How old were you when you first started listening to music and what were the first bands/artists that you listened to?

I would have been about 7. I used to like The Police, Madness and Adam & The Ants. I seem to remember my very first album was Ghost In The Machine by The Police. If only I’d known KISS were around at that time and picked up Creatures Of The Night instead!


How old were you when you discovered KISS and what were the circumstances by which you discovered KISS?

I was a late joiner to the KISS party. I didn’t get into them until 1991 when I was about 17. I hate to admit it but it was due to going to see Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey at a cinema in Wellingborough. I came out of the film and "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II" was going round in my head for ages, so I bought the soundtrack and kept my eyes open for the next KISS album with that song on it, which leads me nicely to your next question.


What are some of your favorite KISS albums/songs and why?

The first KISS album that I picked up was Revenge and to this day, it remains one of my favourite albums. I lost track of the number of times I listened to that album from start to finish. Everything from "Heart Of Chrome", "Unholy", "Paralyzed" and "Every Time I Look At You", the whole album was faultless. This then led me on to many of the older albums until I’d built up a nice back catalogue. Now my list of favourite albums would also include Destroyer, Creatures Of The Night, MTV Unplugged and all of the Alive albums (yes, even III).

Favourite songs? Difficult one, there’s so many. But if I have to choose, then "Love Gun", "Forever" (first song at our wedding), "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II", "Black Diamond", "Unholy", "Say Yeah", etc.


How many times have you seen KISS in concert and what was/were your favorite KISS show(s) or tour(s)?

Only 9 times, starting with one of the best, which was Donington in 1996. Paris in 2008 was also a highlight for me. Great show and a great chance to catch up with other fans in a great city. And, of course, you could never leave Islington off the list. Amazing show in such a tiny venue. It really was surreal being
right at the front in such a small place watching the hottest band in the world. I’ve also been lucky enough to be invited backstage a couple of times both in Paris and Wembley. That, of course, was a great opportunity to meet the band and made the shows even more exciting.

I would like to see KISS in both Vegas and New York before they hang up their boots for good. Vegas is one of my favourite cities.


Do you have a favorite KISS member or members? If so, who and why?

My favourite member has always been Paul, simply because he is one of the greatest frontmen in rock, ever. I was also a big fan of Bruce. His work on Revenge was amazing. And, of course, Eric Carr for his amazing work through the '80s helping keep the band on track, especially in the live shows. Then there’s Mr. Singer for his amazing drumming and his dedication to his fans. Just over a year ago, he sent me some gifts for a young boy with cerebral palsy. Full story is here for those interested: http://bit.ly/xlbRLf. That doesn’t, of course, mean that I don’t have the utmost respect for Gene, Tommy, Ace and Peter too!


Discuss your KISS website, KISSin' UK.

Back in 1996, I had returned home from 3 years at university and I was missing Hunter Goatley’s KISS mailing list (one of the first KISS things ever to make it to the net). I then got internet access at home and realized that there was no information specific for UK fans. This wound me up to the point that I decided to stop moaning and create my own! It has changed a lot over the years and has managed to gain a good reputation throughout the KISS world. I’m proud that the site has lasted for so long and I am very grateful for all the help that I’ve had from many fans, including Dan Bach (many reviews and articles) and Dan Hill (very popular travel reports, as you already know!).

We try to stick to UK related news and stay away from rumours where possible. There’s also a forum with a great collection of KISS fans. It has it’s ups & downs like most forums but whenever KISS announce an album or tour, it becomes a great place to talk KISS. I’ve had several famous people tell me that they are fans of the site in the past. One of those people was Iain Lee, a presenter over here in the UK and massive KISS fan.

The site had a makeover a couple of years ago and I still need to get a lot of the older pages updated. Every now and then, some old styling pops up to embarrass me! The new logo is made from all of my own photos from Wembley in 2010.

I get a lot of nice feedback about the site and it has opened up many opportunities, for which I am very grateful.


What would you say distinguishes KISSin' UK from all of the numerous other KISS websites?

I’d say the fact that we try to compliment other sites by concentrating on UK specific news rather than competing with them. We also have a great relationship with other sites, the UK press, Channel 4 and BBC and the official KISS site. A few weeks ago, I was asked by The One Show (a BBC show) to bring some KISS merchandise to the show as Gene was going to be there. I took a case load of items 100 miles to London but it was worth it as I got to chat with Gene and Shannon for a while and I got my KISS collection shown on TV! Full report here: http://bit.ly/xdQ2Fl

We were also given a rare invite to a Gene Simmons business talk just before Christmas. That was a great experience as I was sat right next to Gene's family. Report here: http://bit.ly/uGqIoS

We also get to run a lot of competitions. For example, there’s an Eric Carr Unfinished Business one open right now. I think we must have run at least 20 competitions over the years.


Discuss KISSin' UK's connection to the KISS tribute band Dressed To Kill.

We’ve always had a great relationship with the band and all of their members present and past. I have a lot of respect for them. I first saw them in 1994 when Peter played with them at a convention. We’ve run a lot of news stories for them in the past and will continue to support them in the future.


Has KISSin' UK gotten any feedback from any of the members of KISS? If so, who and what did they say?

I got an email from Gene’s PR company just before The One Show and Gene Business talk saying, "Gene likes your site, he will meet you." Not surprisingly, I was gobsmacked!

In the past, I’ve been sent items from Eric Singer (as mentioned above) and I’ve also had phone interviews with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. Peter was fantastic to speak to. The original interview was cancelled but Gigi told me she would reschedule. I had my doubts but she was true to her word and I got to speak with him for 30 minutes: http://bit.ly/xzgfGs

I also had a face to face interview with Mark St. John, who told me that he had visited the site in the past. It was great meeting with him. This has been one of our most popular articles as there is very little info about Mark on the internet. R.I.P. Mark. http://bit.ly/jrs8hq


Besides KISS, what are some of your other favourite bands/artists and why?

Well, for me, it is probably 80% KISS! But I also like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stereophonics, Aerosmith and ZZ Top!


Feel free to discuss any of your other endeavors here.

I spend a lot of my time being a dad and helping teach my wife and daughter the benefits of KISS (my own dad used to make me listen to John Denver, so it’s only fair!). I also work in IT for a Building Society in the UK and love travelling, especially to the U.S. The Building Society that I work for has let me dress up as KISS in the past for charity and are also running a KISSin’ UK article in their next staff magazine, so no complaints from me!

How old were you when you first started listening to music and what were the first bands/artists that you listened to?

I would have been about 7. I used to like The Police, Madness and Adam & The Ants. I seem to remember my very first album was Ghost In The Machine by The Police. If only I’d known KISS were around at that time and picked up Creatures Of The Night instead!


How old were you when you discovered KISS and what were the circumstances by which you discovered KISS?

I was a late joiner to the KISS party. I didn’t get into them until 1991 when I was about 17. I hate to admit it but it was due to going to see Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey at a cinema in Wellingborough. I came out of the film and "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II" was going round in my head for ages, so I bought the soundtrack and kept my eyes open for the next KISS album with that song on it, which leads me nicely to your next question.


What are some of your favorite KISS albums/songs and why?

The first KISS album that I picked up was Revenge and to this day, it remains one of my favourite albums. I lost track of the number of times I listened to that album from start to finish. Everything from "Heart Of Chrome", "Unholy", "Paralyzed" and "Every Time I Look At You", the whole album was faultless. This then led me on to many of the older albums until I’d built up a nice back catalogue. Now my list of favourite albums would also include Destroyer, Creatures Of The Night, MTV Unplugged and all of the Alive albums (yes, even III).

Favourite songs? Difficult one, there’s so many. But if I have to choose, then "Love Gun", "Forever" (first song at our wedding), "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II", "Black Diamond", "Unholy", "Say Yeah", etc.


How many times have you seen KISS in concert and what was/were your favorite KISS show(s) or tour(s)?

Only 9 times, starting with one of the best, which was Donington in 1996. Paris in 2008 was also a highlight for me. Great show and a great chance to catch up with other fans in a great city. And, of course, you could never leave Islington off the list. Amazing show in such a tiny venue. It really was surreal being
right at the front in such a small place watching the hottest band in the world. I’ve also been lucky enough to be invited backstage a couple of times both in Paris and Wembley. That, of course, was a great opportunity to meet the band and made the shows even more exciting.

I would like to see KISS in both Vegas and New York before they hang up their boots for good. Vegas is one of my favourite cities.


Do you have a favorite KISS member or members? If so, who and why?

My favourite member has always been Paul, simply because he is one of the greatest frontmen in rock, ever. I was also a big fan of Bruce. His work on Revenge was amazing. And, of course, Eric Carr for his amazing work through the '80s helping keep the band on track, especially in the live shows. Then there’s Mr. Singer for his amazing drumming and his dedication to his fans. Just over a year ago, he sent me some gifts for a young boy with cerebral palsy. Full story is here for those interested: http://bit.ly/xlbRLf. That doesn’t, of course, mean that I don’t have the utmost respect for Gene, Tommy, Ace and Peter too!


Discuss your KISS website, KISSin' UK.

Back in 1996, I had returned home from 3 years at university and I was missing Hunter Goatley’s KISS mailing list (one of the first KISS things ever to make it to the net). I then got internet access at home and realized that there was no information specific for UK fans. This wound me up to the point that I decided to stop moaning and create my own! It has changed a lot over the years and has managed to gain a good reputation throughout the KISS world. I’m proud that the site has lasted for so long and I am very grateful for all the help that I’ve had from many fans, including Dan Bach (many reviews and articles) and Dan Hill (very popular travel reports, as you already know!).

We try to stick to UK related news and stay away from rumours where possible. There’s also a forum with a great collection of KISS fans. It has it’s ups & downs like most forums but whenever KISS announce an album or tour, it becomes a great place to talk KISS. I’ve had several famous people tell me that they are fans of the site in the past. One of those people was Iain Lee, a presenter over here in the UK and massive KISS fan.

The site had a makeover a couple of years ago and I still need to get a lot of the older pages updated. Every now and then, some old styling pops up to embarrass me! The new logo is made from all of my own photos from Wembley in 2010.

I get a lot of nice feedback about the site and it has opened up many opportunities, for which I am very grateful.


What would you say distinguishes KISSin' UK from all of the numerous other KISS websites?

I’d say the fact that we try to compliment other sites by concentrating on UK specific news rather than competing with them. We also have a great relationship with other sites, the UK press, Channel 4 and BBC and the official KISS site. A few weeks ago, I was asked by The One Show (a BBC show) to bring some KISS merchandise to the show as Gene was going to be there. I took a case load of items 100 miles to London but it was worth it as I got to chat with Gene and Shannon for a while and I got my KISS collection shown on TV! Full report here: http://bit.ly/xdQ2Fl

We were also given a rare invite to a Gene Simmons business talk just before Christmas. That was a great experience as I was sat right next to Gene's family. Report here: http://bit.ly/uGqIoS

We also get to run a lot of competitions. For example, there’s an Eric Carr Unfinished Business one open right now. I think we must have run at least 20 competitions over the years.


Discuss KISSin' UK's connection to the KISS tribute band Dressed To Kill.

We’ve always had a great relationship with the band and all of their members present and past. I have a lot of respect for them. I first saw them in 1994 when Peter played with them at a convention. We’ve run a lot of news stories for them in the past and will continue to support them in the future.


Has KISSin' UK gotten any feedback from any of the members of KISS? If so, who and what did they say?

I got an email from Gene’s PR company just before The One Show and Gene Business talk saying, "Gene likes your site, he will meet you." Not surprisingly, I was gobsmacked!

In the past, I’ve been sent items from Eric Singer (as mentioned above) and I’ve also had phone interviews with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. Peter was fantastic to speak to. The original interview was cancelled but Gigi told me she would reschedule. I had my doubts but she was true to her word and I got to speak with him for 30 minutes: http://bit.ly/xzgfGs

I also had a face to face interview with Mark St. John, who told me that he had visited the site in the past. It was great meeting with him. This has been one of our most popular articles as there is very little info about Mark on the internet. R.I.P. Mark. http://bit.ly/jrs8hq


Besides KISS, what are some of your other favourite bands/artists and why?

Well, for me, it is probably 80% KISS! But I also like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stereophonics, Aerosmith and ZZ Top!


Feel free to discuss any of your other endeavors here.

I spend a lot of my time being a dad and helping teach my wife and daughter the benefits of KISS (my own dad used to make me listen to John Denver, so it’s only fair!). I also work in IT for a Building Society in the UK and love travelling, especially to the U.S. The Building Society that I work for has let me dress up as KISS in the past for charity and are also running a KISSin’ UK article in their next staff magazine, so no complaints from me!

For better or worse, I'm never 100% satisfied with anything I do, which might explain why I haven't done a whole helluva lot in my 41 years. But that's another story for another time.

In this instance, I'm referring to my very glaring omission of any mention of the band Betty Blowtorch in my interviews with former BB members Blare N. Bitch, Sharon Needles and Judy Cocuzza (a.k.a. Judy Molish). Needless to say, this omission bothered the fuck out of me all weekend long, eventually prompting me to email the ladies and request a second interview specifically about BB, which all 3 graciously agreed to.

In preparation for those interviews, I decided to seek out Betty Blowtorch and Her Amazing True Life Adventures, Anthony Scarpa's 2003 documentary. Fortunately, the entire film is available to watch for free on YouTube (and posted above). So late yesterday afternoon, I decided to take a break from my eternal job search, emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, message boards, etc. (in that order - SERIOUSLY) and watch it.

And, I gotta say, I loved every second of it. Especially all the kick ass BB tunes.

So anyway, this post isn't so much a review of said film as it is a mention of sorts for the upcoming BB reunion show with Mia X on bass and vocals (along with other special guest vocalists) for the late Bianca Halstead (a.k.a. Bianca Butthole). I'll post all the info on that as soon as I get it. And needless to say, I WILL BE AT THAT SHOW.

Speaking of Mia X, please be sure to check out all of her endeavors: The UVs, RockShopNRoll and Rebel Music TV. All good stuff and she's a really cool person to boot.

For better or worse, I'm never 100% satisfied with anything I do, which might explain why I haven't done a whole helluva lot in my 41 years. But that's another story for another time.

In this instance, I'm referring to my very glaring omission of any mention of the band Betty Blowtorch in my interviews with former BB members Blare N. Bitch, Sharon Needles and Judy Cocuzza (a.k.a. Judy Molish). Needless to say, this omission bothered the fuck out of me all weekend long, eventually prompting me to email the ladies and request a second interview specifically about BB, which all 3 graciously agreed to.

In preparation for those interviews, I decided to seek out Betty Blowtorch and Her Amazing True Life Adventures, Anthony Scarpa's 2003 documentary. Fortunately, the entire film is available to watch for free on YouTube (and posted above). So late yesterday afternoon, I decided to take a break from my eternal job search, emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter, message boards, etc. (in that order - SERIOUSLY) and watch it.

And, I gotta say, I loved every second of it. Especially all the kick ass BB tunes.

So anyway, this post isn't so much a review of said film as it is a mention of sorts for the upcoming BB reunion show with Mia X on bass and vocals (along with other special guest vocalists) for the late Bianca Halstead (a.k.a. Bianca Butthole). I'll post all the info on that as soon as I get it. And needless to say, I WILL BE AT THAT SHOW.

Speaking of Mia X, please be sure to check out all of her endeavors: The UVs, RockShopNRoll and Rebel Music TV. All good stuff and she's a really cool person to boot.

How old were you when you started listening to music and why did you get into music?

The radio was always playing in the house when I was growing up, but it was The Beatles that first made me sit up and really listen - when I was about five or six, I guess. I was very caught up in the whole Beatlemania thing. Having an older brother to share in this probably helped, though he always had first dibs on the memorabilia. So I'd end up with the "I Love Ringo" badge.


Who were some of the first bands/artists that you really liked and why?

Aside from The Beatles (who continue to move me to this day - will the same be said of One Direction in 50 years time?), I really liked The Dave Clark Five - that great thumping sound, with saxamaphones. In the late '60s/early '70s, I used to watch Top Of The Pops on TV every Thursday and listen to the top twenty on the radio every Sunday. I also went to a church youth club where we'd bring our own records to play to one another. Someone brought Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" single in and I was very impressed by that. I thought the singer was a woman though!

With bands like Free, Jethro Tull and Deep Purple getting into the charts, and Top Of The Pops having an album slot that one time featured Yes playing "Yours Is No Disgrace", I found that I really liked that type of music as opposed to the likes of T. Rex, Sweet and Slade, which my schoolmates seemed to prefer. Again, I was undoubtedly influenced by my big brother's tastes here. Of all those bands, the mighty Zep were the next band I really fell for.


When and how did you first discover Frank Zappa?

A junior school friend of mine, Kevin Armstrong, could play the guitar really well and generally impressed me to no end. He borrowed the Mother's Day compilation, Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Hot Rats from his new Grammar school buddies and I listened to those in amazement. That my brother didn't like it was possibly significant - I'd found something different. That means a lot when you're 12.


What are some of your favourite Zappa albums/songs and why?

I still regard Hot Rats as one of his very best albums - it's not really like any of the others. And "Son Of Mr Green Genes" continues to blow me away. Other favourite albums are One Size Fits All, Make A Jazz Noise Here, Uncle Meat... those cover a lot of ground. Every Zappa album has something entertaining on it - the whole canon is just so diverse.

I love songs like "Mother People", "Yo Mama", "The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution", "We Are Not Alone", you name it. Just great, great music. Good singin', good playin' and with a tremendous sense of humour.


Discuss your book, Zappa The Hard Way.

Well, I never set out to write a book about Frank's final tour. In 2008, Wymer, an independent book publisher here in the UK, listed Zappa The Hard Way as "in the pipeline". I asked them when it would be available and they said that it hadn't even been started yet. Wymer's owner, Jerry Bloom, wanted to write it. But he saw my website, and the list of people that I'd interviewed, and felt that
I was better placed to do it. The timing was perfect: my application for early retirement from the Civil Service had just been accepted, so I felt that I had the time to do it. I certainly had the inclination.


Did you obtain the permission or the blessing of Gail Zappa and/or the Zappa Family Trust before you started working on the book?

Well, it wasn't actually necessary to obtain permission to write a book about the tour but before penning a word, I felt it prudent to notify Mrs. Zappa that I'd been approached to do it. I asked her to let me know if she had any concerns or questions but she never replied. I was given a deadline by Wymer, so I just cracked on and wrote it. I know that Gail has since seen a copy of the book but I think that her main interest was whether we'd breached any of the Trust's copyrights. We haven't, so she has never been in touch.


Approximately how long did it take for you to write the book?

A little over a year. It was surprisingly easy. I managed to help ghost write another book and compile a CD during the same period.


What sort of process, if any, did you employ when writing the book?

I decided to write it chronologically, chapter by chapter, and not to get bogged down with theorising as to why certain things came to pass - just let the band tell their story (enhanced by the new interviews that I conducted with the surviving members). So the first chapter sets the scene, touching on the previous couple of Zappa tours, then taking you through rehearsals up to the eventual Broadway the Hard Way tour. In Chapter Two, the tour itself starts. And so on.

I was very surprised to read online someone saying that they found the book jumped around time wise. It really doesn't. Where, for example, I talk about The Beatles’ medley, I naturally detour into Frank's relationship with the Fabs. But then it's straight back on to the tour and the next gig. All I can assume is that person didn't read the book properly. And, thankfully, it's one of the few criticisms I've read - I've been overwhelmed by the very positive response that it's received more generally. A close friend of mine re-read it six months after it came out and said he hadn't appreciated how much information was in there first time around. It's not a lengthy book, so I think it can perhaps be read a little too quickly by some. Take your time. Enjoy.


I know that I've asked you this privately but I'm going to ask you publicly as well - will you ever record and release an audio book version of Zappa The Hard Way (preferably unabridged)? You certainly have the terrific speaking voice for it.

Thank you - but I can't agree about my voice. I don't like the sound of it at all!

When the book first came out, someone suggested a very dear mutual friend, Gamma, do an audio version of it. That would have been fantastic. But, very sadly, he passed away a few months after publication. He had this great booming Vivian Stanshall-type voice and his conversation was littered with Zappa references. He was an alcoholic and it might have been akin to Chris Morris hiring a bunch of homeless guys to provide the audio commentary on his Brass Eye DVD. Better than anything I could do, fer sure. But that’s not to say I might not give it a go one day.


As a writer, who are some of your influences and why?

My favourite author by far is Kurt Vonnegut. I always find his books so easy to read, his world view so insightful, and also – importantly – just so very witty. I've always liked a laugh, so I guess I'd have to also single out Spike Milligan. I loved reading his books when I was younger and he undoubtedly left a mark on me.

But while those two gents are hugely inspirational, there's no way that I'd compare my writing skills to them. I never studied grammar or literature at school and only got a Grade 3 Certificate of Secondary Education in "English". But since then, I've always read. And I love and respect the English language and enjoy having a bit of fun with it. Respectfully. I kid myself I have a readable, unorthodox writing style.


What were the circumstances that led to you collaborating with Scott Parker and Mick Ekers on the ZappaCast podcast?

I've corresponded with Scott on and off for the past several years and out of the blue, he one day mentioned his plan to start podcasting and asked if I'd like to be involved. Initially, it was just to read the news, but that quickly evolved into roundtable discussions and other little solo segments relevant to the subject of each episode. Scott is very easy to get along with. We just seem to be on the same black page.

Around the time of Episode One, news of Mr. Ekers and his Zappa's Gear book emerged and Scott quickly pounced. And pounced again. As Mick told you, we soon found out that we lived just down the road from each other, so we now meet up for beer and a natter every now and then. Another really nice guy.


Prior to doing the ZappaCast, had you ever done any type of radio or broadcasting?

Never ever.


Discuss the Zappa tribute albums that you've put out.

In 2005, Cordelia Records in Leicester put out Let Me Take You To The Beach, an album of surf instrumental bands performing Zappa's music. I loved it and wrote to Cordelia asking if they had any plans for a sequel: Let Me Take You To The Beach Again. The label's owner, Alan Jenkins, wrote back to say they hadn't, but joked that he'd put out 20 versions of "The Idiot Bastard Son" if I could provide them. So I decided to call his bluff and rounded up some of my musical buddies. In short, I got him his 20 renditions and he put them out in 2008.

One of the contributors to that album suggested a follow up: 21 Burnt Weeny Sandwiches - the idea being to get artists to condense the whole of the Burnt Weeny Sandwich album into a five minute piece. I managed to pull that one off too and Cordelia duly obliged by releasing it in 2010.

The final album that we're currently working on will feature some of the cover tunes that Frank performed on the Broadway tour - the twist being that they're to sound like they're actually Zappa compositions. A number of the same artists are again involved and already, it's sounding great.


Discuss your Zappa website.

Ever since 1988, I'd been writing for various Zappa fanzines, most notably T'Mershi Duween. After Frank's passing, production of that slowed down but I continued to find that I had news and more to report. In 2000, I bought my first computer and decided to takes its bastard offspring online. Twelve years and nearly 300,000 hits later, www.idiotbastard.com is still going strong. Essentially, it's a news site but it does contain all of my interviews with various Zappa alumni and reviews of FZ and related products. Really, it's just an excuse to blag free CDs and befriend musicians that I admire.


Do you have plans for any more books?

Yes, I do. Aside from publication of the aforementioned autobiography that I helped ghost write (which may or may not be called Onside - The True Story Of Football’s Mr Fix-It by Anton Johnson), a couple of possible collaborations on books exploring particular aspects of FZ have been discussed (I don’t see any point in another full biography, especially as Gail now has Mr. Clayson on the case).

I have also started on a novel about a session man but I'm not sure if anyone would want to publish that, so it's taking a bit of a backseat as I now work on a second book for Wymer. They plan to publish a series of step-by-step guides to the official recordings of a number of artists. They've initially asked me to cover my first love, The Beatles. A well trodden path, I know, but I’ll strive to give it a little twist. The series is supposed to be a beginner’s guide that will eventually include Zappa The Easy Way!

How old were you when you started listening to music and why did you get into music?

The radio was always playing in the house when I was growing up, but it was The Beatles that first made me sit up and really listen - when I was about five or six, I guess. I was very caught up in the whole Beatlemania thing. Having an older brother to share in this probably helped, though he always had first dibs on the memorabilia. So I'd end up with the "I Love Ringo" badge.


Who were some of the first bands/artists that you really liked and why?

Aside from The Beatles (who continue to move me to this day - will the same be said of One Direction in 50 years time?), I really liked The Dave Clark Five - that great thumping sound, with saxamaphones. In the late '60s/early '70s, I used to watch Top Of The Pops on TV every Thursday and listen to the top twenty on the radio every Sunday. I also went to a church youth club where we'd bring our own records to play to one another. Someone brought Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" single in and I was very impressed by that. I thought the singer was a woman though!

With bands like Free, Jethro Tull and Deep Purple getting into the charts, and Top Of The Pops having an album slot that one time featured Yes playing "Yours Is No Disgrace", I found that I really liked that type of music as opposed to the likes of T. Rex, Sweet and Slade, which my schoolmates seemed to prefer. Again, I was undoubtedly influenced by my big brother's tastes here. Of all those bands, the mighty Zep were the next band I really fell for.


When and how did you first discover Frank Zappa?

A junior school friend of mine, Kevin Armstrong, could play the guitar really well and generally impressed me to no end. He borrowed the Mother's Day compilation, Burnt Weeny Sandwich and Hot Rats from his new Grammar school buddies and I listened to those in amazement. That my brother didn't like it was possibly significant - I'd found something different. That means a lot when you're 12.


What are some of your favourite Zappa albums/songs and why?

I still regard Hot Rats as one of his very best albums - it's not really like any of the others. And "Son Of Mr Green Genes" continues to blow me away. Other favourite albums are One Size Fits All, Make A Jazz Noise Here, Uncle Meat... those cover a lot of ground. Every Zappa album has something entertaining on it - the whole canon is just so diverse.

I love songs like "Mother People", "Yo Mama", "The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution", "We Are Not Alone", you name it. Just great, great music. Good singin', good playin' and with a tremendous sense of humour.


Discuss your book, Zappa The Hard Way.

Well, I never set out to write a book about Frank's final tour. In 2008, Wymer, an independent book publisher here in the UK, listed Zappa The Hard Way as "in the pipeline". I asked them when it would be available and they said that it hadn't even been started yet. Wymer's owner, Jerry Bloom, wanted to write it. But he saw my website, and the list of people that I'd interviewed, and felt that
I was better placed to do it. The timing was perfect: my application for early retirement from the Civil Service had just been accepted, so I felt that I had the time to do it. I certainly had the inclination.


Did you obtain the permission or the blessing of Gail Zappa and/or the Zappa Family Trust before you started working on the book?

Well, it wasn't actually necessary to obtain permission to write a book about the tour but before penning a word, I felt it prudent to notify Mrs. Zappa that I'd been approached to do it. I asked her to let me know if she had any concerns or questions but she never replied. I was given a deadline by Wymer, so I just cracked on and wrote it. I know that Gail has since seen a copy of the book but I think that her main interest was whether we'd breached any of the Trust's copyrights. We haven't, so she has never been in touch.


Approximately how long did it take for you to write the book?

A little over a year. It was surprisingly easy. I managed to help ghost write another book and compile a CD during the same period.


What sort of process, if any, did you employ when writing the book?

I decided to write it chronologically, chapter by chapter, and not to get bogged down with theorising as to why certain things came to pass - just let the band tell their story (enhanced by the new interviews that I conducted with the surviving members). So the first chapter sets the scene, touching on the previous couple of Zappa tours, then taking you through rehearsals up to the eventual Broadway the Hard Way tour. In Chapter Two, the tour itself starts. And so on.

I was very surprised to read online someone saying that they found the book jumped around time wise. It really doesn't. Where, for example, I talk about The Beatles’ medley, I naturally detour into Frank's relationship with the Fabs. But then it's straight back on to the tour and the next gig. All I can assume is that person didn't read the book properly. And, thankfully, it's one of the few criticisms I've read - I've been overwhelmed by the very positive response that it's received more generally. A close friend of mine re-read it six months after it came out and said he hadn't appreciated how much information was in there first time around. It's not a lengthy book, so I think it can perhaps be read a little too quickly by some. Take your time. Enjoy.


I know that I've asked you this privately but I'm going to ask you publicly as well - will you ever record and release an audio book version of Zappa The Hard Way (preferably unabridged)? You certainly have the terrific speaking voice for it.

Thank you - but I can't agree about my voice. I don't like the sound of it at all!

When the book first came out, someone suggested a very dear mutual friend, Gamma, do an audio version of it. That would have been fantastic. But, very sadly, he passed away a few months after publication. He had this great booming Vivian Stanshall-type voice and his conversation was littered with Zappa references. He was an alcoholic and it might have been akin to Chris Morris hiring a bunch of homeless guys to provide the audio commentary on his Brass Eye DVD. Better than anything I could do, fer sure. But that’s not to say I might not give it a go one day.


As a writer, who are some of your influences and why?

My favourite author by far is Kurt Vonnegut. I always find his books so easy to read, his world view so insightful, and also – importantly – just so very witty. I've always liked a laugh, so I guess I'd have to also single out Spike Milligan. I loved reading his books when I was younger and he undoubtedly left a mark on me.

But while those two gents are hugely inspirational, there's no way that I'd compare my writing skills to them. I never studied grammar or literature at school and only got a Grade 3 Certificate of Secondary Education in "English". But since then, I've always read. And I love and respect the English language and enjoy having a bit of fun with it. Respectfully. I kid myself I have a readable, unorthodox writing style.


What were the circumstances that led to you collaborating with Scott Parker and Mick Ekers on the ZappaCast podcast?

I've corresponded with Scott on and off for the past several years and out of the blue, he one day mentioned his plan to start podcasting and asked if I'd like to be involved. Initially, it was just to read the news, but that quickly evolved into roundtable discussions and other little solo segments relevant to the subject of each episode. Scott is very easy to get along with. We just seem to be on the same black page.

Around the time of Episode One, news of Mr. Ekers and his Zappa's Gear book emerged and Scott quickly pounced. And pounced again. As Mick told you, we soon found out that we lived just down the road from each other, so we now meet up for beer and a natter every now and then. Another really nice guy.


Prior to doing the ZappaCast, had you ever done any type of radio or broadcasting?

Never ever.


Discuss the Zappa tribute albums that you've put out.

In 2005, Cordelia Records in Leicester put out Let Me Take You To The Beach, an album of surf instrumental bands performing Zappa's music. I loved it and wrote to Cordelia asking if they had any plans for a sequel: Let Me Take You To The Beach Again. The label's owner, Alan Jenkins, wrote back to say they hadn't, but joked that he'd put out 20 versions of "The Idiot Bastard Son" if I could provide them. So I decided to call his bluff and rounded up some of my musical buddies. In short, I got him his 20 renditions and he put them out in 2008.

One of the contributors to that album suggested a follow up: 21 Burnt Weeny Sandwiches - the idea being to get artists to condense the whole of the Burnt Weeny Sandwich album into a five minute piece. I managed to pull that one off too and Cordelia duly obliged by releasing it in 2010.

The final album that we're currently working on will feature some of the cover tunes that Frank performed on the Broadway tour - the twist being that they're to sound like they're actually Zappa compositions. A number of the same artists are again involved and already, it's sounding great.


Discuss your Zappa website.

Ever since 1988, I'd been writing for various Zappa fanzines, most notably T'Mershi Duween. After Frank's passing, production of that slowed down but I continued to find that I had news and more to report. In 2000, I bought my first computer and decided to takes its bastard offspring online. Twelve years and nearly 300,000 hits later, www.idiotbastard.com is still going strong. Essentially, it's a news site but it does contain all of my interviews with various Zappa alumni and reviews of FZ and related products. Really, it's just an excuse to blag free CDs and befriend musicians that I admire.


Do you have plans for any more books?

Yes, I do. Aside from publication of the aforementioned autobiography that I helped ghost write (which may or may not be called Onside - The True Story Of Football’s Mr Fix-It by Anton Johnson), a couple of possible collaborations on books exploring particular aspects of FZ have been discussed (I don’t see any point in another full biography, especially as Gail now has Mr. Clayson on the case).

I have also started on a novel about a session man but I'm not sure if anyone would want to publish that, so it's taking a bit of a backseat as I now work on a second book for Wymer. They plan to publish a series of step-by-step guides to the official recordings of a number of artists. They've initially asked me to cover my first love, The Beatles. A well trodden path, I know, but I’ll strive to give it a little twist. The series is supposed to be a beginner’s guide that will eventually include Zappa The Easy Way!

As you well know by now, I am quite a big fan of the ZappaCast podcast (my favourite podcast) that you co-host with your fellow Zappa freaks Scott Parker and Andrew Greenaway. What were the circumstances that led you to become a part of it?

I got in touch with Andrew when he posted an item about my book on his Idiot Bastard website (almost before I’d told anyone about the project – that man has his ears to the ground!). I listened to the first ZappaCast episode and spoke to Scott via Facebook. Next thing I knew, I’d been invited to contribute a Zappa’s Gear spot. Shortly afterwards, I discovered that Andrew lives just 13 miles away from me, so we are both in the heart of the Thames delta in England. What are the chances of that? Scott and Andrew have both been incredibly supportive and helpful regarding the Zappa's Gear book. I'm very glad to be part of the team.


You've conducted painstakingly detailed research on Frank Zappa's guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals and other assorted studio equipment and, in addition to discussing it on the ZappaCast, you've posted it on your Zappa's Gear website. Discuss that.

Although I initially set up the site mainly to act as a promotional focus for the book, it soon became clear that some people would be interested in detailed technical information, photographs and interviews that would not fit into the book. As and when time permits, I’ll be posting more supplementary material of this type. I’m hoping that when the book is published, the website will continue as a repository for corrections and additional content as it comes to light.


What is it about Zappa's gear that made you decide to devote so much time and energy to research it and so thoroughly?

Frank Zappa was an unremitting innovator and experimenter, always looking at ways to exploit the latest advances in musical equipment. His working life coincided with the explosion in the development of music technology, which started in the 1960s and continued throughout the following three decades. Consequently, he ended up using a unique and fascinating range of guitars and other devices, many of which he had specially modified and customised (or "tweezed", as he put it) and often used in ways for which they hadn’t been designed. Although numerous books have been produced on the history of electric guitars and amplifiers, much of the gear that Frank Zappa used has received scant coverage. As a musician, self-confessed equipment geek and life-long Zappa fan, these were things that I wanted to know more about. In the end, the only solution was to write the book myself.


What is the current status of the Zappa's Gear book that you are working on?

The bulk of the research has been completed and much of the final text has been written. I expect the book to be published in August.


I know that Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust literally and figuratively lord over Frank's legacy with an iron hand (for lack of better words). With regard to your Zappa's Gear website, how much of a challenge has that posed for you?

I knew that I would have to work with the ZFT for the Zappa’s Gear project to succeed. I first met Gail at the 2010 Roundhouse event in London, told her of my idea for the book and to my delight, her immediate reaction was "What a great idea!". I quickly sent Gail a couple of sample chapters and an outline of the book and she gave her support and approval for the book. I’ve just returned from Los Angeles where I was allowed to visit the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen and photograph FZ’s guitars and amps. Gail and her staff could not have been more helpful. I’ve always been careful to avoid any misuse of ZFT copyrighted material and am as committed as Gail that the final result will be worthy of the subject matter. So far, we have not hit any problems.


What are some of your favourite Zappa albums and/or songs and why?

That’s a hard question for someone who considers Frank’s best period was from the 1960s to the early 1990s. I’ll pick just two albums and two songs.

Roxy and Elsewhere – my favourite Zappa band in top form. For me, this is the perfect combination of humour, great tunes and astonishing musicianship. My jaw still drops whenever I listen to "Echidna’s Arf" and "Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing".

Lumpy Money - the best ZFT reissue, in my opinion. Worth it for the original version of Lumpy Gravy alone but filled with riches from two of Frank Zappa’s masterworks.

"You Are What You Is" - I just love this song, it always makes me happy. Ray White’s finest hour. And, to complement it, "Outside Now" (from Joe's Garage) - the electric sitar intro always gives me goose bumps. A heartbreakingly beautiful tune and Ike Willis’s finest hour.


Do you have a preference as far as what format that you most prefer to listen to Zappa's music? If so, what format and why?

I prefer vinyl but to be honest, I can hear little difference when listening to the CD version of an album as long as it has not been remixed or otherwise messed around with. I tend to notice more detail in my vinyl recordings but possibly only because I have a better
turntable than CD player. A decent hi-fi system with a pair of good quality speakers that are large enough to let you feel the kick of the bass drum is most important.

As you well know by now, I am quite a big fan of the ZappaCast podcast (my favourite podcast) that you co-host with your fellow Zappa freaks Scott Parker and Andrew Greenaway. What were the circumstances that led you to become a part of it?

I got in touch with Andrew when he posted an item about my book on his Idiot Bastard website (almost before I’d told anyone about the project – that man has his ears to the ground!). I listened to the first ZappaCast episode and spoke to Scott via Facebook. Next thing I knew, I’d been invited to contribute a Zappa’s Gear spot. Shortly afterwards, I discovered that Andrew lives just 13 miles away from me, so we are both in the heart of the Thames delta in England. What are the chances of that? Scott and Andrew have both been incredibly supportive and helpful regarding the Zappa's Gear book. I'm very glad to be part of the team.


You've conducted painstakingly detailed research on Frank Zappa's guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals and other assorted studio equipment and, in addition to discussing it on the ZappaCast, you've posted it on your Zappa's Gear website. Discuss that.

Although I initially set up the site mainly to act as a promotional focus for the book, it soon became clear that some people would be interested in detailed technical information, photographs and interviews that would not fit into the book. As and when time permits, I’ll be posting more supplementary material of this type. I’m hoping that when the book is published, the website will continue as a repository for corrections and additional content as it comes to light.


What is it about Zappa's gear that made you decide to devote so much time and energy to research it and so thoroughly?

Frank Zappa was an unremitting innovator and experimenter, always looking at ways to exploit the latest advances in musical equipment. His working life coincided with the explosion in the development of music technology, which started in the 1960s and continued throughout the following three decades. Consequently, he ended up using a unique and fascinating range of guitars and other devices, many of which he had specially modified and customised (or "tweezed", as he put it) and often used in ways for which they hadn’t been designed. Although numerous books have been produced on the history of electric guitars and amplifiers, much of the gear that Frank Zappa used has received scant coverage. As a musician, self-confessed equipment geek and life-long Zappa fan, these were things that I wanted to know more about. In the end, the only solution was to write the book myself.


What is the current status of the Zappa's Gear book that you are working on?

The bulk of the research has been completed and much of the final text has been written. I expect the book to be published in August.


I know that Gail Zappa and the Zappa Family Trust literally and figuratively lord over Frank's legacy with an iron hand (for lack of better words). With regard to your Zappa's Gear website, how much of a challenge has that posed for you?

I knew that I would have to work with the ZFT for the Zappa’s Gear project to succeed. I first met Gail at the 2010 Roundhouse event in London, told her of my idea for the book and to my delight, her immediate reaction was "What a great idea!". I quickly sent Gail a couple of sample chapters and an outline of the book and she gave her support and approval for the book. I’ve just returned from Los Angeles where I was allowed to visit the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen and photograph FZ’s guitars and amps. Gail and her staff could not have been more helpful. I’ve always been careful to avoid any misuse of ZFT copyrighted material and am as committed as Gail that the final result will be worthy of the subject matter. So far, we have not hit any problems.


What are some of your favourite Zappa albums and/or songs and why?

That’s a hard question for someone who considers Frank’s best period was from the 1960s to the early 1990s. I’ll pick just two albums and two songs.

Roxy and Elsewhere – my favourite Zappa band in top form. For me, this is the perfect combination of humour, great tunes and astonishing musicianship. My jaw still drops whenever I listen to "Echidna’s Arf" and "Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing".

Lumpy Money - the best ZFT reissue, in my opinion. Worth it for the original version of Lumpy Gravy alone but filled with riches from two of Frank Zappa’s masterworks.

"You Are What You Is" - I just love this song, it always makes me happy. Ray White’s finest hour. And, to complement it, "Outside Now" (from Joe's Garage) - the electric sitar intro always gives me goose bumps. A heartbreakingly beautiful tune and Ike Willis’s finest hour.


Do you have a preference as far as what format that you most prefer to listen to Zappa's music? If so, what format and why?

I prefer vinyl but to be honest, I can hear little difference when listening to the CD version of an album as long as it has not been remixed or otherwise messed around with. I tend to notice more detail in my vinyl recordings but possibly only because I have a better
turntable than CD player. A decent hi-fi system with a pair of good quality speakers that are large enough to let you feel the kick of the bass drum is most important.

How old were you when you got into music and why?

I remember music as early as my earliest thoughts. Between the ages of 2 and 3, I remember my parents playing country records by Alabama, Kenny Rogers and The Oak Ridge Boys. A couple of years after that, I started moving the radio dial on my own and found the rock stations. The first songs I can remember that were big for me were things like "Jump" by Van Halen, "Mr. Roboto" by Styx, "Down Under" by Men At Work, "Cum On Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot and most anything else that charted between '83 and '85. I used to put on lip sync shows in my family's garage on random Saturday nights and people would actually show up! Very shortly after that, I made friends with my next door neighbor, Sean. He was almost 10 years older than me but he treated me like his own little brother and he became my music mentor. It was because of Sean that I got into Prince, KISS, Ozzy and The Ramones, just to name a few.

Why did I get into music so much? I'm not entirely sure. I know that I was into the other things that the normal kids were into like Hot Wheels, Star Wars, He-Man, etc. but at the same time, my favorite toys growing up were my Fisher Price tape recorder and record player. I watched a lot of cartoons, yet my favorite TV shows were The Muppet Show, Solid Gold and Radio 1990. It's not like my parents or sister pushed me in a musical direction, I just gravitated towards it and it has been with me ever since.


What were the first bands/artists that you really liked and why?

My first favorites by a mile were Prince and Van Halen. The big singles from the 1999 album were still huge but then Purple Rain came out and I made my mom buy me not only a copy of that album but all of the 45s that were put out in conjunction with it because they had B-sides that weren't on the album. That same year, you got Van Halen riding high with the 1984 album and for my money, it's still one of the greatest albums of all time. I suppose I had it in my mind at an early age that I was going to play guitar and what better heroes to have than Eddie Van Halen and Prince? I also responded a lot to David Lee Roth's showmanship and colorful personality as well. I took his side in the split up.


One of the many things that I really like about your Rock Strikes Ten podcast is the fact that you play so many different genres of music on it. What sort of criteria do you use when deciding what bands/artists to play on Rock Strikes Ten?

Thank you very much for the compliment. Well, first and foremost, it has to fit the theme for the week, which is either chosen by me or by one of the listeners. After that, it boils down to my favorite songs or acts that tie into said theme. I would like to think that every single show is a completely different experience than the previous one, even if I play a band that you are super familiar with or a band that I played on a previous episode. For instance, I did this all metal episode a couple of months ago and one of the 10 songs that I played on that show was something off of the new Anthrax album. Fast forward to a few weeks after that and I am recapping my favorite albums of 2011 and I play yet another song off of the new Anthrax album. On this episode though, instead of 9 other metal bands, you heard songs by
the Beach Boys, Tom Waits and The Beastie Boys. Variety is key in being a long time music fan. Sooner or later, too much of the same thing will cause burnout, so you've got to mix it up. I credit my friend Logan (who was on my metal show a couple of months ago) with opening my mind up a lot more musically. He was my boss when I first started working at the old record store and he got me into Waits, ABBA, Nation Of Ulysses, Helmet and countless others, including some really good jazz.


Are any of the songs that you've played on Rock Strikes Ten sourced from vinyl or cassette as opposed to CD or mp3? If so, what song(s) and why?

So far, I have used a few tracks here and there that I have converted from vinyl. I'm sure that something from all of my cassettes will make it's way in eventually. 99% of the tracks that I use for the show are from CDs because I still buy physical CDs (I worked in a record store for 7 years!), so I damn sure better use 'em. I only download off of iTunes if it's absolutely necessary.


Do you have a preferred format for listening to music? If so, what format do you most prefer? If not, why not?

Currently, it is a 3-way tie between podcasts, the iPod and Sirius/XM satellite radio. I am constantly juggling those as my musical sources and it really does feel like information overload at times because I want to listen to everything! It's like Diamond Dave once said, "Not enough hours in the day. Give me a 72 hour day and we'll play catch-up".


Discuss your radio and broadcasting experience.

CNJ Radio is my first radio venture. I regret not going to broadcasting school. I do have a degree in record production and engineering though and I am using the experience that I gained from that when it comes to my show but I do wish that I could do more with it. Unfortunately, big studios have died off a lot in the last decade so there aren't as many opportunities to do it full time anymore.


You've mentioned on a few different episodes of Rock Strikes Ten that you used to work at a record store. Discuss that.

There was a CD Warehouse that had opened up in the area and I was one of their regulars. I probably went there at least 3-4 times a week. It had been open for 6 months and I was burnt out on my current job doing gopher work, so I point blank asked them for a job in front of the manager and district manager and was hired on the spot. Those were the days when you were only filling out your employment application on your first day on the job as a formality.

It was such a great time in my life selling music to the people. I learned so much working there and I made so many great friends that I still have today. It's funny because I have never, EVER been the most popular guy in the room but that job taught me how to come out of my shell and it helped me to learn not only how to talk to girls but people in general (learning how to talk to girls is very important though). All kidding aside, I first met the lady in my life because of that job and that one thing makes the entire experience absolutely worth it. It's just such a damn shame that good record stores are so few and far between now. People like to blame the internet for the demise but they only get partial credit. The greedy record labels get the other fifty percent.


You're an oddity (in a very good way, I might add) in the rock music world in that you're Straight Edge (doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't take drugs). How has being Straight Edge and being a part of the rock music world been for you?

Well, the soda tap is never out at the bar, that's for sure (haha... JOKES!). But anyway, I look at it as an advantage. I always remember the concert experience the day after and I always drive the car home, which is fine by me. I prefer being at the wheel and in control all of the time both literally and figuratively. Some advice for the guys that are out at the shows for the girls - drunk girls WILL sleep with sober guys. Now I have just saved you a lot of time on the chase plus your bar tab for the night. Go forth!


Are you a fan of any Straight Edge bands/artists? If so, what bands/artists?

For sure. The ones that have always been "out" such as Frank Zappa, Gene Simmons and Henry Rollins to name a few. Of course there is Minor Threat, who recorded the anthem "Straight Edge". More often than not, I prefer the bands that mention it outside of their music and who aren't overtly preachy about it. Same goes for politics. I take extra inspiration from Gene Simmons because he is proof that you can still be a super cool rock star and not be a cliche rock & roll parody of a junkie. You know, I'm sure that there are more Straight Edge musicians and singers out there. I just think that they are mostly closeted, which is sad.


How do you feel about older Straight Edge bands reuniting whose core members (particularly the singers) are no longer Straight Edge?

I would say that if their band was based solely on their personal convictions, then it is a farce or a money grab. I will also say that any band that can still pull off a show wasted or sober has the right but sober will keep you consistent. It's only the 1%, like Keith Richards and Lemmy, that have managed to have longevity despite shaky health choices.


Feel free to discuss anything here that hasn't already been mentioned above.

I am just excited about the future of http://www.cnjradio.com because Rock Strikes Ten is only the beginning. We are going to be adding more and more content of all things entertainment. I'm thrilled to say that the original C'n'J program, the Wrestling House Show, is also coming back full time sooner than later and there are two brand new but completely different types of music shows launching this year, so stay tuned. My best friend and broadcast partner Chris deserves an extreme portion of my thanks because he helped me get this thing off the ground and he keeps it from falling into the internet abyss. Lastly, I would just like to say thank you Andrew for the opportunity to promote http://www.cnjradio.com to your readers. Easily the best thing about doing Rock Strikes Ten is the interaction that I have had with the listeners. You are all friends of mine and I appreciate each and every one of you. ROCK N ROLL!

How old were you when you got into music and why?

I remember music as early as my earliest thoughts. Between the ages of 2 and 3, I remember my parents playing country records by Alabama, Kenny Rogers and The Oak Ridge Boys. A couple of years after that, I started moving the radio dial on my own and found the rock stations. The first songs I can remember that were big for me were things like "Jump" by Van Halen, "Mr. Roboto" by Styx, "Down Under" by Men At Work, "Cum On Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot and most anything else that charted between '83 and '85. I used to put on lip sync shows in my family's garage on random Saturday nights and people would actually show up! Very shortly after that, I made friends with my next door neighbor, Sean. He was almost 10 years older than me but he treated me like his own little brother and he became my music mentor. It was because of Sean that I got into Prince, KISS, Ozzy and The Ramones, just to name a few.

Why did I get into music so much? I'm not entirely sure. I know that I was into the other things that the normal kids were into like Hot Wheels, Star Wars, He-Man, etc. but at the same time, my favorite toys growing up were my Fisher Price tape recorder and record player. I watched a lot of cartoons, yet my favorite TV shows were The Muppet Show, Solid Gold and Radio 1990. It's not like my parents or sister pushed me in a musical direction, I just gravitated towards it and it has been with me ever since.


What were the first bands/artists that you really liked and why?

My first favorites by a mile were Prince and Van Halen. The big singles from the 1999 album were still huge but then Purple Rain came out and I made my mom buy me not only a copy of that album but all of the 45s that were put out in conjunction with it because they had B-sides that weren't on the album. That same year, you got Van Halen riding high with the 1984 album and for my money, it's still one of the greatest albums of all time. I suppose I had it in my mind at an early age that I was going to play guitar and what better heroes to have than Eddie Van Halen and Prince? I also responded a lot to David Lee Roth's showmanship and colorful personality as well. I took his side in the split up.


One of the many things that I really like about your Rock Strikes Ten podcast is the fact that you play so many different genres of music on it. What sort of criteria do you use when deciding what bands/artists to play on Rock Strikes Ten?

Thank you very much for the compliment. Well, first and foremost, it has to fit the theme for the week, which is either chosen by me or by one of the listeners. After that, it boils down to my favorite songs or acts that tie into said theme. I would like to think that every single show is a completely different experience than the previous one, even if I play a band that you are super familiar with or a band that I played on a previous episode. For instance, I did this all metal episode a couple of months ago and one of the 10 songs that I played on that show was something off of the new Anthrax album. Fast forward to a few weeks after that and I am recapping my favorite albums of 2011 and I play yet another song off of the new Anthrax album. On this episode though, instead of 9 other metal bands, you heard songs by
the Beach Boys, Tom Waits and The Beastie Boys. Variety is key in being a long time music fan. Sooner or later, too much of the same thing will cause burnout, so you've got to mix it up. I credit my friend Logan (who was on my metal show a couple of months ago) with opening my mind up a lot more musically. He was my boss when I first started working at the old record store and he got me into Waits, ABBA, Nation Of Ulysses, Helmet and countless others, including some really good jazz.


Are any of the songs that you've played on Rock Strikes Ten sourced from vinyl or cassette as opposed to CD or mp3? If so, what song(s) and why?

So far, I have used a few tracks here and there that I have converted from vinyl. I'm sure that something from all of my cassettes will make it's way in eventually. 99% of the tracks that I use for the show are from CDs because I still buy physical CDs (I worked in a record store for 7 years!), so I damn sure better use 'em. I only download off of iTunes if it's absolutely necessary.


Do you have a preferred format for listening to music? If so, what format do you most prefer? If not, why not?

Currently, it is a 3-way tie between podcasts, the iPod and Sirius/XM satellite radio. I am constantly juggling those as my musical sources and it really does feel like information overload at times because I want to listen to everything! It's like Diamond Dave once said, "Not enough hours in the day. Give me a 72 hour day and we'll play catch-up".


Discuss your radio and broadcasting experience.

CNJ Radio is my first radio venture. I regret not going to broadcasting school. I do have a degree in record production and engineering though and I am using the experience that I gained from that when it comes to my show but I do wish that I could do more with it. Unfortunately, big studios have died off a lot in the last decade so there aren't as many opportunities to do it full time anymore.


You've mentioned on a few different episodes of Rock Strikes Ten that you used to work at a record store. Discuss that.

There was a CD Warehouse that had opened up in the area and I was one of their regulars. I probably went there at least 3-4 times a week. It had been open for 6 months and I was burnt out on my current job doing gopher work, so I point blank asked them for a job in front of the manager and district manager and was hired on the spot. Those were the days when you were only filling out your employment application on your first day on the job as a formality.

It was such a great time in my life selling music to the people. I learned so much working there and I made so many great friends that I still have today. It's funny because I have never, EVER been the most popular guy in the room but that job taught me how to come out of my shell and it helped me to learn not only how to talk to girls but people in general (learning how to talk to girls is very important though). All kidding aside, I first met the lady in my life because of that job and that one thing makes the entire experience absolutely worth it. It's just such a damn shame that good record stores are so few and far between now. People like to blame the internet for the demise but they only get partial credit. The greedy record labels get the other fifty percent.


You're an oddity (in a very good way, I might add) in the rock music world in that you're Straight Edge (doesn't drink alcohol and doesn't take drugs). How has being Straight Edge and being a part of the rock music world been for you?

Well, the soda tap is never out at the bar, that's for sure (haha... JOKES!). But anyway, I look at it as an advantage. I always remember the concert experience the day after and I always drive the car home, which is fine by me. I prefer being at the wheel and in control all of the time both literally and figuratively. Some advice for the guys that are out at the shows for the girls - drunk girls WILL sleep with sober guys. Now I have just saved you a lot of time on the chase plus your bar tab for the night. Go forth!


Are you a fan of any Straight Edge bands/artists? If so, what bands/artists?

For sure. The ones that have always been "out" such as Frank Zappa, Gene Simmons and Henry Rollins to name a few. Of course there is Minor Threat, who recorded the anthem "Straight Edge". More often than not, I prefer the bands that mention it outside of their music and who aren't overtly preachy about it. Same goes for politics. I take extra inspiration from Gene Simmons because he is proof that you can still be a super cool rock star and not be a cliche rock & roll parody of a junkie. You know, I'm sure that there are more Straight Edge musicians and singers out there. I just think that they are mostly closeted, which is sad.


How do you feel about older Straight Edge bands reuniting whose core members (particularly the singers) are no longer Straight Edge?

I would say that if their band was based solely on their personal convictions, then it is a farce or a money grab. I will also say that any band that can still pull off a show wasted or sober has the right but sober will keep you consistent. It's only the 1%, like Keith Richards and Lemmy, that have managed to have longevity despite shaky health choices.


Feel free to discuss anything here that hasn't already been mentioned above.

I am just excited about the future of http://www.cnjradio.com because Rock Strikes Ten is only the beginning. We are going to be adding more and more content of all things entertainment. I'm thrilled to say that the original C'n'J program, the Wrestling House Show, is also coming back full time sooner than later and there are two brand new but completely different types of music shows launching this year, so stay tuned. My best friend and broadcast partner Chris deserves an extreme portion of my thanks because he helped me get this thing off the ground and he keeps it from falling into the internet abyss. Lastly, I would just like to say thank you Andrew for the opportunity to promote http://www.cnjradio.com to your readers. Easily the best thing about doing Rock Strikes Ten is the interaction that I have had with the listeners. You are all friends of mine and I appreciate each and every one of you. ROCK N ROLL!