Rock Is Lit

*Listen to the audio-only episode here, or watch the video version on YouTube, which may make putting voices with faces easier since there are five people in the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkCdyH7Y_YM *The audio-only episode was taken directly from the video without further editing. I’m so excited about this special episode of Rock is Lit. It’s a first for the podcast, actually: a panel discussion, with four amazing women rock novelists, hailing from Canada to Chicago to LA and back to my neck of the woods here in Asheville, NC. Kirsti MacKenzie, Mallory Smart, Claire Hopple, and Rock is Lit veteran Jessamyn Violet are joining me to talk about our experiences and thoughts about writing fiction about musicians. Jessamyn Violet is a writer and musician out of Venice Beach, CA. Her debut novel, ‘Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar’, was published in April 2023 by Three Rooms Press. Short fiction can be found in ‘Ploughshares’, ‘Lit Angeles’, ‘805 Art + Lit Journal’, and more. She is also the drummer for the psych rock band Movie Club. Mallory Smart is a Chicago-based writer and Editor-in-Chief of Maudlin House. Some people even call her ‘The Only Living Girl in Chicago’. Mallory is the host of the podcast Textual Healing, where she dives into the fusion of literature and music, and co-hosts That Horrorcast with Dmitry Samarov where they get lost in the weird world of horror films. Her latest book, ‘I Keep My Visions To Myself’, just came out from With an X Books. Kirsti MacKenzie is the author of ‘Better to Beg’, as well as editor in chief of ‘Major 7th Magazine’. Her work has been published in ‘HAD’, ‘Rejection Letters’, ‘trampset’, ‘Autofocus’, ‘Maudlin House’, ‘Identity Theory’, and elsewhere. Claire Hopple is the author of six books and the fiction editor at XRAY. Her stories have appeared in ‘Wigleaf’, ‘Vol. 1 Brooklyn’, ‘Forever Mag’, and others. She grew up in the woods of Pennsylvania and currently lives in Asheville, NC. Her next book, ‘Take it Personally’, is forthcoming from Stalking Horse Press in February 2025. Each of these four talented authors brings a unique perspective to the conversation. From the creative sparks that ignite our own work to the cultural impacts of rock novels in general, we'll navigate the winding paths of character development and uncovering the challenges of breathing life into fictional musicians while honoring the essence of their real-life counterparts. We'll delve into the stigmas surrounding rock novels, dissecting perceptions and stereotypes to reveal the nuanced portrayals crafted by these talented authors. And of course, no discussion on writing fiction about musicians would be complete without reflecting on current trends and the evolution of the genre, including the explosive success of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s rock novel ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’. So, tune in and turn up the volume as Rock is Lit takes you on a journey through the pages of rock literature, where every word is a chord and every story a kickass concert. LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 26, Jessamyn Violet: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jessamynvioletwithlinalecaro Jessamyn Violet’s website: https://jessamynviolet.com/bio Jessamyn Violet on Instagram and Twitter: @jessamynviolet Movie Club’s website: https://www.movieclubtheband.com/about Kirsti MacKenzie on Twitter: @KeersteeMack Mallory Smart’s website: https://mallorysmart.com/ Mallory Smart on Twitter and Instagram: @malsmart Claire Hopple’s website: https://clairehopple.wordpress.com/bio/ Claire Hopple on Twitter and Instagram: @clairehopple Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about...

In Episode 51, Jason Warburg delves into the intricacies of his new novel, the third in his Tim Green series, ‘Home Was a Dream’, where themes of Jewish heritage, identity, and the haunting legacy of the Holocaust intertwine with the healing power of music. Jason shares insights into his personal connection to Jewish culture and history, revealing how these influences shaped the characters’ journeys in the novel. Through the lens of characters grappling with their Jewish identity, Jason explores the profound repercussions of the Holocaust on a generation haunted by loss and trauma. Against this backdrop, music emerges as a potent force, offering solace and connection amidst the turmoil. Through an engaging discussion, Jason illuminates the ways in which music serves as a conduit for healing and understanding, weaving together the threads of personal and collective memory in a tale that resonates with emotional depth and resonance. PLAYLIST No Copyright Music/Classic Rock Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” “Oh Very Young” by Cat Stevens “Wiegala” by Ilse Weber “Ich wandre durch Theresienstadt Wiegala” by Ilse Weber Gorecki Symphony “Night Moves” by Bob Seger “Make Me Smile” by Chicago “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell “Games People Play” by The Spinners “Your Song” by Elton John No Copyright Music/Classic Rock Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 33, Jason Warburg ‘Believe in Me’: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jasonwarburg Rock is Lit Episode 40, Jason Warburg ‘Never Break the Chain’: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jasonwarburganduglyamericanwerewolfinlondonrockpodcast Jason Warburg’s website: https://www.jasonwarburg.com/ Jason Warburg on Twitter: @JasonWarburg Jason Warburg on Instagram: @jason_warburg Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of Episode 50, we delved into the mesmerizing world of author Jeff Jackson and his acclaimed novel ‘Mira Corpora’, in which enigmatic underground rockstar Kin Mersey mysteriously disappears. Now, in Episode 50 Part 2, Nathan D. Duvall (host of the Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM) and this semester’s Rock is Lit intern, Cador Jones, join me to talk about actual musicians who, like the rockstar in Jeff’s novel, vanished without a trace, including Richey Edwards, Jim Sullivan, Connie Converse, Christina “Licorice” McKechnie, and more. PLAYLIST “Lithuania” by Julian Calendar Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Avant-Garde Sound Collage/Experimental Electronica/Royalty Free Background Music (8-mindemo Mix) “This Road” by Julian Calendar “4st 7lb” by Manic Street Preachers “How Sad, How Lovely” by Connie Converse “U.F.O.” by Jim Sullivan “I Know You” by The Incredible String Band, with Christina “Licorice” McKechnie “When the Music’s Over” by The Doors “Jerome” by Jim Sullivan Julian Calendar Medley: “Stolen Eyes,” “King Blank” Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 1 featuring Jeff Jackson (‘Destroy All Monsters’) with Nathan D. Duvall: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jeffjackson-nathandduvall Jeff Jackson’s website: http://deathofliterature.com/ Jeff Jackson on Instagram: @deathofliterature Jeff Jackson on Twitter: @DeathofLit Julian Calendar on Bandcamp: https://juliancalendar.bandcamp.com/ Trailer for ‘Mira Corpora’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTakZdScwY Nathan D. Duvall’s website: http://nathandduvall.com/ Nathan D. Duvall’s Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM: https://ashevillefm.org/show/lucid/ Nathan D. Duvall on Instagram: @nathandduvall Cador Jones on Instagram: @bluecadorade Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of Episode 50, we delve into the mesmerizing world of author Jeff Jackson and his acclaimed novel ‘Mira Corpora’. Join us as we explore the intersection of music and literature, unraveling the enigmatic narrative of the book. From the mysterious disappearance of underground rockstar Kin Mersey to the surreal journey of the runaway teenage protagonist, we uncover the depths of this dark and compelling tale. Jeff shares his creative process, artistic influences, and the thematic underpinnings of his work. Get ready for a captivating discussion of music, memory, and myth as we examine the haunting landscapes of ‘Mira Corpora’. Throughout the episode, you’ll hear songs by Jeff’s band, Julian Calendar, all of which you can download from Bandcamp. Check the episode playlist below. In Episode 50 Part 2, Nathan D. Duvall and this semester’s Rock is Lit intern, Cador Jones, join me to talk about actual musicians who, like the rockstar in Jeff’s novel, mysteriously disappeared. PLAYLIST—ALL SONG BY JULIAN CALENDAR UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED “In Your Love” Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” “Blue Boys” (Rock is Lit mix) “The Deep End” “Men Are Canceled” “No Kingdom” “Back Door Man” “The Drowned Boy” “Property is Theft” “Game On!” by Aqours Julian Calendar Medley: “Language Lessons,” “Stolen Eyes,” “King Blank” Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 1 featuring Jeff Jackson (‘Destroy All Monsters’) with Nathan D. Duvall: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jeffjackson-nathandduvall Jeff Jackson’s website: http://deathofliterature.com/ Jeff Jackson on Instagram: @deathofliterature Jeff Jackson on Twitter: @DeathofLit Julian Calendar on Bandcamp: https://juliancalendar.bandcamp.com/ Trailer for ‘Mira Corpora’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTakZdScwY Nathan D. Duvall’s website: http://nathandduvall.com/ Nathan D. Duvall’s Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM: https://ashevillefm.org/show/lucid/ Nathan D. Duvall on Instagram: @nathandduvall Cador Jones on Instagram: @bluecadorade Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It may not be Halloween, but we’re getting our spooky grove on in this episode. Staci Layne Wilson joins me to talk about the fourth novel in her Immortal Confessions vampire series, ‘Rhapsody in Red’. ‘Variety’ labels Staci’s work as “MTV's Headbangers Ball meets Tales from the Crypt” and calls it “...perfect entertainment for anyone who's ever played ‘Stairway to Heaven’ backward to hear the mumbled phrase ‘Here's to my sweet Satan’.” We’ll also talk about Staci’s upbringing in 1970s and ‘80s Hollywood as the daughter of music legend Don Wilson of The Ventures and pinup model, actress, and author Nancy Bacon, and more, including Staci’s wicked cool podcast and book series, Rock 'N' Roll Nightmares, working the red carpet as an entertainment reporter, the Manson Family, her pet rats, and more. PLAYLIST “Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Group Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Halloween Ambience Horror Sounds Scary Creepy Screams Terrified SFX Monster Haunted House Horror “Vampire Blues” by Neil Young “Witch For a Night” by Sugar Pie DeSanto “Dead Babies” by Alice Cooper “Black Cats & Witch Hats” by Molly Starlite & the Sputniks “Walk Don’t Run” by The Ventures “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield “Whole Lotta Love” by The Ventures “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphey & the Rio Grande Band “Welcome to My Nightmare” by Alice Cooper “Game On!” by Aqours “Season of the Witch” by Donovan “Hawaii Five-O” by The Ventures Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Staci Layne Wilson’s website: https://www.stacilaynewilson.com/ Rock ‘N’ Roll Nightmares website: https://rock-n-roll-nightmares.com/ Staci on Twitter: staciwilson Staci on Instagram: @stacilaynewilson Staci’s YouTube channel: @stacilayne Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode I’m joined by Constance Squires, author of the 2017 rock novel ‘Live From Medicine Park’. The story follows Ray Wheeler, who arrives in Medicine Park, Oklahoma, with the goal of filming a documentary about the comeback of Lena Wells, a singer whose career got derailed by a bad late-night TV appearance in the 1980s. Ray, known for his philosophy of non-involvement with his subjects, finds himself drawn into Lena's world as he begins to probe into her past. As Ray delves deeper into Lena’s story, he uncovers secrets surrounding her band mate Cyril and Lena’s son, Gram. Meanwhile, Gram’s wife, Jettie, a talented musician herself, struggles to pursue her passion for music in the face of familial disapproval. The novel delves into themes of ambition, identity, and the search for authenticity. In addition to ‘Live From Medicine Park’, Constance Squires is the author of the forthcoming novel ‘Low April Sun’ from University of Oklahoma Press. She’s also the author of the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award-winning novel ‘Along the Watchtower’ and the short story collection ‘Hit Your Brights’. Her short fiction has received multiple Pushcart-Prize nominations and other awards and appeared in many prestigious journals, such as the ‘Atlantic’, ‘Guernica’, ‘The Dublin Quarterly’, ‘Shenandoah’, and ‘The Rolling Stone 500’. She wrote the screenplay for the short film ‘Grave Misgivings’ has published nonfiction in the ‘Village Voice’, the ‘New York Times’, ‘Salon’, ‘World Literature Today’, and been featured on NPR’s ‘Snap Judgment’. She holds a Ph.D. in English and is currently a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Central Oklahoma. ‘Live From Medicine Park’ was a 2018 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. Rock is Lit alumnus Jeff Jackson included the novel in his ‘Electric Lit’ article, “7 Candidates for the Great American Rock and Roll Novel.” I’m thrilled to have the chance to talk to her about this must-read for music fans. PLAYLIST Americana Instrumental Music/No Copyright Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Americana Instrumental Music/No Copyright “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” by Bob Dylan “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by The Hollies “Geronimo” by Moonshine Bandits, featuring Domangue “Choctaw Bingo” by James McMurty “Hey Hey, My My” by Neil Young “Rock & Roll to My Country Soul” by Jenny Tolman “Mystery Train” by Elvis Presley “Game On!” by Aqours “Hot Burrito #1” by The Flying Burrito Brothers (with Gram Parsons) “If You Really Want To Be My Friend” by the Rolling Stones Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Constance Squires’ website: https://www.constancesquiresofficial.com/ Constance Squires on Twitter: @ConnieSquires Constance Squires on Instagram: @conniesquires Constance Squires on Facebook: @ConstanceSquiresAuthorPage Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and artistry of Yoko Ono, as we celebrate her 91st birthday on February 18th. And who better to guide us through the mesmerizing layers of Yoko’s universe than author and Yoko aficionado, Madeline Bocaro. In her groundbreaking book, ‘In Your Mind: The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono’, Madeline unravels the enigmatic tapestry of Yoko’s life from her formative years in Japan to her iconic partnership with John Lennon and beyond. Get ready to be transported into the cosmic consciousness of a true visionary. This episode marks the third installment of our John Lennon/Yoko Ono series. You can catch my interview with Laurie Kaye about her new memoir, ‘Confessions of a Rock ‘N’ Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview’, wherever you stream your podcasts. My interview with May Pang about her documentary ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’, which details her 18-month love affair with John Lennon in the mid-70s, is available exclusively on my YouTube channel. Find links below. These three episodes focus on nonfiction works about John and Yoko, but in the spirit of Rock is Lit’s claim to fame as the first and only podcast devoted to rock fiction, I encourage you to check out some of the novels that feature them in some capacity, such as ‘Saint John Lennon’ by Daniel Hartwell, ‘The John Lennon Affair’ by Robert S. Levinson, and ‘John Lennon and the Mercy Street Café’ by William Hammett. You can also read my short story about John and Yoko, “Shadow of Shiva,” which was published in ‘Solidago Literary Journal’ in 2017, on my website. PLAYLIST—ALL SONGS BY YOKO ONO UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED Synthetic Deep (Minimal, Synth, Avant-garde, Abstract Background Music For Video Royalty-free Audio Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Avant-garde music for all occasions/Hesus Micco “Waiting for the D Train” (Before and after reading) “Why” “Talking to the Universe” “Death of Samantha” “Paper Shoes” “Yes, I’m a Witch” “Hey Yoko Ono” by Xberg Baboons “It’s Time for Action” Experimental Avant garde Music—Marcus Palt Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Madeline Bocaro’s website: https://madelinex.com/ Madeline’s book’s website: https://inyourmindbook.com/ Purchase a signed hard or soft cover of Madeline’s book at conceptualbooks.com: https://conceptual-books.myshopify.com/collections/all?sort_by=created-ascending Madeline on Twitter: @madelinex Madeline on Instagram: @yoko.ono.in.your.mind and @madeline.bocaro Listen to Rock is Lit EP41 featuring Laurie Kaye, author of ‘Confessions of a Rock ‘N’ Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview’, wherever you stream podcasts or use the link: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/lauriekaye Watch “Revealing John Lennon’s Lost Weekend: A Conversation with May Pang about Her Documentary” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAvoFbFNerM Read Christy Alexander Hallberg’s short story on John and Yoko, “Shadow of Shiva” on her website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/otherpublications Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m thrilled to welcome author Kelley McNeil to the podcast. Join us as we explore her latest novel, ‘Mayluna’, released in various formats today, February 1. Kelley takes us on a journey into the world of a fictional 1990s British alternative-rock band, their iconic lead singer, and a woman whose love played a pivotal role in shaping the music of a generation. Discover the intricacies of fate, regret, and the enduring power of love in the context of music. Special thanks to AAron Camaro, from Decibel Geek podcast, for lending his voice to the episode. AAron reads the synopsis of ‘Mayluna’ at the beginning and, of course, that’s AAron booming “Rock Is Lit!” in every episode. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Dark ambient instrumental rock copyright free Royalty free filler music Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve (Before and after reading) “Forever Young” by Lily Kershaw “Crazy” by Aerosmith “Black Star” by Radiohead “The Scientist” by Coldplay “Ordinary World” by Duran Duran “Game On!” by Aqours “Scotch on the Rocks” by Neil Diamond “Into Dust” by Mazzy Star Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Kelley McNeil’s website: https://www.kelleymcneil.com/ Kelley McNeil on Instagram: @kelleylmcneil Kelley McNeil/‘Mayluna’ on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/141236438 ‘Mayluna’ Playlist in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3SsUuHerKv7kuyfGhivxfD?si=OtvRgBlxQ3a9fmNnksxM3g&pi=u-l9ywZhHqSg2s&nd=1&dlsi=7cba03f109a1434f Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for joining me for Part 2 of my in-depth interview with music journalist Steve Rosen on his decades-long friendship with Eddie Van Halen, which culminated in Steve’s 2022 book, ‘Tonechaser – Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen’. The third edition of the book is coming soon, but you can preorder your copy now at tonechaserbook.com. For more information on Steve Rosen and the Van Halen Fiction Challenge I offered all you Lit Listeners who, like me, are jonesing to get your hands on some novels or short stories or graphic novels featuring the band, check out Part 1 of Episode 45, or email me at christyalexanderhallberg@gmail.com. I can’t wait to see what you come up with, and if I wind up devoting an episode to Van Halen fiction that you suggested, I’ll give you a shout out in the episode. Back to Steve Rosen: In Part 1, Steve and I talked about the genesis of his friendship with Eddie Van Halen, Eddie’s background as a kid immigrating from the Netherlands to America and his devotion to and respect for his father and brother, the idolatry Eddie’s fans feel for him, and the seeds that eventually sprouted into Steve’s book ‘Tonechaser’. In Part 2, get ready to learn more about Steve’s complicated relationship with Eddie, including the dark turn it took in the early 2000s and how Eddie’s 2020 death still haunts Steve. You’ll also hear about Eddie’s marriage to Valerie Bertinelli and his love for their son, Wolfgang. Finally, Steve shares juicy stories about his journalistic career beyond his work with Van Halen, such as his tumultuous experience interviewing John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin in 1977. PLAYLIST: Bensound “Happy Rock”—Royalty Free Music Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” 1970s Instrumental Rock Music, Royalty Free “Mean Street” by Van Halen Clip from Eddie Van Halen talking about Wolfgang in 1994/Professor Gill’s Guitar Gear Galaxy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icq_-0Iz608 “Distance” by Wolfgang Van Halen/Mammoth “Where Have All the Good Times Gone” by Van Halen “Your Time is Gonna Come” by Led Zeppelin “Heartbreaker” by Led Zeppelin “Jump” by Van Halen Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Steve Rosen’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRosenInterviews Steve Rosen on Instagram: @steve.rosen.guitar.picks Steve Rosen on Twitter: @Goodwriter Steve Rosen’s website: https://www.tonechaserbook.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Part 1 of Episode 45, featuring Steve Rosen. Steve is a highly respected music journalist and author of more than 1,000 articles and seven books, delving into the lives of iconic figures like Jeff Beck, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, and Black Sabbath. His latest endeavor, ‘Tonechaser – Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen’, was published in 2022. The book offers an intimate perspective on the guitar virtuoso and Steve’s friendship with him from 1977 to 2003. In the introduction to the book, Steve writes, “What you will read here is not a biography, a history, or an exacting chronology. You won’t find discussions about tapping, taping, or touring. There are no in-depth analyses of album releases or his profound and absolute rewriting of the entire canon of electric guitar playing. . . . Rather think of this as a memory journal, a chronicle filled with observations, illuminations, and interpretations and what the hell does that mean? It means telling you about what I saw—the observing—shedding some first-hand light on what I was seeing—the illuminating—and trying to explain and decipher what I was witnessing—the interpreting” (XVII). Join us for the first part of my in-depth interview with Steve, then listen to Part 2. PLAYLIST: Bensound “Happy Rock”—Royalty Free Music Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” 1970s Instrumental Rock Music, Royalty Free Joe Satriana ‘Tonechaser’ endorsement from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dQrEX25rwfU “Eruption” by Van Halen “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen “Runnin’ With the Devil” by Van Halen “Dance the Night Away” by Van Halen 1970s Instrumental Rock Music, Royalty Free Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Steve Rosen’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRosenInterviews Steve Rosen on Instagram: @steve.rosen.guitar.picks Steve Rosen on Twitter: @Goodwriter Steve Rosen’s website: https://www.tonechaserbook.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another episode of Rock is Lit, the podcast where we dive into the powerful intersection of rock music, literature, and pop culture. Today, we’re stepping outside the realm of fiction as we embark on a fascinating journey into the 1960s with acclaimed author Frye Gaillard and his nonfiction book ‘A Hard Rain: America in the 1960s’, which captures the heartbeat of an era, an era that has inspired so many of the rock novels featured on the podcast. In Frye’s extraordinary book he not only delves into the tragic and hopeful narratives of civil rights, black power, women’s liberation, and the Vietnam War but also unveils the cultural manifestations of change. From the Brothers Kennedy to Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash to Bob Dylan, and everything in between, ‘A Hard Rain’ introduces us to the influential figures who shaped this iconic American decade. Listen to Episode 14, featuring Michael Amos Cody’s novel ‘Gabriel’s Songbook, with special guests Frye Gaillard and Peter Cooper: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/michaelamoscodyandfryegaillardandpetercooper Listen to my bonus uncut interview with Frye Gaillard and Peter Cooper: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/podcast-vault-feed/petercoopertribute Or watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYwFdmrt8c&list=PLMlm_N-Z1yVrwPKpSnVZnH_twxo78eW8A&index=38 PLAYLIST Royalty-free 60s 70s psychedelic rock n roll music and visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVRph0Dj1c&t=3s Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Royalty-free 60s 70s psychedelic rock n roll music and visuals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVRph0Dj1c&t=3s “We Shall Overcome” by Pete Seeger “Chain Gang” by Sam Cooke “Abilene” by George Hamilton, IV “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” by Bob Dylan “Only the Lonely” by Roy Orbison “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke “Different Drum” by The Stone Poneys (with Linda Ronstadt) “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival “Mississippi Goddamn” by Nina Simone “Abraham, Martin, and John” by Dion “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles “The Star Spangled Banner” by Jimi Hendrix (Live at Woodstock 1969) “If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Frye Gaillard’s website: https://fryegaillardauthor.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, Lit Listeners. 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! Join us in a musical journey as we revisit some of the finest moments from our Zep-related past episodes, featuring Led Zeppelin historian and super fan as well as the Zep fan magazine 'Tight But Loose' founder and editor, Dave Lewis. We've also got the inside scoop from Led Zeppelin's former PR maestro and Vice President of Swan Song Records, Danny Goldberg; and the one and only Jim McCarty, The Yardbirds drummer and Jimmy's former bandmate. For me, Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin have been more than just musical influences—they've been the soundtrack to my life and the inspiration behind my 2021 novel, 'Searching for Jimmy Page.' As a writer, their impact on my creative journey is immeasurable. This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the man and the band that have woven their way into the fabric of my existence. So, buckle up as we delve into the archives, sharing anecdotes and stories that define the magic of Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin. Afterward, I encourage you to check out the full episodes featuring Dave Lewis, Danny Goldberg, and Jim McCarty. There are so many more Zeppelin tales they tell in those long-form interviews. And if you’re interested in learning more about my novel, ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’, tool on over to my website. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X1B_hQSVt0&t=1s Links: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit EP7, featuring Danny Goldberg: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/christyalexanderhallberg/margaretbauer/randallmartoccia/lizawieland/dannygoldberg Rock is Lit EP20, featuring Dave Lewis: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/searchingforjimmypageaudiobook Rock is Lit EP27, first interview with Jim McCarty: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jimmccarty Rock is Lit Bonus EP, featuring Jim McCarty: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/podcast-vault-feed/jimmccartyandbreathofthewind Rock is Lit EP42, featuring Neal Preston: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/nealpreston Tight But Loose website: http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/ Danny Goldberg’s website: https://www.dannygoldberg.com/ Danny Goldberg on Twitter: @DannyGoldberg67 Jim McCarty’s website: https://www.jamesmccarty.com/ Video of Jim McCarty’s new single, “Breath of the Wind,” produced by Christy Alexander Hallberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2uiBE63p8o Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a soulful episode of Rock is Lit. If you’ve got a hankering for that sweet soul music—the kind that echoes with the sounds of Otis Redding, Al Green, Sly & The Family Stone, and Aretha Franklin—then you’re in for a treat. My fellow Tar Heel native Michael Parker is here to talk about his novel ‘If You Want Me to Stay’, a story in which 14-year-old narrator Joel Dunn, Jr., takes us on a poignant odyssey. Joel, Jr., shares the heartfelt tale of salvaging his family in the aftermath of his mother’s departure and his father’s unraveling sanity. From the rural landscapes of eastern North Carolina to the coastal vistas, Joel and his little brother Tank embark on a journey guided by junk food and the soulful melodies their daddy taught them to love. Michael Parker is the author of three collections of short stories and seven other novels, including his most recent, 2022’s ‘I Am the Light of This World’. He is a three-time winner of the O. Henry Award for short fiction and winner of the 2020 Thomas Wolfe Award. Michael has taught for almost 30 years in the MFA program at UNC-G. Catch Michael on Season 1 Episode 11 of Rock is Lit, when he joined me to discuss ‘I Am the Light of This World’. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: R&B/Soul Music Funky Bass Royalty Free Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” R&B/Soul Music Funky Bass Royalty Free “(Do the) Push and Pull (Part 1)” by Rufus Thomas “Gone to Carolina” by Shooter Jennings “If You Want Me to Stay” by Sly & The Family Stone “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell and The Drells “People Get Ready” by Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay” by Otis Redding “I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers “Call Me (Come Back Home)” by Al Green Hollerin Contest Festival in Spivey’s Corner, CBS 17: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC7-Nuf2MYQ “Love Train” by The O’Jays Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Michael Parker’s website: https://www.michaelfparker.com/ Michael Parker on Instagram: @texheel22 Michael Parker on Season 1 Episode 11 of Rock is Lit: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/michaelparkerandjeffplace Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey, Lit Listeners, 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, and the stories-behind-the-story of ‘Almost Famous’. Also, get ready for a deep dive into Neal’s iconic photograph of Jimmy Page at Kezar Stadium in 1973, which plays a major role in my rock novel, ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’. And, of course, Neal shares captivating tales from his 2017 book, ‘Exhilarated and Exhausted’. *You can also view this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvNwNXH8jTE ALL MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IS ROYALTY-FREE FROM YOUTUBE  LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Neal Preston’s website: https://www.prestonpictures.com/ Neal Preston on Instagram: @nealprestonphoto Neal Preston on Facebook: @NealPrestonPhotography Neal’s digital Led Zeppelin book, ‘Led Zeppelin: Sound and Fury’ on Apple iBookstore: https://books.apple.com/us/book/led-zeppelin-sound-and-fury/id624738803 Danny Goldberg on Season 1 Episode 7 of Rock is Lit: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/christyalexanderhallberg/margaretbauer/randallmartoccia/lizawieland/dannygoldberg Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Rock is Lit, we’re deviating from the world of fiction to explore the riveting reality of rock ‘n’ roll. Laurie Kaye is here to talk about her brand-new memoir, ‘Confessions of a Rock 'N' Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview’. Get ready for exclusive behind-the-scenes tales, intimate encounters with rock royalty, and a symphony of stories that will transport you back to the golden age of rock. FYI: We may be talking nonfiction in this episode, but, in the spirit of Rock is Lit’s claim to fame as the first and only podcast devoted to rock fiction, I encourage you to check out some of the novels that feature John Lennon in some capacity, such as ‘Saint John Lennon’ by Daniel Hartwell, ‘The John Lennon Affair’ by Robert S. Levinson, and ‘John Lennon and the Mercy Street Café’ by William Hammett. You can read my short story about John and Yoko, “Shadow of Shiva,” which was published in ‘Solidago Literary Journal’ in 2017, on my website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/otherpublications. Listen to my interview with John Lennon’s lover during his 18-month separation from Yoko in the mid-1970s, May Pang, about her new documentary on her time with John, ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’, on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAvoFbFNerM&t=945s MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: “Love” by John Lennon, Instrumental Cover Clip from RKO interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono Clip from the ‘Today’ show about John Lennon’s murder, featuring Laurie Kaye, Dec 9, 1980 Clip from RKO interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono Clip from Plutopia News Network interview with Laurie Kaye Free John Lennon “Imagine” Cover, No Copyright Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” John Lennon “Free As a Bird” Instrumental Cover John Lennon “#9 Dream” Clip from The Beatles Live at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles 08/28/1966: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5pV-sgapPg John Lennon “Out the Blue” George Harrison “Blow Away” Paul McCartney and Wings “Silly Love Songs” John Lennon “Watching the Wheels” Yoko Ono “Kiss Kiss Kiss” John Lennon “Mind Games” John Lennon “(Just Like) Starting Over” Clip from the ‘Today’ show about John Lennon’s murder, featuring Laurie Kaye, Dec 9, 1980 The Beatles “In My Life” John Lennon “Woman” John Lennon “Beautiful Boy” Yoko Ono “Hard Times Are Over” George Harrison “All Those Years Ago” Clip from RKO interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono Rock is Lit theme music—royalty free background music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 ‘Today’ show, Dec 9, 1980, about John Lennon’s murder, with Laurie Kaye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zrcbfSUOZI RKO uncut interview with John and Yoko, Dec 8, 1980: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsu-GihhQIY Laurie Kaye’s website: https://www.confessionsofarocknrollnamedropper.com/ Laurie Kaye on Facebook: @LaurieKaye Laurie Kaye on Instagram: @rocknrollnamedropper Laurie Kaye on Twitter: @LaurieJoKaye My interview with May Pang about her new documentary, ‘The Lost Weekend: A Love Story’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAvoFbFNerM&t=945s Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the intricate layers of Jason Warburg’s novel ‘Never Break the Chain’ in Episode 40 of Rock is Lit. Protagonist Tim Green’s quest through the vibrant LA rock scene, unraveling the history of the fictional prog rock band Empire, reveals a tale of family ties and self-discovery. Stay tuned for the final segment of the episode as Mac B. The Wolf and Action Jackson from The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast dissect the novel’s prog rock influences, adding a dynamic twist to the discussion. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Fanfare for the Common Man" Progressive Rock Mix by Prog Rock Doc—Volume 21 Clips from the following: How to Create Prog Rock—Ingredients & Recipes (@QJamTracks), Prog Rock Meme (@ILOGICmoments), Prog Rock: A Beginner’s Guide (@TheProgCorner), and British TV Documentary Top Ten Progressive Rock 3—Jethro Tull, Moody Blues (@RemyTena) Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . GO! With Voice (@RainbowTimers) [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Progressive Rock Mix by Prog Rock Doc—Volume 21 Fleetwood Mac “The Chain” Jethro Tull “Witch’s Promise”—before and after Jason Warburg’s reading Clip from Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at VMA 2009 Big Big Train “Last Train” Van Halen “You Really Got Me” The Kinks “You Really Got Me” Pink Floyd “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” Progressive Rock Mix by Prog Rock Doc—Volume 21 King Crimson “The Court of the Crimson King” Genesis “Dancing with the Moonlight Knight” from ‘Selling England By the Pound’ Rush “Tom Sawyer” Clip from Dean Discovers Prog Rock/The Venture Bros./Adult Swim Yes from “The Ancient/Giants Under the Sun”—side three of ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans’ Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Jason Warburg’s website: https://www.jasonwarburg.com/never-break-chain/ Jason Warburg on Instagram: @jason_warburg Jason Warburg on Twitter: @JasonWarburg Jason Warburg on Rock is Lit, Episode 33: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jasonwarburg Mac B. & Action Jackson from The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast on Rock is Lit, Episode 5: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/uglyamericanwerewolf Me talking about ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’ on The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast, Episode 67: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2pXqTKEJa71tScnLP4CW0G The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast on Twitter: @ugly_werewolf The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast on Instagram: @uglyamericanwerewolfinlondon The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast on YouTube: @UAWILPodcast Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Rock is Lit we dive deep into the visceral and tumultuous world of author GenXCore’s debut novel, ‘California Roadkill’. Explore the harrowing journey of three societal outliers as they navigate the shadows of violence, homelessness, and the haunting residue of addiction. From the gritty streets of Los Angeles to the soothing breezes of coastal California, the novel is an odyssey of self-discovery set against the backdrop of the Golden State. GenXCore and I delve into the multifaceted layers of the narrative, touching on the struggles of an adjunct teacher, whose face bears the scars of a student’s rebellion against a bad grade, and two of his former punk rock bandmates, one of whom is battling addiction and destitution, the other of whom thinks he’s found the cure to craving and compulsion. The intertwining of punk rock music and culture amplifies the story's intensity, offering a powerful soundtrack that resonates with the characters’ experiences and the broader societal commentary within the novel. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Clip from ‘A History Lesson: Punk Rock in Los Angeles in 1984’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii63ztDheF8&t=522s Clip from ‘What’s Up America: LA Punk Documentary 1980: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01VInkUxmIw&t=14s Punk Rock Instrumental Background Music: 1 Hour High-Energy Playlist Vol 2 Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Punk Rock Instrumental Background Music: 1 Hour High-Energy Playlist Vol 2 Kenny Hoopla “Hollywood Sucks” The Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter” The Stray Cats “Stray Cat Strut” Punk Rock Instrumental Background Music: 1 Hour High-Energy Playlist Vol 2 Punk Rock Instrumental Background Music: 1 Hour High-Energy Playlist Vol 2 X “Los Angeles” The Germs “Land of Treason” Clip from Lost Angeles homelessness up 9% in the county, 10% in the city, count finds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py65MJC8VR4&t=13s The Cramps “Goo Goo Muck” The Who “Won’t Get Fooled Again” Clip from live Sex Pistols show: “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” Sex Pistols “Holidays in the Sun” Rock is Lit theme music—royalty free background music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 GenXCore’s website: https://genxcore.com/ GenXCore on Twitter: @GenXCore0 GenXCore on Instagram: @genxcore Rock is Lit EP4, Featuring Janet Fitch’s punk rock novel ‘Paint It Black’, with guests Nicole Panter and Pleasant Gehman: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/janetfitchandpleasantgehmanandnicolepanter Rock is Lit Vault with Pleasant Gehman: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/podcast-vault-feed/pleasantgehman-bonus-content-46jek Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we’re straying from the rock novels camp to talk about a single short story, entitled “A Wayfarer at Devil’s Elbow,” written by North Carolina author, Pushcart Prize nominee, and musician Emily Alice Katz. The story, which appears in the new online issue of ‘North Carolina Literary Review’ was a finalist in the 2022 Doris Betts Fiction Prize, an annual competition sponsored by the North Carolina Writers’ Network, with winning entries and some finalists published in ‘NCLR’. Full disclosure: I serve as Senior Associate Editor of the journal. You can find a link in the show notes to the new issue of ‘NCLR’, where you can read Emily’s story and all the other amazing stories, essays, and poetry in the issue. Emily Alice Katz’s short fiction has appeared in such literary journals as ‘North Carolina Literary Review,’ ‘Salamander’, ‘Jelly Bucket’, ‘Meridian’, ‘South Carolina Review’, and ‘storySouth’. Her short story collection, ‘The Book of Nut and Other Stories’, was designated a finalist for the 2019 Eludia Award. And her short story “Little Hen” is included in the 2022 anthology ‘Frankly Feminist: Short Stories by Jewish Women from “Lilith Magazine”.’ She has a PhD in modern Jewish studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Her book, 'Bringing Zion Home: Israel in American Jewish Culture, 1948-1967', was published in 2015. “A Wayfarer at Devil’s Elbow” follows a young music journalist in her quest to locate and interview an obscure 1970s experimental rock musician from the mountains of North Carolina, Nyssa Adcock, who has fallen off the musical map and become a recluse and a bit of a rock ‘n roll mystery. Fans of this period in music history and Appalachian literature and lore will be enchanted by the story, an excerpt from which Emily reads at the beginning of the episode, and our discussion. You’ll also hear an abundance of Appalachian music as well as Emily’s own music. See the playlist below. Special thanks to Tim Randall and Hub Respess for providing the voices of music critics in the opening. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Horror Ambience Royalty Free Music "Witch by the Sea" by Darren Curtis Jack White “Great High Mountain” from Cold Mountain Soundtrack Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Appalachian steel guitar folk blues royalty free production music (before and after reading) “Devil’s Courthouse” by Jim Vancleve Clip from ‘Signs Cures Witchery’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwaUcSRsQPQ&t=134s Roger Sprung & His Progressive Bluegrassers “Mississippi Sawyer” Royalty free ‘60s ‘70s psychedelic rock n roll music Manifesto Klezmer Band (featuring Emily Alice Katz) “Mayn shtam redt” Manifesto Klezmer Band (featuring Emily Alice Katz) “Ikh bin geven amol a yingling” Here & Elsewhere (featuring Emily Alice Katz and Dan McClure) “The One You Never Knew” Rock is Lit theme music—royalty free background music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 ‘North Carolina Literary Review’ (read Emily’s story “A Wayfarer at Devil’s Elbow” in the fall online issue): https://nclr.ecu.edu/issues/nclr-fall-online-2023/ Emily Alice Katz’s website: https://emilyalicekatz.com/ Emily Alice Katz on Instagram: @emkatz Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, my friend Sherry Thomas and I are talking ‘Eddie and the Cruisers’, the 1983 cult classic film about a fictional early 1960s rock ‘n roll band on the rise that virtually disappeared from the airwaves after their lead singer, Eddie Wilson, supposedly died in a car wreck following a dispute over the band’s experimental second album, which was never released. Almost 20 years pass, and Eddie and the Cruisers are back on the charts, thanks to a renewed interest in ‘60s pop culture and music, and a journalist decides to go on a mission to find out what really happened to Eddie and the unreleased album. Enjoy Sherry’s and my conversation about our experience with the film—first as teenagers when the movie debuted, then again recently, as adults—and our lasting love affair with not only the movie but also the soundtrack by John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band. I should warn listeners that there will be spoilers in this episode. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ 1984 HBO Promo Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—"I Can’t Stop” Dark ambient instrumental rock copyright-free music “On the Dark Side” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack Clip from ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’—the caesura scene “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” by The Doors “On the Dark Side” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Tender Years” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Betty Lou’s Got a New Pair of Shoes” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Wild Summer Nights” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Down on My Knees” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Season in Hell” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack “Season in Hell” from the ‘Eddie and The Cruisers’ soundtrack LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Sherry Thomas on Stationhead: https://www.stationhead.com/analogsmile?utm_source=default&utm_campaign=share_station&utm_medium=share&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT08t0SsuSSzJzM%2FLSE1M0UvOz9V3CYl0NjctK3RxSQIA6dD1tycAAAA%3D&_branch_match_id=1116656580217513496 Sherry Thomas on Twitter: @sherryt1970 Sherry Thomas on Instagram: @readcoffeerepeat Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re starting Season 3 with a bang. Peter McDade is here to talk about his novel ‘Songs by Honeybird’, a story that features a fictional integrated rock band from 1960s Macon, Georgia, that fell off the musical map after a fire killed the lead singer and guitarist and also . . . possibly, the band’s African American drummer. To put it more succinctly, ‘Songs by Honeybird’ is about a band, a romantic break-up, a Ph.D candidate in History’s research, secrets, fathers, racism, Atlanta, the sixties and the repercussions the South still feels from that period, and . . . a talking dog. In the last segment of the episode Alan Light joins me to talk about musician, civil rights activist, and my fellow native-North Carolinian Nina Simone. The reason I’ve roped Alan into popping in is because one of the two main characters in ‘Songs by Honeybird’, the piano-playing Nina, is named after the legendary artist. Alan is a rock critic, journalist, former editor-in-chief of ‘Spin’ and ‘Vibe’ magazines, a former senior writer at ‘Rolling Stone’, and author of the book ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’, a biography of Nina Simone inspired by the Academy Award-nominated Netflix documentary of the same title. You won’t want to miss our convo. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, @ChristyHallberg, to catch the upcoming YouTube-only full interview with Alan Light about Nina Simone. MUSIC AND MEDIA IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Clip from 'Hell's Kitchen': "It's coming right now, baby" Rock is Lit theme music Clip from Season 3 Announcement/’Duck Tales’/Disney Channel [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—"I Can’t Stop” Southern Rock Royalty-Free Music “Keeping Secrets” by Christine McVie “The Grad Student Shuffle” by Chris Fleming “Gardenia” from ‘The Weight of Sound’ soundtrack “Waiting Here” from ‘Songs by Honeybird’ soundtrack “Heavy Heavy Hands” from ‘Songs by Honeybird’ soundtrack “Losing Control” from ‘Songs by Honeybird’ soundtrack “Feeling Good” (Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse) performed by Nina Simone “The Puppy Song” by Harry Nilsson “Karma Police” by Radiohead “Game On!” by Aqours “What’s Your Name” by Lynyrd Skynyrd “I Put a Spell on You” (Jay Hawkins) performed by Nina Simone Jazz music royalty free background café music [Jazz no copyright]—Creative Commons Music “Little Liza Jane” (Huey P. Smith, John Imbragulio) performed by Nina Simone at the Newport Jazz Festival, 1960 “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” by Nina Simone “Stars” (Janis Ian) performed by Nina Simone “I Shall Be Released” (Bob Dylan) performed by Nina Simone “Ain’t Got No, I Got Life” (Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado) performed by Nina Simone Jazz music royalty free background café music [Jazz no copyright]—Creative Commons Music Swamp Blues Rock Music Rock is Lit theme music—royalty free background music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Peter McDade’s website: www.peterjmcdade.com Peter McDade on Twitter: @PeterJMcDade Peter McDade on Instagram: @peterjmc33 ‘The Weight of Sound’ soundtrack on Bandcamp: https://wampusretrospectives.bandcamp.com/album/the-weight-of-sound-original-soundtrack ‘Songs by Honeybird’ soundtrack on Bandcamp: https://wampusretrospectives.bandcamp.com/album/songs-by-honeybird-original-soundtrack Peter McDade on Season 1 EP15 of Rock is Lit (talking about his novel ‘The Weight of Sound’): https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/petermcdade Alan Light on Aevitas Creative page: https://www.aevitascreative.com/client/alan-light Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/ Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices