Blake Dannen

from February, 2011. Now that Escape The Fate is riding their greatest album success to date and jumping on larger tours, I'm posting this interview that I did on the band's tour bus, parked outside their show in Allentown, PA. Being on the tour bus and not sticking a microphone in Robert's face explains why the sound quality isn't the greatest. This is a band that has survived their first singer getting prison time for his role in a brawl that resulted in a death, then having to change singers (always an iffy proposition), and a bass player who checked himself into rehab a couple of times - in the middle of touring. And they're only in their mid-20s! It's great to see them get focused, find an accomplished sound, and reap the rewards with their self-titled third album. The album is on its third single and the band is on the Uproar Festival tour this summer. Photo by Curt Fager.

from June, 2006. Let's change it up this time and post an interview with one of my favorite comedians, Brian Regan, during his "You Too" tour. This was an easy one: mention the tour and his recently-released DVD - and then get out of the way and enjoy the jokes. I went to the show we plugged on-air and he was great. I laminated the posters from the venue and still have them up in my house.

From April, 2003 - part 2 of 2. See notes below. This segment includes an exclusive performance of Rich and vocalist John Hogg playing live in the studio using dulcimers. It's no wonder I never noticed the Hookah Brown CD being released - because it never was. A note on the band's website, written by Rich in 2004, read "Due to some personal and business issues that we were unable to overcome, Hookah Brown is no more. I thought we were becoming a really good band, but sometimes life gets in the way of people being able to make music together. I appreciate all the love and support that we received from you over the past year, and I hope to see you soon." Rich, of course, rejoined his brother Chris and reformed The Black Crowes soon after. This interview has become an even more interesting slice of Rich's life.

EXCLUSIVE: acoustic live performance of "Headstrong" From June, 2006. With Shinedown going out on their Summer 2010 Carnival of Madness Tour with Chevelle, Puddle of Mudd, Sevendust, and 10 Years let's go back to the summer of 2006 when they were on the Equinox Tour with Trapt, Halestorm, and Evan's Blue. They definitely like to tour with a bunch of other bands and make it a traveling family. This was the first time I had two bands in the studio at the same time and you can hear me trying to keep control of the room at times...LOL. I was keeping in mind that the listeners might find it hard to follow, but I think it came out great. Brent Smith of Shinedown and Chris Brown of Trapt do all of the talking. (Brent is the one with the southern accent.) Also in the room are Jasin Todd of Shinedown and Simon Ormandy of Trapt. Included in the interview is a live acoustic version of Trapt's "Headstrong."

From April 22nd, 2009. I did Middays and Afternoons on 96.3 The Blaze in the rockin' college town of Missoula, MT for 2+ years from 2004-2006. It's a KILLER station and was a ton of fun. Now I'm proud to be one of the few ex-Blaze jocks. They are celebrating their 9th Birthday in April, 2009 so the Program Director and morning show jock, Angel, called me on the air and woke my ass up. It was fun to do an "alumni interview."

From March, 1997. In 2008 the band has put the Rhode Island nightclub fire behind them as best they can, recently returned to the studio with all original members and put out a new album, and are on the 80s Invasion package tour, so there may never be a more timely moment than now to revisit this interview. Jack talks about the band hitting 15 years, some dirt on firing their manager, and is just a down-to-earth, chill guy. I also impress him with my research skills. This was only the 3rd interview I had ever done. I can hear it in my voice. ugh. For me, this is like dragging out some awkward teenage-years photos...LOL. But it was a fun interview.

From April, 2003 - part 1 of 2. With the reunion of The Black Crowes and a new album and tour in 2008, I thought i'd post this interview with Rich Robinson from 5 years ago. Rich had split from his brother, effectively putting The Black Crowes on ice. I think we all felt like Rich and Chris would play together again someday, but Rich was soldiering on with a new bluesy band he put together called Hookah Brown. This is Rich taking his first ever musical steps without his brother. I'm not even sure if the Hookah Brown CD ever came out!

From April, 2006 - part 2 of 2. so 188 days ago i posted the first part of this interview and then i left ya hangin'! ha...sorry about that. In this part, Shaun talks about the release of the live acoustic One Cold Night CD/DVD set and mentions a unique tour idea that, interestingly, never actually happened: playing two nights in each city, acoustic and electric, to promote the new CD and DVD. This part starts with Shaun talking about recruiting Philadelphia-based guitarist Pat Callahan into the band. Pat is no longer with the band. This was certainly a discussion caught in time....

From April, 2006 - part 1 of 2. fast-forward EXACTLY three years to the day from when Shaun was in my studio with the band and we find ourselves crossing paths again. wild. Unfortunately, I didn't have the band in my studio again because they were not on the road. Shaun and I talk on the phone about their 2nd album, Karma and Effect, their upcoming live album, One Cold Night, "the stool tour," and Seether's many connections with the Eastern PA area, despite hailing from South Africa. No, we didn't talk about the Amy Lee drama. come on.

EXCLUSIVE: acoustic live performance of "Fine Again" From April, 2003. One of my favorite interviews. Unfortunately, the beginning has been lost...ARGH. But in a way that's kinda cool because now it starts with Seether performing their first US single "Fine Again" acoustically in the studio. Shaun Morgan was very cool and this was right when the band was gaining success in this country. A "local guy" Kevin Soffera (drums, red shirt in this photo) had just joined the band and 2nd guitarist Pat (on right) was from nearby Philadelphia. I was very eager to re-connect with Kevin and it was a real treat to have the whole band in my studio. Interestingly, I interviewed Shaun again EXACTLY three years later TO THE DAY. See above for THAT interview....

From November, 1996. This was one of the very first interviews i ever did. In hindsight, it seemed much LONGER and much BETTER than it actually is...LOL...but i like this interview because John was fun. Off the air, he mentioned that he listened to me all the time when he was home in the area. I thought that was pretty cool. :-)

From November, 2004 - part 2 of 2. It continues with Duff finishing his thought about the experience of "fame." I love this interview because he was so forthcoming and conversational. He also makes some VERY early comments about the eventual 2nd album (Libertad), which later came out in early 2007.

From November, 2004 - part 1 of 2. Now that Velvet Revolver is releasing their 2nd album Libertad, i thought i'd post this interview with Velvet Revolver's Duff McKagan from back in '04. Tha band was in the middle of their first major tour and things were new and exciting for the guys. Duff was refreshingly candid and down to earth.