Rock & Roll Nightmares by Staci Layne Wilson

Joan Baez: I Am A Noise is a new documentary biopic directed by Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle, and Karen O’Connor. The three filmmakers join Staci on this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares to talk about how they put together this non-traditional look at the famous folk singer, songwriter, and...

Rudy Valdez, director of the comprehensive new documentary “Carlos” joins Staci to talk about coming on to the daunting project that would cover the legendary Carlos Santana’s full career from the very beginning to the present. Rudy talks about his introduction to Santana’s music, why he thinks the...

Staci welcomes Jerome Reuter, a film critic and historian whose work can be found in Diabolique magazine and various online publications. He is also the author of a new book, Electric Funeral: Black Sabbath and the Cultural Landscape 1970-1975, which is a scholarly work that drills down on the...

Staci’s guest is Tony Simerman, the owner of KnuckleBonz, a successful company that creates officially licensed, high-end collectibles for rock music fans—this includes apparel and action figures but it goes way beyond that; there’s also 3D vinyl, handcrafted beers, and more. KnuckleBonz creates...

Julia Lage, bassist for the bands Vixen, and Smith/Kotzen, joins Staci on the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast to talk about how she got her start playing on a homemade instrument, the music business in Brazil, getting a dentist’s eye view of Steven Tyler’s mouth, scary happenings at concerts,...

Staci converses with Holly Knight, the songwriter behind hits like The Best (Tina Turner), Love is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar), I Am the Warrior (Scandal), and Ragdoll (Aerosmith) to name just a few. Holly talks about her new memoir, “I Am the Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing the Hits and Rocking the...

Staci interviews Peter Summit, the lead vocalist for Crashing Wayward, a Las Vegas-based hard rock band that features well-known names on guitar, bass, and drums. Peter talks about the band’s lauded debut album, Listen, and plays their new single, “Stranger Days.” He talks about working with Ron...

Rockin’ frontman Shaun Soho joins Staci on this episode to talk about how his band Crash Midnight became the highest-drawing indie rock act in Las Vegas over the last few years. The five-piece has gained quite a following due to their old-school, straight-head, hard rock music that’s in the...

Writer-director Mick Garris joins Staci on this episode to fill us in on his appearance in the new comprehensive Stephen King documentary, King Onscreen, but he also gives a glimpse into his background in music—he started as a teenage journalist, who interviewed Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and The...

Staci’s guest is singer and guitarist Tim Polecat, who’s best known to music fans for his British-born neo-rockabilly band, The Polecats, who had a hit in the U.S. in the ‘80s, “Make a Circuit with Me.” Tim is a fan of The Ventures and an incredibly knowledgeable music historian, so naturally, he...

Debbie Kruger, the author of “Songwriters Speak,” joins Staci to talk about her definitive book on Australia’s most popular and important songwriters. This is part two of the in-depth interview, and in this episode, she talks about her take on the controversy surrounding AC/DC’s "Back in...

Nils Goldschmidt, the bassist and founder of the hard rock band Velvet Chains, joins Staci to talk about the Las Vegas music scene, how he started the band, and why they decided to cover an Elvis song. and Staci plays their hit single, “Last Drop,” (which is also the name of Nils’s drink in the...

Staci goes in-depth on the Australian music legacy with Debbie Kruger, the author of “Songwriters Speak” a comprehensive book about the country’s most popular and important songwriters. Debbie’s interviewees include members of the Little River Band, Split Enz, Midnight Oil, and INXS to name a few....

Author and musician Ronald Malfi joins Staci on this week's Rock & Roll Nightmares Podcast to talk about his horror novels, and his hard rock band, Veer. They discuss his thoughts on being compared to Stephen King, the pros and cons of listening to music while writing, what inspired him to...

Staci Layne Wilson chats with filmmaker and special effects maestro Stacy Davidson. They discuss his gore-soaked, music-drenched horror extravaganza, Sweatshop—plus the importance of music in horror films. Movies discussed include: Dario Argento’s Tenebrae (Goblin), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3:...

Steven Blush is the author of a fascinating new nonfiction book called When Rock Met Disco, which covers a unique era in music history and goes in-depth on rockers that crossed over into disco—such as, Rod Stewart, Blondie, The Stones, and many more. Steve also shares his own personal “rock &...

Staci talks with hard rock and metal guitarist Marc Ferrari, who started in the KEEL band and has worked with Gene Simmons, Pantera, and many others. He’s in the rock & roll comedies, Wayne’s World 1 and 2, and is a music producer, an entrepreneur, and an author—plus, he contributed a cocktail...

Music publicist Mitchell Schneider joins Staci to talk about working with the likes of Tom Petty, David Bowie, Heart, and many others throughout his storied (and still ongoing) career, which began in New York City as a writer when he was inspired by seeing Lou Reed live in concert. Mitch talks...

Staci Layne Wilson interviews Omar Doom, who, as Straight Razor, performs techno and industrial music. He is in the process of debuting a new record label Doom Vision, with an album of Straight Razor remixes. He is also known for his turns on the big screen in movies like Death Proof and...

Andy Cahan, the “Most Famous Musician You’ve Never Heard Of” and “One-Man Wrecking Crew” shares stories with Staci on this week’s Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast about Jimi Hendrix, John Bonham, The Turtles, Harry Nilsson, and Ringo Starr, to name only a few (plus a little love for The...

Staci interviews punk rock drummer and historian, S.W. Lauden. They dig into his newest book, The Oral History of Popsicko, which delves into an up-and-coming 1990s band whose trajectory was tragically cut short and their current resurgence. Steve also talks about his works of music-themed crime...

Staci chats with Patti Quatro, guitarist of the pioneering all-female rock groups, The Pleasure Seekers, Cradle, and Fanny. She joined Fanny in 1974 after founding member June Millington left the band; June was on this podcast last year to talk about the documentary Fanny: the Right to Rock when it...

Film director and producer, Mike Schiff talks with Staci about his newest film, The History of Metal and Horror. Mike also talks about his start in television production working for the Howard Stern Show; creating music videos for John Carpenter, Fozzy, and Charred Walls of the Damned; and gives...

Journalist, biographer, and expert on all things Elvis Presley, Alanna Nash, joins Staci to chat about The King’s love life via her book, Baby, Let’s Play House. She delves into his complex psychological profile; remembers Lisa Marie fondly; shares stories about attending Elvis’s funeral, and...

Staci talks with the effervescent Ron Keel, frontman of KEEL—the hard rock band that formed in the 1980s and had hits with anthems like “The Right to Rock” (produced by Gene Simmons of KISS). Since then, Ron has fronted several bands and made his mark on country music. He goes into detail about his...

Staci chats with the talented, lovely, and totally cool Britt Lightning from the hard rock band, Vixen—Britt is also the Musical Director at Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, where she’s shared the stage with the likes of The Who’s Roger Daltrey and many more. Britt tells stories of auditioning for Lady...

Staci talks with the eclectic and creative Paul Andre Blom from the industrial rock band, Terminatryx. He’s also an entertainment journalist, a music video producer, and runs several film festivals, including Sound on Screen and the South African HorrorFest. Paul gives a rundown on several new...

This week, we have a mini-episode from the press junket for SPINNING GOLD, the true story of Casablanca Records. It's set in the swinging seventies and features the music of KISS, P-Funk, Donna Summer, and many more. Staci chatted with the film's director, Tim Bogart; the star, Jeremy...

Staci’s guest is Mary Kryah, the frontwoman of a fantastic Las Vegas-based rock band, Hell Mary. Mary started out singing opera as a teenager but after hearing Queen’s Tie Your Mother Down, there was no holding her back from rock & roll! She shares fun stories about growing up in St. Louis,...

Staci has a quick chat with Living Dead Girl’s bubblegum pop goth frontwoman, Molly Rennick—Molly reveals the story behind how the band got their name (hint: it’s not after the Rob Zombie song), shares her very unusual use for Tinder, talks about a special honor from Hustler magazine, and spills...

Surf historian and musician John Blair joins Staci Layne Wilson on this week’s Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast to talk about his new documentary, The Sound of the Surf, which features the late Dick Dale, as well as the Bel Airs, the Chantays, and Kathy Marshall. John’s own band, Jon and the...

Staci talks with Todd “Dammit” Kerns, an esteemed multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who’s played with several bands, including Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Todd gives us the scoop on his kickass new band, a power trio called Heroes and Monsters; talks about learning fretless...

Staci chats with George Bunnell, an original member of the psychedelic pop band Strawberry Alarm Clock on this episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast. Strawberry Alarm Clock is mostly remembered by casual music fans for their 1967 hit, “Incense & Peppermints” but there’s a lot more...

Staci talks to Claire Jane, a guest who truly hits all the Rock & Roll Nightmares sweet spots—she’s worked in the special effects department of some of the scariest horror film franchises and now she is a designer of clothing and accessories that rock; you’ll see her wearable art on Joe Elliott...

Staci interviews Kelly Garni, a founding member of the great California hard rock outfit, Quiet Riot. He formed the band with Randy Rhoads, then went on to pursue other endeavors ranging from EMT to restauranteur. But his most enduring passion is photography and he has a beautiful new coffee table...

Staci and cohost Andy Garrison talk to guitarist, songwriter, producer, and session-man Waddy Wachtel, who is known for lending his talents to artists including Kim Carnes, Linda Ronstadt, The Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, Warren Zevon, and, most notably, Stevie Nicks. Waddy talks about working...

Mike Bishop, a founding member of the shock rock, heavy metal, comic book-loving, D&D playing, art collective: GWAR, talks to Staci Layne Wilson on this episode of “Rock & Roll Nightmares.” Mike is an academic and PhD., but music fans know him as GWAR’s bassist “Beefcake the Mighty” and...

Staci Layne Wilson is joined by film professionals Shane Bitterling, Joel Amos, and Aaron Kai to talk about portrayals of rock stars and music fans in various comedies including Wayne’s World, Pirate Radio, Still Crazy, Walk Hard, and Get Him to the Greek. Plus a few honorable mentions you might...

The Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga, TN., once hosted the world's largest collection of vintage guitars and was host to many a great musician on its stage. When the pandemic’s effect on the music industry forced the museum to permanently close, a local musician and filmmaker, Dagan W....

Staci interviews Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, the directors of an in-depth documentary “HALLELUJAH: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.” Leonard Cohen was a singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist whose work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, love, loss, and death. While...

Cohost Ruthann Jagge and Staci grill horror author Josh Millican, who has a brand new novel out called Deeper Than Hell. It’s set in a Dante’s Inferno like underground nightmare, and features rock-related references throughout. Josh is also working on the authorized biography of Richard Elfman, a...

Today’s guest and cohost is Joel D. Amos. He wrote the short story “Sharing the Fright Together” in Rock & Roll Nightmares: Do You Fear Like We Do, the 1970s edition. We chat about Joel’s appearance in a Pink Floyd concert movie, his popular movie review website, TheMovieMensch.com, and the...

Staci and cohost Larry Hansen chat with Josh Kennedy, who is the guitarist and vocalist of The Black Moods, a band that rocks hard and keeps the old-school sound alive. The power trio has gotten radio play all over the world, plus has some tunes on the Billboard charts—we play one of their songs,...

Staci talks to Greg Bjorkman, the director of a new music-centric feature film, Press Play. It’s about a young couple who are in a relationship that centers around a shared love of music; there’s also a sci-fi element with time travel… oh, and death! The soundtrack includes songs by Japanese...

Staci speaks with June Millington, a founding member and the lead guitarist of the first all-female rock band, Fanny. Fanny was formed in 1969 and they paved the way for higher-profile bands like The Runaways in the 1970s, and The Go-Go’s in the 1980s. June talks about some of her struggles...

Filmmaker D.G. Brock joins Staci to talk about getting her start working for B-movie impresario Roger Corman—her first movie was Slumber Party Massacre 2, featuring a rockabilly driller killer with a gruesome guitar. Deb also worked with the notorious Vincent Gallo on two films (yes… even “that”...

Staci interviews Oriel Collins, DIY fashion expert and a punk rock historian. Oriel reminisces of her time on the D.C. punk scene in the ’90s, being in the mosh pit at a TSOL show, and talks about the questionable deaths of Nancy Spungen, Sid Vicious, and Fred “Freak” Smith. She also goes into the...

Staci and cohost Curt Lambert interview Cody Greenwood, the producer and co-writer of the fantastic music documentary, Under the Volcano. It’s about Sir George Martin’s legendary Monserrat recording studio where many famous albums were produced, including The Police’s Synchronicity, Duran Duran’s...

Staci interviews the director and the narrator of an amazing new rock doc, Randy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon. Andre Relis and Tracii Guns join the show to talk about the making of this exhaustively researched and truly eye-opening movie about a guitar hero that we love but know relatively...

Staci and cohost Joel D. Amos interview the lead vocalist of several hard rock and metal bands, Susie Rose Major. Her group Facedown was featured in the cult classic horror film, Rocktober Blood, and she is currently in one of the best Aerosmith tribute bands, RagDolls. Susie talks about the...