Big Al's Rockin' Podcast

Author Daniel Bukszpan joins the show again. This time he's here to discuss his new book "Rush and 2112: 50 Years," which explores the influential 1976 album and its impact on the band's career. Daniel explained how the book's three sections cover the album's creation, musical analysis, and aftermath, while also revealing new insights about Mercury Records' supportive role during the album's development. The discussion included Daniel's writing process, his other published works with Quarto, and his upcoming projects including a book about the Big Four metal bands.

In this episode, Martin and I discussed his latest book, "KISS 1976: 12 Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land," which will be released on February 24th. Martin explained the book's structure, which covers each month of 1976 with sections on KISS' activities, world events, and music industry happenings. He described the research process and challenges he faced while writing the book. Martin also shared insights into his writing process and mentioned some of his other recent publications.

In this episode talk with I Jeff and Kyle from "A Light Within" about their recent single "Dying Clock," a 9-minute track inspired by Tool, Pink Floyd, and Alan Parsons. The band members discussed their approach to music creation, noting that while COVID-19 was challenging, it allowed them time to write new material. Jeff mentioned working on ideas for a 2026 album release. We also discussed their musical journey, starting with their first EP "Preface" in 2013, which they later remixed and remastered.

In this episode, Michael Jahnz discussed the upcoming Richrath Project REO tribute show in Evansville on January 16th, which will feature three bands including Johnny Cash and Ozzy Osbourne tributes. Jahnz explained his history with Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon, including their work together in the Richrath Band and Project 3:13, and how 3:13 became a significant symbol for their fans. The discussion covered the current state of REO Speedwagon following Kevin Cronin's departure, the band's evolving fan base across generations, and their commitment to performing authentic rock music.

Joe Smith, owner of Joe's Records, shared his extensive career journey in the music retail industry, from his early days managing Coconuts Music Store to opening his own record shop in 2004. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of running an independent record store, including the impact of digital downloads, the revival of vinyl, and the role of online sales. Joe also highlighted the importance of building relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as adapting to changing market trends. The conversation touched on various topics such as pricing strategies, the impact of tariffs on imports, and the challenges of managing a business in the music industry.

Tim Durling returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "The Sound That Haunts You: A Beginner's Companion to Fleetwood Mac" which explores the band's different eras and lineup changes through detailed coverage of their albums and discography. He shares insights about his writing process, challenges in organizing the band's early recordings, and his personal preferences for various Fleetwood Mac eras, while also discussing his appreciation for the band's cover versions. Tim also provided information about his other music-related books and projects.

Veteran rock author Gillian Gaar returns to the podcast to talk about her book "Tom Petty: The Life & Music," which covers Petty's life and career, from his birth to after his death, including his breakthrough with "Damn the Torpedoes" and the unsolved arson attack on his house. The book concludes with Petty's posthumous success, including a song featured in a popular video game that gained renewed popularity. She also briefly discusses the differences between approaching her publisher to pitch a book idea, in this instance the Queen book we discussed in a previous episode, and being asked to write this book.

In this episode, Christian Shields shared details about his new single "Fall Like Rain" and his musical journey, including discussions about his full-length rock album "This Is Rock and Roll." Christian also discuss3eed his focus on releasing singles rather than albums, upcoming projects, and technical challenges encountered during tours, while also providing information about where fans can find his music online. (Apologies for my audio. I forgot to bring my headset mic with me.)

In this episode I chatted with Adam DeGraide about his partnership with Dameon Aranda called "A.D.A.M. Music Project" and their newest single "They Are Here." It is a song inspired by iconic alien-themed video games like Half-Life and Halo. We also discussed the upcoming album "Knockdown," which features a blend of rock styles and includes songs inspired by video games like "Pitfall," "Mega Man," and "Galaga." Adam also explained the collaboration with his Damien and highlighted the involvement of various vocalists and musicians in the project.

In this episode I spoke with Owen Paulls, a former musician from England who transitioned to tattooing after years of touring as a drummer. Owen shares his journey from music to tattooing, discussing his apprenticeship, artistic style, and experiences winning awards at tattoo shows, while also offering advice for both tattoo clients and aspiring artists.

In this episode, we discussed Daniel's book "Iron Maiden at 50," which chronicles the band's history through various sections covering their early years to present day, including details about their lineup changes, visual branding, and cultural impact. Daniel shared insights about the book's creation process, including his approach to writing the text and the publisher's handling of visual elements, while also discussing the band's evolution from niche to mainstream popularity and their strong connection with fans. The conversation concluded with Daniel reflecting on his other writing projects and his positive experience working with Quarto Publishing, which has resulted in his books being widely available through various retailers.

In this episode, I spoke with Stevie Peavey about creating music videos, mainly focusing on his recent release of Deuce by KISS. Stevie gives a brief explanation of the process for animating action figures and synchronizing lyrics. He also spoke about his experience creating music videos for various bands while discussing his transition from working in the toy industry to becoming a music video director. You can find Stevie Peavey Films on YouTube and Instagram.

Scott and Greg from the band Horace Pinker discussed their new album "Now and the Future," their first full-length release since 2011, which reflects a more positive and forward-looking message compared to their previous work. They also discuss the band's history. Greg shared his experiences touring with the band in Europe, including a memorable performance at the Grosrock festival in Belgium. They also mentioned sharing the stage with various notable bands and attending festivals in different countries. Finally, they discussed their upcoming tour dates, including a performance at the Fest in Gainesville, Florida.

Tim Durling discussed his book "Unspooled" about 8-track tapes, which explores the format's history and collecting culture while combining personal biography with music collecting. The book's creation was inspired by a conversation with recent podcast guest Martin Popoff, who wrote the foreword, and was completed through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021. Tim shared his extensive 8-track collection and experiences as a collector, while also discussing the format's history and popularity, including its continued production beyond the 1980s. Additionally, he promoted his other books, which focus on specific bands and artists.

Trevor discussed his songwriting process, including how "Sunshine" emerged from an instrumental riff, and his collaboration with INXS bassists Gary Beers and Tea Party guitarist Jeff Martin on lead guitar on the song. He expressed interest in working with other musicians like Gilby Clark and Mike Kruger in the future. Trevor also shared his experiences working with Randy and Tal Bachman and mentioned his upcoming projects with Gary, which will be more collaborative and harder rock in style.

Martin and I discussed Martin's book "Guns N' Roses at 40," which covers 40 career highlights of the band in a chronological format. We also explored Martin's extensive writing process and experience authoring over 135 books, including his work on band biographies and historical accounts. The conversation concluded with discussions about Martin's upcoming book releases and their availability through various retailers.

This week I spoke to author Sean Egan about his new book "Bruce Springsteen and Born to Run: 50 Years," which explores the making and impact of the landmark 1975 album on its 50th anniversary. The book, published by Motorbooks, provides context about Bruce Springsteen's career and the challenging recording process that resulted in what many consider "the greatest record ever made." Sean discussed how Springsteen's songwriting style evolved for the album and the significant challenges faced during recording, including personnel changes and the artist's perfectionism.

Diego Sagredo, guitarist from the Chilean rock band Consequence of Energy, joins me this week to promote their debut single "Freedom" and upcoming album "We Are One." The band's new conceptual album, produced by Gard Richardson, blends hard rock with ancestral sounds and features 12 tracks including "Freedom," set for release in January 2026. The band shared their touring plans for South American festivals and potential tours in Europe and the United States, along with details about a special animated vinyl edition of the album with U.S. distribution.

In this conversation, Walter discussed the Headless album "Transitional Objects" released on August 29, 2025, on the M-Theory Audio label. He described it as a 37-minute, 8-track album with meticulous production and a dystopian perspective, inspired by personal experiences and events like 9/11 and the loss of a close friend. Walter highlighted specific songs, such as "Weightless," inspired by the birth of his son, and "Losing Power," reflecting on 9/11, emphasizing the album's diverse inspirations and emotional depth. Walter also discussed the history of the band.

In this interview, Derek Shulman discussed his life journey from his Scottish upbringing to becoming a successful musician and later music industry executive. He shared his experiences with various bands, including Simon Dupree and the Big Sound and Gentle Giant, and detailed his transition from performing to working in A&R at Polygram Records. Derek reflected on the evolution of the music industry and advised emerging artists to focus on authenticity rather than fame, while also mentioning his upcoming book "Giant Steps" which explores these themes and the future of music.