Episode 24: Lance Olsen with Nick DeMatteo
This episode is all about David Bowie—the fictional and real person! Lance Olsen joins me to talk about his rock novel, ‘Always Crashing in the Same Car: A Novel After David Bowie’, then, in the last segment of the episode, Nick DeMatteo, host of the Music is not a Genre podcast, does a deep dive into David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy albums.
Episode 23: Sarah Pinsker with Nabil Ayers
This episode of Rock is Lit ventures into the world of science fiction. Sarah Pinsker is here to talk about her sci fi rock novel—yes, they do exist—‘A Song For A New Day’, a story that takes place after a global pandemic makes public gatherings illegal and concerts impossible, hence the rise of DIY music venues.
In the last segment, Rock is Lit veteran Nabil Ayers drops by to give me some insight into the world of DIY music venues.
Episode 22: Rob Errera With Zeena Schreck
This episode of Rock is Lit ventures into the horror rock novel subgenre, with Rob Errera’s novel ‘Hangman’s Jam’, about a haunted song that beguiles an up-and-coming rock band. In the last segment, Zeena Schreck joins the show once again, this time to talk about the power certain songs have in spiritual and magical practices.
Episode 10: Jennifer Haupt with Charles R. Cross and Nabil Ayers
If you love Nirvana, especially Kurt Cobain, you’re in for a treat, because we’re getting down in the grit and grunge in this episode. Jennifer Haupt talks about her novel ‘Come As You Are’, which spotlights the early 1990s Seattle grunge scene, especially the music of Nirvana. Later, to add real-world context to the novel, Charles R. Cross and Nabil Ayers drop in to share their insight into Kurt Cobain—the musical genius and the human being—and their experiences as part of the music scene in Seattle during the ‘90s.
Episode 6: Zachary Lazar With Tony Sokol and Zeena Schreck
In this episode, Zachary Lazar and I talk about his rock novel, ‘Sway, the connection between early Rolling Stones, the avant-garde filmmaker and occultist Kenneth Anger, and Charles Manson and the Manson Family. Later, Tony Sokol drops by to talk about the Stones’ actual involvement in the occult, then very special guest Zeena Schreck shares her memories of her godfather Kenneth Anger and gives her insight into some of his work.
Episode 4: Janet Fitch With Pleasant Gehman and Nicole Panter
In this episode of Rock is Lit, I'm joined by Janet Fitch, author of the rock novel 'Paint it Black', which is set in 1980 in the L.A. punk scene, with the music of The Germs, The Weirdos, The Cramps, and other legendary bands of that era looming large in the story. Then I'm joined by two giants of the real L.A. punk world of that period: writer, punk rocker, and rock ‘n roll witch Pleasant Gehman, and Nicole Panter, former manager of The Germs.
Episode 2: Suzi Quatro With Katherine Turman
I'm thrilled to welcome the great Suzi Quatro to talk about her rock novel 'The Hurricane', her favorite 'Happy Days' episode, what Suzi thinks made her the first successful female musician, her paranormal experiences, and how Suzi and I are soul sisters. Later, journalist and producer of Alice Cooper’s syndicated radio show, 'Nights With Alice Cooper', Katherine Turman joins me to talk about Suzi’s place in rock ‘n roll history.
Episode 1: Jeff Jackson With Nathan D. Duvall
In this episode of Rock is Lit, I’m thrilled to welcome novelist, playwright, visual artist, and songwriter Jeff Jackson, author of the novel 'Destroy All Monsters: The Last Rock Novel', which centers around the killing of bands as they perform on stage by members of their own audience. Later, Nathan D. Duvall, host of the Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM, joins the podcast to talk about real-world examples when this kind of violence has erupted at live shows.