Hi everyone, welcome back to another season of THE TALK MUSIC Podcast!

I’m thrilled to announce my first guest is Ben Wells from global rock powerhouse, Black Stone Cherry. Born in the backwoods of Edmonton, Kentucky, Black Stone Cherry have spent over two decades reinventing Southern rock with a vicious breed of melodic-heavy riffs and soulful grit. Formed in 2001, this four-piece brotherhood has remained remarkably consistent, only recently welcoming new bassist Steve Jewell Jr. in 2021.

The band have released eight studio albums, dominated the UK Rock Charts with six consecutive #1 debuts, earned gold-certified albums, and headlined sold-out arena tours. In the U.S., they’ve had 17 singles hit the Mainstream Rock charts.

With a new EP titled CELEBRATE coming soon, our chat goes deep into how the songs came together, including the title track Celebrate, which, as vocalist Chris Robertson explains, serves as a reminder to acknowledge survival, small victories, and the importance of celebrating the simple act of getting through another day.

The EP also includes a powerful cover of the classic Simple Minds song “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman.

We then dive into how the songs were produced and recorded, along with an overview of the band’s incredible career so far. Enjoy!

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This week on The Talk Music Podcast, my guest is the enchanting CANDICE NIGHT— the radiant voice and creative force behind Blackmore’s Night, the internationally beloved Renaissance-folk-rock project she co-founded with her husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (yes — that Ritchie Blackmore, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon who when with Deep Purple wrote one of the most famous guitar riffs in history: “Smoke on the Water”).

For more than two decades, Candice has helped shape the band’s unmistakable sound — a mesmerizing blend of medieval melodies, acoustic charm, and mystical storytelling. Her crystalline vocals and poetic lyricism are at the heart of Blackmore’s Night. But Candice’s artistry extends far beyond the band as she’s also stepped into her own creative spotlight with a solo career. Her most recent album, Sea Glass, is a deeply personal and beautifully textured work featuring introspective, uplifting and cinematic songs proving she’s a remarkable artist in her own right.

In this episode, we dive into her creative world and how she brings ancient stories to life and we explore the many inspirations that shaped Sea Glass. We also go deep on how she met Ritchie when he was in Deep Purple and became a co-writer and part of his band Rainbow before the evolution of Blackmore’s Night’s signature sound.

This is Candice Night fully expressive, sharing the stories behind the songs of Blackmore’s Night and her wonderful solo career - music that continues to captivate fans around the world.

Enjoy! 

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This week my guest on The Talk Music Podcast is powerhouse vocalist Rick Hughes — known for fronting Canadian metal titans SWORD. 

(METALLICA are such huge fans they personally invited the band to open for them)

With a career that blasted off in the 80s metal scene and took him around the world, Rick is now stepping forward with REDEMPTION, his first international solo album. It’s a spectacular production thats bold, authentic and heartfelt. 

What makes REDEMPTION especially electrifying is the sheer scale of Rick’s vision. He reunited the legendary Ozzy Osbourne Speak of the Devil lineup (Brad Gillis [currently in Night Ranger], Rudy Sarzo, and Tommy Aldridge) for his lead single “The Real Me,” a The Who cover that earned a rare 10/10 review and was praised as “a perfect journey” with a vibrant, modern sound. The album blends blistering rock energy with emotional depth, bilingual tracks and guest appearances from heavy hitters like Robby Krieger (The Doors), Lee Aaron, Amy Keys, and rising guitarist Jacob Deraps. This is Rick Hughes fully inspired, making the album he always dreamed of. 

We go deep into the inside story behind his powerhouse vocals, how his all-star collaborations came about, and the unstoppable passion driving REDEMPTION.

You won’t want to miss this one. Enjoy! 

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Hi everyone!

My Talk Music guest this week is LILY SAZZ— singer-songwriter, bandleader, and now producer of her first solo album! Her brand new record, WHAT JUST HAPPENED, has just been released, and it’s an absolute must-listen! The album features deeply personal songwriting sprinkled with refreshing humour and showcases fantastic performances from a star-studded lineup of special guests — Colin Linden, Suzie Vinnick, Harry Manx, Steve Marriner, Darcy Hepner, Mike Branton, Trombone Charlotte, Boreal, and many more.

Our chat, recorded on my back porch (with a little wine involved), was indeed a fun one! We talked about Lily’s early years growing up in a farming community in the Niagara region, and how she made an abrupt life change to study classical music, majoring in piano and harpsichord. She got sidetracked during a chance encounter with a rockin’ blues band, and that experience ultimately set her course in the music lane that she’s been thriving in ever since.

Lily spent ten years as musical director of the Toronto Women’s Blues Revue Band, performing annually at Massey Hall, backing up a wide array of powerful singers — everyone from Lee Aaron, Sass Jordan, Carole Pope, Jackie Richardson, Serena Ryder and Molly Johnson. She also toured with Canada’s Queen of the Blues, Rita Chiarelli. Lily co-founded and led several acclaimed bands, including Trailblazers, Groove Corporation and the Maple Blues Award–nominated Cootes Paradise.

Her debut solo album What Just Happened is available now on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms.

And in some exciting recent news — Lily has teamed up with one of my favourite singer-songwriters, ROB LAMOTHE, for some upcoming shows together. Check out her website for further details.

Enjoy the episode!

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This week, my guests on The Talk Music Podcast are Darcy Ataman, Founder of Make Music Matter, and Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of Matthew Perry House and sister of the late actor. Their organizations have joined forces to launch LIVE LOUD—a bold new partnership harnessing the power of entertainment and celebrity to amplify conversations around mental health and addiction.

The initiative debuts with Live Loud LIVE, a benefit concert at Toronto’s Koerner Hall on November 14. The event will feature performances by City and Colour, Billy Talent, Serena Ryder, Royal Wood, Amy Millan (Stars), and members of Sum 41, Broken Social Scene, Skydiggers, and Moist. Special guest Hank Azaria will lead his EZ Street Band in a Bruce Springsteen tribute, with Tara Slone and Tom Power hosting. 

Limited tickets are available at rcmusic.com.

Founded by Matthew Perry’s family and friends, Matthew Perry House honours his legacy by providing treatment and support for those struggling with addiction, beginning with its first facility in Ottawa. Make Music Matter uses its clinically proven Healing in Harmony program to help marginalized communities worldwide heal from trauma, reduce PTSD, anxiety, and depression through music creation—to date, empowering more than 19,000 individuals across nine countries.

“Mental health struggles divide and isolate us. Music unites us, embraces everyone,” says Darcy Ataman, founder of Make Music Matter. “Live Loud is about making noise—a rallying cry for change,” adds Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of Matthew Perry House.

makemusicmatter.org

matthewperryhouse.ca

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Hi everybody, I’m incredibly delighted to welcome STEVE HACKETT as my guest for this episode of The Talk Music Podcast.

Steve is one of the most innovative and influential guitarists to emerge from the progressive rock movement. Born in 1950, he spent a year in Vancouver at the age of seven before growing up in the UK, eventually rising to prominence as a member of GENESIS, which he joined in 1971. His debut with the band came on Nursery Cryme, where his distinctive, textured playing helped shape Genesis' unique sound during their most acclaimed era. Hackett was central to the creation of progressive rock landmarks such as Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, and the ambitious double album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. After contributing to Wind & Wuthering in 1977, Hackett left the group, eager to explore his own creative path. He was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of Genesis.

Even before leaving the band, Hackett had begun forging a solo career, releasing his debut album Voyage of the Acolyte in 1975. Over the following decades, he built an extraordinary body of work, from Spectral Mornings to the darker tones of Guitar Noir, as well as forays into classical guitar with albums like Momentum. In the 2010s, he revisited his Genesis years with the Genesis Revisited projects, reintroducing the band’s 1970s masterpieces to a new generation of listeners. In total, Steve has released over 30 solo albums, the most recent being the brilliant The Circus and the Nightwhale.

Steve Hackett has secured his place as one of the greats of modern guitar, never ceasing to push boundaries. It was truly an honour for me to chat with him. Genesis was one of the main reasons I entered the world of music, and I had the privilege of seeing them perform numerous times. Our conversation covers his time with Genesis, his reasons for leaving to go solo, info about his amazing fellow musicians joining him on tour and his continued passion for songwriting and performing around the world—including some upcoming Canadian dates. His current tour is titled Steve Hackett – Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo.

Enjoy the episode!

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Hi, everybody! 

I’m thrilled that my guest for this episode is Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, one of the most iconic rock photographers of the past four decades, whose lens has helped define the visual language of rock and metal!

From capturing the raw energy of bands like Guns N’ Roses, Kiss, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Aerosmith and countless others, to shaping the larger-than-life imagery that dominated MTV and magazines in the ’80s and ’90s, Weiss didn’t just document a scene—he gave it an identity. His photographs have graced countless album and magazine covers, tour books, t-shirts, and posters, cementing him as the go-to photographer during rock’s golden era. His classic photos of Ozzy Osbourne are now being featured at the new Ozzy exhibition, “Working Class Hero,” in Birmingham, England.

In this podcast, we get a front-row seat to his journey, including personal stories about his role as Ozzy’s photographer since 1981, along with being on stage for Ozzy’s final performance in July. We also chat about his best-selling book, The Decade That Rocked, which has been published in four languages and remains on best-selling charts in the U.S., with over 1,500 five-star Amazon reviews, with high praise from Rolling Stone, Spin, and The Washington Post. To order, go to markweiss.com.

Mark also created a new mag called ROCKED, which brings classic, glossy rock magazines back to life. Check it out and snag a copy for yourself by heading over to rockedmag.com.

I loved my chat with Mark as his work is a reminder of how powerful an image can be—not just as documentation, but as a cultural force that helps define an era. Enjoy! 

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Hi everyone!

My fascinating guest this week is Michael Bishop, a.k.a. Blöthar the Berserker from the legendary band GWAR! 

Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, GWAR is known for outrageous sci-fi/horror costumes, over-the-top theatrical shows, and a wild intergalactic warrior backstory.

They’re infamous for spraying audiences with fake blood, elaborate props, and comedic skits—blending metal music, B-movie aesthetics, and sharp social satire. Despite lineup changes, GWAR has thrived for decades, crafting DIY costumes and sets, lampooning politics, religion, and pop culture, and building a HUGE global cult following.

Why so successful? They turned a niche concept into a full entertainment universe—music, theater, and parody like no other. Over their career, they’ve released 15 studio albums (including the new The Return of Gor Gor, with an accompanying comic), earned two Grammy nominations, and just recently even launched their own Mischief Toys line.

Back in the '90s, GWAR also scored some unexpected pop-culture glory thanks to Beavis and Butt-Head. The cartoon’s dim-witted metalhead duo were huge “fans,” often watching GWAR videos, headbanging furiously, and declaring them the GREATEST band in the universe. Their fan base is as eclectic as their shows—rock icons like Dave Grohl, satirist Weird Al, TV host Jon Stewart, and metal contemporaries like Randy Blythe of Lamb of God.

In our conversation, we dive into GWAR’s history and origins, the tragic loss of founder Dave Brockie to a heroin overdose, their THIS IS GWAR documentary, and what you can expect from their current tour.

Enjoy!

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Hi everyone!

I’m really excited to share the latest episode of The Talk Music Podcast featuring one of the top concert promoters in the world — Nick Farkas.

Nick is the Senior VP of Booking, Concerts & Events at Montreal-based Evenko, where he oversees an incredible 1,600+ shows a year — from intimate club gigs and major sporting events to large-scale concerts and seven flagship festivals, including the iconic OSHEAGA. Widely considered one of North America’s premier festivals, the 18th edition of OSHEAGA is happening August 1–3 with an absolutely stacked lineup: The Killers, Tyler, The Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Glass Animals, DOECHII, Gracie Abrams, The Chainsmokers, Cage the Elephant, and many more. There’s also a standout Canadian lineup this year, including The Beaches, bbno$, EKKSTACY, Aqyila, Rau_Ze, Hologramme, and Ruby Waters, to name a few. It’s truly a must-see event — a full-on celebration of music in every way.

In this episode, Nick and I dive into his journey through the music industry — from his early days with Donald K. Donald, founding the Greenland booking agency (which brought in major international acts), and the evolution of Evenko into a powerhouse that’s respected by artists, labels, and managers around the globe.

Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look into the world of booking and live music!

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Hi everybody,

I’m thrilled to announce my guest this week is pianist, composer, arranger, and producer-extraordinaire BILL KING, whose recording and production credits include hundreds of releases across his five-decade career.

Bill is a three-time JUNO nominee, and the list of artists he’s worked with is remarkable: Janis Joplin (as Music Director and keyboardist), Chaka Khan, Linda Ronstadt, Martha Reeves, The Pointer Sisters, Oscar Peterson, Sophie Milman, Pat LaBarbera, Ronnie Hawkins and many more. He has been instrumental in shaping Canada’s jazz scene through work with his label Night Passage Records, founding and editing The Jazz Report Magazine, hosting nationally syndicated jazz radio programs, and creating the National Jazz Awards to recognize Canadian talent.

Beyond music, Bill is also a celebrated photographer and author, known for capturing iconic images of musicians and urban life. His books, Coming Through the 60s – An American Rock ‘n’ Road Story, Rolling Through the ’70s: Weed, Woman and Song, Rhythms of a Lifetime and The Night and the Music, showcase both his visual artistry and storytelling skills. In 1988, Bill became the founding Artistic Director of the Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto, helping to grow it into a major annual music event over his 30-year tenure.

Today, Bill continues to contribute to the arts in many ways by booking shows at the intimate Redwood Theatre, teaching at the Harris Institute, writing for Billboard Magazine and co-hosting a Saturday morning radio show on Toronto’s CIUT with his son Jessie. He’s also about to release new music from his upcoming album, Mint Julep – from his Jazz Room Sessions.

I absolutely loved this chat as we dove deep into the magic of songwriting, his early beginnings in Jeffersonville, Indiana and his big bold leap from New York to Toronto in 1969. We also shared some laughs reminiscing about our time working together with the fabulous all-girl group Real Divas on their superb album Cafe Society —Bill produced it, and yours truly was their booking agent.

Enjoy!

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