Jason Potbelly Review, News and Reviews for January 2024 (00:37:20)
Your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, is back on this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast to let you know what's been going on and what you can expect on the next episode, which will be released next week.
The news in this episode revolves around festival line up announcements, tour date announcements, new album announcements, .
I review singles and EPs release by .
Also, four major albums were released this month that I also reviewed: .
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Interview with Jason Potbelly (Potbelly) (01:18:28)
On this special interview episode of the Banned Biographies podcast, host Tom Austin-Morgan chats with Jason Potbelly, the co-lead vocalist, guitarist and driving force behind Washington-based punk band Potbelly. The band has been around and touring since 1995 and has built up quite the community by producing split EPs and compilation albums with a plethora of well-known and unsigned bands over the years as well as relentlessly touring around North America. In fact, they’ve released over 100 recordings over the years, so many that even Jason can’t remember the names of them all, as you’ll hear!
Potbelly is finally coming to the UK this summer and I’ll be playing with them at their first show in London in July with my band Swampstomper (more details will follow once the full line up is confirmed and announced.
Jason has so many stories from seeing the cream of the Seattle grunge scene play tiny venues and house parties in the 80s and 90s to insights about the political environment of the US and the crazy goings on in his area during covid, as well as booking tours and touring in the days before the internet when you had to use maps and phone books!
You can find Potbelly by visiting PIG Records and on Facebook as well as on ReverbNation as well as the other streaming sites. If you search for them look for the logo with the scary-looking cartoon pig!
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Pete Trainor Interview Round Up, News and Review for December (00:37:44)
Your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, is back on this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast to let you know what's been going on and what you can expect on the next episode, which will be released next week.
The news in this episode revolves around festival line up announcements, tour date announcements and cancellations, new album announcements, Ex Anti-Flag frontman, Justin Geever being sued for sexual assault, Crass releasing a picture book, Kevin 'Geordie' Walker from Killing Joke passing away, GWAR making a new film in which they save Earth from destruction, Shane MacGowan passing away, Spotify changing their royalties structure to stop two thirds of the songs on the platform from making money, Dead Kennedy's debut album reaching Gold status in the US 43 year after its release, and Manny Martinez (an original member of Misfits) passing away.
I review singles and EPs release by Feeder, Gogol Bordello and Bernard Sumner, Cherym, Alkaline Trio, IDLES, Green Day, Sum 41, The Cult and Pendulum.
However, there was only on album I was keeping an eye on to review this month: Just Before The World Starts Burning by The Sleeping Souls, a.k.a. Frank Turner's backing band.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday period, and a Happy New Year!
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Interview with Pete Trainor (Author of 'Calling All The Dreamers' - The Untold Story of Electrasy) (01:18:55)
This episode of the Banned Biographies podcast is a very special interview with Pete Trainor, a designer, product-innovator, author, strategist, applied data specialist, technologist, suicide prevention campaigner, and massive music fan. He talks all over the world on creative and social technologies, data, Ai and the physiological and psychological effects on their audiences.
However, in 2023 he zigged when many would zag, and published his second book, ‘Calling All The Dreamers‘. The remarkable true story about a Britpop band called Electrasy who went crashing through the record industry, but were ultimately halted by technology and shifting human-behaviour.
Pete got in contact with me a few months ago about the book and wondered if I’d like to read it with a view to arranging an interview with Electrasy. That will still happen in the future, but what struck me about the book was the level of fandom he has for this little known band from his home town of Yeovil and why he felt he needed to tell the story. For many of us I felt that this would be the perfect entry level to the Electrasy story and will certainly inform the direction of the interview with the band in the near future.
In this conversation we not only talk about the book and the career of Electrasy, we also get into what drives fandom, life in provincial towns, the pros and cons of technology in life (let alone the music industry) and Pete’s role as a technologist and professional speaker, which goes deep.
‘Calling All The Dreamers’ is now available in paperback and Electrasy’s debut album, Beautiful Insane’ has been re-released using AI technology from the original studio demos from 1998. So be sure to visit electrasy.co.uk where you can buy Beautiful Insane, their other music, merch and Pete’s book 'Calling All The Dreamers', alternatively, you could visit Pete’s website trainor.fyi to buy any of his books, see some of his amazing work and watch his various talks, they’re well worth it.
Contact Pete Trainor
trainor.fyi
Twitter: @petetrainor
LinkedIn
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October and November News and Reviews (01:00:08)
Apologies for not releasing an episode last month, I’ve been putting the finishing touches to my new office as well as gigging and recording with my bands, so I didn’t have the time to get anything done, in fact I had to postpone a few interviews because of it all which is a reflection of how little time I’ve had.
I'm back now though to let you know what's been going on and what you can expect on the next episode, which will be released next week.
The news in this episode revolves around festival line up announcements, tour date announcements and cancellations, new album announcements, the controversy around the buy-out and subsequent lay-offs at Bandcamp, guitarist Jeff Schroeder quitting The Smashing Pumpkins, blink-182 playing a gig in a diner, Blondie's Chris Stein releasing an autobiography, Rat Scabies re-joining The Damned, and Shane MacGowan's ongoing health issues.
Singles and EPs by Millie Manders and the Shut Up, Feeder, Cherym, The Sleeping Souls, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, IDLES, Alkaline Trio, Sleaford Mods, Sigrid, Bob Vylan, Grade 2, The Beatles, Deap Valley, Pendulum, and Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes are reviewed.
Album reviews include: The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light by The Streets, Paint My Bedroom Black by Holly Humberstone, We Stand Against You by Mondo Generator, Be Lucky by Death Of Guitar Pop, Doom Loop by Dream Nails, Angst Music by Laurie Black, Hackney Diamonds by Rolling Stones, One More Time... by blink-182, Danse Macabre by Duran Duran, History Books by The Gaslight Anthem, 2RUFF, Vol. 1 by Chase & Status, and the sublime Theatre of the Absurd presents C'est La Vie by Madness.
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Madness Part 1 Round Up, News and Reviews for September 2023 (01:03:23)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, talks about what's been going on since last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next one.
The news this month concerns: Anti-Flag, Devo, Pussy Riot, Cro-Mags and Destroy Zine's conflicting stories of violence, Rolling Stone Magazine and Rock n Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner being sacked, Laura Jane Grace, and Live Nation dropping merch cuts at some US club-sized venues.
Tom reviews the singles by Pendulum, Lucky Hit, L7, Chase & Status, Holly Humberstone, Blink-182, Duran Duran, The Sleeping Souls, Sleaford Mods, Sum 41, Laurie Black, Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes,. The Streets, Madness, The Rolling Stones, U2, The Lathums, and Barns Courtney.
The albums reviewed this month are: Turquoise by Electric Six, Sea of Mirrors by The Coral, CMF2 by Corey Taylor, Race The Night by Ash, Relentless by The Pretenders, Fat Mike Gets Strung Out by Fat Mike, Nothing Lasts Forever by Teenage Fanclub, Rock 'n' Roll Club by Kurt Baker, and Outta Sync by Don Letts.
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The Rise And Fall And Rise Again: A Brief History of Madness (Part 1) (02:52:53)
In 1976 school friends Mike Barson and Lee Thompson formed a band called the North London Invaders, roping in other friends of theirs Chris Foreman, John Hasler and Cathal Smyth to play rock n roll and soul songs. The line-up was a tumultuous one and only solidified two years later when Hasler was eventually replaced on drums by Daniel Woodgate, Mark Bedford replacing Smyth on bass with Smyth becoming a brass player, dancer and singer and lead singer Graham McPherson aka Suggs finally decided to commit rather than watch Chelsea play football. They also adopted a new name, Madness, after a song by ska/reggae legend Prince Buster.
Thus was born a band that became one of the most prominent bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s two-tone ska revival. Madness have had 16 singles reach the UK top ten and between 1980 to 1986, the band's songs spent a total of 214 weeks on the UK Singles Chart.
Their music videos showcased them as a fun gang that kids and adults alike wanted to be a part of with flying saxophonists and nutty trains. But, behind the scenes in-fighting and constantly butting up against their label boss, as well as incredible success, put pressure on the band which caused rifts and breakups over the years.
This episode of Banned Biographies deals with this heady first decade and the rise and fall of one of the most beloved British bands to ever strut their stuff.
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Brompton Jackson Round Up, News, Single And Album Reviews (00:50:38)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks Brompton Jackson from Wilmette for his time on last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: The continuing allegations against Justin Sane of Anti-Flag, the passing of Sinéad O’Connor, Jamie Reid and Steve Harwell, Descendents, Devo, Billy Idol, GBH, The Bronx, The Damned, Ben Weasel from Screaching Weasel's new book, Bob Vylan, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Fishbone and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan touring together, former Lostprophets frontman and convicted peadophile, Ian Watkins getting stabbed in prison, Madball, Chris Flippin, Paramore, Glenn Danzig, TV Smith, Dexys, Green Day, Fat Mike, Lars Fredericksen, Amyl and the Sniffers, Bouncing Souls, L7, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, and The Rolling Stones.
Tom reviews the singles by Pretenders, The Coral, Holly Humberstone, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Teenage Fanclub, Fat Mike, Corey Taylor, The Streets, Soft Play, Ash, Mondo Generator, The Gaslight Anthem, Molotov Jukebox, Dream Nails, and The Rolling Stones.
The albums reviewed this month are: The Female Divine by Dexys, Smile by Skindred, The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons by The Hives, A Call to the Void by Hot Milk, Road by Alice Cooper, and Back to The Water Below by Royal Blood.
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Interview with Brompton Jackson (Wilmette, Action/Adventure, Knockout Kid) (01:16:52)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast host Tom Austin-Morgan sits down over Zoom to speak with Brompton Jackson, guitarist with Chicago bands Wilmette, Action/Adventure and Knockout Kid.
Specifically we focus on Wilmette for this episode as he’s the newest member of this particular group and they have released their long-awaited debut full-length album, 'Hyperfocused,' today (4th August 2023) via Mutant League Records.
The album was produced by Seth Henderson of the bands State Champs and Knuckle Puck, and is the follow-up to Wilmette’s 2019 debut EP 'Anxious Body.' In this conversation we talk about the making of the album, how he handled joining a band during the pandemic, and how someone in as many touring bands as Brompton is manages it all!
Find Wilmette:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Apple Music
Spotify
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David Green Round Up, News, Single And Album Reviews (00:38:41)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks David Green from Moonraker for his time on last months' episode, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: L7, The Slackers, Paramore, Bob Vylan, Fall Out Boy, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, David Vanian and the Phantom Chords, Finch, MxPx, Ozzy Osbourne, Decsendents, Green Day, The Dollyrots, Alkaline Trio, and - of course - Anti-Flag.
Tom reviews the singles Antichrist/Room Service by Holly Humberstone, The One by Taking Back Sunday, Taking Up Sports by Cherym, My Submission by Dexys, Subculture Rock n Roll/Pleaser split by The Drowns/The Last Gang, Foreign Land and Tired Of Being Alone by Teenage Fanclub, Rigor Mortis Radio by The Hives, Post Traumatic Blues by Corey Taylor, BLOODSTREAM by Hot Milk, Troubled Waters by The Streets, Pull Me Through by Royal Blood, Unstoppable by Skindred, Like A God by Ash, Shoebox Memories by Lucky Hit, Childhood Eyes EP by Yellowcard, Fuck Day Six (String Version) by Fat Mike, I’m Alice and White Line Frankenstein by Alice Cooper, Positive Charge and History Books by The Gaslight Anthem, and Get It by The Sewer Cats.
The albums reviewed this month are Chaos For The Fly by Grian Chatten, Caesar Salad Days by Adolescents, and Dream Big, Live Large, Play Hard by RudeGRL + CC.
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Interview with David Green (Moonraker) (01:13:05)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast host, Tom Austin-Morgan, chats to David Green, drummer in US pop punk band Moonraker.
Moonraker has been a unit since 2011 releasing numerous singles and EPs and three full-length albums, the most recent of which – The Forest – was released in May 2022. To celebrate the anniversary of this album, and to get us ready for new music, Moonraker has released a new video for the song 'I Really Wanted To' where the band face off against another team in a deadly game of whirleyball.
We talk about what the hell Whirley ball is as well as David's musical inspirations, what’s wrong with a certain retiring punk band, secret hotel room vandalism, why pop music is benefitting from ‘going punk’, and much more.
Find Moonraker:
Instagram @moonrakerpunx
Twitter @moonrakerpunx
Facebook
moonraker.bandcamp.com
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Music
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Christopher Swinney Round Up, Rancid Gig Review, News and Single and Album Reviews (00:33:31)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, thanks Christopher Swinney for his time on last months' episode, and talks about his experience at the Rancid show a couple of weeks ago, and what you can expect from the next episode which will be out soon.
The news this month concerns: Social Distortion's Mike Ness, Poli Van Dam, Alkaline Trio, Generations Sex, Devo, Alice Cooper, NOFX's Fat Mike, T.S.O.L., X, The Hives, Cro-Mags, Billy Idol, and The Offspring.
Tom reviews the singles Mountains At Midnight by Royal Blood (and talks about THAT Radio 1's Big Weekend performance), Childhood Eyes by Yellowcard, Telepath by Jimmy Eat World, Countdown To Shutdown by The Hives, Good Guy by Dream Nails, Race The Night by Ash, Coming Home by Dexys, I Think About You Daily by Pretenders, Happy Complaining EP by Smile Wide, Algorithms by Kasabian, and The Score, Last Time Every Time Forever, and Fairlies by Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten.
The albums reviewed this month are Paradise by Indian pop punk band Sages From The Future, In Times New Roman by Queens Of The Stone Age and Born Rude by South Korean street punk band Rumkicks.
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Interview with Christopher Swinney (Fire Sale, The Ataris, Brazil, Underminded, The Widow Jenkins) (01:20:21)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast host Tom Austin-Morgan talks to Christopher Swinney, guitarist of pop punk supergroup Fire Sale, which also includes Matt Riddle from Face to Face, Pulley and No Use For A Name, Pedro Aida from Ann Beretta and ShotClock, and Matt Morris from Darlington and 41 Gorgeous Blocks.
Fire Sale was born during the pandemic as a song-writing project but has since released a handful of EPs and singles as well as playing live shows, despite the members living in completely different parts of the US. Today they've released their first video for the most recent single - 'A Fool’s Errand' - which you can watch here.
During the conversation we talk about loads of things including his love of metal, punk rock and rap as well as what drives him and his experience with both the creative and business sides of the music business over a career spanning most of his adult life.
You can follow Fire Sale:
www.facebook.com/firesaleisaband
www.instagram.com/firesaleisaband
Listen to Chris's podcast: That One Time On Tour
And you can follow their record company, Negative Progression Records:
https://www.instagram.com/negativeprogression/
https://www.facebook.com/negativeprogression/
https://negativeprogressionrecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/NPRTV
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High Frequency Round Up, News and Reviews... and an Explanation (01:07:47)
You may have noticed a distinct lack of social media stuff and episodes being put out in the last few months. I got quite sick during almost the whole of March and into May after working hard professionally as well as on the High Frequency EP and the shows to support its release.
I'd like to thank Ant and Corky for coming on the last episode to talk about the history of our band and the recording of our new EP ‘Some Songs You May Have Heard… But Not Like This!’ which I hope you've listened to and enjoyed.
I'd also like to thank the handful of listeners who checked in on me while I was away, I really appreciate it. I’m OK now and looking forward to getting back to work on the podcast.
On this episode I cover the news from the last four months which concerns The Sisters of Mercy, The Mad Caddies, Moby, U.K. Subs, Yellowcard, Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, Danzig, Weezer, BGH, Blink-182, Less Than Jake, The Cure, Amyl And The Sniffers, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Circle Jerks, Public Image Limited, vinyl sales, The Misfits, Devo, Doom Generator, Descendents, Adolescents, Dead Kennedys, Lektron, Flogging Molly, X, Siouxie Sioux, Crass, Alice Cooper, Social Distortion, Laura Jane Grace, The Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame, The Distillers, Sum 41, Rancid, The Hives, Dropkick Murphys, Stiff Little Fingers and Steve Jones, The Toy Dolls, Foo Fighters, Bowling For Soup, Lagwagon.
Single reviews include Bone Church by Slipknot, Over by Chvrches, 'Til The Anarchy's Restored by Flogging Molly, Raid by Doom Generator, Set Fazers, If I Could and L.O.V.E. (Smile Please) by Skindred, I'm Going To Get Free and The Feminine Divine by Dexys, HORROR SHOW and PARTY ON MY DEATHBED by Hot Milk, Shine and Reasons by Smile Wide, Lost EP by Pet Shop Boys, First In, Last Out by Death Of Guitar Pop, Bogus Operandi by The Hives, Emotion Sickness and Carnavoyeur by Queens Of The Stone Age, Obvious Sucker by Lucky Hit, Let The Sun Come In by The Pretenders, Video Games and Wicked Game by Tenacious D, Beyond by Corey Taylor, United Strike Back by Gogol Bordello and Friends, and Halo by Pendulum and Bullet For My Valentine.
Album reviews include This Is Why by Paramore, Grade 2 by Grade 2, Broken Britain Pt.2 EP by The Meffs, One In A Thousand by Obey Robots, From Nothing To A Little Bit More by The Lathums, UK GRIM by Sleaford Mods, Memento Mori by Depeche Mode, The Cup Of Pestilence by Frenzal Rhomb, 72 Seasons by Metallica, Finally!!! by Swampstomper, Headstone Horrors by Headstone Horrors, Darkadelic by The Damned, Red October by Daniel Son, Okemah Rising by Dropkick Murphys, Human Algebra by The Selecter, But Here We are by Foo Fighter,s and Tomorrow Never Comes by Rancid.
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Interview with High Frequency (01:40:39)
On this special interview episode of the Banned Biographies podcast Tom not only plays host and interviewer, but also interviewee alongside High Frequency bandmates, Antony Collett and Martin ‘Corky’ Cork.
The reason for this very indulgent episode is because we have a self-recorded, self-mixed three-track E.P. called ‘Some Songs You May Have Heard… But Not Like This!’, which is out right now on all streaming platforms. The songs included on the E.P. are re-recorded versions of songs that were either incompletely recorded or never made it on to any previous album or E.P.
The other thing the songs have in common is, as you may be able to tell from the title, that we’ve continued to play them in our live set, even all these years later. As well s covering the E.P., we give a potted history of the band, warts and all.
I hope you can forgive this blatant self-promotion, I promise I won’t make a habit of this kind of thing… until we release the full-length album we're working on anyway!
Find High Frequency on whatever streaming service you use to listen to your music, add the songs (and maybe even some of the old ones) to your public playlists, and share them on social media. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did having it.
Find High Frequency:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighFrequencyUK
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/high_frequency_rocks/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0dBkgFSnCDeFZdg4M4uHXz?si=5S8Y0o_kRdONhiunRswKhQ
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/high-frequency/1644906817
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Zach Blair and Laurie Black Round Up, News and Reviews (00:45:58)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies podcast your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, lets you know what’s been going on since the last TWO episodes and what you can expect from the next one.
Firstly, I'd like to thank Zach Blair again very much for giving up some of his precious time to talk to me at the end of last year, it was so nice to meet him and find out he was just a regular, nice dude who enjoys chatting music. But, I released a sneaky extra episode this month, didn’t I? I’d been wanting to talk to Laurie Black since I saw her support Adam Ant at the end of last Summer. Thanks to photographer Max Caine we reconnected and recorded that great conversation you heard a couple of weeks ago. Australian listeners, you still have time to get yourselves to a show at the Adelaide and Melbourne fringe festivals to go and see what she’s all about. I urge you to go and see her, you won’t be disappointed.
It's been a really great month for interaction and I’m really glad you all feel passionate enough about music and have been encouraged to get in touch with me. I love a good natter about music, so please do stay in touch and, if you’ve not got in touch via social media or email then please do, and do go and leave me a five star rating and more importantly a review on Apple Podcasts.
News this month concerns Terry Hall, Vivienne Westwood, The Punk Rock Museum, Steve Ignorant, Public Image Limited representing Ireland at Eurovision, Billy Idol, The Damned, The Real McKenzies, NOFX, Sleaford Mods, Danzig, Fall Out Boy, Bouncing Souls, Pantera being removed from European shows, Flogging Molly, The Meffs, Tom Verlaine, Pussy Riot, Siouxsie Sioux, Ozzy Osbourne and more.
Single reviews include Invisible Man by The Damned, Bosh! by Death Of Guitar Pop, C'est Comme Ca by Paramore, What If Punk Never Happened II by The King Blues, UK GRIM by Sleaford ModsStruggle by The Lathums, and Midnight Ferry by Grade 2
Albums reviewed are Every Loser by Iggy Pop, LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN by Anti-Flag, Uncertain Joys by The Subways, Make The Most Of It by New Found Glory, and Lobes by We Are Scientists
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Interview with Laurie Black (Solo Musician and Cabaret Compère) (01:15:05)
On this special interview episode of the Banned Biographies podcast, Tom Austin-Morgan talks to synthrock cabaret musician and compère Laurie Black.
This conversation came around quickly, despite the fact that I saw her supporting Adam Ant on the Antics tour last summer. We were both busy in the mean time, but today Laurie her releasing her latest single, Spacejunk. Though the song is a year old, the subject (Elon Musk) just keeps getting more controversial. Spacejunk is available to download and stream now wherever you get your music digitally.
Laurie is a really cool person and artist with strong views on a number of topics which are evident in her music and stage act. I can't recommend enough making time to listen to her music and to try to catch a live performance, which for those of you in Australia will be easy as Laurie is performing at the Melbourne and Adelaide fringe festivals from February to April, so you really have no excuse!
You can find out all about her, her music and tour dates at laurieblack.co.uk or find her on Facebook and Instagram. You can find her music on all the usual streaming sites.
The new single, 'Spacejunk', can be found here: laurieblack.co.uk/music
Laurie is an independent artist, so male sure you check out the merch section of the website and buy some of her stuff, from music to lampshades – it’ll make sense in the interview which I hope you enjoy listening to as much as I did having it.
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Interview with Zach Blair (Rise Against, GWAR, Only Crime, Armstrong, Hagfish) (00:52:25)
Welcome to this very special interview episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast where your host, Tom Austin-Morgan, talks to Zach Blair, the lead guitarist of Rise Against. I met Zach on the ferry back from both our European tours in November and he was such a gentleman. He gave me a lot of time and asked about the tour, about my podcast and told me about his own brilliant podcast, Anti-Heroes with Zach Blair, upon which he talks with other guitarists that he admires about their guitars, set ups and equipment. He also told me about the other bands he’s played in including Hagfish, Armstrong, Only Crime, and GWAR, some of which he talks about on this episode.
Zach is such a great guy and so full of stories, as you would expect from someone who has been doing this for as long as he has. I'm so thankful to him for talking to me, even though this is a shorter than usual episode due to how busy Zach is. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I had having it.
If you have any additional questions after listening that I didn't have time to ask him, perhaps I’ll be able to entice him back on in future and put them to him. Until then, if you want more Zach chat, go and subscribe to his podcast, and let him know I sent you, so he knows you heard him on here and he knows this is a good place for him to come back.
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Tom's Sham 69 European Tour Diary Round Up, News and Reviews (00:48:02)
On this 'Round Up' episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast, host - Tom Austin-Morgan - looks back at his time in Europe playing with Sham 69 and the connections he made with the rest of the band as well as complete strangers and of course thanks all those who got in touch after listening to it and a very special thanks to Smokey for sitting in for the whole four and a half hours!
News this month concerns Grade 2, Dickies, Paramore, The Misfits, Sick New World Festival, Gina Birch, Peter Hook and The Light, Reagan Youth, Iggy Pop, U.K. Subs, New Found Glory, Alexisonfire, Madness, Keith Levene, AFI, Dropkick Murphys, The Distillers, Flogging Molly, Pauline Black, Punk Rock Bowling, Slam Dun Festival, Thin Lizzie, The Damned, 2000Trees Festival, Amyl and the Sniffers, Social Distortion, Shaky Knees Festival, The Dwarves, Brakrock Festival, Punk Rock Holiday, Lagwagon, Jet Black, Bottles To The Ground Records, Rancid, The Interrupters and Frank Turner, Wattie from The Exploited, Siouxsie Sioux, and NOFX.
Single reviews include Anti-Flag's NVREVR (feat. Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop), Skindred's Gimme That Boom, Grade 2's Under The Streetlight, The Interrupters' Raised By Wolves (acoustic), Paramore's The News and This Is Why, Weezer's I Want A Dog, Iggy Pop's Strung Out Johnny, New Found Glory's Dream Born Again and Get Me Home, Avril Lavigne and YUNGBLUD's I'm A Mess, We Are Scientists' Lucky Just To Be Here, The Lathums' Turmoil, Metallica's Aeterna, The Linda Lindas' Groovy Xmas, and The Offspring's Bells Will Be Ringing
Albums reviewed are The Meffs' Broken Britain Part 1 EP, The Nervous Eaters' Monsters + Angels, Strike Eagles' Operation Mjölnir, Disturbed's Divisive, Madness' The Get Up!, and NOFX's Double Album.
All this and more. See you in the pit!
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Tom's Sham 69 European Tour Diary: Part 2 - with co-host Smokey (02:25:19)
Smokey joins Tom once more on the Banned Biographies Podcast for the second episode recounting tales from the diary Tom kept while touring around Europe with Sham 69.
This episode covers the last seven gigs in the same number of days of the tour, more highs, lows, malfunctioning equipment, as well as continuing to meet amazing people in amazing venues and incredible bands. However, the spectre of the war in Ukraine reared its head a number of times in this last half of the tour. I met Poles, Russians and Ukrainians all suffering in some way as well as a Columbian with a similar story of escaping from a civil war only to be told by the German government that all is well and he may have to go back to his home country, despite the fact that all is still not well there. Fun times were also had and, thankfully outweighed the sad stories, and I met a genuine rock star on the way home!
Bands highlighted in this episode include:
The Herbärds
The Amuse Girls
Violent Instinct
Viciou (So new they don't seem to have a website/social media/bandcamp)
Kommando Marlies (the pronunciation of which I butchered in the episode, sorry guys!)
Smokey hosts the movie podcasts Rated H (a horror movie podcast), All The Best Lines (a golden age of cinema podcast) and House Of Hammer (reviewing all the Hammer films in order). Go subscribe to those too, you won't regret it (and let him know you did so through this show).
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Tom's Sham 69 European Tour Diary: Part 1 - with co-host Smokey (02:08:17)
Friend of the show, Smokey - just Smokey - joins Tom on this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast to recount the first half of the diary he kept while touring around Europe with his band, Sham 69.
Tom recounts the first 10 gigs and 11 days of the tour, the highs, the lows, the malfunctioning equipment, the amazing people he encountered, the amazing venues he played in, the incredible bands he played with (except one), and the friendships he made along the way.
Bands highlighted in this episode include:
The Vageenas
Rotz Auf Der Wiese
STARTS
Monkey Business
Angry Town
Ruined Floor
The Movement
None Shall Fall
Part 2 will be with you soon, so keep subscribed.
Smokey hosts the movie podcasts Rated H (a horror movie podcast), All The Best Lines (a golden age of cinema podcast) and House Of Hammer (reviewing all the Hammer films in order). Go subscribe to those too, you won't regret it (and let him know you did so through this show).
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Contact
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Rich Wilson Interview Round up, News and Reviews (00:33:29)
On this 'Round Up' episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast, host - Tom Austin-Morgan - thanks comedian Rich Wilson for his time last month, as well as chatting about what he's been up to in the last month: working hard before the tour with Sham 69. playing gigs and writing and recording with High Frequency. All very exciting stuff.
News this month concerns NOFX, Rage Against The Machine, Depeche Mode, The Sewer Cats, Anti-Flag, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Blink-182, Green Day, Grade 2, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Jimmy Eat World, Less Than Jake, Stiff Little Fingers, Jello Biafra, The Meffs, The Real McKenzies, Bikini Kill, festivals including When We Were Young, Punk Spring and the Manchester Punk Festival and the passing of Dead Kennedys drummer DH Peligro.
Single reviews include Blink-182's Edging, Queen's Face It Alone, Disturbed Divisive and We Are Scientists' Less From You and Operator Error.
Albums reviewed are Doggerel by Pixies, This Machine Still Kills Fascists by Dropkick Murphys, The End So Far by Slipknot, The Art Of Survival by Bush, Under The Midnight Sun by The Cult, Here Is Everything by The Big Moon, Perplex Cities EP by Serj Tankian, Can You Afford To Lose Me by Holly Humberstone, My Favourite Blue Jeans by De'Wayne and A Night Of A Thousand Vampires Live In London by The Damned.
All this and more. See you in the pit!
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Interview with Rich Wilson (Comedian) (01:53:00)
On this very special interview episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast, Tom talks to Rich Wilson, an award winning comedian who has performed sell out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival and the New Zealand Comedy Festival.
Rich is also the host of the Insane In The Men Brain Podcast where he talks to funny and interesting people about their experiences with mental health. In the last year the podcast has been nominated for an award with Podbible and in 2019 won an award with JOE for best podcast.
Rich is the first comedian I’ve had on Banned Biographies and the reason for that is that I hear him bring up music on his podcast fairly often and his guests don't often indulge him - plus the fact he has a show on Islington Radio called The Tuned Up Time Machine - so, I reached out to ask of he’d like to have a long form conversation about music and he jumped at the chance, which was flattering.
In this conversation we talk about his favourite bands, best gigs he’s ever been to and played, the best and worst things about music (including how shit Sex On Fire by Kings Of Leon is!), the similarities between musicians and comedians, how society is too clean and safe right now, and so much more as well as a fair bit about his career in comedy.
This was such an easy, free-wheeling conversation to have and I’m so grateful to Rich for giving up a couple of hours of his day to shoot the breeze with me about a subject that’s clearly dear to both our hearts.
If this is your first time listening to Banned Biographies, I do audio documentaries on bands, a lot of which we touch upon in this episode, and I’ve interviewed musicians in bands such as Sham 69, Ash, The Prodigy, English Dogs, Adam Ant’s solo bands, and session musicians for The Selecter, Bow Wow Wow, The Dandy Warhols, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, and many more, so be sure to subscribe on your podcast platform of choice and check out the back catalogue. There’s something there for everyone.
You can find out all about him and where he’s gigging at richwilsoncomedian.com, listen to Insane In The Men Brain podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts and listen to The Tuned Up Time Machine on Spotify or on MixCloud.
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Will Crewdson Interview Round Up, News, and Single and Album Reviews (00:26:39)
On this 'Round Up' episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast, host - Tom Austin-Morgan - thanks Will Crewdson for being such a great guest and interviewee last month as well as reviewing the Adam Ant gig he went to in Brighton where he saw Will doing his thing.
Will's an absolutely amazing musician and as you heard on the interview a very thoughtful man and serious about what he does. But I can attest that he’s an absolute beast to watch live.
News this months features stories on Peter Murphy and Bauhaus, NOFX, Bikini Kill, Sick Of It All, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Dropkick Murphys, Lagwagon, Smashing Pumpkins, The Real McKenzies and The Bronx.
There were many singles and albums released this month and Tom reviews many of them, including singles from The Cult, Anti-Flag, Placebo, Pixies, Dropkick Murphys, Less Than Jake and Disturbed. More in depth album reviews include Anthem by Flogging Molly, SOLIDARITINE by Gogol Bordello, The Cage EP by Billy Idol, Sonics In The Soul by Buzzcocks and shamelessly plugs his own band's re-release of Apathyville by High Frequency.
All this and more. See you in the pit!
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Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
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Interview with Will Crewdson (Scant Regard, Adam Ant, She Made Me Do It, Rachel Stamp and loads more) (01:19:25)
On this episode of the Banned Biographies Podcast, host Tom Austin-Morgan talks to Will Crewdson who plays guitar for Adam Ant as well as in the rock bands Rachel Stamp (the only unsigned band to headline the London Astoria and played gigs with, among others, Iggy Pop, Korn, No Doubt, The Tubes and Cheap Trick) and She Made Me Do It as well as his solo project Scant Regard, produces a hybrid of Western-styled twanging guitars and full-on electronic wizardry.
Over the years, he’s also worked with US singer Johnette Napolitano, Flesh for Lulu, Chiefs Of Relief The Selecter, Bow Wow Wow, Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic and has collaborated with US director/writer Tom DiCillo as one half of The Black and Blue Orkestre.
He’s also done session work with Malcolm McLaren, Tom Jones, Bryan Ferry, Peter Murphy, Westworld, Celine Dion, Appleton, Pigface, Tyler James, Livan, T-Rexstasy, Billy Bragg and Dragons.
As you can tell, there was a lot of ground to cover and I didn't want to keep him all day, but I managed to touch on most of the acts he does or has played with. I really hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did having it and if there's anything you'd like an expanded chat about do let me know at the contact details below and I'll see about arranging a follow-up interview in future.
Find Will at:
https://www.scantregard.com/
Twitter: @scantregard
Instagram: @willcrewdson
And anywhere you stream music.
Contact
Twitter: @BannedBiogs
Facebook: @BannedBiographies
Instagram: @bannedbiographies
E-mail: bannedbiographies@gmail.com
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