The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

The Ramones influenced generations despite critical dismissal and radio absence. Ramones tour manager Monte A Melnick reveals insider history, promotional collectables, diplomatic strategies for handling volatile band dynamics and the journey of the revival and current cultural adoration of the band. "On The Road with The Ramones" book is available here. Topics Include: Monte Melnick's bonus edition adds 40 pages to his Ramones road stories collection Full-color book features posters, tour passes, and interactive visual design beyond typical text Monte served as diplomat, psychologist, babysitter, and mediator between wildly different band personalities Managing crazy crews...

Johnny Brennan reveals how The Jerky Boys' underground cassette tapes became an American comedy phenomenon, spreading from NYC musicians to Howard Stern's radar before landing an Atlantic Records deal and finding success with voiceover work on Family Guy. Get yerself (or a friend) a Cameo holiday video from Johnny Brennan here Topics Include: Johnny Brennan reveals The Jerky Boys infiltrated American vocabulary for over five decades People still answer phones with "tough guy" and use Jerky Boys catchphrases daily Johnny started creating characters on tape for his brothers back in the 1960s Father's threat...

SNFU founders Marc and Brent Belke discuss band history, rare recordings, records, vinyl reissues on Trust Records, upcoming events at the Punk Rock Museum & more. Topics Include: Marc and Brent Belke join from Vancouver and Victoria to discuss SNFU's December 5th Punk Rock Museum exhibit and album re-release. The exhibit coincides with Trust Records' re-release of SNFU's debut album "...And No One Else Wanted to Play" with extensive extras. The re-release includes a 53-page booklet with rare photos, interview excerpts, and a full record of early demos and alternate versions. The exhibit features band paraphernalia, posters...

Mike Watt played with Iggy & The Stooges for over 10 years - today he shares all about his times with the brotherhood - Iggy, the Asheton Brothers, Steve Mackay, the comeback tours, The Weirdness, the end of the road and more! Topics Include: Mike Watt discusses new Record Store Day release: 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" Without the Stooges, Watt believes punk movement wouldn't have existed as we know it Played with Stooges for 126 months after Iggy Pop called him in 2003 First heard Funhouse in 1970-71 when most people dismissed the band entirely Stooges music helped...

Larry Mullins (Stooges, Swans, Nick Cave) discusses his love of the Stooges, playing with Iggy and the Asheton Brothers and shares how he and Mike Watt reworked several Stooges tracks for multiple Record Store Day releases, including a 40-minute version of "We Will Fall", available RSD-BF 2025. Topics Include: Larry Mullins discusses Stooges tribute project with Mike Watt, creating extended instrumental versions Record Store Day release features 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" from the Stooges Mike Watt initiated project after Steve Mackay's death as band tribute without vocals Recording involves aggressive nine-minute live takes with bass...

Jen Keenan reveals how she built a thriving vinyl destination in rural Arizona, Queen B Vinyl Cafe, combining record sales with coffee roasting, ramen, and live music in a 12,000-person town. Topics Include: Jen Keenan owns Queen B Vinyl in Cottonwood, Arizona, a unique multi-business destination spot Record Store Day philosophy focuses on obscure, abstract, and smaller indie bands over mainstream releases RSD features 9am opening, numbered line system, DJs, live bands, and free chair massage Record stores can choose RSD titles but quantities received remain unpredictable surprises Queen B Vinyl spans two buildings with courtyard...

Guitar pioneer Randy Holden reveals how record label incompetence destroyed his 1970 masterpiece Population II, leading to depression, exile in Hawaii, and eventual vindication through cult status. Get Population II and III at Riding Easy Records or preorder Population II reissue at Noble Records online Topics Include: Randy Holden is surprised Population II remains influential after recording it in 1970 He knew it would be big—there was nothing like it musically then Population II was ready to release with Sun Amplifiers sponsoring monthly magazine ads National promoters wanted to book shows but needed the album re...

Jack Prine shares intimate stories about his legendary father John Prine, discusses the new "You Got Gold" movie, the history and state of "Oh Boy Records" and reveals intentions for unreleased recordings from the family archives. Check out screenings of "You Got Gold - A Celebration of John Prine" here Topics Include: Jack Prine discusses "You Got Gold" film celebrating his father John Prine's legacy Film originated through family friend connection at Radical Media, directed by Michael John Warren Documentary captures 2022 Ryman concert series benefiting the Hello In There Foundation Foundation started after John's...

Bootsy Collins shares tales of P-Funk, Praxis, Buckethead and community work, philanthropy and mental health advocacy. Bootsy online  |  Bootsy & Buckethead single  |  "Is there Anybody Out There" podcast Topics Include: Bootsy's philanthropy and community work Bootsy reveals music now has purpose beyond just making people feel good "If you ain't chasing something, there's no reason to hunt" - finding new motivation From chasing girls and highs on tour to discovering why he still makes music Always gave back to unknown musicians like Buckethead before they became famous Opens up about mental health struggles when he got...

In an extraordinarily rare interview, artist Raymond Pettibon discusses his journey, from early punk rock works to present day artistic themes, technique and rhythms, the Getty archives and more. Topics Include: Raymond Pettibon has been drawing constantly since childhood, "always with a pen in hand" Started with crayons, pastels, pencil - India ink came later as too messy Early influences included Albrecht Dürer, etchings, and comic book art equally Self-taught artist who learned through trial and error, never attended art school Studied economics in college, bringing analytical thinking to his art practice Approaches work as f...

Toody Cole of Dead Moon discusses their vinyl rarities, the DIY ethic of the band, owning a mono cutting lathe, refusing major labels, inspiring a generation of musicians around the world. DeadMoonUSA.com | Zipper LP Reissue | Melbourne 2025 shows Topics Include: Toody Cole rushing to airport to retrieve guitar from Spain before Australian tour November 2025 Melbourne shows - jumping on Jenny Don't and the Spurs tour dates First time in New Zealand described as most fun tour ever - prehistoric landscapes Missed Nirvana tour opportunity due to Fred's rule: never cancel committed gigs Fred restored...

Record nerd Harry Portnof started Greenway Records, revived Reverb Appreciation Society, and now leads Levitation's label operations - today we discuss the elaborate vinyl variants and the clear passion for music the Levitation festival inspires. Topics Include: Harry Portnof runs Greenway Records, Levitation, and Reverberation Appreciation Society labels. Dad blasted southern rock and Allman Brothers at excessive volumes throughout childhood. Discovered dad's CD collection, dove deep into classic rock discographies. Taught himself guitar in high school after getting kicked off tennis team. Found grandmother's records in attic with broken turntable playing in mono. Mesmerized by grooves...

Paul Riedl and Morris Kolontyrsky of Blood Incantation discuss the incredible 1st year of the album "Absolute Elsewhere", how it's transformed their lives and art, the creation of the record, the band's deep interest in vinyl collecting and lots more. Enter to win a signed vinyl copy of "Absolute Elsewhere" by becoming a sponsor at Patreon.com/VinylGuide Topics Include: Absolute Elsewhere transformed their lives: bigger venues, mainstream press, entirely new audiences. Album allows new stage production; band already writing faster than ever before. Now headlining shows in US; Europe tours were always headliners...

Mastering Engineer Dave Gardner & Audio Archivist Catherine Vericolli discuss the preservation of the Westbound Records audio catalogue, including the masters of legendary recordings by Funkadelic, The Counts, Ohio Players & more. Topics Include: Dave Gardner (mastering engineer) and Catherine Vericoli (archivist) introduce their specialized roles Mastering serves as link between creative process and manufacturing standards Catherine transfers analog tapes to highest possible digital quality preservation Physical restoration work includes extensive mold and splice remediation tasks Much archival work involves "audio archaeology" detective work with clues Working backwards from incomplete information when documentation is missing completely Common assumption...

Kevin Smith and Josh Roush discuss punk cinema and share how the DIY ethos of punk rock influenced both their filmmaking careers and their lifelong love of music and vinyl records. September 20 at the Punk Rock Museum - book now! Topics Include: Josh Roush introduces his punk rock film "Wrong Reasons" screening at Punk Rock Museum Film described as dramedy about fan kidnapping singer to clean her up Josh discovered punk through Rancid track in Beavis and Butthead movie Kevin Smith joins, reveals his rebellion was hip hop not punk rock Kevin explains his...

Hüsker Dü & UltraBomb bassist Greg Norton discusses the Miracle Year of 1985, vinyl rarities, the archive fire, Reflex records, the making of Zen Arcade, the Punk Rock Museum and more See Greg at the Punk Rock Museum Sept 9  |  Preorder "Hüsker Dü - The Miracle Years" here Topics Include: Greg Norton announces September 9th Punk Rock Museum guided tour and performance Norton discusses favorite museum pieces including Joe Strummer's guitar and burned DOA Stratocaster Band's archive mostly intact despite Grant Hart's 2011 house fire destroying materials Norton used to own 7,000 vinyl records but downsized after diffic...

Shooter Jennings reveals the story of hundreds of unreleased recordings his father Waylon made between 1974-1984, including stunning covers now being released as "Songbird" - plus more musical stories from the lives of the Jennings family. Order the new "Songbird" LP here. Topics Include: Shooter Jennings discusses upcoming Songbird release featuring his late father Waylon's unfinished recordings Most songs were actually complete with vocals and instruments already recorded professionally Waylon privately recorded after 1974 RCA battle, keeping hundreds of tapes unlabeled Tapes digitized in 2008 but sat untouched until Shooter systematically catalogued everything recently Discovery process w...

Australian guitarist Davey Lane discusses his new album 'Finally, a Party Record', joining You Am I at 18, meeting Paul McCartney & nerding out on vinyl! Listen to the new album here. Topics Include: Davey Lane discusses his new album "Finally, a Party Record" and the ironic title choice Originally titled "The Great Unraveling" but changed to something more approachable and chipper Despite upbeat title, songs deal with dark subject matter that inspires his songwriting Finding peace with mental state and place in world as he's gotten older Always includes glimmer of optimism even when writing...

Lifelong Elvis collector Ian McQuillan discusses the rarest records of Elvis Presley - from Sun Records worth $10,000+, international rarities, even shares insider tips for spotting counterfeits, and explains why young collectors are driving a thriving market for the King's rarest vinyl. Topics Include: Ian McQuillan introduces himself as 55-year Elvis fan since age 2 Scottish parents in New Zealand exposed him to Elvis on record player "Big Hunk of Love" was his first memorable Elvis song obsession RCA distributed Elvis records globally, making them widely available worldwide Elvis market remains strong while other 50s rockabilly artists declined...

Nick Aguilar of Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Slaughterhouse is a vinyl maniac! Today we discuss his collection, his obsession, the rarities and a life of music & record collecting. Topics Include: Nick Aguilar plays drums in multiple bands including Frankie and the Witch Fingers Currently focusing mainly on Frankie due to busy touring schedule ahead Extensive tour dates planned through end of year across US and Europe Considers himself a music fan first, musician second since childhood Dad played tapes during Nick's colic as baby, introducing classic rock Father went to San Pedro High School...