Rock & Roll Nightmares

Historian of pop culture, film, and music, John Harrison, joins Staci on Rock & Roll Nightmares to discuss his latest project: a comprehensive, 676-page book on KISS titled Creatures of the Screen. Unlike any other book on the band, John’s work is an immersive exploration of KISS’s presence onscreen, covering their films, TV appearances, and notable music videos. The book also delves into other shows and media inspired by—and exploiting—the band’s visual imagery, popularity, and cultural impact. John Harrison shares insights from his deep dive into the world of KISS and their enduring influence on pop cultur

This episode features Jake Sumner, director of the music documentary Ron Delsener Presents. The film explores the life and legacy of legendary music impresario Ron Delsener, with insights from an impressive roster of interviewees including Billy Joel, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Bette Midler. As the son of Sting (of The Police), Jake brings a unique perspective to the project, having known Delsener personally and wanting to uncover the story behind his iconic status. Jake discusses how the documentary came together during the pandemic and shares some of the wild stories featured in the film.<...

In this episode, Rock & Roll Nightmares welcomes author and Professor of Literature Jarret Keene, whose work first caught Staci’s attention with the release of his novel, Hammer of the Dogs. Now, Jarret returns with his newly released short story collection, Gateways to Annihilation—a book packed with wild, rock and roll-infused tales that are as twisted as they are entertaining. Tune in as he discusses his latest work as well as his takes on the future of writing with AI, and the nurturing of creative talent in the face of governmental budget cuts to national arts programs.

Colin Blunstone, lead singer of the iconic psychedelic rock band The Zombies, joins Staci on "Rock & Roll Nightmares" to discuss "Hung Up on a Dream," the first-ever feature-length documentary about the band. Despite hits like "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season" and their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, the band's story hasn't been fully documented until now. Colin shares insights into the film's collaborative process, along with entertaining stories about career mishaps, his brief stint as an insurance salesman, and his time recording as a solo artist under a pseudonym.

In this mini-episode, Staci welcomes Robert Schwartzman—accomplished musician, member of the renowned Coppola filmmaking family, and director of “Hung Up on a Dream,” the new documentary about psychedelic rock legends The Zombies. Robert discusses his creative approach to condensing the band's remarkable 60-year career into a compelling 90-minute film, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how he brought their story to the screen.

Author Jennifer Banash joins Staci on "Rock & Roll Nightmares" to discuss her novel "The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana," a twisty mystery about a Rolling Stone reporter uncovering a famous rock star's dark secret. Jennifer reminisces about her experiences in New York's club scene during the early 2000s and shares the surprising inspiration behind her main characters. She also offers a glimpse into her upcoming works—two books inspired by Elizabeth Bathory and the world of witchcraft, respectively.

Staci welcomes writer-director Kirsten Foe to discuss her rock and roll cautionary tale "Off the Record." What begins as a romance movie between two musician lovers takes a dark turn, putting the microscope on the Svengalis of the music industry. Kirsten shares insights about her impressive cast featuring Rainey Qualley, Ryan Hansen, Rebecca De Mornay, and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. She reveals the challenges of filming during the pandemic and two Hollywood union strikes, her collaborations with Jim Irsay and Tenacious D's Kyle Gass, and her inspiration for creating a drama set in the rock and pop music world.<...

Staci welcomes Gillian G. Gaar, an accomplished rock author and journalist whose work has appeared in Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. With previous titles including "She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll," "Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana," and "Bruce Springsteen at 75," Gaar discusses her newest publication - the beautifully crafted hardcover "Queen: A Night at the Opera 50."

Today’s episode features an interview with Angie Moon, founder of The Diversity of Classic Rock (found at CrazyOnClassicRock.com). As a music historian and author, Moon discusses her new nonfiction true crime book "Crime of the Century" along with insights from her work celebrating diverse voices in classic rock music.

1991 wasn’t just another year—it was a musical and cultural earthquake. Grunge went from the underground to the mainstream, changing rock music and an entire generation’s outlook along the way. Staci’s guest, Rob Janicke, has written a book, Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created, which explores the movement’s impact, the key players, and why the world embraced it so fiercely. Rob is also the founder of Generation Riff. On this episode he talks about the continuing relevance of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, to name a few. He also discu...

What’s it like to get a guitar lesson from Keith Richards, sword-fight Bruce Dickinson, or launch a Pink Floyd airship? For legendary rock promoter Paul Rappaport, it was all just part of the job. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci talks with Paul about his memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood, which pulls back the curtain on the wild world of rock promotion.

With a career spanning decades at Columbia Records, Paul was instrumental in shaping the success of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Judas Priest, and Bob Dylan. He shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories, from the go...

David Bowie was the ultimate musical chameleon, but his transformation after Let’s Dance in 1983 led to one of the most unexpected chapters of his career. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci Layne Wilson welcomes author Don Klees to discuss his book On Track, which takes a deep dive into Bowie’s later years—from the Tin Machine experiment to his haunting farewell, Blackstar.

Staci and Don explore Bowie’s shifting artistic identity, his response to the rise of New Wave and New Romantic, and his often-overlooked but intriguing albums like Black Tie, White Noise. D...

Staci’s guest is Alycen Rowse, the author of a memoir, “We've Got Tonight: The Life and Times of a Notorious Groupie.” She currently hosts the popular Cocktails and Rock Tales podcast, in which she dishes on the two decades she spent waking up next to the most infamous musicians in rock history. Alycen has some funny stories and insightful perspectives on the groupie lifestyle, which she discusses here – as well as sharing her “rock and roll nightmares” which include two members of The Who.

Staci welcomes music historian and author Madeline Bocaro, who returns to the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast for a second time to talk more about her book, “In Your Mind, the Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono.” The book has been out for several months now and Madeline has had time to pause and reflect on how Yoko Ono’s legacy continues to grow and morph with the changing times, which she discusses here.

Here is a special episode featuring the creative minds behind the new film, "Becoming Led Zeppelin." Director Bernard MacMahon and co-writer and co-producer Allison McGourty join Staci to discuss the creative choices they made when editing the documentary, what it was like to sit down and interview Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones (as well as giving a voice to the late John Bonham), and much more.

Staci’s guest is Roni Lee, a powerhouse singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose career stretches back to the 1970s L.A. rock scene. She was a member of the legendary punk band Venus and the Razorblades, wrote songs for The Runaways, and has shared the stage with some of rock’s biggest names. But she’s not just about legacy—she’s still out there tearing it up, and she’s got a brand-new EP, Feels Good 2 Be Bad, which she discusses today.

Staci talks with filmmaker Jordan Albertsen, whose documentary BOOM! A Film About the Sonics explores the groundbreaking legacy of The Sonics, a pioneering rock band from Tacoma, Washington, that helped shape the sound of punk before the genre even had a name. The film is not just a chronicle of the band’s influence but also a testament to Albertsen’s 15-year journey to bring their story to the screen. His filmmaking odyssey, marked by chance encounters with rock legends and a relentless DIY approach, echoes the raw energy of The Sonics themselves. In this episode, Albertsen shares the chal...

Staci's guest is Chris Kocher, a writer, editor, and the creative force behind a brand new book on the Kinks called “Thank You for the Days.” Chris’s articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the nation, and since 2011, he has hosted The Signal, a music and entertainment radio show on WHRW FM. In this episode, he discusses his own love of The Kinks music and how he connected with fans all over the world, plus he shares his process for compiling hundreds of stories.

Former child star and current badass rock singer Lisa Foiles joins Staci on this episode of “Rock & Roll Nightmares” to discuss her current role as host of the “Temperamental” podcast and her work as lead vocalist with the band Von Boldt. The conversation covers their upcoming album, her audacious metal interpretations of Frank Sinatra classics, covering The Ramones, and stories about her two cats who share the same name—Kevin.

Director Alison Tavel discusses her touching new documentary Resynator, which chronicles her journey to restore a synthesizer prototype created by her father, Don Tavel, who passed away when she was just weeks old. The film reveals unexpected family secrets while celebrating Don’s legacy and features interviews with Jimmy Jam, Grace Potter, Peter Gabriel, and Fred Armisen to name a few.

Staci stage-dives into the world of Heavier Trip, the outrageous and hilarious sequel to the cult classic feature film Heavy Trip—she chats with the masterminds behind the madness, Finnish filmmakers Juuso Laatio and Jukka Vidgren. The directors take the world’s most ferocious death metal band, Impaled Rektum, on an epic journey from prison cells to the legendary Wacken festival, with reindeer, revenge, and a cameo from Baby Metal along the way and they tell all on this episode.

Staci’s guests are Jeff and Steven McDonald from the long-running California rock band, Redd Kross—they started it at the ages of 11 and 15 in the 1970s and are still going strong to this day. They talk about their brand new documentary, Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story and how it all came about. Discussion includes women in rock, growing up Gen X, the early punk and grunge scenes, plus the brothers sharing their own personal rock and roll nightmares.

Staci’s guest is Sally Steele, a true rock historian who lived the scene and has the stories to prove it. Known for creating the Vegas Rocks! Awards Show, she’s celebrated legends and rising stars alike. Sally is also the director of the documentary Raised on Rock - The Burnett Family Legacy, which explores the impact of one of rock's most influential families. She shares fun stories about driving Alice Cooper in a limo, auditioning as a Motley Crue dancer, and reveals her own personal “rock and roll nightmare,” which involves Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony.

Martin Popoff, the author of a new hardcover book, Judas Priest: Album by Album, joins Staci on this episode to talk all things our favorite metal gods. Martin jokes about JP’s so-called “KISS album,” discusses some of their cover songs, reveals what it was like to work with guest celebs on his book (Slash, Todd La Torre, et al), and shares his own “rock and roll nightmare” which involves Queen. He also gives us a sneak peek at his next book.

Staci’s guest is music industry legend Dave Robinson. As the co-founder of Stiff Records, Dave was at the forefront of the punk and new wave movements, working with iconic artists like Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, and The Damned. His career spans decades, including time as tour manager for Jimi Hendrix (Dave’s own “rock and roll nightmare” involves Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell). He’s currently managing the up-and-coming British band Hardwicke Circus, which he discusses, as well as his vision of the future of rock music through albums and performances.

This episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast features veteran music journalist and author Daniel Bukszpan, who brings over 30 years of experience covering the world of rock and beyond. Dan discusses his latest book, Rush at 50, a stunning hardcover that celebrates one of the most beloved and enduring bands in rock history. The book chronicles 50 milestone moments from Rush’s incredible career, and Staci's conversation with Dan delves into its creation and much more.

Staci chats with Emmy Award-winner Andrew Reich on this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares. Andrew discusses his new music documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story, which premieres in theaters nationwide on December 5th. The film tells the wild, hilarious and moving story of two brothers from Southern California who started a band as pre-teens and have been on a 45 year rockin’ rollercoaster ride ever since - a journey that's included encounters with David Bowie, David Cassidy, and even a few fictional rock stars. Andrew also shares his own personal rock and roll nightmare, which has something to do wi...

Staci’s guest is Susan Cowsill, the legendary vocalist known for being a child singing star in The Cowsills, her family’s chart-topping group that actually inspired the 1970s TV sitcom The Partridge Family. Susan discusses the brand new book about her other long-running supergroup, The Continental Drifters on this episode, plus she remembers being on the music scene in L.A. in the 1970s (in fact, her “rock and roll nightmare” involves none other than The Runaways’ svengali, Kim Fowley!), moving to New Orleans and learning to love jazz, bidding farewell to Kris Kristofferson, and much more.

Staci’s guest is Spencer Charnas, the frontman of the “theatricore” metal band, Ice Nine Kills. The band name comes from the fictional substance Ice-nine from the 1963 novel Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. But their sound and inspiration come from horror movies, and their latest collaboration is with the twisted minds behind the Terrifier franchise. Spencer and Art the Clown star in Ice Nine Kills' latest music video, "A Work of Art." Spencer also talks about some of his favorite horror movies, and touring with Metallica.

Staci's guest is Chris O’Dell, the author of an incredible memoir called “Miss O’Dell.” Chris worked for Apple Corps and was in the studio when the Beatles recorded The White Album, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, and she sang in the Hey Jude chorus. She lived with George Harrison and Pattie Boyd and she’s the subject of Leon Russell’s song, Pisces Apple Lady. She’s “the woman down the hall” in Joni Mitchell’s song Coyote, the “mystery woman” pictured on the Stones album Exile on Main Street, and the Miss O’Dell of George Harrison’s song. Sh...

Staci's guest is Erik Nelson, the director of DAYTIME REVOLUTION, a new documentary that chronicles one week in 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted the most popular show on daytime TV, The Mike Douglas Show, bringing together iconic leaders of the cultural, musical, and political revolution. Erik is also known for producing Grizzly Man, directed by Werner Herzog, and his own projects, such as Dreams With Sharp Teeth, the only authorized Harlan Ellison bio.

Staci's guest is a longtime friend and colleague of hers, Scott Huver. Scott has written an incredibly well-researched, truly immersive true crime book, “Beverly Hills Noir: Crime, Sin & Scandal in 90210,” which covers an amazing array of evil deeds. Scott is a former Beverly Hills newspaper reporter and longtime entertainment journalist, and with this book, he takes readers on a century-long jaunt through some of the city’s most notorious events—including a couple that are rock & roll adjacent. Listen to find out the real story behind the Eagle's Hotel California album cover, Sammy David Jr.'s brush with Satanism, and how...

Staci's guest is Alice Maio Mackay, a young, award-winning genre filmmaker. Satranic Panic is her fourth film, and it was released in Australia last year; this horror musical comedy is now debuting in the States. Alice’s debut feature, So Vam, featured stars from Drag Race, and is now a SHUDDER exclusive. Two years ago, she directed and co-wrote her second queer horror feature film, Bad Girl Boogey, featuring a cameo from horror icon Bill Moseley. Alice talks about her influences and processes for mixing music and horror.

Staci's guest for this episode is Joe Matera, author of the newly released rock 'n' roll book "Louder Than Words: Beyond The Backstage Pass," a sequel to his first memoir about life on the road. Joe's diverse career includes writing for prominent music magazines and a successful stint as a musician. He has performed at European festivals and achieved a Top 20 hit on Radio Berlin in Germany. On this episode of the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast, we dig into music criticism, instrumental music (The Shadows, and The Ventures), and pop (Bryan Adams, Billy Squier), as well as Joe’s ta...

In this episode, Staci welcomes guests Gaelan Draper and Charlie Saxton, the creative team behind the new psychological horror film "Art of a Hit". Gaelan directed the movie, while Charlie co-wrote, produced, and starred as an eccentric uber-producer. Staci explores their collaboration and delves into the world of film production with these talented creators and hardcore music lovers. They discuss the concept of the “sellout” bands, how Jets to Brazil came to supply their film score, what it was like to shoot a movie in a “definitely haunted” French chateau, and, of course, they share their own personal “rock & roll night...

Staci welcomes Nickolas Rossi, the acclaimed filmmaker, to the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast. A decade ago, Nickolas directed the documentary "Heaven Adores You" about the late Elliott Smith. With the film marking its tenth anniversary and what would have been Elliott’s 55th birthday next month, Nickolas joins us to reflect on the project, discuss future plans for the film, and explore the enduring legacy of Elliott Smith’s music.

Award-winning filmmaker Roddy Bogawa joins Staci on today's podcast. Roddy co-directed the documentary "Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd" with the late, acclaimed album cover designer Storm Thorgerson. This remarkable and beautifully crafted documentary took years to complete. Staci will ask Roddy about the making of this film and his personal insights into Syd Barrett's life and decline. He will also discuss the challenges of creating a movie about Syd, a person with such a complex and multifaceted personality.

In this episode, Staci welcomes Linda Chadwick, the author of "On The Road: A Texas Groupie's Memoir." Linda's book offers an unfiltered look into the glam and heavy metal scenes in Texas, sharing her experiences with legends like Metallica, Pantera, and Motörhead. Get ready for some wild stories as Linda spills all the backstage secrets. Tune in to hear more about her unforgettable adventures! (Pictured: Linda and 'Dimebag' Darrell of Pantera)

Staci's guest is Nick Dominguez, the grandson of Rolling Stones’ photographer, personal assistant, and book author Tony Sanchez, aka "Spanish Tony." Spanish Tony captured iconic images of The Stones onstage at Hyde Park, at the Beggar's Banquet photoshoot, and candid shots of Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg that have not been published before now. Nick is currently running Spanish Tony Media, a business he formed in 2021. He has been overseeing the collection of photographs, videos, and audio tapes taken by his grandfather in the 1970s, many of which have never been seen by the public and hold considerable historical im...

Staci’s guest is musician Billy Morrison, who rose to fame with The Cult. He’s been the rhythm guitarist in Billy Idol’s band for 15 years now and is currently enjoying great success with his solo album, The Morrison Project. Right now, he has a hit single climbing the charts – “Crack Cocaine,” featuring Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals and Steve Stevens on lead guitar. He talks about his music, as well as his fine art paintings and plans for the future.