Talk Louder

Riverboat Gamblers

Known for their highwire live performances and frantically melodic punk rock, the Riverboat Gamblers have been wowing audiences for more than two decades. With the 20th anniversary reissue of their pivotal 2003 album, “Something to Crow About,” we ask vocalist Mike Wiebe and guitarist Fadi El-Assad to tell us what’s what.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Nikki Stringfield

As a teenager, Nikki Stringfield was an admitted “goth nerd” who later moved from her native Texas to Los Angeles where she quickly joined the internationally popular tribute band, the Iron Maidens. Today, she divides her time between the Maidens, Heaven Below and her solo career, which is now in full swing with the recent release of her debut, full-length album, “Apocrypha.” (Photo credits: Adam Hendershott and David Castillo)

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Tracii Guns

Back for a second appearance on the Talk Louder Podcast, guitar hero Tracii Guns discusses his latest side band Blackbird Angels; their new album “Solsorte;” his approach to writing for multiple projects; why Danzig would have been a fun collaborator; and why you don’t want to hear “we’re out of ice” when partying with the band.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Gene Hoglan

He started as a roadie for Slayer before making an indelible mark as the drummer on Dark Angel’s pivotal 1986 thrash album, “Darkness Descends.” Today, he’s known as the “Atomic Clock” and rightly considered one of the greatest drummers in metal thanks to his mind-blowing work with Death, Testament, Dethklok and others. He joins us to discuss his history, future, first concert (Queen with Thin Lizzy!), the influence of Watchtower and that time he developed double-kick drum patterns while sitting on the toilet.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Michael Bruce

As a guitarist in the original Alice Cooper band, Michael Bruce co-wrote such timeless songs as “Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” “Under My Wheels” and “Billion Dollar Babies.” He joins us to discuss the band’s earliest beginnings when Frank Zappa and Syd Barret were major influences before Bob Ezrin arrived to shape the classic Cooper sound.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Brian Slagel

As founder and CEO of Metal Blade Records, Brian Slagel helped launch the careers of Metallica, Slayer, Ratt, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden, Mercyful Fate and even the Goo Goo Dolls. He joins us to discuss his new book, “Swing of the Blade,” his ongoing passion for heavy metal, why he won’t sell out to a major corporation and the band that got away (hint: the guitarist wears a top hat).

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Sean Kelly

Canadian musician, author and instructor Sean Kelly was raised on ‘80s hard rock – and shamelessly never outgrew it! No wonder we love him! He joins us to discuss his latest book, “Don’t Call it Hair Metal: Art in the Excess of ‘80s Rock;” his audition to join the cast of Dee Snider’s “Rock & Roll Christmas Tale” (he got the gig!); the latest on his long-time band, Crash Kelly; plus mentions of his other credits, including Coney Hatch, Helix, Lee Aaron (“The Metal Queen”) and pop star Nelly Furtado. He also gives us the inside angle (hint, hint) on his next book about a certain guitar body style and the players who love it.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Tyler Heath

He wears his love of ’80s hard rock on his white leather sleeve, but Tyler Heath’s musical palette is blended with a very broad brush. The Leather Duchess frontman joins us to discuss his various bands, his Revolt Vinyl Records label, the importance of visually compelling merch and how a Charlie Daniels Band concert put him on the path to bullet belts, leather gloves and the heyday of Hollywood hair metal.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Taime Downe

His snarling tales of lipstick junkies and runaways put Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe at the top of the sleaze-rock heap. He joins us to discuss new Faster Pussycat music, an in-the-works book, his cold-turkey sobriety and why his earliest trip to a recording studio was all about the “banging room.”

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Greg Chaisson

Bassist Greg Chaisson gained international attention as a member of Badlands -- featuring guitarist Jake E. Lee, singer Ray Gillen and drummer Eric Singer (and, later, Jeff Martin) -- but he’s also an accomplished singer/songwriter/producer whose latest project, Atomic Kings, recalls the best hard rock bands of the ‘70s – and adds its own, modern twist. He joins us to discuss Atomic Kings’ debut album, his time in Badlands, Surgical Steel, Steeler, Legs Diamond and Ratt (for a minute) as well as his lifelong addiction to cowboy boots!

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten