The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

The Ramones influenced generations despite critical dismissal and radio absence. Ramones tour manager Monte A Melnick reveals insider history, promotional collectables, diplomatic strategies for handling volatile band dynamics and the journey of the revival and current cultural adoration of the band. "On The Road with The Ramones" book is available here. Topics Include: Monte Melnick's bonus edition adds 40 pages to his Ramones road stories collection Full-color book features posters, tour passes, and interactive visual design beyond typical text Monte served as diplomat, psychologist, babysitter, and mediator between wildly different band personalities Managing crazy crews, promoters, and venues doubled the nutty people Monte handled daily He delayed writing until after Joey's death to avoid discussing uncomfortable personal problems Frank Meyer co-authored as musician and Ramones fan, earning full credit beyond ghostwriter Book structured as oral history combining new interviews with archived quotes from multiple sources Early reviews dismissed the Ramones as "crap" unlike today's celebrated 10/10 album ratings Sex Pistols' anarchy lumped Ramones into punk danger zone, killing radio station support Major acts like Talking Heads, B-52s, and Blondie opened for Ramones before surpassing The band never considered quitting despite frustration, constantly seeking new producers for radio Johnny Ramone insisted on maintaining consistent sound while others wanted musical growth experimentation The Ramones acted as "Johnny Appleseeds," inspiring kids worldwide to form their own bands 1996 Lollapalooza tour revealed Metallica and Soundgarden formed bands inspired by Ramones performances Record labels rarely interfered except removing "Carbona Not Glue" fearing potential lawsuits The Simpsons appearance was considered an honor with special studio recording and commemorative jackets John Holmstrom created Rocket to Russia artwork and illustrations later used for merchandise Monte immortalized in song lyrics: "Monty's driving me crazy, it's like being in the Navy" 1977 "It's Alive" album represents peak original four members captured in live perfection The Ramones legacy: showing kids worldwide they could form bands without virtuoso skills High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Johnny Brennan reveals how The Jerky Boys' underground cassette tapes became an American comedy phenomenon, spreading from NYC musicians to Howard Stern's radar before landing an Atlantic Records deal and finding success with voiceover work on Family Guy. Get yerself (or a friend) a Cameo holiday video from Johnny Brennan here Topics Include: Johnny Brennan reveals The Jerky Boys infiltrated American vocabulary for over five decades People still answer phones with "tough guy" and use Jerky Boys catchphrases daily Johnny started creating characters on tape for his brothers back in the 1960s Father's threat to "put boot in ass" drove kids to creative outdoor activities Nine-year-old Johnny was already doing fake sportscasting with neighborhood friends on tape Looking through Buy Lines magazine for trucks sparked idea to record prank calls First recordings made on boombox intended just for family gatherings upstate New York All characters based on real people: Frank Rizzo was Johnny's father's personality Sweet innocent voice character came directly from observing his mother's speaking style Friend Kamal discovered forgotten tapes and declared them funniest things he'd ever heard Kamal distributed copies to musician friends throughout NYC's Village music scene underground Tape trading exploded nationwide through word-of-mouth before internet or computers existed Howard Stern desperately searched on-air for mysterious Frank Rizzo character's true identity Atlantic Records' Ahmet Ertegun signed band after discovering underground cult phenomenon spreading Johnny's mom actually came up with "The Jerky Boys" name for the act Catchphrases like "sizzle chest" and "milky licker" were completely spontaneous during calls Johnny spent incredible week with Ozzy Osbourne filming The Jerky Boys movie Currently voices Mort Goldman on Family Guy for over twenty-one consecutive years Records at professional studio thirty seconds from home, works with hardcore bands Offers personalized Cameo messages, giving special shoutout to Australian fans after forty years High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

SNFU founders Marc and Brent Belke discuss band history, rare recordings, records, vinyl reissues on Trust Records, upcoming events at the Punk Rock Museum & more. Topics Include: Marc and Brent Belke join from Vancouver and Victoria to discuss SNFU's December 5th Punk Rock Museum exhibit and album re-release. The exhibit coincides with Trust Records' re-release of SNFU's debut album "...And No One Else Wanted to Play" with extensive extras. The re-release includes a 53-page booklet with rare photos, interview excerpts, and a full record of early demos and alternate versions. The exhibit features band paraphernalia, posters, t-shirts, and artwork, originally displayed at a Saskatchewan museum last summer before moving to Vegas. Marc and Brent will provide guided tours at the Punk Rock Museum and participate in a roundtable discussion on December 5th. The brothers describe Edmonton's early 1980s scene as intimate with only 50 people, mixing new wave, rockabilly, and emerging hardcore sounds. Getting punk records in Alberta meant ordering from New York stores via mail, waiting two months, and receiving only 25% of selections. Pivotal records included Bad Brains' ROIR cassette, Let Them Eat Jellybeans compilation, Sex Pistols' debut, and Minor Threat's Out of Step. The LA hardcore scene heavily influenced SNFU, with bands like Circle Jerks, Social Distortion, and Youth Brigade making significant impressions. SNFU formed when Marc and Brent's band lost members, recruiting bassist Curtis and drummer Evan Kaufmann based on personality over experience. Singer Chi Pig brought irreverent humor and sarcastic lyrics that became central to SNFU's identity and separated them from serious hardcore bands. The band recorded their debut album in two weeks with limited preparation, creating the raw energy that defined their sound. Early SNFU combined hardcore speed with melodic elements, drawing from both aggressive punk and bands like The Damned and Buzzcocks. The band signed with BYO Records for their second album, appreciating the DIY ethos and direct artist-to-label relationship. SNFU toured extensively across North America, playing everywhere from established venues to DIY spaces and experiencing varied punk scenes nationwide. The brothers discuss how the band's legacy feels incomplete, with the Trust re-release helping emphasize positive aspects of their history. Brent left SNFU to attend music school, studying jazz and strings, and now works creating music for film projects. Marc emphasizes Trust Records' meticulous approach, taking four years to perfect the release compared to SNFU's tendency to rush. Both brothers have never visited the Punk Rock Museum and look forward to experiencing it while giving tours on December 5th. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Mike Watt played with Iggy & The Stooges for over 10 years - today he shares all about his times with the brotherhood - Iggy, the Asheton Brothers, Steve Mackay, the comeback tours, The Weirdness, the end of the road and more! Topics Include: Mike Watt discusses new Record Store Day release: 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" Without the Stooges, Watt believes punk movement wouldn't have existed as we know it Played with Stooges for 126 months after Iggy Pop called him in 2003 First heard Funhouse in 1970-71 when most people dismissed the band entirely Stooges music helped Watt recover from serious illness 25 years ago Initially met Ronnie Asheton at Minutemen gigs in Detroit's Greektown neighborhood Played with Ronnie in 1996 for Todd Haynes film Velvet Goldmine Iggy and Ronnie hadn't spoken for 29 years before 2003 reunion Watt received fateful call at Tallahassee club: "Ronnie says you're the man" Iggy's first concern: Would Watt wear T-shirt instead of flannel? "Fuck yeah" Thought Coachella would be one-off gig, became decade-long musical journey Being youngest member at 45 allowed Watt to absorb everything from legends Asheton brothers had telepathic connection, communicated through rhythm more than words Lost Ronnie in 2009, Brother Steve in 2014-2015: "You always think you got time" Watt never wore same T-shirt twice during entire Stooges tenure One time played shirtless in New Orleans after wearing orange triggered Iggy's nightmare After Ronnie died, switched from T-shirts to black flannel honouring his memory Final years wore Dickies work clothes, embracing mechanic aesthetic Iggy appreciated Still calls Iggy every April 21st for his birthday, ringtone is "TV Eye" Instrumental tribute albums with Larry Mullins represent "paying back the debt" High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Larry Mullins (Stooges, Swans, Nick Cave) discusses his love of the Stooges, playing with Iggy and the Asheton Brothers and shares how he and Mike Watt reworked several Stooges tracks for multiple Record Store Day releases, including a 40-minute version of "We Will Fall", available RSD-BF 2025. Topics Include: Larry Mullins discusses Stooges tribute project with Mike Watt, creating extended instrumental versions Record Store Day release features 40-minute version of "We Will Fall" from the Stooges Mike Watt initiated project after Steve Mackay's death as band tribute without vocals Recording involves aggressive nine-minute live takes with bass representing lead vocal parts Sessions happen in San Pedro with releases on seven-inch records that fade between sides Songs like TV Eye, 1969, 1970, Fun House only available on limited seven-inch releases Pandemic interrupted recording process, forcing creative remote collaboration between Berlin and San Pedro "We Will Fall" chosen specifically because original had no drums, allowing remote recording Brian Kehew mastered Rhino reissues, revealed original Stooges takes were 12-15 minutes long John Cale edited and faded original lengthy jams into known three-minute song versions Stooges wrote most songs at Chelsea Hotel night before recording first album sessions Band originally performed as wild improvisational psychedelic jam band before structured songs Recording process involved jamming songs for entire tape reel length, then editing down Story reveals Steve Mackay's green saxophone matched his deteriorating health but sounded fantastic Limited to 1,000 copies globally, pushing boundaries furthest of all their tribute releases High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide