Legendary rock/power-pop artist Donnie Vie talks about his awesome new 7" single "Plain Jane" b/w "Instant Karma" (a stellar cover of the John Lennon classic) just released on Wicked Cool Records - that’s Little Steven Van Zandt’s label – and the single will be followed by a re-release of his incredible, most recent solo album, Beautiful Things, of which the song Plain Jane comes from.

Donnie also talks about his songwriting process and provides some enlightening analogies to describe how his amazing songs come together and how it all happens. Plus, your host has a hilarious and embarrassing lyrical faux pas with one of his favorite Enuff Z' Nuff songs.

The 7” vinyl is available now DonnieVie.com and DonnieVie.Bandcamp.com both “Plain Jane” and “Instant Karma” are also available at all your streaming platforms, and you can hear "Plain Jane" on the SiriusXM channel Little Steven’s Underground Garage. 

It's a new installment of "Should Have Been Huge," where we take a dive into a band that should have seen far more success than they did, and why they didn't. 

Katmandu was a short-lived hard rock band built around Dave King, fresh off his stint with Fastway, and several years before he reinvented himself musically as the frontman of Flogging Molly. Their lone, self-titled album was released on Epic Records in 1991, filled with big, bluesy and melodic hard rock, with that powerful sound producers Duane Baron and John Purdell became known for.

Katmandu had the songs, the musicianship, and a major label, but for a number of reasons, including timing, just never took off. Which is a shame, because this band and their self-titled debut album Should Have Been Huge!

We're back for 2026 and (finally) starting the new year with a new episode. Danny Young is the drummer for GLUECIFER an absolutely amazing band from Europe who only a few days before recording this episode put out a cracking new album, SAME DRUG, NEW HIGH. Danny joined us from Norway and our conversation covered a lot, starting with Gluecifer’s long and winding road to making new music. It's been 22 years since the band put out a new album, and 8 years since the band reformed, after calling it quits back in 2005.

SAME DRUG, NEW HIGH is available everywhere you stream music and you can find out everything the band has got going on at Gluecifer.net and at their social media pages. 

Frank Pané — guitarist and founder of Sainted Sinners — joins Steve from Germany to talk about the band’s brand‑new album High on Fire. With members spread across Europe, Sainted Sinners channel the spirit of classic 70's-era hard rock, drawing on influences like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and UFO.

High On Fire is their fifth album and their best yet. Its packed with soaring vocals, killer riffs, dynamic keyboards, and big harmonies, all wrapped into great songs. While their earlier albums laid a strong foundation, High on Fire raises the bar in both songwriting and production, showing a band that continues to evolve and push forward.

In this conversation, Frank shares insights into why it was over three years between albums, the making of the record, the influences that inspire him, what’s next for the band, and much more. Be sure to check out High on Fire at Bandcamp, saintedsinners.com, or wherever you stream music, follow Sainted Sinners on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Eric Senich of the Booked on Rock Podcast joins ACRP to run down his top 10 music books of the year. Consider this your "holiday gift guide" featuring the best books that rock, from an expert!

Booked On Rock is the podcast for those about to read & rock, featuring deep dive discussions of the greatest artists, albums, songs, and moments in rock history with the authors who've written about them. 

Below is the list of Eric's picks featured in this episode; all are available via your favorite bookstore or online.

1. Mike Campbell: Heartbreaker Mike Campbell was the lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the band’s inception in 1976 to Petty’s tragic death in 2017. This is his life story, focusing on his journey from a poor kid in Florida to becoming the legendary guitarist and co-writer for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, detailing their rise, his iconic songwriting, the intense band dynamics, and a very emotional chapter on Petty’s passing including Campbell’s last moments with Petty.

2. Stephen Lewis: Richard Manual His Life & Music The first official biography of The Band's soulful multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Richard Manual. It explores his musical genius, pivotal role in rock history and tragic struggles with addiction, offering deep dives into his songs, performances, and his complex, influential legacy.  

3. Gary Graff: 501 Essential Albums of the '80s: The Music Fan's Definitive Guide Gary Graff and fellow music journalists curates and explores 501 pivotal albums from the 1980s across genres like pop, rock, hip-hop, metal, and indie, offering year-by-year breakdowns with descriptions, album art, artist photos, release details, and commentary to capture the decade's massive cultural impact and musical innovation, featuring everything from blockbuster hits to influential niche records.

 4. James Campion: REVOLUTION: Prince, the Band, the Era / John McKie: Prince Sign O’ The Times You can’t go wrong by owning both of these books if you are a Prince fan. Campion’s book explores the vital creative and cultural impact of Prince's backing band, The Revolution, detailing how this diverse, multi-racial, intergender group helped Prince create iconic music, defy norms, and achieve pop superstardom during his most prolific years (roughly 1982-1986). McKie’s book examines Prince's remarkable life and career through the prism of his 1987 masterpiece album, Sign o' the Times.  

5. Greg Prato: Talk to Me: Conversations With Ace Frehley A deep dive into the life, career, and wild stories of KISS's legendary guitarist, Ace Frehley, compiled from Prato's extensive interviews with him, plus tribute interviews from other rock figures like Eddie Trunk and Joe Bonamassa, offering insights into Frehley's music, personal struggles, and enduring spirit after his passing. 

6. Jason Schneider: That Gun In Your Hand - The Strange Saga of 'Hey Joe' and Popular Music's History of Violence Schneider uses Hendrix's iconic version of the murder ballad "Hey Joe" as a lens to explore the deep, often violent, connection between American popular music and crimes of passion, tracing the song's roots, exploring its various artists, and America's fascination with violence through its enduring story.  

7. Dennis McNally: The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties A social history exploring the roots of the 1960s counterculture, tracing how post-WWII bohemian art scenes—from Beat poets in San Francisco to artists in Greenwich Village and London—evolved and merged to birth the hippie movement. McNally is a fantastic writer and was the publicist for the Grateful Dead. 

8. Peter Aaron: Moving in Stereo: Ric Ocasek, the Driving Force of The Cars The book explores the life, career, creative process, and enigmatic personality of The Cars' frontman and songwriter, detailing his journey from early bands to global superstardom, his unique songwriting style, production work (like Weezer), and cultural impact, all through extensive interviews and research. 

9. Jerry Hammack & Robert Rodriguez: Ribbons Of Rust: The Beatles' Recording History In Context: Volume 1 - July 1954 Through January 1963 A detailed look at the young Beatles' musical formation from 1954 to early 1963, placing their recordings within the cultural, social, and musical landscape of post-war Britain, covering influences like American rock 'n' roll, skiffle, their Hamburg days, and early EMI sessions, offering deep dives into recording details, historical context, and little-known facts for fans. Many great Beatles books out there. I love that 1) It emphasizes the world AROUND the band, showing they didn’t create in a vacuum and 2) It includes QR codes so you can hear the music that inspired the band and see newsreels from the time.  

10. Travis Kennedy: The Whyte Python World Tour - A Novel A satirical, nostalgic novel about Rikki Thunder, a young drummer for a rising 1980s hair metal band in Los Angeles, who gets swept up in a covert CIA operation to use their music to spread democracy and spark rebellion behind the Iron Curtain during the final days of the Cold War. It's a blend of coming-of-age rock story, espionage thriller, and comedic spoof, following Rikki and the band as they unknowingly become pawns in a high-stakes game of international politics, mixing glam rock fun with spycraft. I love rock and roll fiction. Travis told me that there is a good possibility we’ll see this book in film form.

Ft. Worth singer‑songwriter and guitarist Matt Gumley joins Steve on Another Cool Rock Podcast. Matt’s musical journey started early with piano lessons at age five, grew into Broadway and TV acting as a kid, and ultimately led him to his true passion: creating and performing his own music. A multi‑instrumentalist with serious guitar chops, his music straddles the line between country and rock but leans hard into the guitar‑driven side of things

We cover his path from the debut EP Six Degrees of Separation to his latest release Concrete Cowboy, a five‑song EPthat leaves you wanting a full album. Matt talks about his songwriting process, recording all the instruments himself, the power and connection of playing live, and what’s ahead in 2026.

You can find all of Matt's music including the EP Concrete Cowboy on all digital platforms, and connect with him at MattGumley.com on social media.

On this episode of Another Cool Rock Podcast, Steve welcomes Marc Hansen, lead singer and guitarist of Electric Mud - an award-winning San Diego band that blends classic rock, Americana, soul, and groove into a heartfelt, gritty and authentic sound. Their influences range from the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan to Otis Redding and Tom Petty. 

Electric Mud have released three albums - Dangerous Promises, Highway Refugees, and Communication - and recently dropped two new tracks: “Moon Junkie” and “Heart Beats On,” the latter being a total earworm that will stick in your head after one listen. And they opened for the Rolling Stones last year. 

Marc’s solo work is just as compelling. His new album Jack of Diamonds, released this past summer, leans into Americana and outlaw country with a soulful edge. It’s packed with personal, resonant songs like “Price to Pay,” which delivers a killer riff and a serious attitude.

In this conversation, Marc shares the band’s origin story in Staten Island, their hiatus and rebirth while he and his brother Matty (Electric Mud’s drummer) served in the U.S. Navy, and how those experiences shaped their music. Fittingly, the interview was recorded on Veteran’s Day — the same day Marc released “Time for Leaving,” a powerful new song inspired by his time in the military and the journey many veterans face.

It’s a rich, wide-ranging chat with a musician who’s lived the stories he sings. After you listen, head to ElectricMudOfficial.com, follow the band on Facebook and Instagram, and stream their music wherever you get your tunes.

This week on Another Cool Rock Podcast: Peter Argyropoulos and Adam Kury of Los Angeles-based rock band Sons of Silver. It's been a busy year for the band, January saw the release of their debut full-length album Runaway Emotions, followed by a lot of touring and channeling that momentum into a raw and resonant live album, 7 Cities, 7 Songs. Currently recording the next studio album Peter and Adam reflect on the origins of the band, being a self-contained, collaborative unit, the evolution of their songwriting and sound, going on the road with a toddler and recording the new album.

Check out SonsofSilver.com  for news, music (including official bootlegs!), tour dates, and more; and at Instagram, @sonsofsilverband and Facebook: @sonsofsilver

Special thanks to Uptown Podcast

Its another "Should Have Been Huge" episode, with the spotlight on FREAK OF NATURE—a hard rock band that deserved far more attention than they got. Formed in the early ’90s by Mike Tramp, former frontman of White Lion, Freak of Nature marked a sharp turn from Tramp’s hair metal roots. While White Lion had big hits like “When the Children Cry,” Freak of Nature delivered a darker, heavier sound that reflected the shifting rock landscape of the era.

Their 1993 self-titled debut was raw, melodic, and aggressive, earning praise from KERRANG and prompting me to buy it sight unseen. Despite the strength of tracks like “Turn the Other Way,” “What Am I,” and “Rescue Me,” the band struggled for traction in the U.S., releasing both albums through London’s Music for Nations label. Their second record, Gathering of Freaks (1994), was heavier than the debut, with standout songs like  like “Enemy” and “Candle,” and the epic title track. 

In 1998, Freak of Nature released Outcasts, a compilation of B-sides and unreleased material. All three albums are now streaming, and if you’ve ever wondered what Mike Tramp did post–White Lion or just want to discover a killer early ’90s hard rock band that flew under the radar, Freak of Nature is well worth your time.

Author Tim Durling joins ACRP to talk about his two books about two favorite bands: SING ME AWAY: THE NIGHT RANGER ALBUM REVIEW and DOWN FOR THE COUNT: THE Y&T ALBUM REVIEW. Both books are terrific and must-reads for fans of both bands.

Tim talks about how and why he became an author, how he wrote both books, and why both Y&T and Night Ranger are amazing - and deserve more attention paid to their consistently awesome music. His books do just that, each featuring a panel of fans/objective experts to talk about everything good - and not so good - about every album, each song, album covers, record labels and so much more. We also talk about why both bands are just so good!

Tim is a life-long music enthusiast with an encyclopedic knowledge of his favorite bands and rock radio. He's also a podcaster, who's Tim's Vinyl Confessions is always interesting, and you'll find the show on every podcast platform.

You can find all of Tim's books online at Amazon (https://tinyurl.com/4db6hnud) and everywhere you buy books online.