Best EFFing Thoughts Podcasts (2025)

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Quick Taps - Paul McCartney | Penny Lane For Your Thoughts 12:04

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25d ago12:04

12:04

Enjoy an entire Quick Tap dedicated to the guy who wrote “Good Day Sunshine” because, well, it sounds like he spreads that wherever he goes - Beatles bassist Paul McCartney. Yes, that same Macca who is making a much talked about cameo appearance in the feature film, Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues - coming out on September 12th!!! You'll hear from …

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Actor Ed Begley Jr. - Surviving a Bizarre Gardening Accident 44:56

9d ago44:56

44:56

Just in time for Spinal Tap 2: Ed Begley Jr. is our very first TMEP Show guest who actually appeared in "This Is Spinal Tap." In Ed's memorable scene, he shows up as Spinal Tap's original drummer John “Stumpy" Pepys looking like Buddy Holly behind the kit -- instant classic. Begley tells us about the time Harry Nilsson surprised him with a dinner i…

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VIP Allen Sees Spinal Tap At Jimmy Kimmel Live 16:46

17d ago16:46

16:46

This week the feature film, Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues, premieres in theaters across the USA starting on Friday, September 12. To mark the occasion, Allen and Alex give some inside scoops about Spinal Tap’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live which VIP Allen got to attend in person. Tap on IG: @spinaltap Find everything Spinal Tap here: https://sp…

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Aussie Musician Ben Lee - Down Underdog 48:18

1M ago48:18

48:18

Ben tells us about living the rock star life whilst traveling around Japan with Sean Lennon, Sophia Coppola, Spike Jones, and the Beastie Boys; how magic timing led to being offered the headline slot at Coachella with Ben Folds and Ben Kweller only to have one of his bandmates turn it down; and how his song “We’re All In This Together” became the t…

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Mercury Rev’s Grasshopper - Too Effing Loud for Lollapalooza 43:43

2M ago43:43

43:43

Multi-instrumentalist Grasshopper revs up some stories about working with The Band legendarians Garth Hudson and Levon Helm; how Mercury Rev was once booted off stage by the mayor of Denver for being too loud; and the time he lunched with psychedelic drug evangelist Dr. Timothy Leary. Find Mercury Rev tour dates and music: https://www.mercuryrev.co…

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Kills Birds Nina Ljeti - Winging It 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

Singer Nina Ljeti, from L.A.’s power quadrophonic band Kills Birds, tweets about the time a producer responded to his unrequited love for her by erasing the band’s entire album; what Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon said about their song “Worthy Girl”; and opening for the Foo Fighters at what would be Taylor Hawkins’ final show with the band. In this short…

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Comedian JL Cauvin - Spinal Trump Moments 24:40

2M ago24:40

24:40

Top Trump impersonator JL Cauvin spills the Goya beans on why the President is trodding on the Constitution like a Druid stomping on a tiny Stonehenge. Find out who would play what instrument in Prssident Trump's private White House rock band; how he’s taking America to 1.1, um, we mean 11; and which musicians would be inducted into the MAGA rock ’…

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Margaret Cho - Testing Limits, Stereotypes, and Sex Toys 56:01

3M ago56:01

56:01

The Notorious C.H.O. tells us how ABC TV hired a consultant to teach her to be *more Asian* for her 1994 sitcom All-American Girl; about winning a contest to open for Jerry Seinfeld when she was fifteen; and the rankings of her top three favorite sex toys. Margaret's new music album, Lucky Gift, is out now. Find Lucky Gift tracks and lyric videos: …

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Tap Into Summer - Fired-Up for Spinal Tap 2! 7:43

3M ago7:43

7:43

We're excited, you're excited, everyone is excited about the long-awaited release of the Spinal Tap 2 feature film on September 12, 2025. So let's tap into summer and go to 11 as we get fired-up for the cinematic event of the year! Hear how you can join us, the TMEP Show crew, to participate in the fun AND get insider info on our upcoming episodes …

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The Police's Stewart Copeland - Stalker Anthems + Temper Tantrums 59:20

4M ago59:20

59:20

Late May and early June 1983 is when The Police's defining song "Every Breath You Take" was released and promptly steamrolled its way to #1 in the UK (hitting the top spot on June 5th) before conquering America a month later. While Sting's creepy-but-catchy ode to obsessive surveillance was busy becoming the band's biggest hit and the year's most-p…

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Julie Bowen - Gettin' Down On Jim Morrison's Grave 48:56

4M ago48:56

48:56

The 49th anniversary of Jim Morrison and the Doors taking the stage for the first time as the house band at LA's legendary Whisky a Go Go is May 23, 2025. Just over a year later their song Light My Fire would go to #1 on the Billboard charts. But none of that compares to the release An American Werewolf in Paris -- a film in which future Modern Fam…

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Devo's Jerry Casale - Whip It...Good 52:46

5M ago52:46

52:46

Peace and reconcilation are possible. Devo's Gerald "Jerry" Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh being together on the road for their "50 Years of De-Evolution... Continued!" tour is evidence that warring parties can not only put down their arms, they can pick up their instruments and make the music that we all need right now. Find a Devo Summer 2025 tour …

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OK Go's Dan Konopka - The Danimal Abides 1:04:52

5M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

OK Go's new album, "And the Adjacent Possible," delivers a full-on OKGo-ian video for the song Love that rivals the legendary videos that put them on the map including A Million Ways, The One Moment, Upside Down & Inside Out and, of course, the GOAT - treadmill extravaganza Here It Goes Again. Not to be outdone, the TMEP Show has its own VIDEO feat…

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Violent Femmes Brian Ritchie - Just Keep Going 1:01:45

6M ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Among auspicious April events in rock 'n' roll history, April 13, 1983, is the date that Violent Femmes released their beloved, eponymous first album and gifted the world with Blister in the Sun, Add It Up, Gone Daddy Gone, and other instant classics. The album has ascended to the status of "generational hand-me-down" according to Violent Femmes fo…

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Amy Brenneman - Clothing Optional 52:58

6M ago52:58

52:58

People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith is taking over Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Luminaries including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Stipe, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten, Ben Harper, Kim Gordon, Flea, The National's Matt Berninger, Susanna Hoffs, Chrissie Hynde, and many others are participating in the festivities. ht…

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Fred Armisen - Ian Rubbish Beats Up The Californians 45:38

7M ago45:38

45:38

With the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary still freshly in the rearview, we're revisiting our conversation with the OG Californian himself, Fred Armisen. Also, Fred's heading out for a Spring '25 tour - info on his IG @sordociego. See our VIDEO where Fred unpacks the non-endearing quality of stars getting fussy over food in the dressing room. W…

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Butch Vig - Life Between Nirvana and Garbage 51:22

7M ago51:22

51:22

In recognition of Kurt Cobain's February birthday (he would have been 58 on 2/20/25), and 30 years since the release of Garbage's first album with the hits songs Stupid Girl and Only Happy When It Rains, we're bringing back our epic conversation with fellow Packers fan Butch Vig. Catch the VIDEO with Butch recalling a raucous night at the Hollywood…

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HOPSCOTCH TOWN - Song For Those Who Are Hoppin' Mad 10:59

8M ago10:59

10:59

Allen and his band, Happiless, put out a song — Hopscotch Town — way back in 2014 that sounds pretty prescient today. It's about a place where the people in charge convince the people they rule that economic prosperity trumps individual freedom. Sound familiar? And when will those egg prices come down, anyhow? Hopscotch Town is a catchy piece of po…

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The Replacements Tommy Stinson - Getting stupid (and clever) with Axl Rose, Gene Simmons, Tom Petty and...of course...Paul Westerberg 32:53

8M ago32:53

32:53

Before January wraps, let's celebrate that 39 years ago this month on January 18, 1986, the Replacements got banned for life from SNL. In the middle of playing "Bastards of Young" on live TV, singer Paul Westerberg yelled to guitarist Bob Stinson, "Come on, F*cker!" during this guitar solo. In a combo platter of VIDEO and audio featuring one of our…

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Dandy Warhols Zia McCabe: Sex, Drugs, and Motherhood on the Road 1:02:05

9M ago1:02:05

1:02:05

The TMEP Showoffs are getting into show business, and especially the motion picture business, by finally posting VIDEOS featuring some of our favorite guests. Feel the tug at your heartstrings as Zia McCabe from the Dandy Warhols shares the story of her emotional encounter with personal hero Willie Nelson at the Glastonbury Festival. WATCH HERE: ht…

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Putting the Year in the Rear 13:05

9M ago13:05

13:05

On the year-ending TMEP Show wrap up, Allen reveals the startling results of his 2024 Apple Music Replay and Alex reveals the show’s secret plan for world domination for 2025. Find Graham Parson's Squeezing Out Sparks album: https://www.grahamparker.net/Squeezing_Out_Sparks.html -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid…

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Fake Plastic Christmas Trees - Radiohead & Sleater-Kinney 16:20

9M ago16:20

16:20

In this holiday episode, our friend Corin Tucker from Sleater-Kinney tells about the time she and bandmates Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss reluctantly abandoned their punk instincts and wrapped "gifts" for an uncomfortably phony photo shoot. Then host Alex Hofmann returns to a Christmas past when Radiohead flew him to their post-Pablo Honey holi…

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Christmas Special 2024: with Jenn Ashworth and Andrew Michael Hurley 1:53:48

9M ago1:53:48

1:53:48

In the second of our 2024 Christmas Specials - join me, Adam Z. Robinson, and my guests Jenn Ashworth (author of Ghosted, A Kind of Intimacy and Fell) and Andrew Michael Hurley (author of The Loney, Starve Acre and Barrowbeck). We discussed three ghost stories for Christmas: Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper The Glamour of the Snow by…

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I Love My Baby, and…My Holidays Aren’t so Holly Jolly 41:56

9M ago41:56

41:56

Send us a text Ok we’ll ask it: can’t we figure out a way to collectively make this time of year less stressful?! The holidays come with a lot of very heavy baggage, mostly revolving around navigating other people’s feelings. And if there’s one thing moms are great at, it’s putting the needs of others first! Let’s explore that, shall we? This week,…

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Christmas Special 2024: with Mike Muncer - 'The Signalman' (1976) and 'A View From a Hill' (2005) 1:44:46

9M ago1:44:46

1:44:46

In the first of our 2024 Christmas Specials - join me, Adam Z. Robinson, and my guest, Mike Muncer in this episode (recorded live on Zoom on 11 December 2024) as we discuss two classic BBC Ghost Story for Christmas films, 'The Signalman' (1976) and 'A View From a Hill' (2005). Mike Muncer is the host and creator of The Evolution of Horror, a weekly…

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Quick Taps - You Con-Duit! 10:10

9M ago10:10

10:10

If you know the movie “This Is Spinal Tap,” you will certainly recall the moment Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls describes himself as the band conduit, "David and Nigel are like poets, you know, like Shelley or Byron, or people like that. The two totally distinct types of visionaries, it’s like fire and ice, and I feel my role in the band is to be …

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HIT SINGLE - Tokyo Police Club's Graham Wright 9:04

10M ago9:04

9:04

As Tokyo Police Club winds up their illustrious recording and live-concert career, Graham reminisces about the cursed tour van they bought in America that they couldn’t get across the Canadian border. Find 'em on IG: @wearetokyopoliceclub -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid.com/vip/tmep*** Get your original songs …

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Quick Taps - I Hope We Passed The Audition 10:34

10M ago10:34

10:34

Some auditions are really ODDitions in disguise. On this TMEP Show Quick Tap, Divine Sweater lead singer Meghan Kelleher reveals how a one-off emergency gig led to a permanent one; 86-year-old TikTok influencer Annie Korzen tells us why she said "Yes" to a role on a little-known show about nothing...and banked $100,000 in residuals; and actor/comed…

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The Clash Meets 311 - A Public Service Announcement With Guitars 45:22

10M ago45:22

45:22

One of our favorite guests, 311’s Nick Hexum, returns to talk turkey with your favorite host, Allen, about their favorite band, The Clash, and Joe Strummer’s favorite movie, This Is Spinal Tap. It’s a special Thanksgiving episode of the TMEP Show that will be one of your favorites, as well. You can bet your giblets on it. 311 and Nick on IG: @311 a…

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HIT SINGLE - Moon Kissed Eli Scarpati 9:45

10M ago9:45

9:45

Eli tells us about the time his band Moon Kissed was on its way to a big gig at SXSW in Austin, Texas when the COVID shut down blew out the conference and threatened to do the same to NYC as they rushed to get home. Find 'em on IG: @moonkissedmusic -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid.com/vip/tmep*** Get your origi…

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Quick Taps - Sexy or Sexist 8:04

11M ago8:04

8:04

On today’s TMEP Show Quick Tap (short episodes with short stories for short attention spans) we hear stories from artists who just so happen to be female, about moments dealing with a-holes who just so happen to be male. Tyler Simone Molton from the band Lesibu Grand dishes on how often sound men ask her male bandmates how she likes her vocals...in…

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Kamala's FORWARD Artist Shepard Fairey 50:34

11M ago50:34

50:34

On Election Day, we go two steps FORWARD by taking one small step back to our 2022 conversation with artist/activist Shepard Fairey who designed both the iconic Obama “Hope” poster and Kamala Harris’ “Forward” poster. Shepard gets Frank with us about why he almost added an asterisk to an Ozzy Osbourne tour poster; the outrage he felt as a boy when …

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I Love My Baby, and...Where'd My Sexuality Go? 42:59

11M ago42:59

42:59

Send us a text Picture this: you grew up in a home that didn’t shame sexuality. You became an adult feeling confident in your sexuality and valued that in your partner. Now, you’re a parent. Your house feels like a nest of chaos + love, largely devoted to all your kids’ things because they’ve taken over (what feels like) every square inch of your s…

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Quick Taps - Star Effers 9:53

11M ago9:53

9:53

Our guests regale us with Spinal Tap Moments when they experienced the famous at their most shameless. Peter Jest, owner of the legendary Milwaukee club Shank Hall (sound familiar?) tells us about his run-ins with notorious partiers Warren Zevon and Sam Kinnison; The Pulsars Dave Trumfio dodges balls from Oasis front man Liam Gallagher; and author/…

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The Bangles Vicki Peterson - Vicki-Pedia 51:08

11M ago51:08

51:08

Vicki bangs out some manic Spinal Tap Moments like the time the Bangles had an uncomfortable listening party with Prince at two in the morning; when she brought a big old tape recorder to the group’s first meeting with legendary manager Miles Copeland; and chatting with the late great Jeff Beck about Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel’s copycat hair…

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Let's Ask a Dad! (ft. Ruby’s husband, Jon) 41:45

12M ago41:45

41:45

Send us a text The conversations we have around here - in the therapy room, with our friends, or in our DMs - often end with “ok but how do I say this to my partner?” So I Love My Baby, and…is going to look a little different this week! We asked Ruby’s husband, Jon, to join her and answer some of these musings from a dad’s perspective. This week, J…

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HIT SINGLE - The Comateens Nick West 7:40

12M ago7:40

7:40

Nick tells us about getting head at CBGBs. Actually, he gets Talking Heads when David Byrne gives out what may have been his very first autograph. -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid.com/vip/tmep*** Get your original songs into Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Tidal, TikTok, YouTube, and more with DISTROKID. It couldn't be…

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I Love My Baby, and…Why Is Everyone So Freely Talking about My Body Now? 45:09

12M ago45:09

45:09

Send us a text Body image obsession certainly doesn’t start in adulthood. But the liberties people take when they’re around someone who is pregnant (and, let’s be honest, after) to comment on, touch, or ask weird questions about their bodies is taken to a whooooolllllleeeee other level. In this week’s episode, Ruby and Erin dive into the commentary…

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Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Glen Phillips - Toad Warrior 43:04

12M ago43:04

43:04

Glen croaks out some of the best Spinal Tap Moments we’ve heard including the day his band did an in-store promotion in a Footloose town where pinball machines were illegal; the night they stayed at a hotel that was so (un)hygienic even the door knobs had condoms; and the time he was upstaged by Weird Al Yankovic at a Ben Folds concert. Toad the We…

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I Love My Baby, and…My Family and I Have Become Competitive AF. What Gives?! 34:39

12M ago34:39

34:39

Send us a text Growing your family is exciting! A wild ride! A developmental milestone! A….competition…? For a lot of families, this is absolutely the case. Whether it’s with extended family or your immediate family, the decision and timeline of growing your own family can come with a whole lotta baggage. This week, Erin and Ruby chat about the ran…

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Quick Taps - Show Offs 9:39

12M ago9:39

9:39

Strange things happen when shows are a bit off. Like the time YouTube phenom Kyle Gordon played a gig and 1/3rd of the audience was unruly, which is particularly bad when there are only three people at the gig. And podcast host Cam Herdt tells us about the time he accidentally insulted his boss at a show which could have gotten him fired if he hadn…

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I Love My Baby, and...What Do I Do with These Effing Intrusive Thoughts? 41:20

1y ago41:20

41:20

Send us a text Intrusive thoughts after having a baby are so common…and can be so awful. They play a role in the postpartum experience for you and can be distressing for the people who love you. Is there anything to do about them? Yes! In this week’s episode of I Love My Baby, and…Erin and Ruby chat about the ways in which intrusive thoughts can co…

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Rock ’n’ Roll Re-Creation: Actor Amy Brenneman from The Old Man 49:15

1y ago49:15

49:15

This month, FX released the second season of its hit show, The Old Man, so we decided to replay this classic episode with one of the stars, Amy Brenneman. In addition to the inside skinny on The Old Man, Amy recounts being the first person ever to take off their clothes on network TV; an ackward encounter trying to snap a selfie with punk rock icon…

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I Love My Baby, and…I Know Other Moms Can Do This Better 47:50

1y ago47:50

47:50

Send us a text Do you ever feel like you’re comfortable in your role as a mom, but then those little intrusive thoughts come in and tell you that other moms are doing it better? And because you’re tired, you start to believe those thoughts? Same. We’re going to be really intentional with those quotes here, you guys. Because early parenthood is full…

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HIT SINGLE - The Posies Ken Stringfellow 6:53

1y ago6:53

6:53

On the week of the onstage fight between Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro, Ken Stringfellow tells us about the time he and drummer Mike Musburger duked it out. You can call him Sir Duke, I suppose! Ken on IG: @kenstringfellow -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid.com/vip/tmep*** Get the VI…

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I Love My Baby, and…I’m Workshopping the Concept of Self-Care (+what’s coming this season!) 54:56

1y ago54:56

54:56

Send us a text Welcome back, friends!! We took the summer off to drive around to 178 different camps, travel, and plan some awesome episodes. We’re SO happy to be back. In this episode, Erin and Ruby continue to explore the concept of self-care as it relates to life after baby, and life in your relationship with your partner. We know it’s important…

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The Hooters Eric Bazilian - All Us Zombies 50:29

1y ago50:29

50:29

The Hooters’ Eric Bazilian tells us a bazillion stories including the time he had to skip a flight from L.A. because Ringo Starr wanted to write songs with him; being cheered on by Jack Nicholson as his band took the stage at Live Aid; and offering Pete Townshend a case of beer, a pizza and a deli tray to get The Who to play his daughter’s wedding.…

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Quick Taps - Crashing 11:21

1y ago11:21

11:21

When you’re a struggling band on the road, you sometimes have to crash wherever you can like in the homes of potential serial killers who’ve decorated their place with bugs, bloody handprints, and missing teeth. On this Quick Tap, you’ll hear some not-so-relaxing bedtime stories from Palehound’s Elle Kempner, blues guitarist Bex Marshall, James Jos…

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HIT SINGLE - Die Kreuzen’s Erik Tunison 4:17

1y ago4:17

4:17

Erik tell us about the time he angered drummer Rat Scabies from legendary British punk band, The Damned, and lived to tell about it. In fact, he lived to tell Rat about it decades later! Die Kreuzen stuff on IG: @diekreuzenbook -------------------------------------------------- ***http://distrokid.com/vip/tmep*** Get the VIP treatment with 30% OFF …

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Rock 'n' Roll Re-Creation: Styx Drummer Todd Sucherman 44:13

1y ago44:13

44:13

Influential drummer (and epic storyteller) Todd Sucherman gets multiple rimshots telling us what it was like playing the late night TV circuit with Spinal Tap; why he never wears white when on stage with wild animals; and how surreal it was to play with David Hasselhoff at the Tribute Concert for Princess Diana back in 1998. Todd also spills the te…