Rock Scully was the manager of a little-known San Francisco band called the Warlocks, who eventually morphed into The Grateful Dead. He managed the Dead from 1965 to 1985. In today's interview I talk with Rock about what it was like during the much-celebrated Summer of Love and in the years leading up to it. He gives his views on Woodstock and the state of the music industry back in the day (with a brief spotlight on the legendary Bill Graham) and now.

Frank Zappa's second child and oldest son has had quite a career of his own, ranging from accompanying his dad on stage to voicing cartoon characters to playing on one album after another, sometimes with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Carmine Appice.

Today, Dweezil tours the world with a top-shelf band to introduce his late father's music to a new generation. As he is quick to point out, Zappa Plays Zappa is not an oldies band or a nostalgia act. While Frank Zappa's touring and recording alumni do occasionally grace the stage, the band is assembled from the current crop of musicians.

I spoke with Dweezil earlier this month about his tour, his career, his upcoming CD release and groovy things in general!

(Photo from united-mutations.com. All rights of the original photographer reserved.)

Broadcast veteran Elliott Mintz was a close personal friend of John Lennon from 1971 until the day an assassin cut Lennon down in front of his apartment building. Mintz also was and is still close friends with John's widow, Yoko Ono and manages John's estate. He was also the creator, curator and MC of The Lost Lennon Tapes radio series, which featured hours of previously-unheard footage.

I spoke with Mr. Mintz on April 11th and broadcast an excerpt of that interview, shortened to fit within my broadcast time slot. The version presented here is the complete interview.

[Please note - the picture is from 1995, shot by yours truly. The interview is from March 14, 2012!]

This week, I spoke with Henry Rollins, former Black Flag front man, author, columnist, photographer and probably the best speaker America has produced since Jean Shepherd or Will Rogers (with a bit of Lenny Bruce tossed in for good measure).

Henry took some time out of his jaw-dropping tour schedule to speak with yours truly.

Pegi Young is the wife of Neil Young. She's been happily married to him since 1978. But as one reviewer put it, she isn't merely riding her husband's coattails.

Her performance career began with her doing backup vocals during Neil's performance of the theme from the motion picture, Philadelphia, at the 1994 Academy Awards ceremonies. While some slight influences from her husband's sound are pretty much inevitable. they're way, way down in the mix. She is a top-flight musician and songwriter in her own right as her current album, Bracing For Impact proves.

We discussed that album as well as her contribution to disability rights via The Bridge School, which she and her husband founded in 1986.

If you grew up in the late 1950's (or if you have cable TV) you might recognize this week's guest as the actor who played Mark McCain, the teenage sidekick of Lucas McCain in the TV series The Rifleman. You may also remember him as a teenage pop singer (remember his version of Lonesome Town, which I played on an earlier show?) or as a cast member in literally dozens of movies and television programs.

Well, it turns out that one of Johnny Crawford's great passions is the small-orchestra dance-jazz of over eight decades ago. He's just released a CD of music which you might very well have heard in the ballroom of a top-flight, big-city hotel in say, 1928, played and sung exactly as it would have been back when our parents or grandparents were still babies. But make no mistake, this is no nostalgia trip. This is cultural preservation of the highest order.

I spoke with Mr. Crawford on February 13^th, 2012 for over an hour. What you're about to hear are what I hope are the most illuminating passages from that interview.

The Yardbirds were a crucial player in the British Invasion of the 1960s, running almost neck-and-neck with the Beatles, The Who and other well-known bands from that era. They were known for both faithful but energetic renditions of blues standards as well as seriously raved-up versions of songs like Bo-Diddley's “I'm a Man”, to say nothing of their own unique “psychedelic-before-there-was-psychedelic” original songs. Jim McCarty has been the Yardbirds' drummer since the group got together in 1963.

Three now-famous musicians got their break when they were in The Yardbirds: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

The Yardbirds are currently touring (in fact, they're playing a local gig!). Jim and I talked about things back in the day, the new Yardbirds touring lineup and his current projects.

In today's installment, I talk to Deana Martin, daughter of the legendary Dean Martin. She's currently on tour and is a top-flight performer in her own right as her albums, including her latest, White Christmas definitely prove. She and I discuss the making of her deliciously old-school holiday offering, and talk about things like her life among such pop luminaries as Frank Sinatra and her childhood encounter with Elvis Presley.

Jim Morrison was the face and the voice of The Doors, but he had some world-class musicians backing him up. One of them was the subject of my latest interview, guitarist, Robby Krieger. 

Robby is still touring, both with fellow Doors bandmate Ray Manzarek and his own band. His tour dates, which include a gig at Albany's "The Egg", can be found here.

I spoke with Robby on October 25th. We talked about The old days, his current tour, Captain Beefheart and even about an up-and-coming DJ whom Doors backed up on one of his tracks.

Glen Matlock was the original bassist for the Sex Pistols from 1976-77. He's credited as a writer on all but two of the songs on their 1977 album, Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols. Since leaving that band he's had an active career which includes The Rich Kids, Hot Club, The Philistines and others. He's also played alongside punk icons like Iggy Pop and The Damned. He now plays with The Faces, the band which reportedly had the biggest influence on him.

Among other things, Glen and I talk about his brief stint with the Pistols, his new album and New York while he was there during the 10^th anniversary of 9/11.

He's the bassist for Neil Young (and his wife Pegi), Joe Walsh, Johnny Rivers, Ronnie Wood and Jerry Lee Lewis to name but a few. At one point, he and Mr. Walsh were traveling radio disc jockeys who occasionally filled in for the likes of - Howard Stern! Today I talk to Rick Rosas about his career and his upcoming gigs with Buffalo Springfield.

He was a key member of The Turtles, the band best known for its 1967 hit "Happy Together". He toured with Frank Zappa's band in the early 1970s and is featured prominently in Frank's 1971 motion picture, 200 Motels. He later became "Eddie" of the rock duo Flo & Eddie with friend and fellow Turtles/Mothers member Mark Volman. Over four decades, he's toured and recorded with a virtual Who's Who of popular music. He's even appeared on a children's record.

Howard Kaylan talks with The Doctor about old times, current events and his new book.

I thought I'd posted this interview looooong ago. Turns out I was smokin' the filter on this one. I do hate it when I do that. My sincerest apologies to you, the listeners and especially to Mr. Ginn.

Greg Ginn probably needs no introduction, but for those of you watching in black-and-white, Mr. Ginn is the main brains behind SST Records, home to crucial acts like Black Flag (of which Mr. Ginn was a founding member), The Meat Puppets, Dinosaur Jr., The Minutemen, Husker Du, The Bad Brains and many, many more.

SST Records is still in effect, and Mr. Ginn talks about what he and the record company which he founded roughly 33 and 1/3 years ago is doing today.

This interview is an introduction. More to follow.

Today's installment is Nashville vocalist Mandy Barnett, who very early on in her career shared a stage with the venerable Dolly Parton and who also plays the leading role in a stage play about the life of Patsy Cline. With only 3 more shopping days to go, Mandy briefly talks about her new Christmas album.

Woodstock emcee (at all three Woodstocks!), humanitarian and activist with a sense-of-humor Wavy Gravy is my guest on today's edition.

There's a new major motion picture about his life and work, coming to selected theaters next month, called "Saint Misbehavin'".

More info: http://www.rippleeffectfilms.com/wwwavy/index.php

See also: http://www.rippleeffectfilms.com/wwwavy/popup3.html

Wavy's own home page: http://www.wavygravy.net/

[NOTE: Due to technical difficulties with this web site, the above links may not be clickable. If that happens, simply copy each link and paste it into the address bar of your browser. Sorry for the inconvenience!]