Author Daniel Bukszpan joins the show again. This time he's here to discuss his new book "Rush and 2112: 50 Years," which explores the influential 1976 album and its impact on the band's career. Daniel explained how the book's three sections cover the album's creation, musical analysis, and aftermath, while also revealing new insights about Mercury Records' supportive role during the album's development. The discussion included Daniel's writing process, his other published works with Quarto, and his upcoming projects including a book about the Big Four metal bands.

In this episode, Martin and I discussed his latest book, "KISS 1976: 12 Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land," which will be released on February 24th. Martin explained the book's structure, which covers each month of 1976 with sections on KISS' activities, world events, and music industry happenings. He described the research process and challenges he faced while writing the book. Martin also shared insights into his writing process and mentioned some of his other recent publications.

In this episode talk with I Jeff and Kyle from "A Light Within" about their recent single "Dying Clock," a 9-minute track inspired by Tool, Pink Floyd, and Alan Parsons. The band members discussed their approach to music creation, noting that while COVID-19 was challenging, it allowed them time to write new material. Jeff mentioned working on ideas for a 2026 album release. We also discussed their musical journey, starting with their first EP "Preface" in 2013, which they later remixed and remastered.

In this episode, Michael Jahnz discussed the upcoming Richrath Project REO tribute show in Evansville on January 16th, which will feature three bands including Johnny Cash and Ozzy Osbourne tributes. Jahnz explained his history with Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon, including their work together in the Richrath Band and Project 3:13, and how 3:13 became a significant symbol for their fans. The discussion covered the current state of REO Speedwagon following Kevin Cronin's departure, the band's evolving fan base across generations, and their commitment to performing authentic rock music.

Joe Smith, owner of Joe's Records, shared his extensive career journey in the music retail industry, from his early days managing Coconuts Music Store to opening his own record shop in 2004. He discussed the challenges and opportunities of running an independent record store, including the impact of digital downloads, the revival of vinyl, and the role of online sales. Joe also highlighted the importance of building relationships with customers and suppliers, as well as adapting to changing market trends. The conversation touched on various topics such as pricing strategies, the impact of tariffs on imports, and the challenges of managing a business in the music industry.

Tim Durling returns to the podcast to discuss his new book "The Sound That Haunts You: A Beginner's Companion to Fleetwood Mac" which explores the band's different eras and lineup changes through detailed coverage of their albums and discography. He shares insights about his writing process, challenges in organizing the band's early recordings, and his personal preferences for various Fleetwood Mac eras, while also discussing his appreciation for the band's cover versions. Tim also provided information about his other music-related books and projects.

Veteran rock author Gillian Gaar returns to the podcast to talk about her book "Tom Petty: The Life & Music," which covers Petty's life and career, from his birth to after his death, including his breakthrough with "Damn the Torpedoes" and the unsolved arson attack on his house. The book concludes with Petty's posthumous success, including a song featured in a popular video game that gained renewed popularity. She also briefly discusses the differences between approaching her publisher to pitch a book idea, in this instance the Queen book we discussed in a previous episode, and being asked to write this book.

In this episode, Christian Shields shared details about his new single "Fall Like Rain" and his musical journey, including discussions about his full-length rock album "This Is Rock and Roll." Christian also discuss3eed his focus on releasing singles rather than albums, upcoming projects, and technical challenges encountered during tours, while also providing information about where fans can find his music online. (Apologies for my audio. I forgot to bring my headset mic with me.)