Talk Louder

Mark Younger-Smith

Guitarist Mark Younger-Smith spent seven years playing arenas and living a charmed life as the guitarist for Billy Idol. He’s also worked with Texas guitar slinger (and former MTV heartthrob) Charlie Sexton, legendary crooner Tom Jones and, most recently, his new band The Broken Things. He joins us today to share some amazing insights, including the wildest Billy Idol story of all time (yikes!) and how a Pretender christened him “Younger-Smith.”

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Kerry Crafton

As a producer and sound engineer, Kerry Crafton has worked with a long list of the most revered names in Texas metal/hard rock history, including Rigor Mortis, Juggernaut, Dead Horse, Devastation, Watchtower, Butthole Surfers, Agony Column and Angkor Wat, among others. His credits also include Rob Halford, Glenn Hughes, Pantera, Joey Belladonna and Stevie Nicks. We pick his brain on all of the above plus one of Metal Dave’s old favorites, Hagfish!

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Frank Bello

As bassist for Anthrax and an elite member of the Big 4 (not to mention part-time actor, author, solo artist and returning Talk Louder Podcast guest – see Episode 61), Frank Bello helped define the thrash-metal genre. We caught up with him to discuss the current Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed tour, the controversial Pantera reunion, his solo EP and the importance of sanitized wipes.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Michael Monroe

In the early 1980s, he made an indelible mark as the explosively stylish frontman for the highly influential -- yet perennially underground -- rock band, Hanoi Rocks. Today, he’s promoting his new album “I Live Too Fast to Die Young,” which puts him on a hot streak of five consecutive must-have albums since 2011. Join us as we visit with the eternally cool Michael Monroe and dig into the new album, Hanoi Rocks, Demolition 23, the quirky nose flute (yes, nose flute!) and the best birthday ever!

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Todd La Torre

His stunning vocal range silenced critics in 2013 when Todd La Torre stepped into impossible shoes as the new lead singer for Queensryche. With new album, “Digital Noise Alliance” due in October and a second tour with Judas Priest on the horizon, we caught Todd on a rare day off to discuss Queensryche (including his most difficult songs to sing), Crimson Glory, his solo album, “Rejoice in the Suffering,” and how he manages to hit those high notes despite a penchant for cigarettes.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Nasty Ronnie

In the mid-1980s, Nasty Savage helped birth Florida’s formidable extreme metal scene alongside peers and followers, including Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide and others. At center stage was hulking vocalist Nasty Ronnie whose gladiator-style showmanship made him a one-man wrecking crew. Surprisingly soft-spoken and genuinely passionate about his many creative pursuits, he joins us to discuss Nasty Savage, wrestling, television (and not just the ones he smashed) and how “West Side Story” kicked off his interest in music.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Charlie Benante

More than just the elite drummer for thrash-metal kings, Anthrax, Charlie Benante is also one of the band’s primary songwriters, artistic director and coffee connoisseur. He joins us to discuss Anthrax’s 40th anniversary Blu-ray/CD/Digital livestream concert release (“Anthrax XL”), an upcoming tour with Black Label Society and Hatebreed, his star-studded “Silver Linings” solo release and his love of Phil Rudd and Jimmy Page.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Mickey Finn

He shook up MTV by sporting a Mohawk before punk rock went mainstream and shared stages with Cheap Trick, Kix, the Ramones and upcoming peers, Guns N’ Roses and Poison. His band, Jetboy, was signed to major labels, had an arsenal of arena-ready hard rock songs and caught the attention of Paul Stanley. So, what went wrong? Singer Mickey Finn joins us to share Jetboy’s rock-n-roll damnation.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Kyle Ellison

His Texas-based band, Pariah, was signed to Geffen Records where they joined the ranks of Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, White Zombie and the label’s other heavy hitters. Success seemed imminent, but never happened. Then tragedy struck. Guitarist Kyle Ellison walks us through subsequent (and cathartic) stints with the Butthole Surfers, Meat Puppets, Roky Erickson, Ministry and his recent collaboration with actress Renee Zellweger. He also tells us how he and his brother, Sims, landed in a Madonna video and that time our own Jason McMaster shared a mic with Axl Rose.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten

Jeff Duncan

Best-known for his guitar playing with heavy metal heroes, Armored Saint, Jeff Duncan previously played in the popular 1980s Hollywood band Odin (who is memorably immortalized in the “Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years”). A child of the Sunset Strip, Duncan saw Poison, Ratt, Motley Crue and WASP play to near-empty rooms before they found fame. Today, he continues working with Armored Saint, DC4 and releasing instrumental albums under his own name.

Created and Produced by Jared Tuten