Chris DeMakes A Podcast
by Chris DeMakes
You may know Chris DeMakes as a founding member of the band Less Than Jake, but what you may NOT know is that he's a true music historian. On Chris DeMakes A Podcast, he welcomes accomplished songwriters to sit in and discuss the writing and recording of beloved songs from their back catalogs.
Episodes
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Throwback Thursday: Michael Bishop aka Blöthar the Berserker discusses GWAR's "The Road Behind"
This week’s Throwback Thursday was first released as Episode 230 on October 28th, 2024. In this episode, Michael Bishop aka Blöthar the Berserker sits in to discuss the writing and recording of the fan favorite 1992 single from GWAR, "The Road Behind." Michael and Chris dive into the song's...
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Ep. 325: A discussion on Alice Cooper’s “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)”
In 1986, the Friday the 13th franchise released the sixth installment in their beloved slasher film series. Jason Lives brought Jason Voorhees back from the dead, gave him supernatural powers, and even gave characters the ability to occasionally break the fourth wall. This over-the-top…
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Throwback Thursday: Aaron Bruno discusses AWOLNATION’s “Sail”
This edition of Throwback Thursday was originally released as Episode 217 on July 29th, 2024. In this episode, Aaron Bruno discusses the creation of AWOLNATION's 2011 hit single "Sail," offering an inside look at his songwriting process during a challenging period in his life. Aaron shares how he...
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Ep. 324: Rev Peters discusses The Drowns “Them Rats”
Honesty has long been a trademark of The Drowns, from their thought-provoking lyrics to their raw and aggressive album production. Their 2020 single “Them Rats” is no exception on either counts, and in this episode, guitarist and vocalist Rev Peters sits in to discuss how the song came to be....
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Throwback Thursday: Joseph Milligan discusses Anberlin’s “Feel Good Drag”
This week’s Throwback Thursday edition was originally released as Episode 225 on September 23rd, 2024. It features Anberlin guitarist Joseph Milligan discussing the writing and recording of the band’s hit 2008 single “Feel Good Drag.” The song, which was initially intended as a fun re-recording…
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Ep. 323: Travis Shettel discusses Piebald’s “Gentlemen Callers”
Piebald’s 2026 full-length Tales For The Rages was a long time coming, considering the band’s last LP came out close to 20 years prior. Despite the time between releases, the spirit and unique songwriting of this Massachusetts indie band shines through on the album, especially on the standout…
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Throwback Thursday: A discussion on Dolores O'Riordan and The Cranberries "Zombie"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 229 on October 21st, 2024. In this conversation, Chris DeMakes and co-host/producer Chris Fafalios dive into the hit 1994 single "Zombie" by The Cranberries, written by the late Dolores O'Riordan. They explore the song’s...
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Ep. 322: A discussion on Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”
Dolly Parton was known far and wide as the Queen of Country Music, which is a title that was well-earned when you look back at her prolific career that spanned six decades. It was in 1980 that she made the leap onto the silver screen, starring alongside fellow female icons Lily Tomlin and Jane...
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (The SNUBS!)
Over on the One Hit Thunder podcast, Chris and Matt compiled the Top 10 lists of listeners to arrive at the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time. In this episode, they discuss some of the songs that did NOT make the list. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate...
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Ep. 321: Chris Cresswell discusses The Flatliners “Good, You?”
Chris Cresswell makes his return to Chris DeMakes A Podcast, this time to discuss the writing and recording of the 2026 single from The Flatliners, “Good, You?” Lyrically, this hard-hitting, 90s-influenced song is built around a familiar scenario: someone asks how you’re doing, and despite the...
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Throwback Thursday: Craig Wedren discusses Shudder to Think’s “X-French Tee Shirt”
Originally released as Episode 206 on May 13th, 2024, this edition of Chris DeMakes A Podcast features Shudder to Think’s Craig Wedren discussing the creative process that led to the band’s fan favorite 1994 single, “X-French Tee Shirt.” Craig has long been a mastermind behind scores for film and...
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Ep. 320: Patty Walters discusses As It Is “Live, Laugh, Love, Los Angeles”
Even though he has lived in the UK from a very young age, a part of As It Is vocalist Patty Walters’ heart still remains in the United States. The band’s 2026 single “Live, Laugh, Love, Los Angeles” marries ultra-catchy, Springsteen-inspired pop with deeply reflective lyrics about the current…
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Throwback Thursday: Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick discusses Fitz and The Tantrums "Out of My League"
This week’s Throwback Thursday was originally released as Episode 214 on July 8th, 2024. In this episode, Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick sits in to discuss the writing and recording of the hit 2013 single from Fitz and The Tantrums, "Out of My League." Fitz opens up about his long road to success in...
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Ep. 319: John Corabi discusses Mötley Crüe’s “Hooligan’s Holiday”
When John Corabi stepped in as the new singer of Mötley Crüe in the early 90s, the band was at a true crossroads. As if replacing a lead singer isn’t already an uphill battle for any band, they also had to contend with radio and MTV’s move away from the hard rock and metal of the 80s. Despite the...
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Throwback Thursday: Nick Thomas discusses The Spill Canvas “All Over You”
This episode was originally released as Episode 231 on November 4th, 2024, and it features Nick Thomas of The Spill Canvas discussing the writing and recording of the band’s fan favorite 2007 single, “All Over You.” From the Neal Avron-produced album No Really, I’m Fine, the song explores the...
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Ep. 318: David McWane discusses Big D and the Kids Table’s “Opportunity”
“Opportunity” is a laid back, feel-good track off of the new Big D and the Kids Table album The Good Ole American Saturday Night. Though this reggae-infused song doesn’t necessarily stick to a typical pop structure, it’s an uplifting piece of music that truly shows how this long-running band can...
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (#20 - #1)
Compiled from the Top 10 lists of listeners of the One Hit Thunder podcast, this is the final installment of the Thundred series counting down the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time! Be sure to subscribe to One Hit Thunder wherever you get your pods so that you can contribute a Top 10 list...
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Ep. 317: Gerry Beckley discusses America’s “Sister Golden Hair”
This week, the very prolific Gerry Beckley sits in to discuss the writing and recording of the 1975 #1 hit single from America, “Sister Golden Hair.” Despite the song’s upbeat feel, the lyrics present a slightly sadder and more reflective theme, and this magic combination has helped the song…
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Throwback Thursday: Rou Reynolds discusses Enter Shikari's "(pls) set me on fire"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 177 on October 16th, 2023. In this episode, Enter Shikari vocalist Rou Reynolds takes center stage as he unravels the compelling story behind the writing, recording, and release of their 2023 hit single "(pls) set me on...
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Ep. 316: A discussion on Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al”
To celebrate the 40 year anniversary of Paul Simon’s beloved 1986 album Graceland, Chris DeMakes is joined by producer and co-host Chris Fafalios to explore every aspect of the record’s most well-known track, “You Can Call Me Al.” In what has to be the most joyous song ever written about a…
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Throwback Thursday: Anthony Raneri discusses Bayside's "Sick, Sick, Sick"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 227 on October 7th, 2024. In this conversation, Bayside guitarist and vocalist Anthony Raneri discusses the writing and recording of the fan favorite 2011 single "Sick, Sick, Sick." Together, they dive into the band's…
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Ep. 315: Garrett Klahn discusses Texas Is The Reason’s “Back And To the Left”
It only took one album for Texas Is The Reason to leave a highly influential mark on the world of indie rock for decades to come. Produced by J. Robbins, Do You Know Who You Are? was nine tracks of heavy guitars, intense drums, and emotional vocals that resonated with listeners across an…
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Throwback Thursday: Trevor Reilly discusses A Wilhelm Scream's "Boat Builders"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 221 on August 26th, 2024. In this conversation, A Wilhelm Scream guitarist Trevor Reilly discusses the creation of their fan-favorite 2013 single, “Boat Builders.” Trevor dives into the song’s seamless blend of metal, punk...
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Ep. 314: Howi Spangler discusses Ballyhoo!’s “Bad Summer”
When it was time to record a new album, Ballyhoo! knew that they needed to shake things up. When the opportunity to work with acclaimed producer John Feldmann was presented, the band jumped on it, and the results were undeniable. The title track “Bad Summer” is an over-the-top, catchy-as-hell pop...
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (#40 - #21)
Chris DeMakes A Podcast producer Chris Fafalios also co-hosts One Hit Thunder, which is the sister podcast to this show. Every year on One Hit Thunder, they roll out their beloved Thundred series, in which listeners of the show submit their Top 10 lists of a certain subject, and then those…
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Ep. 313: Aaron Barrett and Scott Klopfenstein discuss Reel Big Fish’s “The Set Up (You Need This)”
In October of 1998, Reel Big Fish released their third full-length album Why Do They Rock So Hard?, which captured the band at a time of peak musical exploration. One of the standout tracks from the album was “The Set Up (You Need This)”, and although the song didn’t necessarily fit into the mold...
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Throwback Thursday: A discussion on The Outfield's "Your Love"
This week’s Throwback Thursday was first released as Episode 218 on August 5th, 2024. In this episode, host Chris DeMakes and producer Chris Fafalios reminisce about The Outfield's unforgettable 1986 hit single, "Your Love" , paying tribute to guitarist and backing vocalist John Spinks and lead...
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Defeat DeMakes Episode 14: MTV Edition
If MTV still existed, it would be celebrating its 45th anniversary this week. To celebrate, friend of the show Matt Albert sits in as the challenger to Chris DeMakes in a battle of MTV-centric music trivia. If you’d like to be a future contestant on the world’s best music trivia game show…
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Throwback Thursday: Nikola Šarčević discusses Millencolin's "No Cigar"
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was first released as Episode 236 on December 9th, 2024. In this episode, Millencolin vocalist and bassist Nikola Šarčević discusses the writing and recording of the band's fan-favorite 2000 single "No Cigar." Nikola shares insights into the band's journey...
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Defeat DeMakes Episode 13: Metal and Hard Rock Edition
Since it’s the 13th episode of Defeat DeMakes AND Chris currently holds a .666 winning percentage after 12 showdowns, this week’s game is based around ALL heavy metal and hard rock questions! To make it even more interesting, this episode’s challenger is a man who was immortalized in song by Less...
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Throwback Thursday: Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn discuss Local Natives “When Am I Gonna Lose You”
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was first released as Episode 207 on May 20th, 2024. In this episode, Taylor Rice and Ryan Hahn of Local Natives unveil the behind-the-scenes journey of crafting their 2019 single, "When Am I Gonna Lose You." They reveal that the song underwent a staggering…
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Ep. 312: Greg Camp discusses Smash Mouth’s “Walkin’ On the Sun”
Smash Mouth made an instant impact with the release of their 1997 debut single “Walkin’ On the Sun.” The song had a unique throwback vibe that stood out, not only from the other songs on the Fush Yu Mang album, but also from the band’s radio and MTV contemporaries. What became a launchpad for a...
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (#60 - #41)
One Hit Thunder is the sister podcast to Chris DeMakes A Podcast. Recently, One Hit Thunder listeners chose their 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time in the beloved series known as The Thundred. The results were released over the course of five episodes, and this is the third installment,...
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Ep. 311: Joel Reader discusses The Plus Ones “All the Boys”
Emerging as a sort of supergroup of Bay Area punk rockers in the early 2000s, The Plus Ones wrote catchy songs that weren’t overthought by any means. After a four album stint in The Mr. T Experience, bassist Joel Reader formed the group, and one of the first songs he brought to the table was “All...
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Throwback Thursday: Sonny Sandoval discusses P.O.D.’s “Youth of the Nation”
In an episode that was first released as Episode 208 on May 27th, 2024, P.O.D. vocalist Sonny Sandoval sat in to discuss the creation of their iconic 2001 hit single, "Youth of the Nation." Against the backdrop of tragedies like Columbine and other shootings that shook the nation, Sandoval shares...
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Ep. 310: Deanna Belos discusses Sincere Engineer’s “Trust Me”
The feeling of being overwhelmed is something that Sincere Engineer’s Deanna Belos can tell you all about. She began her somewhat unexpected music career during a real crossroads in her life, in which she was deciding whether or not to pursue a career in the world of dentistry. It was around this...
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Throwback Thursday: Matt Skiba discusses Alkaline Trio’s “Time to Waste”
This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was first released as Episode 209 on June 3rd, 2024, and it features Alkaline trio guitarist and vocalist Matt Skiba. In this conversation, he takes listeners behind the scenes of the band's fan favorite 2005 single, "Time to Waste". Matt opens up about the...
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Ep. 309: Shawna Potter discusses War On Women’s “Messages Unsent”
War On Women are generally known for the politically charged subject matter of their songs, but with the 2026 single “Messages Unsent”, the band couldn’t resist the pull of what has inspired musicians and songwriters since the dawn of time: LOVE. Two different types of love came together to…
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (#80 - #61)
Over on the One Hit Thunder podcast (which is the sister show to Chris DeMakes A Podcast), the listeners recently chose their top 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time in the series known as The Thundred. The results were released over the course of five episodes, and this is the second...
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Ep. 308: John Hampson discusses Nine Days “If I Am”
In this episode, John Hampson makes his return to the show to discuss the writing and recording of the hit 2000 single from Nine Days, “If I Am.” Though the song didn’t hit the massive mainstream heights of “Absolutely (Story of a Girl),” it was a successful follow-up single that remains a fan...
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Throwback Thursday: Roger Lima discusses Less Than Jake’s “Sunny Side”
Originally released as Episode 261 on June 2nd, 2025, this week’s Throwback Thursday episode features Chris’s Less Than Jake bandmate Roger Lima. Together, they dive into the writing and recording of their 2024 single “Sunny Side.” Inspired by a fan’s encouragement to “keep your sunny side up and...
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Ep. 307: Peter Stuart discusses Dog’s Eye View’s “Everything Falls Apart”
In this episode, songwriter and vocalist Peter Stuart discusses the writing and recording of the hit 1996 single from Dog’s Eye View, “Everything Falls Apart.” Written quickly (and with a hangover) after a disappointing meeting with a potential producer, the song describes a young Peter’s…
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Throwback Thursday: JR Wasilewski discusses Less Than Jake’s “Walking Pipebomb”
Originally released as Episode 257 on May 12th, 2025, this week’s Throwback Thursday episode features Chris’s Less Than Jake bandmate JR Wasilweski discussing the writing and recording of “Walking Pipebomb” from the band’s Uncharted EP. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the...
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Ep. 306: Dee Snider discusses Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock”
Despite his recent retirement from the touring circuit, Dee Snider most definitely still rocks! This week, he makes his return appearance to the show to discuss the writing, recording, and legacy of Twisted Sister’s classic 1984 single “I Wanna Rock.” The spirit of the music still burns in Dee…
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THE THUNDRED: The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time (#100 - #81)
Over on One Hit Thunder (sister podcast of Chris DeMakes A Podcast), Matt and Chris compiled the Top 10 lists of listeners to arrive at the list of the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time. You can hear ALL of the episodes over on the One Hit Thunder feed, but to give you a taste, this is…
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Ep. 305: Geoff Downes discusses Asia’s “Heat of the Moment”
This week, Chris is joined by legendary keyboardist Geoff Downes to discuss the writing and recording of the hit 1982 single from Asia, “Heat of the Moment.” Considering that the band was a supergroup of progressive musicians, the song showcased a bit of tasteful restraint during its creation,...
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Throwback Thursday: Duncan Redmonds discusses Snuff’s “Nick Northern”
Originally released on November 13th, 2023, as Episode 181 of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, this episode features Snuff drummer and vocalist Duncan Redmonds discussing the writing and recording of the fan favorite 1996 single “Nick Northern.” This song may have been a gateway into Snuff for many...
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Ep. 304: Steve Soboslai discusses Punchline’s “Heart Transplant”
After a QUICK five years since his last appearance on the show, Punchline’s Steve Soboslai sits in this week to discuss the writing and recording of the band’s fan favorite 2004 single “Heart Transplant.” Written from a real place of young heartbreak, the song has remained a live set constant...
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Throwback Thursday: Geoff Rickly discusses Thursday’s “Signals Over the Air”
Originally released as Episode 192 on February 5th, 2024, this episode features Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly discussing the writing and recording of the band’s 2003 single “Signals Over the Air.” Taken from the band’s third album War All the Time, the song is a dynamic amalgamation of melody…
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Ep. 303: Josh Fiedler discusses The Juliana Theory’s “Do You Believe Me?”
In this week’s episode, guitarist Josh Fiedler sits in to discuss the writing and recording of The Juliana Theory’s 2003 single “Do You Believe Me?” Taken from the band’s major label debut album Love, the song is a powerful and driving rock song that sounds just as good today as it did upon its...
About this show
You may know Chris DeMakes as a founding member of the band Less Than Jake, but what you may NOT know is that he's a true music historian. On Chris DeMakes A Podcast, he welcomes accomplished songwriters to sit in and discuss the writing and recording of beloved songs from their back catalogs.
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Chris DeMakes
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