Scott Parker (ZappaCast podcast and author of Frank Zappa & KISS books) Interview

What were some of the first bands/artists that got you into music?

The first band I heard that hooked me was KISS. I was 4 and my brother was a big fan. He used to try to scare me with KISS album covers. In particular, the first one (which has a very striking cover). Instead of really scaring me, I got hooked. I heard the first album and that was it! A few months later, I heard "Got To Get You Into My Life" by The Beatles and my life changed again. From there, it was all music all the time!


How old were you when you started playing a musical instrument and what instrument did you start out playing?

I finally got to play a real musical instrument when I was 9. My Mother bought me a cheap acoustic guitar and provided me with guitar lessons. The lessons didn't take -after the first one, my teacher decided that he couldn't teach me because I was left-handed, playing upside down!


Why did you choose that particular instrument?

I warmed to it naturally (although Paul McCartney made me want to play the bass). By the time I started playing in 1981, I wanted to be Pete Townshend. That first acoustic actually got smashed!


I've made no secret of the fact that your ZappaCast podcast, which is dedicated to the life and legacy of Frank Zappa, my favorite artist/composer of all time, is my favorite podcast (natch). When and why did you decide to enter the podcast realm?

Well thank you, sir! I appreciate that. I had originally wanted to include a bonus "non-radio show" disc with copies of my first Frank Zappa book but I couldn't do it owing to copyright considerations. Later, I got the idea to do a free podcast after I'd started making connections. Seemed like a good way to give back to the Zappa community. And it is!


How did you meet your ZappaCast co-hosts and fellow Zappa fetishists Andrew Greenaway and Mick Ekers?

Andrew has been a friend and supporter of my work since my first book, and I thought that his assistance would be invaluable. He is very well connected - we've only started tapping into his connections!


Discuss the process by which you, Andrew and Mick go about coordinating the content for each ZappaCast episode.
Usually I will suggest a theme and they run with it. One of the cool things has been the discussion panel, which is becoming a big part of the show. I like that interactive element a lot - I'd love to have more fans on the show. The more, the better!

There have been quite a few special guests on the ZappaCast. Has it been a challenge for you to get people to appear on the podcast? Why or why not?

Not really, because some of these people are actually friends. Dweezil Zappa was just on the show because he's a friend and this is a good opportunity for him to talk to the fans directly! We'd love to have more alumni, etc. on the show and I'm sure we will!


I know that Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust literally and figuratively lord over Frank's legacy with an iron hand (for lack of better words). How much of a challenge has that posed for you?

None yet, but give her time! I've communicated with Gail on several occasions and would love to have her on the show. She blows hot and cold on my projects, but being mentioned on the cover of the Greasy Love Songs album is one of my proudest moments!


Discuss the numerous books that you've written on Zappa as well as your other books (in particular, the KISS book), all of which are available for purchase here - http://spbpublishing.webs.com/

I've also written the first volume of KISS Documented, which takes a similar tack to the Zappa books. I've always thought that there was a gap in the market of KISS books - collectors are served very well as far as books about KISS collectibles but not audio/video documents so much. So it is very important to put these excellent documents in the public eye as much as possible! Another book I've written is Woodstock Documented, which examines the audio and video documents of the 1969 Woodstock Festival - another one of my obsessions. :-)


Are you strictly a 1970s KISS fan or are you a fan of any of their post 1970s work as well? And why?

Well, I am actually a fan of all of the KISS eras. Originally, I was one of those fans who was turned off by (Music From) The Elder but later, I came back to it and it is now one of my favorite albums. I can find something good to say about any of the albums or eras. I'm a diehard fan! Once you're in the KISS Army, you're in it for life!


What are some of your favorite Zappa & KISS albums and/or songs and why?

Wow... Zappa is a tough one, so I'll pick representative albums. My gun-to-my-head favorite albums would be We're Only In It For The Money ('60s satire at it's finest), Lumpy Gravy (FZ's compositional insignia fully formed even in 1967), Uncle Meat (dizzying variety of styles, "King Kong"), Hot Rats (fusion a-go-go!), Waka/Jawaka (Phase 1 of Frank's "jazz orchestra era" - brilliant, just brilliant), The Grand Wazoo (Phase 2 of the "jazz orchestra era"), Joe's Garage (the levels of genius on offer here are unfathomable), You Are What You Is (Frank's finest album in the Ray White era, has Ray's finest vocal performances in the title track and "Doreen") and Civilization Phaze III (a sequel to Lumpy Gravy and FZ's last major work. 35 years of composing "serious music" boiled down into two discs and linked thematically. A masterpiece).

KISS is also difficult but as there are less albums it's a bit easier! The first three albums, KISS/Hotter Than Hell/Dressed To Kill, are New York, in-your-face, simple hard rock at its finest. Much the same can be said about Rock And Roll Over and Love Gun. Many of the songs on these albums remain my favorites in the catalog, notably "Deuce", which is my favorite KISS song, no doubt. I also love (Music From) The Elder. Yes, some of the songs are cheesy and the concept doesn't work as it's presented, but when it works ("The Oath", "A World Without Heroes"), it's as good as anything else in the catalog. Creatures Of The Night re-established KISS as a driving force in hard rock. Gene's songs on Revenge are nothing but killer. I'm also a fan of Psycho Circus - a special album from a special time, even if the album is not as cohesive as it could have been. Sonic Boom brought the band back to the simpler hard rock of the '70s & '80s and rocks pretty hard for a bunch of veterans. Also, I love the four 1978 solo albums and Gene's 2004 album Asshole - the band members step out of their usual roles and Gene, in particular, gets to strut his "many moods".


What would be your advice to your daughter if she decides to pursue a music career in some capacity?

Pick good people to play with! I would say that the key is to just believe in what you are doing. I played in a band for years and while we weren't that good early on, we were very committed to the concept even if it was wildly out of sync with the times. For me, it's not about technical skill as much - it's more about belief. Trust and believe in yourself and you will please yourself. That's the goal.


Feel free to mention anything here that was not discussed already above.

I'm really happy to participate in this! It's an honor!

Mia X (The UVs, Rebel Music TV, RockShopNRoll) Interview

photo courtesy of salsphotos.net

What were some of the first bands/artists that you became a fan of and why?

My parents were young and into Rock-N-Roll, so I grew up listening to an array of good music like The Beatles, The Cars, Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Eric Clapton, etc. I think Tom Petty had my heart though. Damn The Torpedos never gets old. He has an attitude and a presence that stuck with me. I got his guitar tablature book when I decided I wanted to learn and tried playing "Even The Losers" over and over again. Most of his stuff is A, G, C. I realized it doesn't have to be rocket science to write a song. I never did learn how to play anyone else's songs but my own.

As soon as I was old enough to go hang out on my own in the East Village and figure out ways to get into the clubs, The Lunachicks, Fur and DGeneration made a big impression on me. The Lunachicks and Fur got me because I never was a witness, up close and personal, to powerful females not giving a f**k and doing their thing on stage.


What made you decide to pursue a career in the music industry and why?

I didn't learn how to play when I was a kid. I didn't understand music classes and I didn't think I could ever play. When I was in 6th grade, we had to write down what we wanted to be. I said I wanted a career in music. It gave me a print out on how to, one day, be in the Philharmonic. I felt misunderstood.

Being a fan of music, I have managed, promoted, roadied, etc. for music companies and bands. I didn't know how to play though.

In the early 2000s, I learned about Betty Blowtorch and got to know their lead singer and bass player, Bianca Halstead. She had a rough life and started playing in her mid 20s after she got sober. She inspired me and I started to learn how to play after she passed away in December 2001.

As a musician and as a singer, who are some of your influences and why?

I am in love with music of all genres and time periods and can still learn something by listening to a good song or seeing a great performance. I think one of the top people that blew me away though is Patti Smith.

I heard Patti's music before but the first time I was in her presence - WOW. It was something I had never seen before. I was at St. John's the Divine, somewhere in upper Manhattan for a tribute to Allen Ginsberg. She walked in with a purpose. All black, creased jeans, holding a clarinet in one hand and a lined piece of note paper in the other. She was so forceful on the mic. She read something like I've never seen anything read, then spit on the floor, crumpled the paper, went into song and then did something on the clarinet before saying a few more words and walking off. If I could have 1/8th of the presence that she did on that day, I'd consider myself a success.


Briefly discuss all of the bands that you are currently in and that you used to be in.

I haven't been in too many bands. I started playing out somewhere in 2004. The first band that I played out with was my friend Kyle's band Skeleteen. I played bass and did backup vocals. I am still a big fan. Chase was our drummer and, later, became the drummer of The UVs. I started The UVs in 2005 and, like me, it has gone through many growing pains. The lineup and direction the band is going in is better than it's ever been. I got a great group of people and a lot of new material that I can't wait for people to hear.

Mike Christie on lead guitar, Fabrice Ferrer on bass, Chase Manhattan on drums and I play rhythm guitar and sing.

I have also been helping out Betty Blowtorch do a remembrance for Bianca. It's been 10 years since she's passed. I've been playing bass and singing with the rest of the girls. It was the first time in ten years that they've all been in the same room. I love it. It's a tremendous responsibility for me though, because I want the audience to enjoy it and have a good memory of the show. I want to make Bianca proud. We're getting ready to do the big show - soon to be announced.


What exactly does your role as sewing assistant for Corey Parks (Nashville Pussy, Die Hunns, Chelsea Girls) and her Corey Parks Custom clothing line entail?

Corey Parks has taught me a lot. She is a very unique and creative person. I interned with her for a couple of years before I graduated to making her creations on my own. Corey is working on a couture line called Stand and Deliver, so anyone that is interested in her Corey Parks Custom line - basically the "punk rock" line - come to me. I enjoy creating and giving people a little "punk love" in the designs.


Discuss Rebel Music TV and your role as co-host on it.

Rebel Music TV is Tony Misfit's creation. He got together with Ian Down from White Flag Down and wanted to have a go at an internet radio show. Rebel Radio is that show and it is a crazy internet radio phenomena. It has a lot of interest and people all over the world listen to it. We have shock value, sexy girls and substance. Everyone affiliated with the show has a love for rock/punk and all that is underground. I fell into the role of co-host by showing up to every podcast and giving Tony and Ian shit. They decided, since I talk so much, that they might as well give me my very own mic. Well, I share it with Samantha Meow. I don't give her trouble because she's like a little sister and I like to hang out at her store, Just Deadly. I also sometimes help keep the interviews on track when the drinks start flowing, since I'm the sober one.


Discuss your RockShopNRoll business.

RockShopNRoll is a culmination of all the things I love - community, art, music and shopping! (well, I'm a typical girl in that way, what do you want?)

It's still in the works, site is 99% done. It is a high-end, Rock-N-Roll inspired accessories boutique with items that I make or one of a kind items that I find, as well as handpicked up and coming designers' products. It will also have a blog section about shows and fashion. It's definitely my labor of love!


Discuss your experiences (good and/or bad) being both a female singer/musician and working in the entertainment industry.

Not until I started hanging around the originally all girl band Blare Bitch Project did I get any encouragement to play. Blare N Bitch was the first to support me in having a band.

The good news is that there are some talented musicians that have respected and played with me. I don't care what you are, just as long as you know how to play and can rock it. I'm very picky with who I play with. I want to be and learn with the best.

I hate to hear things like, "wow, I thought you were just a groupie, I didn't know you could actually play." There's two things wrong with that statement, the statement itself and then thinking it's okay to actually say the statement out loud to me. Some guys have apologized for doubting my talent and genius (kidding), including a journalist. The funniest incident was when a security guard told me I couldn't go through the back door, while I was carrying my gear, because "it's only for the bands, honey, not for girlfriends." I had to tell the "sweetie pie" that it's MY band.

When you're good, some guys like to claim you. I've heard around town different guys telling people that they taught me how to play or gave me my name. That's total bullshit. I made me - that's it, end of story.


What's your advice to young people (particularly girls) who are contemplating becoming musicians and/or working in the entertainment industry in some capacity?

My advice to someone (male or female) starting out in any field is to just do it. Practice what you love. Find like-minded people and learn and grow together. Don't listen to anybody or anything except for your heart. If you're looking for advice, find accomplished people in the area you want to succeed in and emulate them.


Feel free to discuss any of your other endeavors that were not already mentioned above.

That's all my endeavors at the moment. Catch up with me in a few months and I'll bet that I have something else to talk about!

We're always looking for shows, promoters, bookers and sponsors - hit us up if you like what The UVs are about.

I would like to mention and thank Raymond J. Flores, Tracie Cochran and Bianca Halstead for helping me become the person that I am today - they are my Lucky Angels. Blare N Bitch because she ROCKS and has always been by my side. And to my band members - Mike Christie, Fabrice Ferrer and Chase Manhattan. I love and learn from them every day.

Thanks for the interest, Andrew!

Gene Simmons: A Rock 'N Roll Journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust

Mr. Ross Berg does a wonderful job telling the stories of the self-proclaimed powerful & attractive Gene Simmons and his mother, the even more powerful (and, yes, even more attractive) Florence "Flora" Klein in this phenomenal book. An absolute must read.

To read reviews and acquire ordering information, click HERE

Episode 16 - Radio Sucks Radio Show 2

A Second Helping of “I Don’t Hear a Single, But Who Cares?”

We’re back with another generous portion of tunes that you won’t get to hear on commercial radio because they are too busy getting blown by a&r guys while pimping out whatever modern rock schlock is being force-fed to the masses.

We say, screw that! Decibel Geek presents the Radio Sucks Radio Show 2! We’re giving you some delicious ear candy that will exorcise any Nickelback-inspired demons.

Spacemen & Hard – Up Criminals

We kick things off with a track from KISS spaceman version 1 – Ace Frehley, singing a song that Gene Simmons provided him entitled ‘In Your Face’. This track was recorded for the 1998 Psycho Circus album but, for some insane reason, was cut from the album in favor of the cringeworthy ballad ‘I’ve Finally Found My Way to You’ as well as the self-congratulatory ‘Raise Your Glasses.’ We love KISS (as it’s obvious) but Chris was left scratching his head, and balls, over some of their decision making for this “reunion” album.

Up second is a track that went semi-viral via youtube by Beggars & Thieves.  Featuring cameos from Slaughter drummer Blas Elias, Ron Keel, and even noted rock-recluse Jake E. Lee, the video for ‘Come Undone’ drew attention from many of us with a taste for melodic hard rock and a keen sense of nostalgia. Plus, the song really gets stuck in your head which, in this case, is a good thing. Check out the video on the website.

Tony’s Fight & Tool Grabs You

We return from the break with Tomorrow’s Dream from BlackSabbath Volume 4. We recorded this episode a few days before the recent tragic news that guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with early-stage lymphoma. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tony and the Sabbath camp and hope that this excellent track will give you some joy as Tony fights this illness.

Next up is a very stripped down, hungry Tool performing a live rendition of the song ‘Jerk Off’ from the pre-Undertow E.P. entitled Opiate. This cd was on constant rotation in Chris’ dorm rooms in the 90’s as the soundtrack to many activities that are long since forgotten due to the haze from substances of old. Check out Maynard James Keenan’s scream near the end of the song. It could peel paint off the walls.

The Klok is Ticking & Diamond Dave’s Shakespearian Alter-Ego

Aaron gives us all something to think about with his choice of

Blare N. Bitch (guitarist for Betty Blowtorch and Black Sabbitch) Interview

How old were you when you started playing the guitar and why did you choose the guitar as your instrument?

I think I was around 10 years old. I'm not sure why I picked guitar. My brother was listening to bands like Allman Bros., Ten Years After and Hendrix so it probably had some influence on me. I thought, from pictures that I saw of rock stars playing guitar, that it was the absolute coolest thing in the world. When I was 15, I saw Steve Howe in Manny's (NYC) and was so awed, I was speechless.


Besides the inventor of heavy metal himself (Tony Iommi), who are some of your influences as a guitarist and why?

Alvin Lee, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Page, Johnny Thunders, Angus Young, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe, C.C. Deville, Tom Guernsey (Hangmen) and Marc Diamond (Motorchrist).


What guitars and guitar equipment do you most predominantly use and why?

I use Marshall 2000 head and Marshall cab. I love my '74 SG!! I also have a GMP Pawnshop Edition guitar. I have 50W Hughes & Kettner combo amp. As for pedals, I mainly use Fatboy, Sparkle Drive, Boss Delay and Boss Octave.


What are your opinions of guitar solos?

I love the good ones, of course. Guitar solo is an art form. You gotta tell a story when you're playing one. Even when you're just whanking and wailing on one note, it's got to be for a good fucking reason.


Do you do guitar solos during your bands' shows? Why or why not?

Of course! I'm a guitar player! :)

What are your opinions of the non-Ozzy Black Sabbath albums/songs?

I happen to like Black Sabbath as the orignal lineup. If we're talking Black Sabbath, then that's what I think of.


In what ways would you say has Iommi's signature guitar sound in Sabbath changed throughout the band's 40+ year career?

I really have no opinion on that.


Discuss your experiences (good and/or bad) being a woman and working in the
entertainment industry.

Well, it's always been harder for women to 'prove' themselves. I remember guitar teachers not taking me seriously because I was a girl. The teacher would teach the boys leads and teach the girls rhythm. I still think it's kinda biased but with that being said, you look around and it's undeniable that the gals can rock it as hard as the guys.


What advice would you give to young people (particularly girls) who are contemplating learning how to play the guitar and/or pursuing a career in some capacity in the entertainment industry?

Go blow go!!! That was from a Betty Blowtorch song called "Part-Time Hooker". If you're following your passion, no matter what it is, you gotta give 110%.

Don't give up and hang out with people that believe in you and have the same drive.


Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other endeavors here that you didn't already mention above.

I'd like to mention and thank Mia X and The UV's cuz I love them big time and they rock hard... and I taught the drummer, Chase Manhattan, everything he knows. ;)

send get well wishes to Tony Iommi in his battle against lymphoma

from the Black Sabbath Online Website via Twitter:

If you'd like to send a get well email to Tony, please send one to getwelltony@black-sabbath.com - his management has access to read them!

Your Favorite Trainwreck

Your Favorite Trainwreck is a hard rockin' collaboration between the leaders of two of the most prolific Southern California melodic punk/hardcore bands of the 1990s – Farside’s Popeye V. and Gameface’s Jeff Caudill, YFT’s singers/guitarists and chief songwriters. Rounding out the lineup are bassist Jeff Holmes and drummer Robbie Rist. YFT takes the best elements of both Farside & Gameface and infuses them with the life experiences of the respective frontmen to create timely music for the 21st century. Check 'em out.

Patrice Zappa-Porter interview

Your brother Frank has been my #1 favorite music artist and composer since January of 2008, so I'd like to kick this interview off by saying that it's a real honor to interview you. On that note, my first question to you is how much of a challenge (to put it nicely) has it been for you throughout your life to be Frank Zappa's sister?

Well, it's had it's moments! In high school, and I went to 3 of them, I was a minor celeb myself. In the 80's, I had a following of my own, in the San Fernando Valley, from my singing in bands I had formed and sitting in with other bands but of course there was that last name thing! I won't lie, it has opened doors for me, but most of the time I would not say who I was when asked to sit in with bands. People would ask me who I was and I would just give my first name.


In his autobiography, Frank mentioned that some of his songs drew the ire of feminists due to said songs' lyrics. What were and are your thoughts on this?

After the initial laughter and surprise of the lyrics, I figured he had experienced something that would have made him write these lyrics. For example in "Broken Hearts Are For Assholes", he states that "ladies, you can be an asshole too" and that is the truth. No one was exempt from his observations. Frank was old school in his relationships with women, at least that's what I think. One time I was at his house and I had on a t-shirt that said "My Body Belongs To Me, But I Share". He said "You're not one of those girls who rolls around on the floor are you?" and I said "Sure!" He just groaned. See, little sister not allowed to do that but women he liked could. Doesn't matter, Frank loved women and they loved him!


Do you think that what could very understandably be considered sexist lyrical content in some of Frank's songs was more tongue in cheek than anything else? Why or why not?

Frank didn't have time for tongue in cheek, he was upfront about what he said. As he himself said "I'm not shy about what I say," to paraphrase him. If he observed you acting a fool, you were called on it.


Were you ever personally offended by any of Frank's songs? Why or why not?

At first when I heard his music, because at that time, in 1966, I had been listening to the Beatles and the Beach Boys, so when his lyrics came on, I did flinch but after listening to it and understanding what he was talking about, I understood.


What are some of your favorite Frank songs and/or albums and why?

We're Only In It For The Money, Apostrophe, Joe's Garage, Lumpy Gravy, mostly the early stuff, but the later stuff was excellent too. Frank was a master of melodies and his were the best in my opinion. Harmonies, vocals that were superb, a guitar virtuoso, his conducting of orchestras were the finest to be heard.


Discuss growing up in the 1960s and the 1970s when the feminist movement, among many other movements, really came into fruition.

My life in the 60's consisted of going to school and observing how the girls were treated and in some ways not good. There were some strong girls in school that held student offices but you have to remember the 60's were not that progressive. Civil rights, assassinations, segregation, the 60's was a rough decade and there weren't too many opportunities to do what women do today, 50 years later. In the 70's, I was married and raising children and not that free to pursue what I wanted to do, go to school, write, perform, etc. Not until I was divorced did I finally come into what I wanted to do. And that wasn't until 1982.


To the best of your recollection, what were your initial reactions to feminism?

I wasn't aware of it too much because I did what I wanted to in the 80's but not to the extent that I am free today, but I was getting there. I was interested in how women came into their own and were to be respected and treated equally, paid as much as men - although that might not be the case still today. I kind of took care of myself and my kids so I needed that support from the feminism movement.


Discuss your current views on feminism and the present day feminist movement.

Do you remember the one episode of "I Love Lucy" when she and Ethel wanted to be treated as equals and Ricky and Fred left the restaurant for them to pay for their own dinner and they didn't have the money? All they wanted was equal rights and got screwed over for their efforts to have it. Made to wash dishes. Women have been washing dishes, so to speak, for hundreds of years because they were held to the barefoot and pregnant theory that women belonged to, in men's minds. Women now hold high positions in politics, are doctors, lawyers, high powered CEO's. This would not have even been thought of even 50-60 years ago. And a women President?!


Generally speaking, where do you stand politically in 2011?

Honestly, my political views are expressed at the voting booth. I prefer not to divulge my views in print.


Discuss President Obama's job performance, particularly as it pertains to issues that are near and dear to you.

Again, I prefer to not divulge this.


If you don't mind me asking, are you planning on voting for Obama in 2012? Why or why not?

I don't mind, but I don't want to say.


What are your views and opinions of third political parties? Have you ever voted for any third party candidates?

Third parties are a brave lot but I haven't voted for any third party candidates.


Total hypothetical but I gotta ask it anyway - if Frank were alive today, what political party, if any, do you think he would be most closely aligned with and why?

I don't know, things have changed so much, it's hard to say.

Patrice Zappa-Porter's 2003 book My Brother Was A Mother was reissued last month and can be purchased by clicking here.

Mary Powers (singer for Black Sabbitch and Death On The Radio) interview

Let's kick this interview off by discussing Black Sabbitch, your all female tribute to my favorite metal band of all time, Black Sabbath. What were the circumstances that led you to become the singer/frontwoman for that band?

My dear friend Johnny Angel Wendel knows Angie (the drummer). They were talking in a grocery store one day about her project and how they needed a true Ozzy to front the band and he got on the phone right away and called me. He told her I was exactly the ONE. :)


Does Black Sabbitch perform any of the non-Ozzy Sabbath songs and if so, what songs? And if not, why not?

We perform ALL the amazing tracks of Sabbath with Ozzy. Just to name a few: "NIB", "War Pigs", "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and, yes, even "Paranoid".


Have you listened to any of the Sabbath albums with Tony Martin on vocals? If so, what are your opinions of them?

I haven't listened to any of them. I really love the Ozzy years. Dio was great too. But I'm only listening to Ozzy so I can really wrap myself around him.


What are some of your favorite Sabbath albums and/or songs and why?

My favorite song right now is "Hole in the Sky". "I'm livin' free because the rent's never due". Musically, it's insane!


Discuss your band Death on the Radio.

Death On The Radio is my baby! We, as a band, are really trying to get that new sound together. I think we are accomplishing it too. On bass is Evol Powers, guitar is Danny Dorman (from Wasted Youth, Circle One, The Livingstons, Aggression) and on drums is Roger De Lelong (Midlife Crisis and SIKK - they're a KISS tribute band and a very good one too).


As a singer and as a musician, who/what are some of your influences and why?

Lena Lovitch, Nina Hagen, Nancy Wilson (HEART), Pat Benatar, Rob Halford and, of course, Ozzy.


Discuss your experiences (good and/or bad) being a woman in the entertainment industry.

I am a human being making music.


Discuss your experiences being a lead backup singer and a featured dancer in the hip hop group Candyman 187 and The Havenotz.

The Candyman 187 days were great! We were a 14 piece hip hop band that kicked ass! When I sang with them, we were like Black Eyed Peas meets 2Pac. Candyman187 just released a single with Snoop Dog called "High Off the Fame". He kinda went solo.


What are some of the notable similarities between rock/punk audiences and hip hop audiences?

Fashion, aggression and sex.


What are some of the notable differences between rock/punk audiences and hip hop audiences?

Fashion, aggression and sex. HA!


Discuss your voice over work.

I do character voices. I have an older demo here - http://www.voices.com/people/mp but I'm way better than the demo now. Narration, even commercials. But my heart is in the flamboyant animation characterization.


What's your advice to kids (particularly girls) who are considering careers in some capacity in the entertainment industry?

GIRLS! Go forth and KICK ASS! Have a thick skin and be prepared to fight for your authenticity. I would tell guys that too. Don't be afraid to be a bit commercial. BUT NEVER SELL OUT!


Discuss your animal activism and anything you've done in support of animal rights.

I am strongly against FACTORY FARMING.


Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other endeavors here.

Death on the Radio has a residency on Tuesday nights in February at The Redwood Bar & Grill in downtown Los Angeles. We are bringing the coolest acts in LA and Orange County. To name a few: The Fagz, Rikk Agnew's band Motherless, I Still Have Nightmares, Hari-Kari, Million Kids, etc. All of these bands are either fronted by a chick or have chick musicians and they all kick ass!

Also, we'll be playing with 45 Grave at Webers in the Valley on March 3rd.

And as far as Black Sabbitch news, we have incredible opportunities brewing right now. I, personally, am not at liberty to speak about them yet but it is the top most opportunity this band could dream of!

Judy Cocuzza a.k.a. Luda Criss (drummer for PRISS) interview

What exactly were the circumstances that led you to form PRISS, your all female tribute to KISS, my #1 favorite hard rock band of all time?

Sharon and I (Judy) have played in bands together for years. One night, we went out for a drink and we walked into a local bar. Everyone in the bar was dressed up like KISS - bartenders, clients, DJ, everyone!! They had KISS videos playing, KISS tunes going. So we asked the bartender, "hey, why is everyone dressed like KISS?" And she said, rather shortly, "WHY NOT?". That's when we looked at each other and thought - we have got to do a KISS tribute!


Does PRISS strictly perform 1970s KISS songs or you dip into the other decades as well?

We all love the earlier tunes but do try to mix it up and play some newer tunes as well. Mostly, we want to play the tunes that people want to hear or ask to hear and the ones we all love and love to play.


What are your personal opinions of the other decades of KISS's long existence?

KISS is just an awesome band!! We all have a lot of respect for all the members and all the creativity they have shown through the years. Gene, of course, is a brilliant businessman and they have created a very impressive legacy.


What are some of your favorite KISS albums and/or songs and why?

We all have our favorites and there are so many tunes!! Some of our common favorite tunes are "She", "Love Her All I Can", "Deuce", "War Machine", "Calling Dr. Love", "Black Diamond", etc.

As far as albums go, the first Alive album is a big favorite of ours. We play a lot of the live versions from that recording.


Besides KISS, who are some of your influences as musicians and why?

There are so many. Sharon and I come from a more rock/punk background, while Jennifer and Andrea come from a more mainstream rock background.

The bands that influence us range from AC/DC to X. It's hard to pick just a few bands since we all have long lists!! We are all just open to great tunes. Rock, pop, jazz - we listen to many styles.


Have any of the members of KISS attended any of your shows? If so, who and what did they think?
We have met several of the members of KISS but not at our shows. We were on an episode of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" - we met Shannon and Nick & Shannon actually put on Gene's Demon makeup and sang on stage with us, so that was very cool.

We have met Gene, Tommy and Eric Singer at the NAMM show before. Sharon and I were in a band called Betty Blowtorch and Eric was in a band called Glamnation and we played shows together years ago, so it's awesome that Eric is now in KISS and he has been very supportive of PRISS.


Generally speaking, how has PRISS been received by both KISS fans and everybody else in your audiences as well?

Really well! KISS fans are super supportive and they really come out and support the band. It's a huge compliment to us and we really appreciate each person who comes out and sings along! We have had some people who aren't KISS fans come see us and by the end of our shows, most have become KISS fans!


Discuss your experiences (good and/or bad) being a woman in both the rock music scene and in the entertainment industry in general.

Being a female musician has its ups and downs. As more woman are playing and getting out there, things are certainly getting better. One of the things that we hear a lot are women who say, "oh, I wanted to play the drums, guitar or sing but I was told that it wasn't for girls or not encouraged to do so". That's sad to us - we want to encourage females of all ages to go ahead and play!! We are each a unique individual and we all have our own style and can bring new things to the musical table. I try to look at the positives in life rather then dwell on negatives. I try to take things that were challenging or difficult and learn a lesson from them, let those experiences make me stronger and a better musician and person. So again, I would encourage woman to believe in themselves and their talents and get out there!


Are any of you in any other bands? If so, please discuss.

We all play in other bands!! Here is a list:

Sharon - Betty Blowtorch, Hells Belles
Jen - Ladysmith
Andrea - Thundherstruck, Hammer of the Broads
Judy - Betty Blowtorch, Evil Beaver, sub for an all female AC/DC tribute and other independent work

Angie Scarpa (drummer for Black Sabbitch and Lynette Skynyrd) interview

How did you get into drumming?

I have been drumming since I was very young. Music was a big part of my upbringing. My father was a doo-wop singer who made a few records in the 1960s and music was always playing in my house and in the family car. Early on, I became obsessed with Elton John, The Beatles and The Stones. Then I discovered The Who and it was all over for me. Although Keith Moon inspired me to play the drums, it was Bill Ward that literally taught me to play. I spent hours listening to the Sabbath records and playing along. His style is so unique that learning that way made it almost challenging to play to any other music. Eventually, I began to encompass all types of styles into my playing but Bill Ward is still my ultimate drum god and I attempt to play his parts as note perfect as humanly possible.


What were the circumstances that led you to form Black Sabbitch, your all female tribute to my favorite metal band of all time, Black Sabbath?

Black Sabbath are not only my favorite metal band of all time, they are my favorite band of all time (and I would even hesitate to call them metal). I have known Blare forever, back since her days in Betty Blowtorch. I got a call one night out of the blue asking me if I had any interest in doing an all girl Sabbath band with her and a mutual friend of ours on vocals. They knew how much I worship Sabbath so, of course, I was instantly excited about it. Laurie (Black Sabbitch's bassist) and myself are also members of the world's only all female Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute, Lynette Skynyrd. Laurie is the singer in Lynette but she is also an amazing bass player and another Sabbath freak that I've known for even longer than Blare. I immediately asked Laurie to join. Eventually, we mutually decided that it wasn't the right fit for our friend who was singing and that's when we found Mary, who is a powerhouse and just scorched us from the first moment she opened her mouth. We needed the right singer to be able to stand up to the powerhouse band we had assembled and Mary was RIGHT!!!


Are you influenced by any of Sabbath's other drummers besides Bill Ward? If so, who? And how specifically are you influenced by them?

To me, Black Sabbath is Tony, Geezer, Bill and Ozzy. If any one of those elements is missing, it just ain't Sabbath to me and that includes Bill. I really do not think that anyone who played those songs in Bill's absence really had that amazing swing that Bill has and for me, when listening to Sabbath, I want Bill Ward. That said, there have been some people in the band over the years whose style I did like but my reference to their playing would be more based on things that they did outside of Sabbath. Cozy Powell, for example, was a monster drummer and I really liked his playing in Rainbow and The Jeff Beck Group.


Does Black Sabbitch perform any of the non-Ozzy Sabbath songs? If so, what song(s)? If not, why not?

No, we strictly do the first 8 albums - Black Sabbath through Never Say Die. Ozzy era Sabbath. I guess that goes hand in hand with what I was saying above. No knock against any of those other lineups but, to me anyway, they are different bands. Our identity is based strictly on the sound the four original members made in the 1970s.


What are your opinions of the non-Ozzy Sabbath albums/songs?

I guess I am going to answer similarly again as above. There are some great things on those records but to me, Sabbath is those four guys on those eight albums. Of all the latter day Sabbath stuff, I would say (like a lot of people) that I like the the first three post Ozzy records the best: Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules and Born Again (not counting the live album Live Evil) After that, they really lose me. Heaven and Hell still retains some of that old Sabbath swing mainly because Bill Ward was still there. Mob Rules, while still good, suffers greatly from Bill's absence in my opinion. I loved Born Again when I first heard it but it don't think it really stands the test of time like the Ozzy era stuff does (and I think even Bill would also freely admit that he wasn't at his best on that one).


What's your opinion of drum solos and do you do drum solos? Why or why not?

I'm not a big fan of drum solos. I usually find them boring. Even as a kid, when I'd see one of the legends, like Neil Peart, do a solo, I'd be bored by it. I think as I've grown up a bit, I am more open to the idea but I never do one. And believe me, people have tried to get me to. Who knows? Maybe one day I will. For now though, I'd rather concentrate on playing the songs and playing them well.


As a drummer and as a musician, who/what are some of your influences and why?

Well, clearly, Bill Ward is a huge influence. His style seeps into everything that I do behind the kit and I am often told that I play like him (even when I'm not playing Sabbath songs). I was, of course, very influenced by Keith Moon and John Bonham. Bonham had a fluid way of playing the most intricate stuff that no one has been able to copy. I was also highly influenced by the odd time and jazz styles of people like Guy Evans, Bill Bruford and Phil Collins. Phil is an incredible drummer whose grasp of odd time is so natural, you usually don't realize just how insane what he is playing actually is. I also adore Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips.


Discuss your experiences (good and/or bad) being a female drummer and working in the entertainment industry.

Well, being a woman who plays the drums, I am usually expected to suck. Soundchecks are often a time to face all kinds of silly misconceptions about what a woman can do. Not just with a drum set but, generally, as a rock musician. That silliness usually ends quickly once we start to play and the women I play with in this band (as well as in Lynette Skynyrd) are all extremely talented and seasoned players who I would put up against anyone in the world, male or female. It does get annoying when people do not immediately take you seriously but it makes it all the more sweet when you blow their minds with how well you do what you do.


Do you play in any other bands besides Black Sabbitch? If so, please discuss.

I've played in many, many bands in my life and got my first record contract when I was just barely out of high school. I've toured all over the world and have played with some extremely talented people. None more so than the women I play with today. Besides Black Sabbitch, I also play drums in Lynette Skynyrd, the world's only all female Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band as well as on various records and side projects for artists here in Los Angeles.


What are your opinions of the upcoming Sabbath album and the reunion tour next year with the 4 original members?

I am always excited to see the original 4 together on a stage. I literally cannot wait to see some shows on the upcoming tour. As far as a new record is concerned, I have to admit to being a little apprehensive. But I will certainly be spinning it the first day that I can get my hands on it. I just really hope that they can give us all something that stands up to the legacy. Tony's amazing riffs, Geezer's incredible lyrics, Bill's one of a kind swing and Ozzy's banshee voice. I'm getting excited just thinking about it.

Episode 15 - Do It Live!

It’s the New Style for the New Year


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You’ll notice a change immediately during the theme song; an abrupt belch which is a sign of something new. We’re giving this whole live recording thing a shot and you’ll hear everything in this episode warts-n-all including Aaron and Chris stumbling over words, getting tongue tied, and sound effects going off without warning. It’s as unprofessional as it gets but at least it’s entertaining. Plus, Chris doesn’t have to play around with hours of editing so hopefully this will be a welcome change that will provide more content in the future.

We start out talking about what we got for KISSMAS including Aaron’s review of the Ace Frehley autobiography, ‘No Regrets’ and the cool new Rocksmith game.

We update Vinnie Vincent’s output for the holidays. Impressive!

Chris gives a shout out to Cassius Morris from the Creaturesof the Net podcast who recently did an impromptu interview with Eric Singer who called in during his live stream. Cassius is only 13 years old but is already on his way to becoming a big name in podcasting.  Congrats to Cassius!

Flashback Time

We share a cool radio commercial advertising the Sex Pistols tour of America in 1977 which leads to a discussion of the Sex Pistols impact in music as well as their reputation rubbing off on other punk bands like the Ramones. We also touch on a quick discussion of the G.G. Allin documentary Hated which documents all of the fecal-smearing, heroin-induced debauchery leading up to Allin’s death.

Ramones in Kindergarten

Chris shares his thoughts on a recent video that’s been sweeping youtube of a kindergarten class singing the Ramones’ classic ‘Judy is a Punk.’ It makes you feel all snuggly inside and gives hope to the world. There’s nothing that will renew your faith in mankind like a bunch of kids singing “perhaps they’ll die”….oh yeah!

Corabi Rocks for Tots & a Cinderella Story

Chris and Aaron reflect on their recent outing to see JohnCorabi’s Toys for Tots where they got to talk with Corabi as well as Jeff Labar from Cinderella; fresh off his hip-replacement surgery and filled us in on the possibility (or lack thereof) of new music from Cinderella. We recap the setlist and describe our trek over to a hipster bar invaded by metalheads with the strangest mix of songs from the jukebox you’ve ever heard.

Van Halen & the Little People

Chris & Aaron discuss the recent announcement of VanHalen’s new album and new single ‘Tattoo’ due next week. We’re totally excited to hear a song about the little guy from Fantasy Island (thanks to the guys from From Out of Nowhere for that joke). We also bemoan how much cooler this news would have been with Michael Anthony involved.

Shameless Self-Promotion 101 & The Days of Axl’s Life

The guys give their take on the recent induction of Guns N Roses to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a discussion of Eddie Trunk’s recent grilling of the CEO of Hall of Fame as well as the big question of who is going to show up for the ceremony. Will it be the old guys or the new guys? Or, will Axl’s ego be big enough on its own to fill the whole stage. They wind up rambling quite a bit so we hope you dig listening to these guys yack on and on about Axl and co.

Chris & Aaron make the announcement of their expanding roles in the podcasting world as they will be contributing members of Podkisst, the leading KISS podcast as well as some contributions to the great MarsAttacks podcast for their Class Albums series.

That’s our first foray into the recording live thingy. We promise we’ll get better at it. In the meantime, feel free to laugh at all of the mistakes.

Smell ya later!

Batch of Unpublished Vinnie Vincent Photos Surfaces

A former die-hard fan of Vinnie Vincent has supplied us with some amazing previously-unpublished photos that may have come from the former KISS guitarist's personal collection.


Only wanting to be identified as "vvjunkie", this former fan claims to have fallen out of favor with the Ankh Warrior after she made comments on a message board that, despite being set up as a fan forum, is considered enemy ground by the guitarist with its open discussion of all things Vinnie Vincent. After receiving a ban from Vinnie's official forum (and not wanting to shell out $500.00 for the new forum) she has decided to share these photos from his inner-sanctum. 

Early Musical Years
(1970's)

For those that don’t know, Vinnie was known by his real name of Vincent Cusano back in the 1970’s when he worked/performed with such artists as  Edgar Winter, Dan Hartman, Felix Cavaliere, and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Laura Nyro. This photo appears to be from around that time.

Creatures of the Night Era

(1982/1983)

Finding new photos of Vinnie’s days in KISS makeup is quite difficult these days as his time in the Ankh Warrior makeup was so limited. This photo definitely appears to be from the guitarists personal collection and may even be a test shot used to help “get into character” for future photo shoots and performances.

Lick It Up/Invasion Era 

(1983-1986)

It's debatable what era the 2 studio shots originate from. These 2 shots could be during the recordings of Creatures, Lick It Up, or even one of the Invasion albums. Anyone with specific knowledge of the date and location of these photos is encouraged to comment. The "glamour" shot us unquestionably from the Invasion era. Much discussion of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion can be found on the Rik Fox segment of Part 1 of the 2-part Vinnie Vincent special that we premiered last July.

The 1990's & Beyond


This final photo appears to be from Vinnie's mid-90's KISS Expo tour of Europe. You can hear the detailed account of one of the tour's organizers, Alexx Michael of Shameless, in Part 2 of the 2-Part Vinnie Vincent Special that we premiered last July. 



We'd like to now announce that there will be a Part 3 and possibly a Part 4 to the Vinnie Vincent Series that we started last year. We thought that we had tapped the well dry but have come to hearn many new things over recent months. We've had meaningful discussions with people from Vinnie's early days all the way to new revelations of current activities of the former KISS guitarist that will surely surprise you (or maybe not depending on your perspective). Keep track of the show on this site as more information will be coming in the new year. Stay tuned!

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Geeky Year-End Wrap Up & a Thank You!

We want to take a minute out of our busy holiday schedule to thank ALL of you that have listened to the Decibel Geek Podcast since our launch back in April. It's been a fun year full of learning and, hopefully, improvements on the show.

We began the year with my clunky "Introduction" episode where I try to describe, between panic attacks, what the show is supposed to be about. Things have definitely changed since that episode and I think we may have to tweak it but it's a good reminder of how far the show has come.

We had a couple of moderately successful episodes with friends such as Mitch Lafon from Bravewords.com, Dylan Kinney of Nashville Comedy Theater, Doogie Vance of local radio fame, & Chris Higgins of Piranah where we discussed various rock and metal news items of the day as well as concert memories and our favorite rock documentaries. 

The floodgates finally opened on July 4th when I premiered my 2-part Vinnie Vincent special. Featuring some intriguing guests from the Ankh Warrior's past such as Rik Fox, Alexx Michael, & Keli Raven as well as current owner of the Vinnie Vincent Fan Forum Vic Radacic on the crazy behavior of Vinnie toward his internet fan base. Links to the episodes spread like wildfire across the internet; racking up thousands of downloads. It still gets hundreds of downloads per month. Look for new episodes on Vinnie Vincent in the coming months!

Part 1 Part 2

August saw another fascinating 2-Part special on the life and career of Rik Fox. Rik's stories of his younger days hanging out with KISS when they were broke and just learning to apply makeup as well as hanging out with the CBGB's crowd in New York made Part 1 a memrable episode. Part 2 focuses on Rik's ventures out west when he moved to Los Angeles just in time for the Sunset Strip boom in glam rock. This episode gives us the low-down on Rik's early days with WASP as well as detailed stories of working with Ron Keel and Yngwie Malmsteen in Steeler as well as other groups of the day. Rik's story reads like a "who's who" of rock and this interview gives it all to you.

September brought us the return of Bravewords.com's Mitch Lafon for a new feature entitled Geekwire where we try to cover as many rock and metal news stories in an allotted time. Mitch will be on in the future for sure as he has a unique perspective from the inside of the industry. The Geekwire episode also saw the debut of co-host AAron Camaro. AAron has been a welcome addition to the show and brings "the voice" to the proceedings. Born in the heartland of America, AAron is a tried and true rock and metal fan and his contributions will continue into the new year.

October brought us the addition of the monthly Nashville X-tra version of the Decibel Geek Podcast. Featuring interviews and rants focusing on the local Nashville-area rock scene, the Nashville X-tra episodes allow Chris and AAron some breathing room to let it all out about what is cool and what sucks locally. These episodes will continue into the new year as we plan to bring you more guests, more rants, and more entertainment to your localized ears.

We finished off October with our choices for the Top 5 KISS songs of the non-makeup era before going into November with a great conversation with Russ Dwarf of Killer Dwarfs fame. We had a great response on both of these episodes and took a week to have some fun with our new Radio Sucks Radio Show where Chris and AAron spin songs that no radio station would allow them to go near. We had a lot of fun with this episode and have more planned for the new year.

After another Nashville X-tra episode, we filled our December quota with our Top Albums of the Early 90's episode. We think we've finished the year strong with this episode and have had a good response from it. We love doing the Top 5 shows and it's always interesting to see our listeners choices as well as hearing how stupid we are for not picking certain albums or songs. All feedback is welcome!

So, in conclusion, I'm very proud that the show has come this far since April and we look forward to taking things to the next level in 2012. Hopefully, we'll be doing great by the time the Apocalypse takes place!

Wishing you all a Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year!

Chris Czynszak

Decibel Geek Podcast

Happy Hooligan's Holiday......Corabi to Jam for Kids in Nashville

Being a middle-aged married dad with bills to pay makes it pretty difficult to get out of the house to see shows. That's part of the reason we started doing the Decibel Geek Podcast. We live vicariously through the memories & discussion brought forth on the show. But if there's one thing that can get us out into the wild of Music City, it's an acoustic show with one of our favorite singers from one of our favorite albums performing for the benefit of helping underprivileged kids have a better Holiday season.

John Corabi, he of the ironclad pipes on the fantastic 1994 Motley Crue album as well as many other great projects, will be performing at Drifters in East Nashville this Friday, December 13th in what's being billed as the "John Corabi & Friends Acoustic Toys for Tots Benefit." It's a mystery as to what "friends" will be at this show but there's plenty of possibilities with so many of John's contemporaries living in town.

Corabi has spent the past year touring with Cinderella as well as a short stint with Russ Dwarf throughout Canada. You can hear Russ' thoughts on that tour in the recent episode in which he was a guest.

The show will hopefully feature songs from Corabi’s entire career including material from his Crue album as well as songs from his days in Union and maybe even a few nuggets for the new solo album. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

If you’re close to Nashville, try to come out and enjoy a great night of music while helping out a worthy cause. Admission is $15.00 but that can be bypassed by bringing an unwrapped toy to donate. That’s a small price to pay for some great tunes and good company. The show starts at 8:00pm. If you see a couple of middle-aged dorks in the audience acting like idiots, come by and say hello!

Episode 14 - Top 5 Early 90's Albums

From Makeup & Parties to Chainsaws & Paxil

We decided that we wanted to have a healthy dose of pissed-off listeners and we’re pretty sure that this episode is a prescription for just that. The early 1990’s for us old folks that remember it was a strange and magical time for rock music. Lots of transition was taking place in the pecking order of rock music’s hierarchy with the mass music-consuming public deciding to ditch the Aqua Net and makeup mirrors and adopt a lumberjack-chic style to go along with their newfound depression.  This swift change had a large impact on the music industry and created a wide pastiche of genres that began to branch out in all sorts of different directions. This era of change also produced some head-scratching tour packages such as Poison taking out a young Alice in Chains on the road as well as a package that included Alice in Chains with Megadeth and Slayer.

The “Alternative” Culture & What’s Old is New Again (huh huh huh)

In a quest to try and come up with a tougher Top 5 list than our previous episode that involved Top 5 Non-Makeup Era KISS Songs, we decided to try and pigeonhole 5 albums out of this crazy matrix of material that was being produced in this Gulf-War era of change.  Before we get into the list, we also discuss the recently-released PearlJam Twenty documentary as well as our take on the triumphant return of Beavis and Butthead to the small screen.

We Can’t Shut Up & the Pride of Bridgeport, Egypt

New rule for Top 5 shows. We’re not going to spoil you in this main entry with our picks. In fact, we’ll give you a link to go to a separate page to check out ALL of the albums we discuss in this episode. Our Top 5 choices are in here but so are LOTS of other albums because a. we’re loudmouths and b. we read off our also-ran list of choices that didn’t quite make the cut as well as some of the choices that our listeners suggested through various social media outlet thingys.

PS: We have a new update on Vinnie Vincent’s musical activity in this episode. It has a real outdoorsy feel.

Full List of Albums Discussed/Mentioned

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