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.