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

Ahead of Mudhoney's Australian tour, Mark Arm talks vinyl rarities, bootlegs, Australian imports that blew Seattle's mind, and the daunting task of singing Chris Bailey's songs in The Saints 73–78. Mudhoney's Aussie Tour Info & Tix here | The Saints 73-78 Aussie Tour Info here Topics Include: Mark Arm preps for Mudhoney's Australian tour, then the Saints. He's worked at Sub Pop's warehouse for 21 years. Not a collector anymore; he's cleaning out via Discogs. Bandcamp lets fans try before buying; vinyl prices feel abhorrent. The rarest "Touch Me I'm Sick"? The plain black radio copies. Sub Pop's colored "Loser Edition" first runs get band input. Holding Mr. Epp's first seven-inch felt unbelievable at age 20. A cheeky flyering campaign caught the eye of Seattle's Pravda label. Rodney on the ROQ played them, briefly charting above Toni Basil. Music wasn't a career, just entertaining bored suburban friends. Rock records were banned at home; his mother loved classical. He smuggled forbidden seven-inches home under his coat. Radio staples like "Radar Love" gave way to Cosmo's Factory. Devo on Saturday Night Live was a Beatles-on-Ed-Sullivan moment. He thought bands needed virtuosos, until friends started making noise. Downtown punks, he realised, came from the same suburbs. Steve Albini tipped him off to the Saints' Prehistoric Sounds. A surf chat in Torquay sparked Saints 73–78. Nailing Chris Bailey's phrasing and facing Saints purists felt daunting. New Saints material? Ed has old songs; Mark's open. Tom Hazelmyer ran Amphetamine Reptile from a Marine barracks footlocker. His holy grail: Randy Holden's Population II, found in Vienna. Records as time machines: even bad Jefferson Starship lyrics stick. Doo-wop's market vanished, Stones records stall, yet Rumours keeps repressing. His wife's first Stones album? Black and Blue, a stubbed-toe start. Early Mudhoney bootlegs, possibly Long Gone John's, felt like a badge. Deep Six codified Seattle's heavier punk underground. Gambles on Australian imports like the Scientists and Feedtime paid off. 1990: bunking above the Lansdowne, and an empty second Auckland night. Now: East Coast dates, Raglan surfing, and Saints shows with Jim White. 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

Original Nirvana drummer Chad Channing shares stories from the Bleach era, Love Buzz single & other collectables, getting knocked out by Chris's bass and digging through his rare vinyl. Topics Include: Chad's prized find: an original Australian Dirty Deeds from a rummage sale Hunting a Bill Evans record, and why jazz demands clean vinyl Dad played LA jazz bass; Mom once sang with Chet Baker How jazz quietly shaped his "drummer for the song" philosophy Describing his drumming style in one word: adaptive Nirvana's only instruction when he joined: powerful but simple Coming from a math rock band with 13-part songs The one time Kurt openly praised his drumming: In Bloom How "About a Girl" got its name from Chad Kurt finishing Bleach lyrics in a notebook while driving to the studio Shelved songs, lost tapes, and Chad's forgotten cassette in the box set Owning Love Buzz single #3; Kurt had #1, Chris #2 His blank-label Bleach test pressing, housed in a homemade cover Nate authenticates Chad's Australian Waterfront blue vinyl live on air The ultra-rare purple Waterfront pressing and why most were destroyed Swirled Sub Pop variants, and why he's never played some Knocked out by Chris's bass at the Bleach cover photo show Tracy Marander's undeveloped rolls of never-seen Nirvana photos Sub Pop steering early decisions while the band went along Packed European shows: the moment they realized something big was happening The Blew EP and its gynecologist-chair cover he never chose Hiding under the drum riser with Kurt as bottles flew Stuck alone in a broken Manchester elevator for half an hour His European tour posters, including the coveted Lush show poster Could his beat-up distortion pedal be Kurt's missing Astoria pedal? A gifted Mustang, his kit at MoPOP, and heirlooms for his kids Smart Studios sessions, and Dave Grohl keeping his drum parts Here She Comes Now, Sappy, and becoming a Nirvana fan afterward MS, a childhood leg injury, and a memoir about 73 moves The wonderful photo by Rosetta Greek 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

Laura Jane Grace opens up about tours and donating gear to the Punk Rock Museum, her massive vinyl obsession, the wild story behind her first Against Me! record and more. Topics Include: Nate and Laura Jane Grace preview her Punk Rock Museum dates She's donating her amp, guitar, and clothes, mostly for storage space Museum's jam room lets visitors actually play donated instruments Her photo greets everyone entering the Punk Rock Museum Favorite museum artifact: Joe Strummer's last bag of weed LJG is an avid vinyl collector who abandoned CDs entirely Her collection fills Ikea shelves plus boxes of seven-inches She now collects complete artist discographies, especially posthumously Bowie's late career shows the appeal of complete discographies She's donating a rare, flawed first-pressing Against Me record Physical vinyl feels more meaningful to her than streaming stats Reinventing Axl Rose has hundreds of variants; she's wary of the trend Axl Rose has never publicly acknowledged their tribute record She loves browsing new-arrival shelves during unhurried store visits Their first pressed record had accidental distortion, but still sold Touring made scheduling test pressings a constant headache Warner Brothers surprisingly gave White Crosses back to the band Her label, Total Treble, drew lessons from mentor Fat Mike She worries algorithm-driven social media and AI hurt musicians Her teenage son's DIY punk scene offers genuine hope She discusses redemption debates and a German venue's IDF controversy She closes by naming favorite record stores worldwide 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

Bass legend Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, etc) reflects on Fripp, John Lennon, near-misses with Zappa, Pink Floyd, and life on the road. new Stick Men album "Let's Thrak Again" available here Topics Include: Scheduling chaos / Ron Carter Stickmen's "Let's Thrack Again" reworks a King Crimson rhythm concept Tony defines "thracking" — playing five against seven simultaneously Robert Fripp names complex King Crimson riffs with odd phrases Tony rarely forgets bass parts, even decades later Simple transitions, not hard parts, cause live disasters Upcoming Beat tour features Zappa alumni, except Tony Tony's first NYC band included ex-Mothers of Invention members Peter Gabriel froze onstage during a hostile Zappa co-bill Tony regrets missing a Herbie Hancock/Joni Mitchell session He also turned down touring with Pink Floyd David Gilmour flew in unannounced for a Les Paul tribute Radio Registry once dispatched interchangeable NYC session bassists fast Tony preferred live touring over endless studio session work He's a self-described "road dog" still touring at his age Off-stage, Tony writes memoirs, poetry, and takes photographs He owns many basses but doesn't consider himself a collector Discipline started as a side project before becoming King Crimson Tony chose the Chapman stick over bass in that first rehearsal Fripp lets players interpret parts; Gabriel invents wild new techniques Peter Gabriel suggested cymbals on fingers, inspiring "funk fingers" Tony isn't certain whether "Blood of Eden" used fretless bass He senses a song's emotion before lyrics are finished Tony learned King Crimson disbanded from a stranger at the opera He never actually felt Thrak function as a "double trio" No Australian dates planned yet, though he'd love to visit King Crimson's future depends entirely on Robert Fripp's instincts Aging has slowed his technical dexterity, but not memory He recalls John Lennon's advice: "don't play too many notes" 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

The Damned's Captain Sensible talks vinyl rarities, back catalogue, scented records, chasing the "perfect album," and what may be their final Australia and New Zealand tour dates. Topics Include: Captain Sensible is a record nerd - Still plays childhood favorites: Groundhogs, Pretty Things, Moody Blues, loves Bee Gees' first album Grew up around his dad's pub singing, informally musical Paper round savings meant records played obsessively, analyzed deeply Cites Shane Fenton's "I'm a Moody Guy" as formative Joe Meek's Telstar and tiny Holloway Road studio praised Recalls magical Motown Hitsville USA studio tour in Detroit "Sonar Deceit" track was band's Motown tribute song Lyric inspired by marine biologist's whale-stranding sonar theory Describes uncanny ability to instantly recall and replay songs Hosted radio challenge replaying requested songs live for charity New Rose confirmed as first UK punk single release Stiff Records signed them with a bribe of cheeseburgers Beating the Sex Pistols to release still amuses him Sydney Opera House gig ironic given past band bannings Royal Albert Hall sent rejection letters into the 1980s Mentions unlikely celebrity fans, including Australia's prime minister Recalls Barney Bubbles' art department and album cover mishap First pressing's mismatched back cover became a collector's item Says he collects 60s psych, not punk records himself Discusses Brian James tribute covers album made after his death Five reunion shows almost didn't happen, no live release planned Loves live show chaos, unpredictability, and Rat Scabies' drumming Confirms no hidden unreleased Damned tracks remain in vaults Notes band rarely controls or profits from its own catalog Explains "Strawberries" album concept and its scented vinyl insert Describes love of vinyl artwork, liner notes, and physical ritual Talks pursuit of first editions and test pressings today Names rare Cowsills albums as his current collecting holy grail Tells story of Sid Barrett nearly producing their second album Recalls haunted, sleepless sessions recording Machine Gun Etiquette Reflects on creative bond and offstage humor with Dave Vanian Closes with tour dates, S.F. Sorrow recommendation, and one-step vinyl talk 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

John McCrea of CAKE discusses their elusive catalogue on vinyl, rarities of the band, upcoming Australian tour, new recordings, record nerdery and more. Tickets & info on CAKE's Australian tour is here Topics Include: John McCrae discusses collecting records, revisiting old favorites like Perez Prado He describes "chasing goosebumps" — the feeling of rediscovering great music Shares vivid teenage memory seeing Led Zeppelin at Knebworth, England Recalls dancing to washing machine rinse cycles as a toddler Names early formative records: Beatles, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie His parents played accordion and folk guitar, shaping his musicality Discusses his dad's Eastern European minor-key accordion versus polka music Talks about "Rancho Seco," his first recorded song, a protest track Song addressed a nuclear plant illegally releasing radioactive steam locally Connects Dylan influence and poets to his built-in social justice streak Reflects on growing up near Sacramento, Berkeley, and Nevada City, California Compares old Bay Area culture to today's flashier Silicon Valley wealth Describes Cake's early '90s formation, self-financed four-song EP release EP funded through show earnings and merch, later expanded into album Album got European distribution and unexpected early popularity in France "Rock and Roll Lifestyle" got college radio play before wider fame Cake signed to Capricorn Records, a small Southern rock label East Bay Ray advised McCrea to fight for keeping album masters McCrae says most bands don't retain their masters like Cake did Vinyl of Cake albums historically hard to find, tied up licensing Discusses 2014 box set now reselling for $700–$1,000 secondhand New Cake album is finished, awaiting mixing, targeted early 2027 Explains he avoids forced album themes, focuses song by song Reflects on why Cake albums come infrequently, citing family, industry fatigue Criticizes modern music industry as increasingly exploitative and financially unsustainable Explains reduced touring due to travel dislike and environmental concerns Considers eco-friendly vinyl options and shifting kids' preference toward CDs Discusses Cake's DIY visual identity, homemade posters, and lino-cut aesthetic Talks rare live vinyl pressings, including $300 Crystal Palace release Wraps up promoting Cake's Australian tour dates and Sydney ticket sales 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