Decibel Geek Podcast

Sandy Gennaro joins the guys this week for a career spanning discussion that goes deeper than just the music. Sandy has toured and/or recorded with: Blackjack, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, The Monkees, Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Bolton, Benny Mardones, Craaft, The Mamas and Papas and Jon Paris. He has recorded several Top 10 singles and has performed for for over a billion fans spanning his 50 year career. [caption id="attachment_31395" align="alignright" width="300"] Sandy Gennaro [/caption] Sandy has also made numerous TV appearances including The Tonight Show, The Grammy Awards, The American Music Awards, The MTV New Years Ball, and The Late Show with David Letterman among others. He is also a favored councelor at the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps. He is currently recording and gigging with various artists in Nashville. In this long-form discussion, Sandy shares stories of growing up in New York, a passion for the Yankees, his early musical influences, experienci

Chris and Aaron return this week to preview the party of the summer with Rock n Pod Primer - Ep292. The Nashville Rock n Pod Expo takes place Saturday August 26th, 2017 at the Music Valley Event Center in Nashville, TN. Over 25 rock podcasts will be on-site as well as vinyl vendors and current and former members of Nelson, Tora Tora, KISS, Winger, Roxy Blue, Monkees, ACCEPT, and many more! In this hour-plus episode, the guys talk about the upcoming Rock n Pod Expo as well as spin music from artists/personalities that will be on-hand as guests. [caption id="attachment_31224" align="alignright" width="300"] Rock n Pod Primer [/caption] Tracks from Roxy Blue, Every Mother's Nightmare, Tora Tora, Budderside, Blackjack, Joe Lynn Turner, ACCEPT, KISS, Kenny Olson Cartel and more are featured. It's a Rock n Pod party. We hope you enjoy Rock n Pod Primer - Ep292 and SHARE with a friend! Buy Music! KISS Every Mother's Nightmare Roxy Blue Tora Tora Blackjack Joe Lynn Turner ACCEPT Kenny Olson Cartel Budderside Tyke

When a planned episode gets shelved due to audio issues, we improvise this week with KISS Lightning Round - Ep291. We put out a last-minute call for KISS-related questions and topics and, boy, did you guys respond! In this 2 hour-plus loose discussion, we tip a few beers and try to address as many KISS-related topics that the listeners through our way via the Decibel Geek facebook page. [caption id="attachment_30743" align="alignright" width="300"] KISS Lightning Round [/caption] We can talk KISS non-stop and this week is no different. However, we definitely disagree on a number of facets of the Hottest Band in the Land. In this long-form talk, we touch on all sorts of subjects including the current lineup makeup situation, the possibilities that would've altered history had Vinnie Vincent stayed in the band, why Chris won't see KISS live anymore, and the limitations that certain members of the band are facing. It's two hours-plus of the nerdiest KISS discussion this side of Abner's laboratory. We hope yo

KISSMAS in July gets even cooler this week with The Return of Pixie Esmonde! Pixie, former wardrobe manager for KISS (1979-1980), quickly became one of our favorite guests. Her quick wit and fantastic stories had us in stitches and we knew we had to have her back on the show. If you missed her first appearance, be sure to go HERE and check it out. We promise, you won't regret it. Return of Pixie   In this Return of Pixie Esmonde episode, we came armed with questions; not only from us but also from listeners of the show. Pixie did not disappoint in her answers, giving bold, honest answers about a number of topics. Subjects including the drama that permeated the Dynasty tour, her memories of certain behind the scenes personnel, run-ins with celebrities backstage and thoughts on some of the opening bands that went out with KISS during her tenure; Loverboy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden among them. We hope you enjoy The Return of Pixie Esmonde - Ep290 and SHARE with a friend! Nashville Rock n Pod Expo! Jo

The guys are back for week two of KISSMAS in July with Demolicious KISS Edition. While KISS has released a great catalog of music over the past 43 years, there's been a wealth of solid material that didn't get released officially. In this long-form episode, Chris and Aaron spin some of their favorite KISS demos. Demolicious KISS Edition   You'll get material that pre-dates the first album all the way through unreleased songs from 1998's 'Psycho Circus' album. It's a fun peek at what could have been. We hope you enjoy Demolicious KISS Edition and SHARE with a friend! Attend the Nashville Rock n Pod Expo! Saturday August, 26th 2017. One day event celebrating all things Rock n Roll! Over 25 rock podcasts from all over North America recording shows on-site and meeting listeners. Vinyl and merchandise vendors selling the best in rock goods. Special guests appearing for signing and meet & greet sessions with fans. Current and former members ACCEPT, The Monkees, Collective Soul, Tyketto, and many more. Also, a

KISSmas in July kicks off with an in-depth talk with members of the Gene Simmons Band. Guitarists Ryan Cook, Jeremy Asbrock, and Philip Shouse have been garnering rave reviews since their debut in March of 2017. Those names should be familiar to Decibel Geek listeners and readers as they've made numerous appearances on the podcast to discuss The Big Rock Show, Hair of the Dog, and Guitar Duos. They are also members of Thee Rock n Roll Residency; a weekly covers show that has been wowing Nashville crowds with its spot-on renditions of classic rock hits and deep cuts. Additionally, Thee Rock n Roll Residency has a rotating cast of musicians that come from all eras of rock history. [caption id="attachment_30090" align="alignright" width="300"] Gene Simmons Band [/caption] The Gene Simmons Band has been impressing die-hard KISS fans at every show on this tour. What started as a six show commitment has turned into a full-on world tour with more dates being released recently. In this conversation, the Gene S

Donnie Vie appears on the Decibel Geek Podcast this week for a revealing conversation.  This long-form discussion covers a life and career of ups, downs, triumphs, rejections, celebration, turmoil and ultimately, rediscovery. Vie, known by many as the controversial front man for Chicago greats Enuff Z'nuff has churned out an impressive catalog of work. However, demons (both individually and collectively) seemed to overshadow the band at every step. Shifting musical climates,  substance abuse, changing members, and even death threatened to eliminate Enuff Z'nuff but the band pushed on; eventually without Donnie Vie. It's been an interesting ride to say the least. [caption id="attachment_29797" align="alignright" width="300"] Donnie Vie [/caption] In this long-form discussion, Donnie Vie discusses the band's early days including how he met bassist Chip Z'nuff, his thoughts on late-guitarist Derek Frigo, wild gigs and after-gig activity, and tons more. Additionally, Vie discusses the stories behind many Enuff

Chris & Aaron continue the love-fest for Geddy, Neil, and Alex this week with RUSH Covered in Metal. There are a lot of cover versions of RUSH songs out there by a lot of different artists. What your hosts found out in research for this episode is that there are a lot of bad RUSH covers. However, this week you're gonna get the best gems that they could find in a sea of mediocrity. Clearly, RUSH is a very difficult band to successfully cover. Try to put too much of your own spin on it and you trash what people remember. Try to straight up mimic them and you come off sounding like a poor imitation. This week you'll get harder-edged, unique (but not too unique) renditions of RUSH classics. RUSH Covered in Metal [/caption] RUSH Covered in Metal featured covers performed by Mark Slaughter, George Lynch, Sebastian Bach, Michael Schenker, Skid Row, Machine Head, Local H, Allegaeon, Jani Lane, Billy Talent, and Mindless Self Indulgence. Before the festivities the guys give an update on a tragic situation that b

Chris & Aaron return this week to discuss The Heavier Side of RUSH; songs that kick a little harder from the legendary Canadian trio. RUSH, formed in 1968, and solidified in 1971 with a lineup of Geddy Lee (bass/vocals), Alex Lifeson (guitar), and John Rutsey (drums) would find aid in manager Ray Danniels and producer Terry Brown. The self-titled 1974 debut album was filled with hard rock numbers reminiscent of Led Zeppelin. The band would ultimately break on the strength of the song 'Working Man' receiving airplay on WMMS in Cleveland. Rutsey, however, would have to retire from the road due to health complications. Enter Neil Peart. The multi-talented drummer had incredible skill not only on the kit but would go on to become the band's principal lyricist. From that point, RUSH carved their own path; releasing trailblazing albums that straddled the worlds of hard and progressive rock; building a rabid following along the way. 40-plus years later and RUSH sit, rightfully, in the upper echelon of rock music his

DBG VIP and Decibel Geek writer, Steven Michael, joins Chris and Aaron for Under the ACDC Influence; a deep dive into bands that were influenced by the Australian hard rock giants. Steve and the guys discuss their love for ACDC, the evidence of their influence on rock and roll history, and spin a bunch of tracks by a bunch of bands that were influenced by Angus Young and company. Many fads come and go, and with them so do many bands. What is the flavor of the week will soon be a punchline to a joke told decades later. ACDC never fell into that trap. Through numerous trends including Prog Rock, Punk Rock, Disco, New Wave, Glam Metal, and Grunge, the Australian-born legends stayed the course; continuing to pump out headbanging, hooky rock n roll. This consistency has produced an influence that has transcended multiple generations of fans. Under the ACDC Influence In this jam packed episode you'll get tracks from Jackyl, Four Horsemen, Voodoo Piston, Ugly Kid Joe, The Treatment, Rhino Bucket, Koritni, B

Stevie Rachelle joins the guys this week for Albums Unleashed - TUFF What Comes Around Goes Around. In this long-form discussion, Stevie discusses the circumstances that led to him fronting TUFF. Originally from Wisconsin, Rachelle was bitten by the bug early and headed west to Los Angeles in search of fame. However, it's not instant success. In this talk, Rachelle reflects on his audition with TUFF, what led to his hiring, and the band's rise on the Sunset Strip. TUFF - Albums Unleashed What Comes Around TUFF would slug it out on the Sunset Strip for a while; building their core audience at clubs such as Gazarri's, The Whisky, Perkins Palace, and The Country Club. During this time, they'd be rejected by dozens of labels. Determined, the band would continue to tread the boards on regional tours through the Southern and Midwestern United States until Atlantic Records came calling. What Comes Around Goes Around, released in 1991, was produced by Howard Benson and mixed by Sir Arthur Payson. This epis

DBG VIP and contributor to the upcoming Nashville Rock n Pod Expo Henning Mielke joins the guys from Germany for Radio Sucks Radio Show v30! In this 2-hour plus block of rock talk and music, Henning shares his story of growing up a rock and metal fan in Germany. Additionally, he also discusses his time working in Marketing for Warner Music; sharing some tales of working with some legendary artists. Radio Sucks Radio Show v30 Also included in Radio Sucks Radio Show v30, Henning shares 10 songs of his choosing to share with the Decibel Geek listeners. In this long-form episode, Henning shares some familiar artists as well as bands you may not know about. Artists spun this week include Farmikos, Kip Winger, Feeder, Karnivool, Leprous, Army of Anyone, Opeth, Winery Dogs, Saraya, and T&N. It's a fun talk with a great soundtrack. We hope you enjoy Radio Sucks Radio Show v30 and SHARE with a friend! Buy Music! Farmikos Kip Winger Feeder Karnivool Army of Anyone Saraya T&N Opeth Winery Dogs Leprous

When a scheduled interview is derailed by their call recording program, Skype, going down, the guys decide to crack a few beers and bring you an off-the-cuff conversation that features a number of things that are offered in their DBG VIP subscription program on Patreon. In this long-form discussion, the guys go over some current rock news events including Zakk Wylde rejoining Ozzy Osbourne's band, Local H winning a contest to open for Metallica on their upcoming tour, and KISS (of course). The news/shooting the breeze stuff is a regular feature of the DBG VIP program entitled The Chris & Aaron Show. There are now over 50 episodes of this segment and they are available for all DBG VIP's. Find out how you can become a DBG VIP at https://www.patreon.com/decibelgeek. Skype's Down! Another DBG VIP feature that you get free this week is the album tournament. In this segment, the guys each pick 16 CD's from the massive collection in the Decibel Geek studio. The CD's are pitted head to head in matches until

Guitarist and KISS co-writer Scott Van Zen sits down with the guys this week for a long-form talk about his life, guitar playing, and the experience of writing with our favorite demon, Gene Simmons. In this hour-plus discussion, Scott talks about his early years in central California. Inspired by a wide cross-section of guitarists ranging from Jeff Beck to Johnny Winter to Ted Nugent to Eddie Van Halen; Scott Van Zen worked his way through the ranks to become one of the California's best guitarists in the 1980's and 90's. A musical partnership with singer Ken Tamplin would lead Van Zen to a friendship with KISS' Gene Simmons. In this discussion, Scott talks about Gene's influence not only in songwriting, but in business. His advice has paid dividends for the guitarist over the years. Scott Van Zen Scott Van Zen penned numerous songs with Gene Simmons, noteable among them 'Spit' for 1992's Revenge album and 'Hate,' 'In My Head,' 'Seduction of the Innocent,' for 1997's Carnival of Souls album. Also in

DBG VIP Sonny Pooni joins the guys this week for Radio Sucks Radio Show v29! In this fun rock and talk episode Sonny talks about how he discovered Decibel Geek and what hooked him into being a DBG VIP. Additionally, he shares some killer rock and metal music from artists including Winery Dogs, Lord Tracy, Talisman, Restrayned, Halestorm, Steelheart, Black Label Society, Y&T, Extreme, and Vinnie Vincent Invasion! Radio Sucks Radio Show v29   The guys also talk more about the upcoming Nashville Rock n Pod Expo coming on August 26, 2017. Numerous podcasts from all over North America, vinyl/memorabilia vendors, and special guests from the world of rock participating in signings and meet and greets. It's gonna be a rock n roll party and YOU'RE invited! Go to www.nashvillerocknpodexpo.com to get more info and find out how YOU can make it happen! Buy Music! Winery Dogs Lord Tracy Talisman Restrayned Halestorm Steelhart Black Label Society Y&T Extreme Vinnie Vincent Invasion Nashville Rock n Pod Expo

Aaron and Chris return to the wayback machine for 1982 Year in Review Pt2! In this nearly two hour nostalgia extravaganza, your hosts have more facts, pop culture happenings, news stories, and music to share from an awesome year! 1982 Year in Review Pt2 You'll get music from 20+ artists including Judas Priest, April Wine, Aerosmith, Tygers of Pan Tang, Plasmatics, Twisted Sister, Foghat Led Zeppelin, Wishbone Ash, Whitesnake, Billy Squire, Alice Cooper, Hughes/Thrall, Demon, Michael Schenker Group, ACCEPT, KISS, Y&T, Headpins, Girl, and more! All that and, of course, classic commercials! It's a great trip back in time. We hope you enjoy 1982 Year in Review Pt2 and SHARE with a friend! Buy Music! Judas Priest April Wine Aerosmith Tygers of Pan Tang Plasmatics Twisted Sister Foghat Led Zeppelin Wishbone Ash Whitesnake Billy Squier Alice Cooper Hughes/Thrall Demon MSG ACCEPT KISS Y&T Headpins Girl Visit Our Sponsor! HK Collecitbles, Inc. (Specializing in hard to find music and mo

The guys go back in time this week as they bring you 1982 Year in Review Pt1. In this long-form trip through the first half of the year, Chris & Aaron cover a lot of ground. 1982 saw some pretty historic beginnings in technology and pop culture including the Commodore 64 and Late Night with David Letterman. 1982 was also a year of loss in the entertainment community. Notably, the losses of John Belushi and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads left their mark on the movie and music industries. Speaking of Osbourne, he would cement his status as a controversial figure with two news-making incidents that shocked many. 1982 Year in Review Pt 1 1982 Year in Review Pt1 also boats a lot of great music. The first half of the year included releases from Magnum, Nazareth, UFO, Iron Maiden, Tank, Scorpions, Misfits, Van Halen, Motorhead, Uriah Heep, Cheap Trick, Status Quo, and many more. In this episode, the guys break it all down and cover the sports, movies, and pop culture of 1982. And, as always, classic c

Hosts from numerous participating podcasts get together on one call to discuss the upcoming Nashville Rock n Pod Expo happening August 26, 2017 at Millennium Hall in Nashville TN.    Discussion includes details on advance tickets, perks offered by the shows, information on vinyl and memorabilia dealers, as well as some special guest announcements.    The Nashville Rock n Pod Expo is being crowdfund by rock and podcasting fans to cover travel and other expenses. This is a first year DIY event. The goal is to make this Expo successful this way in year one and use the success as leverage for a bigger, better event for years to come. We need YOUR support to make this happen! So, give this a listen and please contribute to help us take rock podcasting to the next level! Nashville Rock n Pod Expo GoFundMe link: www.gofundme.com/rocknpodexpo Official Website: www.nashvillerocknpodexpo.com Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/nashvillerocknpodexpo       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f

Rikki Rockett joins the guys this week for Albums Unleashed Poison Look What the Cat Dragged In. In this long-form discussion, Rikki shares stories from the early days of Poison including the decision to move from Pennsylvania to Hollywood in the early 1980's. Also in the episode, Rikki talks about the departure of original guitarist Matt Smith and an audition process that would go down to a head to head battle between Slash and CC DeVille. In this Albums Unleashed Poison Look What the Cat Dragged In special, Rikki reflects on the recording process of the album. Producer Rick Browde was on board early for the sessions but things got tense quickly due to creative differences. In this episode, Rikki also discusses the struggle to survive in a Hollywood scene that was very unforgiving. Those struggles would be played out lyrically in some of the songs. While the album was recorded on a meager budget and on limited time, it would go on to spawn three big singles and sell 4 million copies worldwide. Albums

Chris and Aaron return this week for Fresh Blood v5; a block of rock and metal from awesome newer bands. In this music-packed episode, the guys spin great tracks that span the entire rock genre. You'll get awesome tracks from Inglorious, Bleached, Apocalyptic Lovers, White Reaper, Killing Grace, Badflower, Klassik 78, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Electric Guitars, and Double Crush Syndrome. Fresh Blood v5 In addition to all of that, the guys clue you in on the upcoming Nashville Rock n Pod Expo. This convention will see rock podcasters from all over North America converge on Nashville as well as vinyl/merch dealers and celebrity signing/meet & greet. It's expected to be a lot of fun but we need YOUR help to make it happen. This event is a total DIY event funded by the listeners/rock fans. Please click THIS link to contribute to the cause! (PS: Original goal of venue funding has been met; new goal announced in coming days. Please continue to donate. It all goes to the goal!) Nashville