featured stars from Drag Race, and is now a SHUDDER exclusive. Two years ago, she directed and co-wrote her second queer horror feature film, Bad Girl Boogey, featuring a cameo from horror icon Bill Moseley. Alice talks about her influences and processes for mixing music and horror.

Staci's guest for this episode is Joe Matera, author of the newly released rock 'n' roll book "Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass," a sequel to his first memoir about life on the road. Joe's diverse career includes writing for prominent music magazines and a successful stint as a musician. He has performed at European festivals and achieved a Top 20 hit on Radio Berlin in Germany. On this episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast, we dig into music criticism, instrumental music (The Shadows, and The Ventures), and pop (Bryan Adams, Billy Squier), as well as Joe's takes on music and writing.

In this episode, Staci welcomes guests Gaelan Draper and Charlie Saxton, the creative team behind the new psychological horror film "Art of a Hit". Gaelan directed the movie, while Charlie co-wrote, produced, and starred as an eccentric uber-producer. Staci explores their collaboration and delves into the world of film production with these talented creators and hardcore music lovers. They discuss the concept of the “sellout” bands, how Jets to Brazil came to supply their film score, what it was like to shoot a movie in a “definitely haunted” French chateau, and, of course, they share their own personal “rock & roll nightmares”!

Staci welcomes Nickolas Rossi, the acclaimed filmmaker, to the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast. A decade ago, Nickolas directed the documentary "Heaven Adores You" about the late Elliott Smith. With the film marking its tenth anniversary and what would have been Elliott's 55th birthday next month, Nickolas joins us to reflect on the project, discuss future plans for the film, and explore the enduring legacy of Elliott Smith's music.

Award-winning filmmaker Roddy Bogawa joins Staci on today's podcast. Roddy co-directed the documentary "Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd" with the late, acclaimed album cover designer Storm Thorgerson. This remarkable and beautifully crafted documentary took years to complete. Staci will ask Roddy about the making of this film and his personal insights into Syd Barrett's life and decline. He will also discuss the challenges of creating a movie about Syd, a person with such a complex and multifaceted personality.

In this episode, Staci welcomes Linda Chadwick, the author of "On The Road: A Texas Groupie's Memoir." Linda's book offers an unfiltered look into the glam and heavy metal scenes in Texas, sharing her experiences with legends like Metallica, Pantera, and Motörhead. Get ready for some wild stories as Linda spills all the backstage secrets. Tune in to hear more about her unforgettable adventures! (Pictured: Linda and 'Dimebag' Darrell of Pantera)

Staci's guest is Nick Dominguez, the grandson of Rolling Stones' photographer, personal assistant, and book author Tony Sanchez, aka "Spanish Tony." Spanish Tony captured iconic images of The Stones onstage at Hyde Park, at the Beggar's Banquet photoshoot, and candid shots of Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg that have not been published before now. Nick is currently running Spanish Tony Media, a business he formed in 2021. He has been overseeing the collection of photographs, videos, and audio tapes taken by his grandfather in the 1970s, many of which have never been seen by the public and hold considerable historical importance in Pop Culture. There will be an exhibit that includes Tony Sanchez's photography at the Morrison Gallery in West Hollywood on July 11, 2024. Tune in as they discuss all this and more.

Staci's guest is musician Billy Morrison, who rose to fame with The Cult. He's been the rhythm guitarist in Billy Idol's band for 15 years now and is currently enjoying great success with his solo album, The Morrison Project. Right now, he has a hit single climbing the charts – “Crack Cocaine,” featuring Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals and Steve Stevens on lead guitar. He talks about his music, as well as his fine art paintings and plans for the future.

Staci welcomes Amanda Kramer and Wayne Byrne, co-authors of a new book on female “hired guns” in the music industry… the book is called, appropriately enough, 'Hired Guns: Portraits of Women in Alternative Music.' Wayne is the author of several books centered on the entertainment industry, while Amanda is currently the keyboardist for the Psychedelic Furs. They talk about their new book, as well as a future endeavor that covers movie soundtracks.

Staci's guest is the fabulous Suzi Ronson, author of a new memoir, "Me & Mr Jones." It's an excellent book about how she became David Bowie's stylist after helping create his iconic Ziggy Stardust hairstyle. She traveled the world with Bowie as his hairdresser, stylist, and confidante. She went on to marry Mick Ronson, the guitarist. Suzi has also worked with Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan, and John Mellencamp. She talks about how she became Bowie's stylist, shares some road stories, discusses the mores of the '70s, and fondly remembers her late husband.

Staci's guests are Brett Monro and Crista Honey. Their company is Metal Nerds Inc, and they have launched a project called the Kings of the Strip Legacy Project (Tales from the Strip), where they partner with bands to create graphic anthologies for them that they can then sell to fans via mail-order and on their merch tables, which is just brilliant. These comics are a cool representation of the band from start to finish - the colors, graphics, personality, likenesses, stories, content, and so on. Brett and Crista also share stories about podcasting, Alice Cooper, The Beach Boys, and more.

Bert Edens and DE McCluskey talk with Staci about the new short story anthology, “Dismember the Coop.” The book consists of macabre tales inspired by the music of Alice Cooper. It's also a charity project. What's more, DE McCluskey wrote a comic horror tale about Def Leppard for a newly released Rock & Roll Nightmares book, "Parallel Lines."

Mercedes M. Yardley and Nadia Robertson, both of whom wrote short stories for the latest collection in the Rock & Roll Nightmares series, “Parallel Lines,” join Staci on today's podcast. They discuss the inspiration behind their stories—The Beatles (kind of…) for Mercedes, and Elvis (totally) for Nadia. Each author comes from a different perspective and standpoint career-wise, but their love of music and storytelling makes for a fascinating episode!

Staci has two guests today: Alex S. Johnson and J.C. Maçek III, coeditors of the upcoming short story collection "Hand of Doom: A Literary Tribute to Black Sabbath." The book is part of the Axes of Evil series. The editors, who also write, discuss their backgrounds, which include entertainment and music journalism. Alex & J.C. talk about how horror movies have influenced their writing, and they also reveal the behind-the-scenes scoop on bringing "Hand of Doom: A Literary Tribute to Black Sabbath" to fruition.

Author Heather J. Bennett joins Staci today on the "Rock & Roll Nightmares" podcast. As a diehard music fan and an accomplished writer, Heather has uncovered hidden stories of musicians, particularly those from the 1970s Laurel Canyon scene--all fictional, of course (wink). While there are some other rock star romances out there, they tend to be more about the spice... what sets Heather's apart is the focus on music and interpersonal relationships. She shares her research process, where she finds inspiration as a writer, talks about her popular novel "Flipping the Record" and gives the scoop on her upcoming book, "Helplessly Hoping."

Staci welcomes Madeline Bocaro, author of the new book, "In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono," With notable contributions to biographies and documentaries, including works on Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Mick Ronson, she's gone deep into the lives of music legends. Her latest project aims to show all sides of Ms. Ono, not just her time with John Lennon. Madeline shares her thoughts on the recent May Pang documentary, addresses the Beatles' breakup, and the honor of having her book in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library.

Music journalist and author Joel Selvin joins Staci on today's "Rock & Roll Nightmares" podcast. He wrote the incredible recent release, "Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day." ...But today, they're going to talk about his brand new book, a deep dive into session drummer Jim Gordon, whose storied career ended with him behind bars for the murder of his mother. The book is called "Drums & Demons." Joel's aim is to restore the man's reputation in terms of his contribution to music—from his work with The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Carly Simon, and so many more. On this show, he discusses not only Jim's music, but music history, session musicians' unique contributions, as well as the mental health crisis in Jim's day--and now. It's a fascinating episode that covers a lot of ground!

Staci's guest is Peter Summit, the lead vocalist and songwriter for the band Crashing Wayward. Crashing Wayward also consists of Stacey David Blades on lead guitar, on lead and rhythm guitar is David Harris, and rhythm section are bassist Carl Raether and drummer Shon McKee. This is Peter's second time on the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast--he's got some exciting news and reveals, plus he and Staci discuss some of their favorite music/fashion icons, such as David Bowie and John Lennon.

Katherine Brannan is an audiobook narrator, radio personality for WALL, and she is also a veteran of Air Pirates Radio Theater where she lent her talents as a voice actor, musician, and writer. Katherine is the co-narrator of the most recent Rock & Roll Nightmares anthology of short stories, "Parallel Lines." She has some insights on the art of narration and commercial voiceover, plus find out why she compares KISS's Gene Simmons to a used car (kind of... ;).

Staci welcomes the directing team of Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill, whose new documentary, CATCHING FIRE: THE STORY OF ANITA PALLENBERG gives the world a vital, nuanced portrait of the charismatic and fierce rock ‘n' roller, actress, muse, and mother who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s due to her association with the Rolling Stones. The creative team talks about how they brought Anita's story to the screen, discuss Scarlett Johansson's involvement, and much more!

Sophia Dilley joins Staci on this episode. The music-loving exec who launched "Concord Originals," through Concord's Film and TV division has produced projects such as the Billie Holiday documentary "Billie," Creedence Clearwater Revival: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing, and has a new project about Billy Preston, which will be premiering soon – they talk about all that, plus Sophia shares her advice and wisdom with aspiring music documentarians.

Staci chats with Tim Jackson, the drummer of The Chartbusters (the 11th band ever broadcast on MTV in 1981), and whose hit “When Things Go Wrong” is also the name of a documentary film about the frontwoman, Robin Lane. Tim directed the film, and he's got some interesting stories to tell—including one about being a kid in the audience of the Ed Sullivan Show when The Beatles made their American television debut.

Staci's guest is Darren Paltrowitz, an award-winning author, popular podcast host, and private investigator with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Darren's newest endeavor is DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World, published by Backbeat Books. Darren dishes on all things Dave, including his latest Roth Show rants and way back to Van Halen's symbiotic rise with MTV. They also discuss Dave's influences, such as Jim Dandy, The Ventures, and even vaudeville.

Staci is joined by Laurie Kaye, the author of a new book called “Confessions of a Rock N Roll Name Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon's Last Interview.” It's a fascinating memoir about Laurie's life in radio and growing up in the music world of L.A. in the late '60s and early '70s. She talks about all that, plus seeing David Bowie premiere his Aladdin Sane tour and interviewing him, plus being among the first to break the news of Elvis's unexpected death in 1977.

The only and only “Ukulele Hero” Timothy Connolly joins Staci on this episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast. Timothy has a repertoire of a thousand songs, covering a wide range of music from The Beach Boys to The Clash. He believes that we are all embodiments of music, with our very existence harmonizing in the symphony of life, and as such, he offers some incredible advice learned through his own adversities—with the unique perspective of being a deaf musician. Timothy talks about learning from your heroes (his are Eric Clapton, Brian Wilson, and Sun Tzu), as well as techniques you can use to further your own understanding and appreciation of music.

Staci's guest is Renee S. DeCamillis, a talented author whose latest metal-infused short horror story is in the "Dethfest Confessions" anthology, an intriguing collection set against the backdrop of a grim and bloody event at a fictional music festival. Renee is also the lyricist, singer, and rhythm guitarist of a band named Scars Aligned. She talks about all that, plus discusses her career as a professional editor and offers advice to other writers—and, of course, shares her own personal “rock & roll nightmare!”