Metal vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens shares his remarkable journey from tribute band singer to Judas Priest frontman, discussing rare vinyl, relationships with metal legends, and his upcoming Australian tour while revealing the humble attitude that helped him succeed in the world of heavy metal.

Topics Include:

• Interview start, connections to Australia
• Valentine's Day show announcement for Melbourne 2025 tour
• Discussion of Australian touring band lineup
• Added new songs to setlist including KK's Priest material
• Memories of friendship and touring with Ronnie James Dio
• Early musical influences from father's rock record collection
• First exposure to Judas Priest through Screaming for Vengeance
• Early band experiences with Brainicide and Winter's Bane
• Formation of British Steel tribute band in 1990s
• How video of tribute performance reached Judas Priest
• Quick audition process with Judas Priest - got job after one line
• Recording “Jugulator” album with Judas Priest in 1997
• Dealing with fan expectations replacing Rob Halford
• Relationship with Rob Halford over the years
• Discussion of rare Jugulator and Demolition vinyl releases
• Experience working with Yngwie Malmsteen, including "Beat It" cover
• Formation and recording of Charred Walls of the Damned
• Meeting Navy SEALs at charity events - feeling starstruck
• Working with various metal vocalists throughout career
• Dream collaboration wish: Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler
• Names Heaven and Hell as ultimate desert island album
• Current recording setup at home for various projects
• Details about upcoming 2025 Australian tour dates
• Discussion of potential merchandise for Australian shows
• Closing remarks about KK's Priest possible Australia tour

lookie here for tickets for Tim "Ripper" Owens' 2025 Australian tour 

Pictures by Jeremy Belinfante

Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Daniel House of CZ Records had a pivotal role in the Seattle music scene of the 1980s and early 1990s, including his work with Skin Yard, his time as a key employee at Sub Pop Records, and working with influential bands like Nirvana, Melvins, Soundgarden, the "Deep Six" compilation and lots more.

Topics Include:

• Introduction of Daniel House and CZ Records
• New Skin Yard seven-inch box set announced
• History of Ten Minute Warning band
• Formation of Skin Yard with Jack Endino
• Forming the seven-inch box set idea
• Deep Six compilation's initial release discussed
• UMen added to Deep Six compilation
• Chris Hanzsek starts CZ Records then transitions out
• Deep Six compilation initially sells poorly
• Daniel House takes over CZ Records operations
• A&M Records purchases Deep Six compilation masters
• Working simultaneously at Sub Pop and CZ Records
• Creation of Sub Pop's direct-to-retail store network
• House builds Sub Pop's international distribution connections
• Nirvana's Mexican Seafood track on Teriyaki Asthma
• Confrontation with Geffen Records over Nirvana tracks
• Missing songs on Bleach cassette recall story
• Sub Pop focusing marketing efforts on Mudhoney
• Early Seattle scene was small and intimate
• Current Skin Yard Select box set details
• Pink and red vinyl pressing information
• Production quality control issues at pressing plant
• Discussion of box set pricing and production costs
• Interview wrap up

Order "Skin Yard Select" box set here.

Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Jeff & Steven McDonald join us to discuss the new documentary "Born Innocent - The Redd Kross Story", learnings from their lifelong musical partnership, memories of early punk days, David Bowie, Germs and more.

Topics Include:

• Possible talk of touring Asia and the Pacific Rim
• Steven and Dale are road dogs
• Jeff more of a homebody than Steven
• Adjustment from touring back to home
• Steven and Mario seeing King Gizzard in early days
• Playing the L7 Fast & Frightening Festival
• Challenges of making the “Born Innocent” documentary
• Keeping the documentary to 90 minutes
• The dynamics of the brothers – getting under each other’s skin
• Earlier attempts to tell the story of Redd Kross
• What parts of the Redd Kross story were under-represented?
• Leveraging “devices” to tell the story and manage viewer expectations
• What did you learn about yourselves watching the documentary?
• Ability to view the unique partnership of the brothers
• Taking away learnings from the movie – relatable learnings from the brothers
• Brothers within a band – comparisons with Oasis
• Are the brothers enjoying the current state of their band
• Grateful for the movie and the book – most proud of the REDD KROSS album
• How did David Bowie show up for their 1st club gig?
• Punk in LA in late 70s was a small community
• The bill was UXA, Black Flag and Redd Kross
• Memories and experiences with Darby Crash
• The impact of Darby Crash’s death
• People who may misinterpret Germs
• Video of Germs performance for “Up In Smoke”
• The humour and comedy of punk
• Interview wrap-up

Watch the "Born Innocent - The Redd Kross Story" Trailer here

Check for a "Born Innocent" screening near you

Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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A chaotic dive into the world of Kevin Rutmanis, Gina Skwoz, and Trevor Dunn as they discuss the new Lords & Lady Kevin + Trevor Dunn LP “Last Days at Hot Slit”, their experimental music-making process, the liberating unpredictability of their collaborations, the Cows "Peacetika" vinyl reissue and more.

Topics Include:

• Kevin, Gina & Trevor log in
• Discussion about virtual backgrounds and Kevin’s creative experiments.
• Nostalgia about childhood posters, including Kiss and Farrah Fawcett.
• The importance of album releases aligning with other projects.
• Reflections on “Last Days at Hot Slit” album
• Kevin, Gina & Trevor sending tracks back and forth
• Collaboration during the pandemic sparks their experimental projects.
• How Jim Goodwin, aka Pseudo Beast, became their mixer.
• Alphabetical track sequencing 
• Gina’s return to music and transition to drumming.
• Tribute to Dave Livingston in their musical process.
• Use of spirituals and blues lyrics in the album.
• Challenges of performing complex studio-created tracks live.
• Trevor’s saxophone debut
• Kevin’s experiments with unconventional sound recording techniques.
• Inspiration for titles, including Andrea Dworkin and old films.
• Discussion of upcoming vinyl releases and special editions.
• “Peacetika” reissue, Cows albums and their provocative themes.
• "Sick New World" festival cancellation
• Exhaustion with large festivals versus intimacy of smaller shows.
• Nostalgia for early 90s Cows tours and wild experiences.
• Contributions to “Burn Us Clean" box set.
• Multiple purchase links and other Bandcamp releases.
• Interview wrap up

Get "Last Days at Hot Slit" vinyl here

Get the Cows "Peacetika" vinyl reissue here

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Lucas Harwood of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard discusses his new project Heavy Moss, their eco-conscious approach to vinyl production, the making of their album Dead Slow, life on tour, King Gizzard vinyl, posters, merch and more.

Topics Include:

• U.S. and Australian coffee
• Heavy Moss’s album Dead Slow release details.
• Transition to vinyl production and sustainability discussion.
• Pioneering no-shrink-wrap, eco-conscious vinyl packaging.
• Challenges and benefits of cardboard vinyl sleeves.
• Good Neighbor Records' carbon-neutral vinyl innovations.
• Exploring recyclable compounds for vinyl pressing.
• Limited variants for Heavy Moss records
• Balancing aesthetics with eco-friendly vinyl production.
• Reflecting on King Gizzard's early vinyl pressings – Willoughby’s Beach & 12 Bar Bruise
• Stories of early struggles with vinyl production costs.
• University music program as a foundation for KGATLW.
• Eric focusing on Flightless was not a surprise
• Evolution of King Gizzard's collaborative band dynamic.
• Managing growing tour setlists & deep cuts
• Three-hour shows and adjusting setlists for each city.
• Fans’ dedication to King Gizzard merch and posters.
• Famous fans and being starstruck
• Heavy Moss formation and early recording process.
• Recording methods for Dead Slow: collaborative yet remote.
• Balancing touring, family life, and side projects.
• Plans for live performances and future Heavy Moss albums.
• Reflecting on record collecting and its evolving priorities.

Get Heavy Moss' "Dead Slow" on vinyl here

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Yesness is a 2-piece featuring Damon Che (Don Caballero) and Tristan Dunn (El Ten Eleven). We discuss their formation, writing and recording their debut album "See You at the Solipsist Convention", math-rock, post-rock, other dirty words and lots more.

Topics Include:

• Formation of Yesness
• Kristian and Damon struggle to find musicians to collaborate with
• The “California No”
• Making an album from different parts of the country
• Meeting for the first time in the recording studio
• Over recording and having a lot of material to work with
• Working with instrumentals vs music with vocals
• Album title origin story
• Songs start as riffs, song titles come much later
• Strange song titles
• Using extra songs for b-sides
• Origin of the band name “Yesness”
• The band almost became “Keister Island”
• What does Damon think of the title “Math Rock”?
• Genres become limiting
• Not listening to Post-rock or Math-rock
• What’s on heavy rotation and playlists?
• The Spotify algorithm still struggles to satisfy
• El Ten Eleven’s “New Years Eve” coming after 3-LP set “Tautology”
• “New Years Eve” and “Valley of Fire” were conceived together
• The “Yesness” debut always needed to be a full length LP
• Can the Yesness LP be played live?
• Yesness challenges playing live – equipment stuffups
• Will they tour overseas?
• Selecting the album cover
• Damon recently upgraded his vinyl system
• Looking for records
• Status of the Don Caballero  master tapes and reissues
• Damon’s YouTube video channel
• Grab all the pressings of your favourite albums
• “Everything in between the speakers and stylus is snake oil”
• Interview wrap up

Vinyl copies of Yesness "See You at the Solipsist Convention" can be ordered here.

Photo by Berto Campus

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Andy Scott of The Sweet discusses band history, rare records, various versions of "Desolation Boulevard", mega-hits like "Ballroom Blitz", "Fox On The Run", meeting Beatles, Australia tour & lots more!

Topics Include:

• Andy’s moments with The Beatles
• Discovering The Shadows
• Andy becoming a musician since Footy didn’t work out
• Early bands Andy was in
• Growing up in Wrexham – Seeing The Searchers
• Almost seeing The Silver Beatles – Dad wouldn’t let him go
• Parents were supportive – eclectic record collection
• Playing in the Scaffold with Paul McCartney’s brother Mike
• Forming The Elastic Band
• Playing in Miami and Bahamas – playing 2-3 shows per night
• Coming back to UK – the singer left
• Do the recordings with Mike McCartney still exist?
• The Elastic Band on Decca – 2 early singles
• Breakup of The Elastic Band
• Collectible records of Andy’s career
• Sweet had varying set of hits in different countries
• Supporting and being supported by Bob Seger
• Different versions of “Desolation Boulevard”
• “Sweet Fanny Adams” wouldn’t have worked in US
• “Desolation Boulevard” is like a greatest hits LP
• Cover shot of Sunset Boulevard, Designed by Hypnosis
• “Ballroom Blitz” was a massive hit around the world
• Brian Connolly’s fight and throat injury
• Ronnie James Dio was once considered for vocals for Sweet
• Exposure and memories of early UK punk scene
• Working with early Iron Maiden recordings
• Where are tapes of Sweet?
• Is Andy involved with Sweet reissues?
• Vinyl can be a pain in the arse
• New album and upcoming Australian tour
• Interview wrap up

See Sweet in Australia, here am the tickets & info.

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk and co-founder of Merge Records shares insights into the label, being a record collector, "Peak Vinyl" limited vinyl releases, vinyl production, Superchunk's upcoming tour in Australia and heaps more. 

Topics Include:

• We welcome Mac McCaughan from Superchunk and Merge Records.
• Mac's upcoming tour in Australia to celebrate Foolish's 30th anniversary.
• Playing songs from multiple albums instead of full album sets, mixing up live performances.
• Mac's extensive vinyl collection and love for record collecting.
• Recent Japan trip, grabbing Japanese jazz records
• Record store treks while touring and discovering rare finds.
• Merge Records' inspirations from indie labels like Dischord and Sub Pop.
• Emphasizing affordable, fan-focused pricing for Merge releases.
• Mac’s approach to managing Merge as an artist-driven label.
• Importance of creativity and quality in Merge's artist partnerships.
• Record label survival and growth strategies and adapting to changing music industry landscapes.
• Evolution of 7-inch singles over last 40 years
• Mac is kind of surprised on vinyl's comeback and staying power
• The rising costs of vinyl production.
• Navigating fan interest in coloured versus black vinyl releases.
• Merge's “Peak Vinyl” concept for collectors’ special editions.
• Handling vinyl production challenges and partnerships with pressing plants.
• Vinyl costs are starting to slow down record purchases – capacity of vinyl pressing plants
• What was difficult about moving from musician to record label owner?
• Records that fell short of expectations
• How Mac and Merge team listens to artists for potential Merge engagement
• Listening past the budget/lo-fi qualities of demo recordings
• Mac’s response to hearing Neutral Milk Hotel
• Reflecting on follow-ups to “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea”.
• Australian record stores / Mac’s want list
• Interview wrap up

See Superchunk in Australia, here be the tickets

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Steve Diggle of Buzzcocks shares stories from the early punk scene, the making of "Spiral Scratch", rare vinyl releases, the band's lasting influence and his new book "Autonomy."

Topics Include:

• Steve logs on – golf shirt
• The new book “Autonomy”
• Steve was dismayed by prog rock – seeing Yes was discouraging
• Attending Sex Pistols Manchester gig
• Did Steve know about punk rock beforehand?
• Malcolm McLaren pulled Steve into the gig
• Steve met with the original person he was supposed to meet
• The story of the name “Buzzcocks”
• Howard leaving after 10 shows with Buzzcocks
• The story of “Spiral Scratch” EP
• Questions on sleeving and DIY on Spiral Scratch
• Photo on cover of Spiral Scratch
• How did the band sell and promote Spiral Scratch
• The name of record label “New Hormones”
• Test pressings of Spiral Scratch and other Buzzcocks records
• How the songs were selected for Spiral Scratch
• Controversies with the song “Orgasm Addict”
• Buzzcocks had most major record companies trying to sign them
• The role of the band in Buzzcocks record artwork
• The Hard-Ons homage to Buzzcocks album
• The error pressings of “Another Music in a Different Kitchen”
• Errors in the songwriting credits for “Fast Cars”
• Steve didn’t take on a punk pseudonym
• Was there competition between Buzzcocks and Magazine?
• “Singles Going Steady” release in the US market – popularity in the states
• Steve called John Lennon to invite him to see Buzzcocks
• Still touring, playing with Descendents, NOFX and modern punk bands they influenced
• Buzzcocks coming to Australia, new book “Autonomy”

Order Steve's book "Autonomy" here

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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Cook Craig of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and The Murlocs discusses his new Pipe-Eye solo LP, early and rare recordings, KGATLW bootlegger series, touring & lots more.

Topics Include:

• Name preference
• Cookie’s record collection
• Touring plans, summer in Australia
• Any live dates for Pipe-Eye?
• Remembering dozens of songs
• What’s the hardest song to play live?
• Challenges of microtonal songs
• Themes of King Gizzard and Pipe-Eye albums
• Starting an album with a theme vs a collection of songs
• “Pipe-Defy” has a lot of funk influences
• When does a song go to Pipe-Eye, King Gizzard or Murlocs?
• Some King Gizzard albums are driven by themes
• Origin story of the “Pipe-Eye” moniker
• Strong influences of 60 garage rock in Geelong
• Working with Stu in “Revolver & Sun”
• Pre-release CD from Revolver & Sun – ever be reissued?
• Cookie was on the Angelsea EP
• Early band names - reaction to “King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard”
• Becoming aware of his ability to make a living from music
• How KGATLW, Murlocs & Pipe-Eye stay prolific and keep quality high
• The plan for 5 albums in 2017
• Giving away “Polygondawanaland” – the gift economy
• Seeing, receiving and storing bootlegger products
• King Gizzard taped over many earlier recordings
• Recording at Daptone studios – recording on the road
• Overwriting and over-recordings to select the best tracks
• How Cookie writes on the road
• Pipe-Defy sounds less low-fi – higher quality production
• Doesn’t guest on other projects
• Recording Cosmic Blip – recent reissues – relationship with Flightless
• The change from Gizzverse to “p(doom) records”
• Making the videos for Pipe-Eye
• Working with Jason Galea – albums and gig posters
• Involvement in poster and vinyl art
• More touring in 2025 – Europe residencies – maybe Australia
• What’s left on the bucket list for KG?
• The Gorge in Washington State was quite surreal
• Working on new music over Christmas break – rapid turnaround
• Pipe-Eye interview wrap up

Order "Pipe-Defy" vinyl here.

Extended, Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8